Two Bills Drive

‘Gibson is a 6-foot-2, 305-pounder who will vie for a roster spot behind starting defensive tackles Pat Williams and Sam Adams. The signing helps the Bills create legitimate competition at the position, something they are trying to do across the board on their roster. Ron Edwards and Justin Bannan return as reserve defensive tackles.’

‘”I think there’s no question we underachieved last year,” Bledsoe said. “I think we failed to play the style of football that we set out to play. This year, you’re going to see us be a little more stubborn about playing the brand of football that fits our talent. We’re going to pound the ball, we’re going to play-action it, we’re going to play great defense like we did last year, and we’re going to score more points because we’re going to avoid the mistakes that killed us.”‘

‘On the draft front, the Bills’ eyes are wide open about the possibility of using the 13th pick on one of the two top pass-rushing ends, Ohio State’s Will Smith and USC’s Kenechi Udeze. Both players helped themselves dramatically with solid pro day workouts. Smith ran a dazzling 4.55 and Udeze a 4.72.’

‘In 1999-2000, his Tennessee defense recorded a league-best 109 sacks; and in 2000, the Titans led the NFL in total defense. As Buffalo’s head coach from 2001-03, the Bills’ defense improved from 21st to 15th to second. Williams was fired by Buffalo after going 6-10 last season.’

‘”I was diagnosed in the summer of ’95,” Marv Levy says. “I’d gone in for my regular physical and afterward the doctor called to tell me I had a high PSA score. I didn’t know PSA from SAT.”‘

‘A league source said the Washington Redskins will trade fullback Bryan Johnson to the Bears on Monday in exchange for a sixth-round draft choice. The Raiders and Bills were the other teams in the running for the hard-nosed Johnson.’

The Bears also have made a contract offer to former Buffalo guard Ruben Brown, who is thought to have narrowed his choices to Chicago and Detroit.

‘Buffalo looks at the now-healthy Willis McGahee as a 2004 addition and, in truth he is. He is part of the reason Buffalo wants to become a northern version of the Carolina Panthers on offense. The plan now is for McGahee and Travis Henry to split the running-back duties, for the rest of the offense to change its pass-first mindset, and for Bledsoe to become the picture of efficiency not explosiveness.’

‘”You could see by body language, the way they play the game, the way they carry themselves, the way they approach their teammates, you have a pretty good feel who those leaders are already,” Mularkey said. “I’m finding other things out being out here that there are some guys who lead by example. And there are some guys on offense that are standing up a lot better than I thought they would.”‘

‘The best-case scenario is this: The offensive line protects Drew Bledsoe much, much better under new line coach Jim McNally, the draft brings a speed receiver to take the multiple pass coverage off Eric Moulds, Bledsoe uses running back Willis McGahee as a frequent receiver, Josh Reed returns to the slot, where he is more effective, and the running game is so good it creates greater opportunities for the pass. Bledsoe plays as brilliantly as he did in his first half season as a Bill.’

‘It’s hard to imagine the Bills giving up future picks to move up from No. 13. So what needs to happen for the Bills to get Roethlisberger? 1. San Diego trades down and then, stunningly, passes up a quarterback. 2. Oakland and Arizona pass on QBs. 3. No other team (such as San Francisco at No. 16) works a trade into the top 10 to take a QB. (Washington needs extra picks and is a trade-down candidate at No. 5.)’

‘New York Jets All-Pro running back Curtis Martin shared his faith with about 800 people who attended the third annual Athletes in Action awards breakfast Saturday in the Hyatt Regency Buffalo. He was surrounded by an all-star cast of athletes that included former Buffalo Bills quarterback Frank Reich, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback and television sports analyst Boomer Esiason, and former Bills wide receiver Andre Reed.’

‘As of Thursday, Buffalo appeared to be the leader in the race for Williams but, as the Bengals found out last week when Warren Sapp ended up signing with Oakland after a deal with Cincinnati was all but signed, nothing is final until the signature is on a contract and filed with the league.’

‘Van Miller, recently retired voice of the Buffalo Bills, and Wally Huckno, retired Jamestown football coach, are being honored Monday at the 2004 Romulus Club Annual Sports Night in memory of Ilio DiPaolo.’

‘”Mularkey’s style of play is a physical play,” running back Travis Henry said. “That is what he is installing in our heads. It looks like we are going to be a physical, run first, ball control offense.”‘

‘”We installed enough where we felt like we weren’t going to overload their brain capacity,” Mularkey said. “We didn’t want a lot of thinking going on. We wanted these guys playing.”‘