Two Bills Drive

The speculation and misinformation concerning the Bills and QB Drew Bledsoe continues to run rampant throughout Western New York and beyond.

‘If a deal for Bledsoe falls through, the Bills likely would go back to free agent quarterback Jeff Blake, the former New Orleans backup, and see if he will accept a contract offer Saturday.’

‘In short, the Bills could have the 30-year-old Bledsoe for three years at $16.5 million — a bargain given his talent and the cost of top-notch quarterbacks these days — before making a decision on what to do after 2004.’

‘Think about it. The Bills get Bledsoe, a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback, who at age 30 has plenty of life left in his football career. A legitimate talent capable of masking other deficiencies on the team, who puts the club’s rebuilding project way ahead of schedule. The Bills give up a third-round pick (they have two in that round anyway), retain their coveted No. 4 pick overall in the first round, and their second-rounder (No. 36). This is purchasing a nice used Cadillac with Yugo money.’

‘The Buffalo Bills have begun preliminary contract talks with free agent defensive end Chidi Ahanotu, who visited the team on Thursday. Ahanotu, a nine-year veteran, was not re-signed by St. Louis after completing a one-year, $600,000 deal last season.’

‘The deal maker or breaker likely hinges upon whether Donahoe bends on his desire to protect the treasured No. 4 pick or the Pats lighten demand for that first-rounder.’

‘There were several radio and TV reports that Bledsoe was on his way to Buffalo last night and had a reservation at a Buffalo hotel. But at 4:30 p.m. EST yesterday, Bledsoe told the Globe he was on a Montana golf course and had no idea about where the reports were coming from.’

‘The Patriots have not granted Bledsoe or his representatives permission to talk to other teams, and any arrangement on the part of the Bills to bring Bledsoe in to Buffalo before an official trade would amount to tampering. Bills officials would like to talk to Bledsoe to gauge his interest, but they are not allowed to.’

‘[Bledsoe] doesn’t trust Bill [Belichick], doesn’t like him, doesn’t want to play for him. He felt the coach was not straight with him when he returned from his injury last season, but kept his mouth shut and dutifully manned the clipboard. He could have been a huge distraction, but unlike Terry Glenn, he chose not to be.’

‘But more and more it’s becoming clear that the asking price for Bledsoe isn’t "make an offer" but "first-round pick. Firm." So if Donahoe wants him, he knows what it will take. The Bills right now have the cap space necessary ($5 million) to bring in Bledsoe. Soon, they will not. Nor will many other teams. Which means if Bledsoe is going to get traded, a new dynamic enters the picture — the need to restructure Bledsoe’s deal before moving him. That would give the quarterback leverage that he doesn’t have right now.’

‘"Buffalo’s pretty much known as the worst weather city, with the cold and the wind," said Tom Tupa, the former Patriots QB/punter who has played in the AFC East since 1996. "As a quarterback, you have to have a pretty strong arm to play there, and Drew has that. He definitely has the skills a quarterback needs to have there."’

‘Several weeks ago, the Bills offered the Patriots a third-round draft choice in the draft and a conditional pick in 2003 based on Bledsoe’s 2002 performance. But the Patriots, who have been holding out for a No. 1 pick in exchange for Bledsoe, turned that down. The Bills are adamant about holding on to their No. 1 pick, but if they are willing to trade their second-round pick (36th overall) for Bledsoe, plus a conditional pick in 2003 that could be a No. 1, a deal might get done today.’

‘The Patriots must deal Drew Bledsoe today or Saturday – draft day – or they will run the risk of ruining the chemistry that made the team a Super Bowl champion. That’s the bottom line.’

One of the highlights of your career is the 81-yard punt return against (Ronnie Jones led Special Teams of) the Bills in 2000. Have you thought about that at all while you were here?

I thought about that when we (Seattle) came back last year. I was hurt. That was one of my first games coming off my injury and I thought I would come back and just do it again but the coverage teams played well. Obviously they made a big improvement and hopefully we can improve the return game and step the elite of the return teams in the NFL.

‘The Buffalo Bills have begun preliminary contract talks with free agent defensive end Chidi Ahanotu, who visited the team on Thursday. Ahanotu is a nine-year veteran, who was not re-signed by the St. Louis Rams after completing a one-year, $600,000 deal last season.’