Two Bills Drive

‘”They want to win bad. They have a sense of urgency about them. . . . This is not a rebuilding process at all.”‘

‘My agent knew I wanted to be here but we were also going to take the right deal. Both sides cooperated with each other and bent a little bit but didn’t break. We got the right deal and I’m happy.’

‘"This is a whole new level," said Evans. "The college game is out the window. It’s so much more technical here and so much faster. You’ve got to be able to learn a lot of terminology real quick so it’s just different. I’ve always been somebody who loves challenges and this is a challenge I’ve got to overcome."’

‘”The one thing we did have to do on the one (Evans’ deal) is a voidable year, which we haven’t done,” said Donahoe. “I don’t like setting the precedent, but we had to do it. The numbers wouldn’t work, and we could have argued for weeks.”‘

‘”This is the first step for me really getting geared back up because I missed so much. I believe (it’s) the right move,” said Williams, who said he missed the June workouts for personal reasons. “He’s given me a chance to look at (the new offense), have more time to study it, and hopefully, as the week goes on, I can get back in there with the 1s.”‘

‘He ran hard during the three-quarter speed drills and bounced right back up after getting bumped and taking several tumbles in traffic. “I covered up,” McGahee said. “I know how to fall; you don’t have to worry about that. But I felt pretty good. It was a good day – no setbacks, no problems.”‘

‘”There’s only two seasons for me, football season and non-football season, and during the off-season I can’t wait for the season to start.”

‘”I always felt that in every drill in every practice I had to win,” said Tasker, now a 42-year-old East Aurora, N.Y., resident. “I think what kept me on a lot of football teams was my ability to exceed the expectations people had for me.”‘

‘"I know it hasn’t been like this in years past, but I’d rather start at this level, and if we need to cut back, fine," said the former Vikings and Steelers tight end. "You can’t start (low) and then say, ‘We don’t have enough practices, we’re not hitting hard enough.’ None of the two-a-days are back to back. … It’s not as grueling as it sounds."’

‘McGahee has had no setbacks in his recovery from major knee surgery and even shed his brace during off-season drills. He will be monitored closely, of course, once the hitting begins. Asked if McGahee was 80, 90 or 100 percent back, Mularkey said: "That question to me has got to be answered when we get the pads on and the speed gets picked up a bit. He’s got to take a few bangs and see how he holds up after a while, but to me personally, I don’t think there’s going to be a difference once we get rolling."’

‘Rusty Jones, the Bills director of physical development, divides the team into three groups when devising conditioning and weight-lifting programs: offensive and defensive linemen; linebackers, tight ends and running backs; wide receivers, quarterbacks, defensive backs, kickers and punters. "This team is in great shape," Jones told the Bills’ website. "With the improvements in technology and training programs in the past few years, this team has really taken advantage of that."’

‘OLB Jason Gildon gives the team a chance to work the 3-4 into its defense. Gildon spent 10 years in the Steelers’ 3-4 defense and is a better fit in that scheme. Coordinator Jerry Gray will keep the 4-3 as the base alignment but might put LBs Takeo Spikes, London Fletcher, Jeff Posey and Gildon on the field together.’

‘The Bills were somewhat handcuffed in negotiations in that they were only allotted $4 million this season to sign six draft picks, including quarterback J.P. Losman, selected 22nd overall. Losman signed his contract a five-year deal that includes a $5.6 million bonus just hours before Evans. Evans’ contract includes a clause giving him the option to void the final year.’

‘Asked when Williams will be back with the starters, Mularkey said: ”Eventually, obviously, the sooner the better for all of us, I think.”’

‘The Bills gave no explanation for the release. They signed Carter in January and he spent the spring playing in NFL Europe.’