Two Bills Drive

If you’ve read or heard anything about the Buffalo Bills in the last six months, it’s probably been about Drew Bledsoe. From the moment the quarterback was traded here from the New England Patriots last April, people have speculated that Bledsoe and wide receiver Eric Moulds could create a new millennium version of the Jim Kelly-Andre Reed connection.

‘Eleven of Buffalo’s 16 games will be against eight of the NFL’s 12 leading rushers from last season.’

‘Moulds felt restricted in Sheppard’s West Coast scheme, which required receivers to run to a certain spot even if the defensive coverage dictated doing something else. As a result, Moulds believed Sheppard’s schemes made it easier for defenses to take him and Price out of the passing game.’

‘Immediately after the Bills-New York Jets opener ends on Channel 4 Sunday, Empire plans to simulcast Howard Simon’s postgame coverage on the regional cable channel and sister radio station WNSA-FM.’

‘A bipartisan group of Erie County legislators called Friday for a portion of Abbott Road in Orchard Park to be renamed "Jim Kelly Boulevard" to honor the former Buffalo Bills quarterback.’

‘On paper, this line is vastly improved but that improvement hasn’t yet transferred onto the field.’

‘But is Williams really in danger of a quick hook? Hardly. He is the hand-picked coach of general manager Tom Donahoe, who also plucked the fiery Bill Cowher from the ranks of the obscure to coach the Pittsburgh Steelers back to prominence. The difference is that these two can actually stand being in the same room together. They have mutual admiration. Their personalities mesh. They are a team within the team.’

‘Thus, here’s one man’s list of the Bills’ best home games each season since 1973…’

‘Q: Going deep means more Eric more of the time doesn’t it? MOULDS: It should. It gives me an opportunity to do what I can do. Last year that wasn’t me. That wasn’t my strength. We did some things that teams took advantage of by putting a guy underneath and putting a guy over the top, and it was easy to take me out of the game. I never really had a chance to go deep. I think this year’s a little bit better because I have an opportunity to get open.’

‘On Sunday, Cowart will play first and second downs, but will gradually be worked into third down situations once he tests his Achilles to assess whether it’s ready for the rigors of pass coverage.’

26 players currently on the 53-man roster are appearing in a Bills uniform for the first time. In addition to the new personnel on the field, Kevin Gilbride joined the Bills staff as offensive coordinator in February of 2002, bringing 12 years of NFL coaching experience to the staff.

‘The former Bills Pro Bowler will start at weak-side linebacker for the Jets. He is healthy. But whether he is back to being the dominating, sideline-to-sideline tackling machine he was with the Bills remains uncertain.’

‘Through the team’s marketing partnership with Tops Friendly Markets, the Bills are offering discounts of nearly 30 percent on four-packs of tickets for the alcohol-free Tops Family Corner. It’s the first time the Bills have offered discounted individual game tickets.’

‘"He adds a real sense of legitimacy," Bills linebacker London Fletcher said. "You have to respect our quarterback position, because he does have the ability to put up 400 yards on a given week if you’re not on top of your game from a defensive-secondary standpoint."’

‘Defensive tackle Pat Williams is well past missing Cowart. “It won’t be weird,” Williams said. “It’s a business now. He’s over there. He’s the enemy. I’ll talk to him after the game — once we whup them.”‘