Two Bills Drive

‘Q: What was the biggest reason why the defense improved so much over the year? -Derek Grimm (Red Lion, PA)

NC: We had more talent by far. We get more and more talent on the defense every year. We gelled together. We just had that mentality that we are going to beat the guys across the ball from us.’

‘"The size was impressive and some of the guys who did run, ran fast," said Donahoe. "It’s really unusual with the number of receivers who are 6’2" and 6’3". In past years you’d get a guy or two, but now you have a whole host of them and it seems that the players that everybody has at the top of the draft are all bigger receivers."’

‘”I think we need to discuss it further, but I didn’t want to prejudge him,” Mularkey said last week. “We have evaluations coming in on all the positions and I want to evaluate him as a player first. Obviously, he still can play. We’ll see where we are with him with that, the whole line really, then we’ll talk more.”‘

‘Off the field Bruce was far from perfect. He did his share of whining at contract time and certainly angered his share of sportswriters. But nobody meant more to the Bills defense in their hey-day. And now Bruce deserves one more day in a Bills uniform.’

‘”Free agency is a continuous process,” Guy said. “We usually get started in April for the upcoming year. We call it projective free agency because we project the players who we think will be free agents. Sometimes contracts or incentives will take players out of free agency and other times those things will make players free agents.”‘

Expecting to upgrade at the position, the Houston Texans have released free safety Matt Stevens, a move that will save the team about $2.5 million in cap space. This marks the second time in two years that the Texans released Stevens but, unlike in 2003, the much-traveled eight-year veteran will not be returning to the team. Stevens, 30, is now a free agent and can negotiate with other teams. In stints with Buffalo (1996), Philadelphia (1997-98), Washington (1998-2000), New England (2000-2001) and Houston, he started in 42 of 104 appearances. Stevens has 276 tackles, 13 interceptions and 31 passes defensed for his career.

And I liked what the Bills had me do. They asked me to rate three aspects of NFL life in order: the Super Bowl, financial security, and the Pro Bowl. I put them in that exact order, with the Super Bowl being the most important. Financial security is nice, of course, but to be a champion would mean a lot to me. The Pro Bowl is nice too, but you have to fly over a lot of water to get there, and as you’ll read, I’m not a big fan of flying these days.

‘Bledsoe’s successor isn’t on the roster. He’s only 32 but has started since entering the league and has taken a tremendous beating over the last five seasons. The Bills need to start looking for a replacement but the pickings are slim in free agency. Billy Volek of Tennessee will likely have several suitors. On the offensive line, McNally has made a career of thriving with low-round picks that will play the style he teaches. Like almost every team the Bills could use help rushing the passer.’

‘”I’m the luckiest guy going,” Wyche said. “How many times can you call up and say, ‘I’m looking for the job. Oh, by the way, I have a heart disease … and I can’t talk very well, do you have a job for me?”‘

‘Schulz and his wife, Susan, have returned to Western New York and make their home in Clarence with their two sons; Patrick, 7, and Daniel, 5. Since last October, he has worked in Buffalo for Merrill Lynch as a financial advisor. “I love it, absolutely love it,” says Schulz. “One of the reasons that I wanted to get into this business is because I saw so many football players not succeed in managing their money. I guess I was maybe one of the ones that did because my background’s in accounting and I love this line of work. I love following financial markets and learning about it. Part of what I want to accomplish is to help out athletes and steer them in the right direction.”‘

‘Bills general manager Tom Donahoe said he spoke at least twice with Houston officials about Henson at the NFL’s Indianapolis Scouting Combine, which concludes today. Donahoe said he’d like to either bring Henson to Buffalo for more evaluation or go to him with the Texans’ permission.’

‘Suggestion to Bills general manager Tom Donahoe: Trade the No. 13 overall pick for a package of later picks, including one late in the first round. Send that pick to the Redskins for Ramsey, immediately name him starting QB and release Bledsoe (if he can’t be traded for at least a middle-round pick, and I wouldn’t count on that).’

The Buffalo Bills, seeking an eventual successor to Drew Bledsoe, would love to have Ramsey on board.

‘A quarterback to eventually replace Drew Bledsoe? A speed receiver or game-breaking tight end to give an offense that didn’t score a touchdown in seven games some firepower? A top-shelf center or guard to fortify the middle of a line that gave up an NFL-worst 51 sacks? A pass-rushing defensive end? A cornerback if free agent Antoine Winfield moves on? Fill any one of those needs and Buffalo’s a better team.’

‘”He hasn’t played in three years and it’s going to take him some time to get back in the swing,” Donahoe said. “But he’s big and he’s a good athlete and his arm was good enough. But it was a workout.”‘