Two Bills Drive

‘"It’s a different level. Everybody is fast. Everybody is strong. You always think you’re the strongest one in college and you come here and you’re going to dominate everybody. When it comes to this level it’s truly amazing and that’s why I was just jumping offside. I was really excited and also I got really comfortable so it came out really good. So we’ll see where it goes from there."’

The Bills want to become a ground-control, defensive-oriented team. That’s a far cry from the wide-open, pass-happy system from a year ago. The Bills were in the playoff hunt late in the season with that style but didn’t accomplish enough to let the team keep playing that way. So they put much of their offseason focus on improving the defense, while letting the starting top speed WR, FB and TE leave.

If expanding the NFL playoff field from 12 to 14 teams comes up for a vote at league meetings Tuesday and Wednesday in Philadelphia, the Bills will vote yes. GM Tom Donahoe said last season’s expansion to 32 teams makes expanding the playoff field logical and it wouldn’t water things down, considering 18 teams would still be left out.

The Bills will give new meaning to the term “burn rubber” this season at Ralph Wilson Stadium. After two years of study, the club has decided to replace its much criticized artificial turf with a synthetic grass system that utilizes pulverized old rubber tires and is catching on as the wave of the future.

If football was a game played from a desk with a suit coat as the uniform and cell phones and paperwork as the equipment, then the Buffalo Bills would be in the Super Bowl already. After a busy off-season of roster additions, the Bills stand easily among the top playoff contenders. Buffalobills.com writer Tim O'Shei reviews Buffalo's offensive personnel.

‘Jefferson is a 12-year veteran who caught 27 passes for Atlanta last season. Detroit reportedly is another club considering him. Jefferson, 34, will contend for a backup position wherever he signs. It’s believed he is being offered minimum-salary contracts.’

‘"My contribution to this team is unknown by anybody right now. If I said I knew what I was going to do I’d be lying. I’m not going to do that. Like I said, I definitely have goals for myself and I know I can play at this level. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got every time I step on the field be it practice or a game. I’m looking forward to it and I hope the coaches are too."’

An NFL source has told Empire Sports Network/WNSA that the Buffalo Bills are in discussions with veteran safety Marcus Robertson. Robertson has ties to Bills head coach Gregg Williams and defensive coordinator Jerry Gray from playing on their defensive unit during his playing days with the Tennessee Titans. Robertson was a member of the Seattle Seahawks roster the past two seasons.

May 22, 1963 – BILLS SIGN RUTKOWSKI

The Bills signed free agent all-purpose back Ed Rutkowski, out of Notre Dame.

May 18, 1975 – Olandis Gary

May 19, 1975 – London Fletcher

One asset the Bills bought with free agents was defensive flexibility. The acquisition of Jeff Posey gives them a player who can play LB or rush end, and the opposing offense won’t know which position Posey is playing on any given play. Takeo Spikes gives the Bills a second linebacker capable of covering on passing downs, as it already had London Fletcher. In fact, coach Gregg Williams’ plan is for both linebackers to play in dime defenses.

‘Why not switch directly to a natural surface? Bills President Tom Donahoe said the experience in Green Bay shows fields really deteriorate late in the season after the grass becomes dormant. "It’s just not practical in a lot of Northeast and Midwest stadiums," Donahoe said when announcing the AstroPlay contract.’

‘We’ll see about second-round pick Chris Kelsay in training camp. Is there a quality third cornerback? Kevin Thomas and Dainon Sidney will battle. Will Reese (Broncos) give Pierson Prioleau a run for the free safety job? Will Reed be good? Is there hope for the long-suffering return game? Will the team decide it looks odd to have coach Gregg Williams in the last year of his contract and the coordinators with two years left on their deals?’

‘Over 600 season tickets were sold as the Bills staged their annual Select-A-Seat day. Fans got to meet players, tour the lockerroom, take the quarterback challenge and touch and test the stadium’s new AstroPlay surface. In addition, some 3,000 prime season ticket locations were marked with over 20 percent of them being sold.’

‘He said that when he quit playing, he gave up ice cream. He quipped that he worked out all the time and was 14 percent body fat, while Greg and Mike Pruitt never worked out, yet were 9 percent. At one point, he and his wife debated adopting a Korean child, but weren’t sure. So one day, he walked into a Dairy Queen and ordered an ice cream for the first time in two years. While he was there, a man walked in with a Korean child. “I went up to him and said, `Where did you get him? I want one of those,’ ” DeLamieulleure said to many laughs. In the end, DeLamieulleure wound up adopting two Korean children. “God has a plan for all of us,” he said.”

There might be a running back battle in Buffalo this season, but it has nothing to do with the drafting of Willis McGahee. Ken Simonton wasn't even on an NFL roster last season, but he has done just what the Bills' player personnel department hoped he would in Europe — get better. Now Simonton has exploded offensively as a member of the Scottish Claymores and will challenge any other running back in Bills camp.