Two Bills Drive

‘Furthermore, with no CBA extension, new contracts can only be factored out over six years – that’s if Donahoe were to get one done in 2004. Deals written next year will be under even tighter constraints, meaning Donahoe may not have the leverage it appears he has by suspending talks until further notice. One agent said Donahoe’s fax was merely more posturing and he won’t be bullied into a premature, under-market deal.’

‘Ruben Brown may have been cut by the Bills but he has no hard feelings, at least not enough to let them get in the way of his charity work. The classy nine-year veteran went ahead with his fourth annual Ruben Brown Motorcycle Run to benefit the Salvation Army last weekend from the Ralph Wilson Stadium parking lots. Celebrity riders Jim Kelly, Fred Smerlas, Ted Washington, Sam Gash and Pat Williams took part.’

‘”When we spend time on certain tasks, on improving certain areas of our lives, we generally get results,” Vincent said by phone last week. “If I spend time in the weight room, on the practice field, generally I’ll get results on the playing field. There’s a slim chance I won’t get results. The same thing applies in our daily lives with our families. What you put in is exactly what you’ll get out.”

‘The battalion has been stationed in Iraq since February 16, 2004, though many are confident their mission will not last much longer. "I will be there for the home opener," McKirchy said. "This is going to be an exciting year for the Bills and I’m not going to miss any of the action."’

‘In honor of Independence Day Sunday, Buffalobills.com took a look back through the 43 years of Bills football to come up with a squad that shared the surnames of the 43 United States presidents, or other notable presidential candidates (or parties).’

‘The Buffalo Bills 2004 rookie class has yet to take a snap on an NFL field, but they are already champions. The six newest members of the Bills squad finished first in the Ultimate Rookie Challenge at the Rookie Symposium held in La Costa, California this past week.’

‘Germane Crowell plays for the New Orleans Saints, and Angelo plays for the Buffalo Bills. The camp focused on improving football skills, but it included motivational talks by professional athletes and community leaders.’

‘Among the AFC East alsorans, Buffalo will make the most improvement, albeit without Drew Bledsoe taking the snaps. I like Bledsoe, but let’s face it, my lardulous physique could avoid the rush better. With cocky rookie QB J. P. Losman and new head coach Mike Mularkey at the helm, the Bills will undergo an attitude adjustment that translates into more wins on the field.’

‘Former Bills special teams star Steve Tasker will appear in television commercials scheduled to be aired this fall as part of the company’s business-to-business marketing campaign.’

‘The Bills were expected to be playoff contenders in 2003 but underachieved. They again will be in a position to achieve success in 2004.’

‘Electricity supplier Pro Energy has entered into a marketing agreement with the Buffalo Bills that includes providing low-cost electric power to Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘"You’re at training camp for a reason," said Mularkey. "You’re creating your team’s identity."’

‘The locker rooms at East Aurora High School were used by the team for dressing and training room facilities. The players were shuttled between hotel, locker room and practice fields by school bus, sometimes driven by players or team personnel.’

Because expectations were so high for the Bills’ Mike Williams, the fourth overall pick of the 2002 draft, he has been perceived as a mild disappointment. Though Williams has been inconsistent, he has flashed dominance. Last season, for instance, he handled Jevon Kearse of the Titans. Williams has continued to get better, and his improvement should be accelerated this season. Playing next to him will be a rock in right guard Chris Villarrial, and coaching Williams will be Jim McNally, one of the best in the league.

‘Make no mistake about it – Krumrie is a coach, a solid football coach, one of the most highly regarded defensive line coaches in the business. The Bills will have trouble holding on to him after his contract expires at the end of this season. He has friends all over the league, including LeBeau in Pittsburgh, Matt Millen in Detroit and Gregg Williams in Washington. Williams, who was fired by Buffalo at the end of last season, hired Krumrie away from the Bengals.’