Two Bills Drive

‘[Q:] Rumors are saying that you’ve bulked up a lot in the offseason what do you say to that? [A:] "I’ve been working out hard. That’s one thing that I didn’t do last year after the combine. Between the combine and the draft last year I wasn’t really doing much. I was on pins and needles. Where this year, already in the first part of January I started working out again and getting into shape. I have bulked up a little bit. I’m looking forward to this year."’

2003 NFL Draft: Mock Draft Picks

Ken Simonton will get a second chance to record history this week when the Claymores face the Berlin Thunder, the team that Simonton scored a record-tying 4 rushing touchdowns against in Week 1. Since that game, Simonton has only scored one touchdown but should be able to return to his winning ways against the worst defense in the league.

‘"The way it looks to us," Donahoe said, "there will be a significant run on the defensive linemen. So a guy or two we thought might be there a month ago might not be there now. This draft is top-heavy in defensive linemen, but short in other areas."’

‘Unlike most of the seven other four-team divisions, there isn’t a weak link in the AFC East.’

‘”You don’t zero in on a position. We always don’t,” Modrak said. “But it’s even more acute now. We’re going to take a good player.”‘

Upcoming interviews scheduled.

Very alert and instinctive athlete with above average agility, balance and body control…Shows toughness and aggression in his demeanor, doing a very good job with his hands and keeping his feet moving through the line to gain penetration…Shows explosion off the snap and turns to get up-field in a hurry.

Great worker in the weight room with good speed and quickness…Stays on his feet and uses his hands effectively to defeat low blocks getting through traffic…Has .good recovery speed and the range to get deep in his pass drops…Shows good short area ball awareness running with the tight ends and tailbacks in the underneath routes…Has the natural hands needed for the interception

Since 1967, the first year of a combined AFL-NFL draft, the Bills have had the top-overall selection four times. O.J. Simpson (’69) is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Bruce Smith (’85), when, or if, he ever retires, will certainly join him in the gridiron shrine. Tom Cousineau (’79) opted to play for the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL, and never stepped foot on a field for Buffalo. His NFL rights were later traded to Cleveland. And then there’s Walt Patulski. The No. 1 pick in 1972.

‘"Two years ago when we started, we were just trying to get picks and get as many as we could because we were trying to fill up the roster. Last year it was a little different. This year, it’s a little different and probably next year it will be a little different. But our job is to be prepared. We want to be prepared so that no matter what happens Saturday and Sunday we can react to it and we’re prepared to react to it."’

‘The event featuring the former Buffalo Bills coach, a member of the Pro Football hall of Fame, will include music from the Jamestown High School marching band, fun events, and a celebration of cancer survival. Levy will sign autographs after his presentation.’

‘”It’s what we see on tape that really counts, what we think of him as a football player, what his character is, his intelligence,” Modrak said, explaining what’s important to the Bills’ brain trust when they are sizing up prospective draft choices.’

Three weeks ago, SportsLine.com gave Tom Donahoe, Gregg Williams, Tom Modrak and company the top spot of our offseason grades. They had no first-round pick and could not pay two receivers Eric Moulds money. They had the guts to franchise Price, then shop him for a No. 1. They found their dance partner in Atlanta and the Bills are back in the first-round derby.

Grading the impact of an NFL draft is a tricky business, particularly before the prospects have yet to report to their first minicamp. But you can be assured that on Monday morning following each and every NFL Draft, various media outlets across the country will share their thoughts on how teams fared.

Now a full-year later, here's a look back at how Buffalo's 2002 Draft was graded.