Two Bills Drive

‘Three NFL refs were at practice and calling penalties Thursday. The penalties for illegal contact by defensive players versus receivers 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage and defensive holding are major points of emphasis this year, according to head coach Mike Mularkey.’

‘”I was a Browns fan, yes,” said Evans, whose parents and two sisters will be in the crowd. “But I’ve got to go out there and do my job. I’m a Buffalo Bill. The Browns are a secondary thought.”‘

‘”I feel confident in my ability, and if given the opportunity I can still go out there and play every down,” said Gildon, who last year passed L.C. Greenwood to become the Steelers’ all-time sack leader. “It’s just coming in and getting that opportunity.”‘

‘Buffalo’s linebackers are a formidable group, the strength of a Bills’ defense that last season ranked second in yards allowed, eighth against the run and fifth in points.’

‘The scrimmage will run from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday, with the first teams battling for 10 to 12 plays, then moving on to the second team. Field goals and extra points will be attempted before the scrimmage.’

‘“Maybe another team would have said, `You’ve got a coach whose heart’s dying and he can’t speak above a whisper or a quiet conversation and he hasn’t coached in nine years. Let’s see, do we want him on our staff?’ ” Wyche said. The Bills did.’

‘Playing career: Cincinnati Bengals under Paul Brown (1968-70); Washington Redskins (1971-73); Detroit Lions (1974); St. Louis Cardinals (1976); Buffalo Bills (1976).’

‘"My goal when I became a free agent was to make what I made my last 2 years in Philly," says Vincent, whose combined base salaries with the Eagles the last 2 years was $7.5 million. "And I got it."’

‘In the scrimmage tomorrow each team will alternate possessions getting the ball for 10 or 12 plays beginning at its own 35. The team has four chances to make a first down. If it does not the ball goes back to the 35, even if it is on the opponent’s 5.’

‘"Our defense will see Drew Bledsoe throw the ball," Davis said. "We’ll get a chance to see some other runners in the game. They have two really talented running backs, so it will be good to see them work."’

‘“No nerves,” McGahee said. “But it’s good to play against other people besides your teammates that aren’t going to treat you easily. Yeah, it’s an important step.”’

‘Coach Mike Mularkey didn’t provide a timetable for Burns’ recovery other than to say he’ll be out for a while.’

‘Tomorrow we’ve got full pads, broken down in 9-on-7, inside run drills, 7-on-7, and team period. Special teams will face each other, and that’s all in the morning. In the afternoon they’re going to go into shoulder pads and we’ll have a blitz period and, again, another team period like we had today, finishing up with a two two-minute segments. Saturday we’ll have designed drives. After a brief special teams period we’ll go right into the scrimmage, designed to flip-flop offense and defense and with little wrinkles to it depending on where the drive ends and all those things. We’ll get a lot of good work and a lot of situational football that’s tough to script.’

‘"It’s kind of a way to rejuvinate camp. No matter how tired or sore you are, you see another color line up, it always gets violent," said defensive tackle Oliver Gibson.’

‘Burns suffered a high ankle sprain during Wednesday evening’s workout and is now wearing a walking boot.’