Two Bills Drive

Q: Have you looked at the Bills prior to this visit knowing they have the fourth pick and are interested in drafting a lineman? A: Quite honestly I watched Buffalo as a little kid, you know, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith and all of them. I looked at Buffalo. I knew Buffalo was slotted in the fourth pick but it gets to a point where I have no control over where I go. If Buffalo decides to draft me then I’m here and I’m going to be happy.

A group of elite special forces personnel serving in Afghanistan recently received a special package containing Bills hats, shirts and other paraphernalia from Bills owner Ralph Wilson.

Perhaps Buffalo is in the cat-bird seat to entertain trading down with a team that’s eager to nab Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington, picking up a bevy of picks in the process.

"I knew what they wanted," said Johnson. "I didn’t want to go in there and get into a situation where the fans were always yelling for the other guy to play. I’ve dealt with that plenty already in my career."

I got picked up on the second day, so it was on Saturday evening when I got really anxious and nervous. Saturday night turned out to be the longest night of my life. I was trying to sleep and relax. Right away the next morning when I got up the draft started and I got my phone call.

‘Jackson is friendly with Bills Director of Pro Personnel John Guy, who coached defensive ends in Oakland during Jackson’s first two seasons.’

Moran is a six-year veteran who spent his first four seasons with Buffalo and the last two with the Rams, where he was a part-time starter in the 2000 season. He’ll add depth to the Niners’ defensive line. "He’s got a great motor, and he’s going to have a good presence in the locker room," Donahue said of Moran. "He’s been an inside pass-rusher before, but we see him on the (defensive) end."

@ Raiders free agent tackle Grady Jackson was in Buffalo to check out the scene. Jackson is a 6’2", 325-pound take-up-spacer. That’s short for "he takes up space," and holds his line at the point of attack.

The problem is Gregg Williams doesn’t like fat guys….

‘Jackson started for the Raiders the last two years and has 19 career sacks. Last fall, he recorded 69 tackles and four sacks after 2000 shoulder surgery.’

@ Interview Transcript with Oakland Raiders DT Grady Jackson.

GM Tom Donahoe can come out of this draft with some huge improvements. First, he’d love to find a way to seal a Bledsoe trade and still have the first pick available to take OT Mike Williams. It’s not out of the question for him to look at Harrington, but the best way to improve the Bills is to be more experienced at QB and more talented on the OL.

‘The Bills will meet three of their preseason opponents — all but the Colts — again in the regular season.’

‘Tight end Brady McDonnell signed with the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday after spending last season on injured reserve with the New York Giants.’

McDonnell was made an offer and decided to accept it. The 24-year-old McDonnell (6-3, 268) signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted rookie free agent last April out of the University of Colorado. He suffered a knee injury during the 2001 preseason and spent the entire regular season on the team?s injured reserve list.

Donohoe talks about the art of drafting DBs.