Two Bills Drive

‘"You hope you find a grouping that gives you a personnel advantage," said Gilbride. "Then you develop your package within that. You have to have enough going on so there’s diversity. The defense can’t say, "This is all they do.’ There has to be some change-of-direction plays. There has to be play-action passes. You have to be able to threaten them in a variety of ways."’

‘These Bills now believe in themselves.’

‘David M. White, a fullback/linebacker with the Tampa Bay Storm Arena Football League who played for the Buffalo Bills for two years, and his bride, Monica J. Brown, multicultural affairs director for Fredonia State College, will be at home in Depew. The Rev. Ronald P. Sadjak performed their marriage ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday in St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church.’

‘” It’s a big-time game for us,” said guard Ruben Brown, who will be playing in his ninth opener as a Bill. ” We have a lot of stuff riding on it. We don’t want to end up like last year, losing the opener. We want to get off to a good start.”‘

‘Sportsmen can help “Hunt Out Hunger” and get a shot at a hunting trip with former Buffalo Bills All-Pro center Kent Hull.’

‘His first regular-season game of the year could create some anxious moments, as Carroll gets the Buffalo Bills against the New England Patriots next Sunday in Buffalo. Those two teams could end up battling for the AFC East championship.’

‘Thomas, who grew up in Hamilton and played high school football at Glendale, Barton and St. Thomas More, went on to star at Wake Forest University in North Carolina before signing with the Bills, who liked him but already were deep at his position.’

wasn’t that sold on them until I visited their camp. Then I got a lively swashbuckling feeling that they really think they have something special going. I’m not wild about their D-line, but I think the linebacking set, with new additions Takeo Spikes and Jeff Posey, will be so good that it’ll cover for the deficiency.

"The Buffalo Bills finished last in the East in 2002, but at 8-8, were one game behind the Patriots, Dolphins and New York Jets. The Bills lost receiver Peerless Price and his 1,252 yards and nine touchdowns, but Josh Reed will be counted on to complement Pro Bowl receiver Eric Moulds."

Giants coach Jim Fassel strongly hinted yesterday that his new kicker, Mike Hollis is headed to season-ending injured reserve. And the Giants have a reason to worry that they could be out a long time. Hollis, who signed a five-year, $4 million contract with a $500,000 signing bonus during the offseason, had back surgery in 2000, causing him to miss four games. Hollis kicked for Buffalo in 2002.

‘The Bills kept six a year ago. How many they keep this season will depend on the status of Olandis Gary. According to sources, the Detroit Lions have contacted the Bills about Gary, who is the top backup behind Travis Henry.’

‘”This whole time I’ve been begging for a chance,” he said. “The window opened up, and I just had to take advantage of it. I just felt so comfortable out there. I’ll just leave that in God’s hands. Every day is so exciting. I’m praying for Travis, obviously, for his finger to heal, but I’m just excited to be a part of this team right now.”‘

‘Bills players and projected number at each position…’.

‘Anyone listening to Miller call the Bills final preseason game, a 22-16 victory over the Detroit Lions, realizes the 70-something voice of the Bills still has a decent set of pipes and great enthusiasm for the game. Just as clearly, his eyesight is failing him at times and he is late to see plays develop and who makes them.’

‘In 1978, the NFL expanded the regular season by two games (14 to 16) and cut the preseason by two (six to four). Now the debate is taking that a step further, cutting the preseason to two games and expanding the regular season to 18.’