Two Bills Drive

‘”At this point, I want to show them that I still can play the game,” said McKenzie, a nine-year NFL veteran. “Right now, I’m not worried about the season. I’m worried about this preseason, about making the team. I want to show that I’m able to run, do good things and make plays.”‘

‘General manager Tom Donahoe and Jim Overdorf, the Bills vice president of business administration, had only around $4 million in rookie pool money to get their six picks signed. They had to get creative with the distribution of bonus money to first-rounders Lee Evans and J.P. Losman, getting them to accept deals that pay out the money over two years. “We ended up with a about $1,000 in our rookie pool,” Donahoe said, sounding dead serious.’

‘The teams love seeing an opponent. Said Buffalo receiver Josh Reed, "The offense is running smoothly. The younger guys are getting everything down pat. They’re getting everything under their wings and everything seems like it’s rolling right now."’

The Bills are doing an interesting thing in an effort to get Bledsoe to get rid of the ball quicker and avoid sacks this season. Starting this offseason, Buffalo has been using a four-second clock on pass plays in practice, with an alarm clock buzzer going off when time is up.

‘”I think we have enough guys to win with,” Mularkey said. “I know I have an advantage of talent level here compared to some other new coaches. But still, it’s basically the same team that went 6-10, so you’ve got to find a way to get them confident about themselves. That’s what you do constantly from the very first time you step in front of them to present the staff and your plan. They’ve got to know that they are a good football team.”‘

‘According to the Bills RB, he felt the knee buckle a bit and admitted he was scared, however Henry added that he feels fine and he should be OK.’

‘A .500 season looks like a reasonable expectation, and if those questions receive positive answers, the Bills could have a shot at 10 wins and a return to the postseason.’

”’He doesn’t seem like a first-time NFL head coach,” Bledsoe said Friday after Buffalo’s practice with Cleveland at the Bills’ suburban Rochester training camp. ”He seems like a guy that is a very natural fit for the position.”’

‘Gildon said the Bills are in for a challenge this weekend and should get a great test from the Browns. He said they always come to play and never back down. "It’s going to be a very spirited and physical practice as well as scrimmage," Gildon said. "Those guys want to come down with the mind set of getting something done and we’re going to take the same approach. We’re going to go out there and be physical and get something done. It’s going to be a good one."’

‘On the four-second ‘quarterback alarm’ on Bills QB Drew Bledsoe during practice:

That’s been the history of that clock. That clock is supposedly a sack. We are presented as when that clock goes, throw it to your check down, your outlet, and that’s still giving him time before a sack. He’s done really well with it, we chart it and monitor it everyday and let him know what he’s done, and for the most part he’s getting it out of his hands.’

Bills DB Troy Vincent said the morning was a “feeling-out process” and said the key to getting something out of those practices was staying away from unnecessary activity. “I saw what most of their guys can do,” Vincent said. “So after this first practice I’ll have a different game plan for this afternoon and the scrimmage.” Vincent even asked Browns WR Andre’ Davis before practice what Davis wanted to work on. Davis gave Vincent some ideas, and Vincent said he tried to oblige.

Browns linebacker Brant Boyer is out indefinitely after breaking his right foot during practice with the Buffalo Bills on Friday, Aug. 6. Boyer was hurt during the first of two sessions between the teams at the Bills’ training camp in suburban Rochester, where the teams will scrimmage Aug. 7.

‘”I think, top to bottom, this may be the best defense I’ve ever played with,” free agent cornerback Troy Vincent said. “If we can put it all together, we’re going to be awfully tough to beat.”‘

‘"They’re big, strong guys up front," said Bills guard Chris Villarrial. "It will be a good test for us to see where we’re at because we want to run the ball. We’re committed to running it, and we want to see where we stand."’

‘No, Reed is not Peerless Price. But Reed is a very good football player who can be effective in the right system. New Bills coach Mike Mularkey plans to make better use of Reed’s talents than the previous coaching regime. That means working more as a slot receiver and taking advantage of his run-after-the-catch skills by getting him the ball on short and intermediate pass routes.’