Two Bills Drive

‘Bonuses will give Losman 5.586-million of guaranteed money. Incentives could max the deal out at 24.58-million dollars.’

‘Losman and Evans each received five-year contracts.’

The host Buffalo Bills are a 3-point favorite over Jacksonville on Sunday, Sept. 12. It probably is a good break for the Bills to catch the young and improving Jaguars so early in the season.

Losman, a quarterback out of Tulane selected 22nd overall, signed the contract at the Bills headquarters in Orchard Park and was to report to training camp in suburban Rochester later in the day, Bills spokesman Scott Berchtold said. The Bills’ first practice is Sunday. The deal includes a $5.6 million signing bonus and could be worth as much as $24.5 million if Losman meets all his incentives.’

Quarterback J.P. Losman, the heir apparent to Drew Bledsoe’s starting job in Buffalo, reached contract agreement with the Bills on Saturday, fulfilling the charge of the former Tulane star to his agent to complete a deal that would get him into camp on time. Losman was the second of the Bills’ two choices in the first round of the 2004 draft, and Buffalo had to trade up into Dallas’ spot at No. 22, sacrificing their first-round pick in ’05, to get him. Buffalo chose wide receiver Lee Evans, who is still unsigned, with their own pick in the first round, the 13th overall selection. General manager Tom Donahoe, who remains unafraid to make bold moves even in the face of occasional criticism, obviously feels Losman represents the team’s future. The contract is for five years and has a base value of $7.7 million, with $5.586 million of that in guarantees, largely an initial signing bonus and two option bonuses. The contract can top out, with escalators, at $24.58 million

‘”We like our team,” said Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe. “We think we have a team that has a lot of ability. We’re enthused about the new coaches that we’ve added and also about the ability to retain some very good coaches from the previous staff, so there’s no reason not to be optimistic.”‘

‘"I was fortunate enough to win a championship in New England," he said. "I also know what it’s like to lose one. I’m not into predicting records or anything like that. We just need to believe in ourselves and focus on the tasks at hand. The rest will fall into place."’

‘Tickets for the first of the team’s two Wednesday evening practices during the Buffalo Bills Bausch & Lomb Training Camp are sold out and only a limited amount of tickets remain for the Bills scrimmage against the Cleveland Browns on August 7.’

‘The school says its relationship with the Bills has been a good one. “We have a great relationship with them, we really do,” said Allison Bosworth, camp general manager for the school. “It’s been a real benefit to us. People know who we are and where we are now, because this is where the Bills practice."’

‘"This is good a team that I’ve been on, but that doesn’t mean anything," Bledsoe explained. "Last year we started out strong then stumbled. At this point, looking at the guys around me, I feel really, really optimistic about our chances."’

‘"The players really responded to our program this off-season," said Rusty Jones, director of physical development with the Bills. "We did some new things. We added some Olympic-style lifting and a few other exercises. The players are in great shape."’

‘Donahoe realizes there is no logic in trading Henry, at least not this year. Willis McGahee is coming back after nearly two years on the sideline because of a major knee injury. Even if McGahee looks great in training camp and the exhibition games, he still must prove he can stay healthy and effective over the entire season.’

‘Even if the Dolphins do phone to explore the possibility of trading for one of Buffalo’s two ball carriers, Donahoe said, “It would be a short conversation.”‘

‘If the Bills knew Willis McGahee’s repaired knee was 100 percent and ready for full-time duty, Henry-for-Ogunleye would be an interesting proposition, but Buffalo has no such guarantee.’

‘Good arm strength and throws with sufficient velocity, but he is slow in the pocket, slow in his set-up, and slow in his ball fakes to running backs, which makes for a largely ineffective play action pass and disadvantages the offense from surprising opponents. Watch Jets QB Chad Pennington to see how fakes should work. Bledsoe’s judgment has declined. He is fearless, but his slow nature makes him an easy sack target.’