Two Bills Drive

‘“I think he has a lot to prove and I think he’ll make the whole defense better, even the team better,” Fauria said. “He’s not a defensive leader, he’s a team leader. I hate to say it. He’s a friend but he’s the enemy now and that’s weird.”’

‘On the other side of the coin, another veteran was asked if Milloy’s release had demoralized some players. “Hell, yes,” said the veteran. “Let me ask you, what does it mean to be a captain around here? What does it mean to get one of those parking spots (for being among the team leaders in offseason workouts, which Milloy was)? I see that `Iron-man’ T-shirt hanging in his locker (given to those players who participated in every training camp practice) – what does that get you?’

‘A bigger problem is what Milloy can tell the Bills about the Patriots. Although Belichick and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel don’t give the defenders that Sunday’s game plan until Wednesday – a day after Milloy was dumped for refusing to take a pay cut – Milloy’s knowledge of the Patriots defense is almost unsurpassed.’

‘”I would expect our defense to be a little more stingier this year than they were last year,” Buffalo quarterback Drew Bledsoe said, “and I would expect our offensive production to remain high. The real goal for us this year is to eliminate some of the mistakes that put us behind the eight-ball in some games.”‘

‘”Nobody knew our defense better than Lawyer did over the past three years. He handle a lot of audibles and checks in the secondary. I know he knows it and knows it well.”‘

‘One thing the Patriots have in their favor now that they didn’t have last year is an improved pass rush. If they can put heat on Bledsoe — who’s not a terribly elusive sort — that can cover a multitude of sins in the secondary.’

‘Maybe more important will be the way the Bills decide to deploy Milloy. He is talented. And he will be motivated. The Bills will want him on the field. But Milloy will be working virtually without a net if Buffalo opts to use him extensively. If he messes up a coverage — and working with an unfamiliar secondary group, that’s not out of the question — the Patriots will be ready to make him pay.’

”’I think we’re going to be pretty good,” he says. ”This is not going to change how I coach or my relationship with the team. This team plays hard all the time.”’

‘Milloy arrived too late to take part in Thursday’s practice, but he made it clear when asked about his feelings toward the Patriots, particularly head coach Bill Belichick. ”I could care less about him,” Milloy said. ”I’m all about the Buffalo Bills.”’

’12 — Number of combined sacks and turnovers the Patriots had in last season’s two lopsided wins over Buffalo.’

‘The Bills’ top priority is to keep the game close so all their game planning doesn’t go out the window after a half. In last year’s two lopsided losses, they trailed 17-0 and 20-0, forcing QB Drew Bledsoe to put the ball in the air 72 times and allowing New England coach Bill Belichick to scheme him to death. Buffalo’s remodeled defense needs to show up from the opening bell.’

‘His decision to pick Buffalo over other suitors such as Washington, St. Louis and Minnesota involved his familiarity with the AFC East and style of defense the Bills play. Buffalo is conjuring up new blitz looks under assistant head coach Dick LeBeau and Williams’ "46" scheme has always relied on a big-time hitting strong safety to play in the box.’

‘Despite all of the changes on both sides of the ball for Buffalo, Belichick thinks the biggest improvement the Bills made was on special teams. "The biggest change that I notice in Buffalo is on special teams," Belichick said. "They have a new kicker [Rian Lindell] but they have a very explosive return game. Their kickoff return game in preseason has been strong. The punt return game is probably as good as anybody’s in the league. Antonio Brown has shown great speed and playmaking ability in that phase of the game. So that is a big change for them."’

‘Also today, the team announced that quarterback Travis Brown has reached an injury settlement with the Bills. Brown had been placed on Injured Reserve on August 31 with a finger injury.’

‘Haggan, a three-year starter at Mississippi State, was Buffalo’s seventh-round draft pick. He became the odd-man out as the Bills were already carrying eight linebackers on their roster.’