Two Bills Drive

‘Great coverage on punts and kickoffs earned Bannister a Pro Bowl berth this season. The Seahawks ranked No. 1 in the NFL in punt coverage and seventh in kickoff coverage. Bannister saw little time at receiver, catching only three passes for 61 yards all year. He was No. 4 on the Seattle depth chart, behind Darrell Jackson, Koren Robinson and Bobby Engram.’

‘”I talked to the receiver coach and the special teams coach. I think they’re excited for me to be able to do both, especially playing a second or third receiver position. You have to be able to play special teams too. I think it’s a big advantage when you can do both. I’m an up and coming receiver. My best years are ahead of me.”‘

‘”Does it get any better for me?” said Williams, who missed most of the 2003 season after knee and toe surgeries. “I don’t know the Bills salary cap situation or what they’ve allotted for another tight end, but I will say I’ve had a great time and I would love to be part of this organization. I’m going to come back and be a hard-nosed player for somebody in this league. I’m just praying that it can for my hometown Buffalo Bills.”‘

‘Unless they renegotiate that deal by November, they’ll have to pay Bledsoe a $2 million bonus, which also makes him a free agent at season’s end, or pay him a $7 million bonus to extend the contract through the 2007 season. Either bonus will be a stretch against Buffalo’s salary cap, but the Bills are unlikely to pay the $7 million unless Bledsoe is having a career season.’

‘Additionally, the Buffalo Bills may have bowed out of the race, as Staninger informed them Wednesday that their initial offer was not in range and said he had not yet heard back from them.’

‘”I’m definitely looking forward to having an opportunity to play as a receiver, whether it be the third or second – or first, whatever,” Bannister told reporters in Buffalo. “I do want to make that transition. I’m a wide receiver that can play special teams, not a special-teams player that can play receiver.”‘

‘The Bills surprisingly bowed out of the Drew Henson sweepstakes early and are likely to consider using a middle- or late-round selection on a quarterback such as Matt Schaub of Virginia. Patriots UFA Damon Huard could be on the radar, and former Ravens QB Chris Redman will get another chance. But for as many hits as Drew Bledsoe is prone to take, even in a toned-down, run-first offense, the Bills have to provide a safety net. It would be unfortunate to be in the division race in November only to see playoff hopes dashed because of a Bledsoe injury. The Falcons know all too well how quickly the cookie crumbles if the main ingredient is lost.’

‘Williams met with Mike Mularkey and the Bills coaching staff and came away impressed by the direction the team is taking. He says the talks will now be between his agent and the team to see if they can come up with contract terms.’

‘So, again my vote is a yes, but don’t break the bank to get him.’

‘”They have a need for a tight end that can get after it, block, and do some of the things I can do,” Williams said. “I had a great meeting with Coach Mularkey and we definitely have some similarities in what we want for our team.”‘

‘”The first game I ever went to was when I was six years old. We sat up in the nose bleed seats when they played the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys were beasts that year and Buffalo wasn’t that good but Buffalo smashed them.”‘

‘Volek’s agent, Ken Staninger, said that his client would like to have his final decision made within the next few days.’

‘I know first hand how those guys feel right now, how excited they are to be in a different city and get the opportunity to play in such a prestigious tournament. You only get this opportunity so many times and you have to take advantage of it every time. From talking to some of the players I got that feeling that I had when I played. They have that same feeling. They are excited to get started.’

‘”Any time you get a proposal from a quality organization like the Bills, it’s worthy of consideration,” Staninger said. “At this point, that’s all I’d like to comment.”‘

‘Broadcasting has always appealed to him – he majored in communications at the University of Pittsburgh – and he also may decide to coach. Along with his radio work for the Bills, he will also break down film on a volunteer basis for new coach Mike Mularkey and meet early in the week with the team’s quarterbacks.’