Two Bills Drive

New Buffalo Bills coach Mike Mularkey had a busy first draft, selecting a wide receiver and quarterback in the first round. Here are his answers to questions on the 2004 NFL Draft.

‘Case started every game at right guard over the past two seasons and also handled long-snapping duties for the Division II college in Alamosa, CO.’

‘”They called me right away and I thought it was a great opportunity,” Graham said. “I don’t have to go into camp and compete against a first-round pick, or any draft pick. This is the best fit for me right now.”‘

‘”We feel that J.P. is coming into a great situation,” Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe said. “He’s a young quarterback with tremendous potential that does not have to play immediately, and he gets an opportunity to learn from one of the best quarterbacks in the game and to learn from probably one of the best quarterback coaches (Sam Wyche) in the league over the years. It looks like it’s a win-win situation for everyone.”‘

‘It was blatantly obvious the Bills were going to pass on the $7 million Nov. 1 option that would have extended Bledsoe’s contract three years at a total cost of $25 million.’

‘Kalsu, who had been in ROTC at Oklahoma University, never considered not going when called to serve, although the Bills, as did all teams in all sports, could have pulled strings for him. He had made a commitment, so he honored it.’

Steinberg said Lorenzen signed a standard one-year free agent contract with a modest bonus. Steinberg wouldn’t elaborate on the bonus. Buffalo and Cincinnati were also interested, the agent said, but Lorenzen chose the Giants because he felt there was a better opportunity there.

‘By tearing up the final seven years on an exorbitant 10-year, $103 million deal he signed with his old team, the New England Patriots, in March 2001, Bledsoe and the Bills helped each other on several fronts.’

‘Two more Nevada football players have signed free-agent contracts with NFL teams. Linebacker Daryl Towns has signed with the Buffalo Bills and offensive guard Isaiah Ross has joined the San Diego Chargers.’

‘Williams, who started his college career at Texas Tech, finished his senior season at Alabama as the Southeastern Conference’s top rusher in 2003. He gained 1,367 yards and had 14 touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards a carry. At Andrews, Williams was a four-time all-district selection and three-time district most valuable player.’

‘Bledsoe agreed to a three year deal to replace the ten year contract he signed with New England before his trade to Buffalo. The renegotiation provides Bledsoe with some security in Buffalo, gives the Bills some four million extra salary cap dollars to play with and frees both from Bledsoe’s seven million dollar bonus due in November.’

‘Republicans, meanwhile, had a momentary burst of excitement at the possibility that former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly might be coaxed to run. But that hope seemed to be dashed when Kelly’s company poured cold water on the idea. ”I don’t think he anticipates that he would be entertaining an idea of running for Congress,” said Kelly’s marketing manager Ann Broker.’

‘”I like the fact that people don’t like his personality,” said Donahoe of the Bills new quarterback of the future. “Because he’s a competitor and he’s going to try to stick it in your face and he’s going to try to stick it in everybody’s face. That’s what we like about him.”‘

Buffalo: A-. Sports commentators said J. P. Losman was the first first-round quarterback Buffalo has taken since Jim Kelly in 1983. But since that time, the Bills twice have traded No. 1 picks for quarterbacks: Rob Johnson and Drew Bledsoe. Thus, Losman really isn’t the franchise’s first first-round try since Kelly, though obviously anything that rubs a little “Jim Kelly” onto the gentleman is highly welcome.

‘Bledsoe, 32, said he agreed to rework his contract to give the team flexibility to sign other players and provide stability at quarterback for several years. “I decided that what was in the best interests of the organization and ballclub was also in my best interest,” Bledsoe said at the news conference. “At this stage in my life, let’s face it, having a little extra money isn’t going to make that big of a difference.”’