Two Bills Drive

‘Criqui, who along with Enberg is the co-host of the Hall of Fame Festival Parade on Saturday, is pleased that he is being honored the same weekend that two former Bills, James Lofton and Joe DeLamielleure, are entering the Hall of Fame. "I am a blown away Bills fan," he admits. "If I have one regret about the Hall of Fame, it’s that (Bills owner) Ralph Wilson isn’t in it."’

‘Thomas was overwhelmed and confused for weeks, if not months, and for most of last season it showed.’

‘” People ask me if I would like to get the ball more, and I say, ‘ No way,'” says Gash, who has a total of four carries the past four seasons and only 120 during his 11-year NFL career. ” Those running backs have targets on their backs. They got 11 guys after them. I’d much rather be the guy doing the punishing. I love knocking a linebacker off his feet and watching a back like Travis Henry run down the field for a big gain.”‘

‘” He can play center or guard and that makes him a valuable commodity in the NFL,” offensive-line coach Pat Ruel said. ” Trey Teague (the starting center) will be a better center because he has Mike behind him.”‘

‘Another possible stumbling block in talks is Buffalo’s plans for McGahee once he does sign. Donahoe is giving out signals he may place McGahee on the non-football injury list, meaning the Bills would not be liable for his base salary until he’s ready to play. Apparently the non-football designation can be used since McGahee was hurt while still in college.’

‘”I know a lot of people expect a lot of great things out of me,” he said. “I expect a lot of great things out of myself. That’s why I feel there’s no pressure.”‘

‘”I could have gone anywhere and visited a lot of teams,” he says. “This is where I wanted to be. I felt this was the best shot for me.”‘

‘The drive from Albany to the Rochester suburb got me thinking: How do the folks in this portion of New York and the New York City area vote on things that affect each other? Granted they are considered the same state, but anyone who has ever driven in upstate New York knows that the area has about as much in common with the Big Apple, Long Island and Westchester as Alabama does. We don’t have places that boast, “Mo’s Truck Motel $15.99 per night” in New York City. They don’t have subways packed with people who talk to themselves.’

‘Either way, I admire the confidence Williams has in himself and his team. He believes the Bills are going to be winners this season, and he believes his big payday will result. And he doesn’t seem bothered in the least this season by his lack of job security.’

‘Battles was released by the Jaguars on June 30, along with four other players.’

‘This year marks the third straight year that the Bills and Browns are meeting for preseason workouts.’

‘Things went fairly smooth in Rochester today as the team only held an afternoon practice open to the public. The most notable play of the day was cornerback Marcus Floyd’s bone-crushing hit on speedy wideout James Jett. Both of these players are fighting for a spot on the team at their respective positions and the hit was mostly a result of both trying thier hardest to make a play.’

Some very nice shots taken by a Stadium Wall veteran.

‘"We had a lot of options on the table, took visits to a couple different teams," Battle said following his first practice with the Bills. "Just on paper and the free agent acquisitions, Buffalo seemed like a very good fit for me."’

‘Battles will wear jersey #30 and is expected at this afternoon’s practice.’