Two Bills Drive

‘The Bills interviewed seven candidates, including offensive and defensive coordinators and some with previous NFL head coaching experience. But in the end, Donahoe felt most comfortable tapping his roots. It only made sense. With a hire this important to the Bills, who haven’t made the playoffs in four seasons, and to Donahoe, whose three-year master plan to rebuild the Bills has produced a 17-31 record and put his own career in jeopardy, why gamble on somebody he didn’t know? He did that with Williams and whiffed big time.’

‘”I feel great about it,” said Gray, whose Bills’ units have steadily improved from 21st to 14th to No. 2 in the league. “This is a great situation. I’m excited about what we can accomplish. He knows I’m going to support him 100 percent and do everything I can to help him win.”‘

‘A possible addition to Mularkey’s staff in a yet-to-be-determined capacity is Tom Cross, the offensive coordinator at Macalester College. When Cross was the head coach at Concordia-St. Paul in Minnesota, he befriended Mularkey, who played for the Vikings, and hired him as an assistant coach. Mularkey would like to repay the favor if Cross were interested in making the leap to the NFL.’

‘Mike Shafer was a place kicker/punter at Syracuse. He holds the school records in for punts and punting yardage. Shafer had previous tryouts with the Texans and Rams.’

‘Two of Buffalo’s latest signings have Arena League experience. Linebacker Asa Francis played with the New Jersey Gladiators in 2001. Carter was named Arena League Defensive Player of the Year after picking off 14 passes for the Arkansas Twisters.’

‘Zolman was a four-year starter at Vanderbilt, finishing with a school-record 596 completions for 7,981 yards.’

‘The Bills today announced that the team has signed defensive back Kahlil Carter, offensive lineman Jasen Esposito, linebacker Asa Francis, kicker/punter Mike Shafer, and quarterback Greg Zolman. All five players have been allocated to participate in NFL Europe.’

‘Shelton played four seasons with Jacksonville after being selected by the Jaguars in the sixth round of the 1997 draft (184th overall) out of Sacramento State. He played for Chicago in 2001 and 2002, joining the Bears as an unrestricted free agent. He sat out 2003 after being released by Chicago in the preseason.’

‘”I loved Marv,” Henning said. “Marv is a great motivator and the most intelligent guy you ever want to meet. We had an average season up there. It was a changeover after Jim Kelly had left. But I loved the people of Buffalo. They are the greatest – except when they go to the stadium. When they go to the stadium, they’re out of control.”‘

‘”To tell you the truth, I think I nailed both those interviews,” Weis said. “I think I went in prepared. I think I presented myself well. . . . I really liked Tom Donahoe (the Bills’ president and general manager). But things didn’t work out. They hired Mike (Mularkey), and I wish them well – just not against us.”‘

‘The average Bills ticket cost $41 in 2003 ($30 to $39 for season tickets and $30 to $48 for individual game tickets). It was the third-cheapest ticket in the 32-team NFL this season.’

‘Jack Kemp didn’t do any heavy lifting Wednesday as well-muscled football players hefted the Vidaurri family’s furniture into their new home — the first of 38 that will be built by Habitat for Humanity volunteers in conjunction with Sunday’s Super Bowl.’

‘Shelton was Jacksonville’s sixth round draft pick in 1997. He played four seasons with the Jaguars. Shelton then signed as a free agent with Chicago, where he played the 2001 and 2002 seasons. He was out of football last year.’

‘For his career, Shelton has 104 yards rushing and one touchdown, and 324 yards receiving and one touchdown. He also missed four games in the 2001 and 2002 seasons after the NFL suspended him for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.’

‘Smith had spent the past two years with the Baltimore Ravens, mostly on the practice squad. Hicks has also played in NFL Europe, spending the 2003 season with the Amsterdam Admirals.’