Two Bills Drive

‘Sidney, a third round draft pick by the Titans in 1998, will be reunited with several familiar faces in Buffalo. His former defensive coordinator with the Titans, Gregg Williams, is now head coach of the Bills, and his old position coach in Tennessee, Jerry Gray, is Buffalo’s defensive coordinator.’

‘Sidney signed for the NFL veteran minimum of $530,000 and also received a $25,000 signing bonus.’

”’I think Keith Armstrong is one of the better special teams coaches in the league, and I think Charlie is the missing piece for that return game,” Scott said.’

‘"We feel Charlie could be the missing piece on special teams for the Dolphins," said agent Everett Scott, whose client spurned an offer from the New York Jets to sign with the Dolphins. "The opportunity really presents itself. It’s a pretty attractive scenario."’

‘With the Bills in 2002, Rogers averaged 20 yards on kickoff returns and 5.3 yards on punt returns. Both averages were lower than those of Dolphin returners Travis Minor (23.3) and Dedric Ward (10.6), but Miami thinks Rogers is better-suited for its return scheme than Buffalo’s.’

‘In essence, the Dolphins will represent his fourth different team since the end of the 2001 season.’

Well, the Bills are at it again. Ken Simonton, a street free agent signed by Buffalo, was NFL Europe’s Offensive Player of the Week for its season-opening weekend.

‘Polk accepted a qualifying offer of about $600,000 made in February.’

‘Hollis converted 75.8 percent (25 of 33) of his field goal attempts for the Buffalo Bills last season, finishing with 115 points, fifth among AFC kickers.’

Carpenter, 25, came to the Falcons following three seasons in Buffalo, after the Bills did not tender him a qualifying offer last spring. He led all Atlanta secondary players with 73 tackles and also had four interceptions to go with 10 passes defensed.

The advantage Carpenter had when he joined the Falcons was a familiarity with the scheme being installed by first-year DC Wade Phillips, his head coaching for two of three seasons with the Bills.

‘Drafted by Tennessee in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft out of Alabama-Birmingham, Sidney (6-0, 188) played for the Oilers/Titans from 1998-2002. During that time, he appeared in 48 games (six starts) and recorded six interceptions.’

‘The five-year veteran spent his entire previous career with the Tennessee Titans and knee and forearm injuries have limited him to five appearances over the past two seasons. Sidney drew surprising interest, however, during the signing period, and rejected offers from the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions to join the Bills instead.’

‘Bills General Manager Tom Donahue, former coach Marv Levy and All-Pro player Ruben Brown will make the presentation. Many current and former players also will attend the event.’

‘The Bills could use someone to push two-year veteran Marques Sullivan, who started last season at right guard but is not proven enough to be entrenched at the position.’

What’s not to like about Buffalo’s aggressive overhaul of its defense, which ranked 27th in points allowed and 29th against the run last season? The Bills got better in terms of run-stopping with defensive tackle Sam Adams and end Keith McKenzie, improved their tackling and play-making at linebacker with Takeo Spikes and Jeff Posey, and upgraded at free safety with Izell Reese. Overall, they’re quicker across the board on defense. Plus, they played the tricky Peerless Price situation like a Stradivarius, trading their No. 2 receiver to Atlanta for a No. 1 draft pick. That means they’re back in the draft, even after giving up their 2003 No. 1 last year in the Drew Bledsoe deal. If Josh Reed steps up at receiver, replacing Price, the Bills are right there in the rugged AFC East. This much we’re certain of: Nobody in the division has improved more.