Two Bills Drive

‘A career in the ministry had always been in the back of Bass’ mind, but wasn’t a priority during his seasons (1961-69) as a professional football player. “I had been wrestling with the ministry,” said Bass, who played for the Buffalo Bills and the Houston Oilers. “I was a sprinter, and I’d been running from God as long as I could.”‘

‘Let’s face it. They need help in just about every position. If it isn’t a player they need to plug in right away, it’s a guy they need in the very near future. So not much will surprise me. Not with Tom Donahoe at the controls. What do you think?’

‘“What a tremendous character makeup both of these individuals had to put their careers on hold to defend our country,” Shaw said. “They are the real hall of famers.”’

Tillman did not have to join the Army and no one would have criticized him if he did not. Tillman’s decision brings to mind the same choice made by James Robert Kalsu, one of only two NFL players to die in the Vietnam War. In 1968, Kalsu played his rookie season for the Buffalo Bills and was a budding star. He belonged to the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and was told his duty status could be indefinitely postponed while he was in the NFL. Since the war was then expected to wind down, Kalsu knew that postponing his service would mean avoiding exposing himself to combat. Instead he asked to serve, was sent to Vietnam in 1969 and died there in a mortar attack in 1970 at the age of 25. No one would have criticized Kalsu if he had not gone to Vietnam. He went because he thought it was right.

‘”A lot of times you don’t know until it starts,” Donahoe said of his draft strategy. “People like to play their cards close to the vest. And if it’s to our advantage to trade up, we’ll look at that. If it’s to our advantage to trade back, we’ll look at that as well. So I don’t know if we ever go into draft and say, ‘This is the plan.””

‘”My basic duty is to write the draft picks name on the card and make sure it gets submitted correctly,” Hojnowski said. “I am on an open phone line with Orchard Park from 11:30 am on Saturday until the draft is over. The Bills have a speaker phone in the draft room and the person that I actually talk to is head trainer Bud Carpenter. He relays who the pick is because he will be standing next to Tom Donahoe, Tom Modrak, and Mike Mularkey.”‘

‘Udeze, who has dropped more than 100 pounds since high school, may have more long-term potential. He’s a powerfully built athlete who dominated USC’s competition (NCAA-high 161/2 sacks in 2003). He was almost unblockable in the Rose Bowl against Michigan, recording four tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble to help lead the Trojans to a share of the national championship.’

‘There are a variety of scenarios revolving around Buffalo’s search for a young quarterback that could play out Saturday and Sunday. Here are a few…’.

‘The moment that slip of paper is handed to The Commish and the name “Ben Roethlisberger” or “Philip Rivers” or “J.P. Losman” is read, the clock starts ticking on Bledsoe. That’s especially true if it’s the first round.’

‘For weekly gatherings Labatts Brewing Company has been a regular sponsor. They have provided the group with a live band for the Broncos pre-game party, tons of free hats, t-shirts, jerseys, bar mirrors, and other items that they use for weekly raffles and trivia contests.’

‘In a business where a 40 percent success rate is excellent, Modrak is noted for holding his own. In nine years as the Steelers college scouting director in the 1990s, Modrak helped select eight Pro Bowl players, including linebackers Levon Kirkland and Chad Brown, defensive tackle Joel Steed and offensive tackle Leon Searcy.’

‘We’ve been over what the Bills are likely looking for on draft day, but what about the rest of the division?’

‘”If it’s to our advantage to trade up, we’ll look at that,” Donahoe. “If it’s to our advantage to trade back, we’ll look at that as well. I don’t know that we ever go into a draft and say, ‘this is the plan’, other than the fact that we want to add some good football players to our team.”‘

‘The Bills retained Brown’s rights by tendering him a contract in February, but the player was free to negotiate with other teams until April 16.’

‘The Bills today announced that quarterback Travis Brown, a restricted free agent, has accepted his tender offer from the team. In accordance with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.’