Two Bills Drive

‘After visiting various pro, college and youth-level fields in 10 – 15 cities, Munson and Frandina settled on AstroPlay for a variety of reasons. One of the biggest was the field’s "G-max" rating, which measures the hardness of a ground surface based on vertical-drop tests. A measurement of zero is extremely soft; a measurement of 200 is extremely hard. Natural grass is an 85, and AstroPlay is close, "around an 85 to a 95," Munson says.’

Ryan Denney will have something to celebrate this Father's Day. The Buffalo Bills defensive end is a new father, welcoming his daughter to the world just two months ago. Though he is in the midst of training during mini-camp, he has also has his hands full at home, caring for an infant. But Denney doesn't let his fatherly duties interfere with his job. He's been hitting the weights and practicing hard in anticipation of the 2003 season.

‘"I have one request, actually an order, for you ladies – to beat the Patriots on opening day."’

Kevin (Buffalo): Mort, my beloved Bills have made many great moves this offseason with the only downside being we had to trade Peerless Price. Do you think that Josh Reed will be able to fill his shoes or not? Thanks

Chris Mortensen: (7:12 PM ET ) Price and Reed are different receivers. Price is a speed, deep guy and Reed is a possession, run after the catch guy. Don’t forget, Eric Moulds is still the best receiver on the Bills and he’s not going anywhere. Bledsoe will be better in the system. The O-line will be better. Travis Henry will be hungry. It may be a little different, but the Bills should be better this season.

‘Sape didn’t expect to be drafted. He’s enthusiasm has shown in Mini Camp with many off sides which drives new defensive line coach Tim Krumrie crazy. You can tell just from his brief time of the field, Sape’s motor is always running.’

‘Considered a project, Sape will have time to develop on a Bills defensive front made up of starters Sam Adams and Pat Williams, and projected backups Ron Edwards and Justin Bannan.’

‘A native of nearby Cheektowaga, Lance Cpl. Eric Orlowski was one of the Iraq war’s first casualties, killed March 22 when a .50-caliber machine gun accidentally misfired. So it was a bittersweet memory when members of Bravo Company, 8th tank battalion, attended Bills practice Wednesday.’

Sape (whose name pronounced "la-VAH-lay sah-PAY) was a mainstay on the defensive line in his last two years at nose guard for Utah, where he started 14 of 35 career games. Last season, Sape was an All-Mountain West Conference second-team selection after starting every game at nose guard.

The oldest living NFL player begins another story. This one is about visiting the Buffalo Bills Fieldhouse recently. There he met Gregg Williams and gave insight to the Bills coach about how the game was before agents, salary caps, ball control and even the wishbone offense.’

‘What Cota feared was spending mini camp and training camp in Buffalo and then getting cut before the season started in early September. The Bills were offering Cota the minimum salary for an eight-year veteran, believed to be more than $600,000, but he would collect virtually none of it if he were released.’

‘It has been 20 years since he last played for the Bills, but Cater still has a job that requires him to work on Sundays. He is now the pastor of the Fairview Baptist Church in Rome, Ga.’

‘"I was just watching it in the air the whole time and I saw Carlton out of the side of my eye. I thought if we both go for it, one of us is going to drop it. So I just put my hands in the air and moved back from it. I followed him in (to the endzone). That was the difference. That was a huge play. But I wish I would have caught it and been on ‘Good Morning America’ and get a little bit higher of a salary sooner," Wright laughed.’

‘Cota has not officially filed his retirement papers with the league. His agent said he is considering doing so.’

‘Dickerson, who shared the afternoon time slot with Mike Schopp last season after Schopp moved over from rival sports station WNSA, originally was supposed to take the winter and summer off and return in the fall in time for the National Football League season. Ried said the station decided against bringing back the Coach and disrupting the afternoon show that has been hosted by Schopp alone since Dickerson left for Florida.’

‘Riemersma, who had been asked to take a pay cut in Buffalo, said he wasn’t disappointed that he had to leave the Bills after a productive 10-year career. “I left a great owner (Ralph Wilson), a great organization. There have been a lot of changes there the last two years, and I don’t necessarily consider them changes for the better. It was just my time to leave and I sensed that and I’m actually happy the way things turned out. They got a new GM in there. I got along well with (former GM) John Butler. I didn’t necessarily see eye to eye with some of the things that took place there in the last few years. We left amicably with ownership, and really, that’s all I cared about.”‘

Editor’s Note: Riemersma has played is in his 9th NFL season