Two Bills Drive

‘Buffalo Bills fans can get their first look at new coach Mike Mularkey, his staff and his team on May 1 when the team conducts an open practice at Ralph Wilson Stadium starting at 2:30 p.m.’

‘The best hope for a 2004 first-round pick to become a productive instant starter is at wide receiver.’

‘Empire Sports Network, with the help of WNSA personnel, will cover the National Football League draft April 24 from 1 p.m. until the Bills make their selection…

…Later this month, the [NFL] network will officially announce the 2004 regular-season schedule on NFL Total Access with a two-hour special. It also will be released simultaneously on the league’s Web site.’

‘While he doesn’t have a lot of other suitors, Kordell Stewart remains reluctant to sign with the Buffalo Bills, in part because the coaches want him to assume some of the “Slash” duties he once played with the Steelers. At this point, rookie head coach Mike Mularkey has no one on the roster capable of filling the diverse position.’

‘”Mike Mularkey is a very high-class guy,” Wilson said of his new head coach. “I think he’s very solid, very sound. He’s been a player for nine years. I think he’ll have the respect of the players. He’s not a know-it-all guy. He’s going to take the good advice he gets. Sam Wyche (the quarterbacks coach) is a top guy, and so is Jim McNally on the offensive line. So all of those things put together, plus the talent we have, makes me feel good.”‘

‘”I think you have to look at everything,” said the 28-year old Kansas native. “Some guys might only have a gross of 39 but if they’re netting 39 they’re helping their team. Although a guy with a high gross doesn’t mean they aren’t having a good season either. The net punt average is a great indictor for a team effort because you’ve got coverage guys and then you’ve got your kick too so you combine the two together. There might be a game in there where the punter had a great game but maybe his coverage unit wasn’t that good that day. I think you have to look at everything. Inside-the-20 is hard to look at too. Maybe the punter hasn’t had an opportunity because they’ve been punting backed-up the whole season. I just think you have to look at the whole picture. More than anything you have to see the games that they’ve played in. I’m a firm believer you can’t judge strictly by the numbers.”‘

‘”I think it was very important for this team,” Zolman said. “With only 10 games, you have to really focus on getting the wins early in the season. I think getting off to the good start will hopefully give us momentum going into these next few games and will get the season going in the right direction.”‘

‘”I’ve always been a fan of the hometown team and I’m sorry they couldn’t step up and get me there,” said Williams, the popular East High and Syracuse University product. “I’d have loved to finish my career at home. But to all the Bills fans out there, tell them I’ll see them next season.”‘

‘The veteran tight end had talked to the Buffalo Bills about possibly signing with the team near his hometown. But with this contract he’ll go back to the team that released him following knee surgery in 2003.’

‘”We’re more interested in what the value of the player is,” said Donahoe, “and where is the player a good pick, and that’s the way we stack our board. Some guys are going to go earlier than where we have them graded, and some guys are going to go later, but that’s the nature of what you do when you evaluate the players.” For Buffalo’s brass however, need at some point is a factor, so Bills Digest has put together a rundown of the team’s more pressing need areas. We also assess when those needs might be addressed, and what prospect might be available for Buffalo at that time.’

‘”I can name six positions,” said Mularkey, who was in Rochester on Wednesday to tour the Bills’ training camp facilities at St. John Fisher College for the first time. “Some would be immediate, some would be support roles, some will depend on what we do the next three weeks in free agency. But I think we’re going to have a pretty good choice at a couple of positions that we’re looking at.”‘

‘Scouts will have a list of players they want to evaluate, but very often that list is lengthened. “The thing that is deceiving is you’re going to a school with five or six prospects and you think you’re going to have smooth day,” said Modrak, “then you talk to the school’s pro liaison and ask if there’s anybody else he would recommend. Sometimes they’ll recommend a handful of other guys, and if you’re doing your job you have to look at all of them. So a five player visit might turn into a ten player visit.”‘

‘The Buffalo Bills have shown interest in Falcons linebacker and restricted free agent Matt Stewart, Stewart’s agent Brian Parker confirmed.’

This month – Coach Mike Mularkey

‘Perhaps no team in the NFL has such defined needs as the Bills. Their need for a top-flight wide receiver to complement Eric Moulds screams for attention. Their need for a successor to Drew Bledsoe is also evident. Finally, their lack of a dangerous pass rusher is just as obvious.’