Two Bills Drive

‘The Dolphins have agreed to a two-year contract with Sammy Morris, a pass-catching running back/fullback who played the last four seasons in Buffalo.’

‘”I don’t think there was any one that was better timed than that one and it wasn’t due to my skill of trying to time the tackle,” Stratton said. “I think it was due to my fear that Lincoln was going to catch the ball and his feet were going to hit the ground before I got to him and then I might miss him. So I was driven more by fear than anything else. It was a good collision. I felt it and I knew that he felt it. I didn’t know what would happen. I was happy in some ways that he was not coming back into the game because he had already given us fits, but I was also happy that he didn’t seem to be that badly hurt. So it sort of worked out well.”‘

I met Winfield in April 1999 after Buffalo drafted him 23rd overall. I wrote for the independent Bills publication Shout!, and was assigned to ghostwrite an ongoing diary chronicling a player’s rookie year. We chose Winfield, figuring there wouldn’t be any better subject than the team’s first pick. As it turned out, there probably weren’t many better subjects in the NFL.

‘The Bills are fully committed to Drew Bledsoe for the 2004 season and are not expected to be eager to bring in a quarterback who would be considered a serious threat to their starter. Volek, given his apprenticeship in the Titans’ system, would be more of a threat than Henson. Bledsoe is due to receive a contract bonus in November and his future with the team beyond this year depends on his performance.’

‘Sunday, the Bills are scheduled to meet with Volek in Nashville.’

‘The Dolphins and free-agent fullback Sammy Morris started contract negotiations Wednesday but didn’t reach an agreement. The Dolphins want Morris, who played with Buffalo the past four seasons, as a backup to Rob Konrad after Femi Ayanbadejo signed last Saturday with Arizona.’

The Bills are in need of a backup TE to play behind Mark Campbell. Roland Williams is a free agent since being released by Bucaneers. The talks between Williams and the Bills are considered to be in the preliminary stages at the moment.

‘Morris, who’s been a valuable special teams player the past three seasons in Buffalo, visited the Miami Dolphins yesterday, according to his agent, Mark Slough. Earlier, Morris met with the Cleveland Browns. Slough pointed out that two of the teams interested in his client had to face Morris a combined four times each season. “I don’t think that’s coincidence,” Slough said of the interest in Morris, a 6-foot, 220-pounder. “Obviously, they scout the division closely and know what people can do.”‘

Ricky Thomas, the Colts’ offensive quality control coach the past two seasons, was promoted recently to tight ends coach. The quality control position has been filled by former NFL tight end Pete Metzelaars. Metzelaars, 43, worked with the Colts during 2003 training camp, helping coach the team’s tight ends. He played 16 NFL seasons with four NFL teams, playing with Seattle from 1982-84, Buffalo from 1984-1994, Carolina in 1995 and Detroit from 1996-97. Metzelaars caught 383 passes in the NFL for 3,686 yards and 29 touchdowns.

The Indianapolis Colts have hired former NFL standout tight end Pete Metzelaars as offensive quality control coach, the club announced Tuesday.

‘The 5-foot-9 Macklin isn’t in Winfield’s class as a consistent cover man. However, the 25-year-old plays aggressively and has good quickness. He played his best later in the season for the Colts and had four takeaways (two interceptions and two fumble recoveries) in the playoffs. A former third-round pick, he has seven interceptions in four years. Macklin also visited Cincinnati over the weekend.’

‘Macklin is an intriguing, younger option. A third-round pick in 2000 out of Penn State, he has started 63 games, totaling 177 tackles, 37 pass breakups, and seven interceptions. In three playoff games last season, the 5-foot-9, 196-pound Macklin made 12 tackles with two fumble recoveries and two interceptions, both against Denver.’

‘During Polk’s rookie season at Buffalo, the Bills used a 3-4 defense, and Polk said he could play inside or outside. Monday marked Polk’s first free-agent visit, and he will meet with the New York Jets today. He spent part of his Texans visit having lunch with linebacker Jay Foreman, a former teammate with the Bills.’

‘Morris’ agent, Mark Slough, said Morris accepts the fact he won’t be a primary back next season, but he wants to go to a team that involves him in the offense. The 6-foot, 225-pound Morris was a three-time special teams captain for the Bills, another attraction for the Pats.’

‘Whether he’s being brought in to simply add numbers to a backfield that has only one player signed right now (Kevin Faulk) or if the Patriots see something in Morris that has not yet been tapped by the Bills is unclear. He’s a good special-teams player, serving as the Bills’ special-teams captain last season.’