Two Bills Drive

‘His first official Bills’ trading card, produced for the NFL and Players, Inc. by card company Pacific, features an action shot of Bledsoe — as a Patriot.’

The Bills, too, think about Goodwin. Owner Ralph Wilson has helped him financially and is exploring aid for him through the NFL Players Assistance Fund and Dire Need Fund. Ex-teammates such as Jack Kemp, Ed Rutkowski and Booker Edgerson made personal donations.

Flanigan’s agent said the Bills are simply not interested. Leshnock said he called the Bills to gauge their interest and said the Bills have decided to go with a youth movement, “They told me they want to go young.”

Bills rookie tackle Mike Williams talks (media clip) about his love of Star Wars.

Riemersma said he is going to play under his current contract. Tom Donahoe said that Riemersma’s agent Jack Wirth stated to him, "There is nothing to talk about." Donahoe seemed a bit put-off by the negotiations. Buffalo does not need more cap space to sign its rookies, but the manner in which Donahoe explained the situation tells me that if the team wants to bring in an additional free agent sometime, it might not have any qualms about cutting the veteran tight end at this point.

The move came as a surprise to many Bills fans. With a young backfield that includes second-year man Travis Henry, NFL Europe star Curtis Alexander, late season starter Shawn Bryson, special teams specialist Sammy Morris, and rookie Joe Burns, the addition of Huntley, who is in his seventh season in the NFL, has been questioned.

‘But when asked if Huntley’s signing would make a trade more likely, Bills president Tom Donahoe said, "Not really. Names come up in conversations, and most of it is just conversation."’

Gates will open on June 8 at 12:30 PM and the event will begin at 1:30 PM. Players will be available afterwards for kids 14 and under and a ticket stub will be required to receive autographs. The event will feature a live performance by a national recording act, which will be announced later.

Bledsoe On Huntley: "I'm just glad to have him in the mix with us and how we use him we'll just have to wait and see. But he is a guy that we are happy to have in the mix with us."

One need look no further than at four recent members of June free-agent classes to see that teams looking for key pieces can occasionally find them among the raft of released players.

‘This is a make-or-break year for the former first-round draft pick, who is battling second-year pro Kendrick Office and second-round draft pick Ryan Denney for Hansen’s left end spot. If Flowers doesn’t produce, he’ll be forever labeled as a bust.’

‘The 5-foot-11, 225-pound Huntley is a big, physical back with good speed and elusiveness. He’s been hampered by hamstring injuries but has been productive when healthy.’

‘Jim Dunaway played for the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins and was married to Nonniel Dunaway for 35 years.’

By any measure, it had already been a remarkable offseason for the Bills.

Fresh from a 3-13 disaster, they had lost LB Cowart to Jets via free agency, and injury-plagued QB RJ was exposed to Houston and then waived.

But before Bills’ fans could slip into depression, Tom Donahoe delivered a

megadose of hope. He signed eight modestly priced, but decidedly valuable veterans. Second he had a solid draft. And finally they traded for a starting QB Drew Bledsoe.

Huntley likes the situation in Buffalo because of past relationships with Tom Donahoe and Kevin Gilbride while with the Pittsburgh Steelers. After his visit to Buffalo in April, Huntley was "sky high" about the possibility of playing in Western New York. He will now have that opportunity but it will likely mean the end of Bryson’s career with the team.