Two Bills Drive

‘”I had a lot of things going on in my mind,” Mularkey said referring to the night prior to camp opening. “To me, first impressions are pretty important, and I really wanted to make sure they knew where I was coming from and be upfront. I wanted to let them know what the expectations were and the roles that these guys were going to play. I was thinking to make sure I said the right things, and I feel like I did.”‘

‘”I’ve been waiting for this,” he said. “I’m very comfortable. I feel like I’m supposed to be doing this. It was good that I’m surrounded by a bunch of guys that I am with on this coaching staff. It makes it much more comfortable to come out here and know it’s going to get done the right way.”‘

‘”It helps a lot,” Stewart said in the team’s field house. “Obviously I know the system. I guess you could say I was the guy who christened this offense in 2001. This is obviously a situation that is sort of a no-brainer. You want to be in a situation where you can land on your feet.”‘

‘”Mike’s real. That’s the best way I can describe him,” said quarterback Drew Bledsoe on Wednesday at Ralph Wilson Stadium where the Bills’ new coaching staff kicked off a three-day, getting-to-know-you veterans camp.’

‘”So as excited as I am, I have to step back and get a big picture and full glimpse of what’s taken place. Whatever situation I end up in, it’s going to be a good situation.”‘

‘The offense used various formations that included both Travis Henry and Willis McGahee. Last year’s number one pick looked good and didn’t even wear a knee brace. After session two he said that he has no problems and feels he’s going to keep getting better as the off season progresses.’

‘A seventh-round draft pick out of Ball State, McKenzie was drafted by Green Bay, where he spent four seasons. He has also spent time with Cleveland and the Chicago Bears.’

”’Someone said to me, `Hey, coach.’ And I said to them, `What, player?,” Mularkey said with a smile on Wednesday, following the first of a three-day minicamp. The conversation with the player concluded with Mularkey saying: ”You can call me, `Mike.””

”’It’s not easy, but I think to get where you want to go, you have to take a step back sometimes,” Stewart said. ”I would think it would be a great one-two punch, and it’s going to do nothing but make our team stronger if I wind up coming.”’

‘McKenzie, an eight-year veteran, saw limited playing time in his first season with Buffalo last year. The signing came in time for McKenzie to take part in Buffalo’s first minicamp session under new coach Mike Mularkey later in the day.’

‘Mini-camp rules for new coaches allow for an additional camp and Mularkey has chosen to make his first one as a Bills coach mandatory. “Most teams do have one camp that’s mandatory,” Mularkey said. “We anticipate our players having a high attendance for the whole offseason and after this week the rest of our camps are voluntary.”‘

‘”This first minicamp will serve as an introduction to the coaching staff, especially the new coaches who are on the staff,” Mularkey said. “It will also serve as an introduction to the new offensive system and some of the changes that are going to be made. It is really to get a feel for our philosophy as a team and how we want to approach the season starting early on in March.”‘

‘Staninger said Buffalo’s offer was structured in a way that made it competitive with Tennessee’s. Volek chose to stay in Nashville in large part because of personal reasons, not wanting to uproot his young family from a community they’ve embraced. “The Bills were disappointed but they understood,” Staninger said.’

”’Who knows how long he’s going to play,” Johnson said of Bledsoe, an 11-year veteran. ”And there’s a clear distinct spot for a No. 2 guy, and I’ve got a lot of experience coming off the bench and winning games.”’

‘"Very good. I enjoyed talking to Mike Mularkey, Frank Verducci and all the other guys. I liked what I heard so far. It’s great to be up here in Buffalo, an hour from my home town of Rochester. I’ve enjoyed everything so far. The facilities are phenomenal. They really compare to some of the best in the league so it’s nice to see. Hopefully things might work out."’