Two Bills Drive

‘Donahoe emphasized, “I don’t think you can ever underestimate the adjustment a player has to make and that’s why we have to be more patient than you (media) do. We can be more patient because we live with these guys and we know the potential that they can get better.”‘

‘The Bills were bad enough last season to acquire a favorable draft position, but not bad enough to take the historically ill-advised gamble of selecting a QB from their spot on the board.’

‘Generally, Clements has been very good, Williams has been disappointing, and McGahee is a mystery. However, because of similar character descriptions between Flowers and McGahee, I will apply what I know about Flowers to McGahee.’

‘Mike Mularkey and Tom Donahoe are keeping an eye on the QB situation with Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers to develop behind Drew Bledsoe. At the same time, the Bills are interested in also building more talent around Bledsoe. Roy Williams would be very attractive at wide receiver if he remains on the board. On the defensive side of the ball, defensive ends Kenechi Udeze and Will Smith remain possibilities to upgrade their front four.’

‘The re-launch will take place this Thursday and feature vastly improved content, functionality, design, and exclusive contests. Visitors to the site will notice multiple top stories each day, more photos, audio and video of players, coaches and personnel, an interactive "view from your seat" map and a virtual tour of the stadium, and an improved message board for individuals to interact with Bills fans worldwide. The enhanced site will continue to serve as the best source for official team merchandise and tickets.’

‘WR Lee Evans – Washington

WR Rashaun Woods – Oklahoma State

QB Phillip Rivers – N.C. State’

‘It’s well known the Bills are looking to get a quarterback at some point in the draft. They probably would select one with the 13th pick if one of the Big Three – Eli Manning of Mississippi, Philip Rivers of North Carolina State and Ben Roethlisberger – falls to them. Assuming the San Diego Chargers don’t trade out of the No. 1 slot, they are expected to take Manning. After that, it’s anyone’s guess where Rivers and Roethlisberger will end up.’

‘”For me, personally, this is a lot more difficult than playing,” he said. “When I was playing, I could rely a lot on my natural athletic skills. This is all mental. You aren’t just measuring a guy’s strength and speed and intelligence, you’re also trying to measure his heart and project whether he will be able to contribute to your team down the road.”‘

”’What you think is a franchise (quarterback), we may not think is a franchise,” Donahoe said to reporters.’

”’It doesn’t complicate matters at all,” Modrak said on Tuesday, a day after the court’s ruling. ”We hung them up on the board. Now if they’re not there, they’re not there. We just take the plaques down and they’re not there anymore.”’

‘”We put our trust and faith in Mr. Donahoe and Mr. Modrak,” said Bills guard Ross Tucker. “I think we’re all confident that they are going to look at it from a business perspective and do what they think is in the best interest of the organization. Hopefully they can help make our team stronger and continue to get us more and more good players so we can have a winning season.”‘

‘”Aaron said the one team he never talked to was Buffalo. I visited about five other places but not here. I knew that they were in need of a tight end but — you never know and (Bo) probably knows that more than most of the other guys in this draft.”‘

‘Mr. Nobody was suddenly a somebody. Beebe was drafted in the third round by the Buffalo Bills and would go on to play nine seasons for the Bills, Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers, appearing in a record six Super Bowls.’

‘Conaty recalls that play as being the end of an era in Buffalo. “As a team and an organization they put all their eggs in one basket,” he said. “They had overpaid some guys and, after that, they started cutting players like Bruce Smith and Andre Reed. In the locker room, there was a lot of disarray and disbelief, but life goes on.”‘

‘The 2004 draft may be Donahoe’s most important in his four years with the Buffalo Bills. What will he do this weekend? Stay tuned.’