Two Bills Drive

‘After much speculation and several trade overtures, the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills reached an agreement Sunday to trade quarterback Drew Bledsoe, the Super Bowl champions’ Web site reported. The Patriots will receive the Bills’ first-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft for Bledsoe.’

Defensive Tackle, Colorado, Height: 6-3 Weight: 300

Has thick muscle development in his arms and chest… Recognizes the plays and shows awareness getting to the ball… Holds his ground firmly at the point of attack and shows the power to stack… Uses his arms to defeat blocks… Wrap-up tackler with explosiveness behind his hits… Can control combo blocks with his hand punch… Has a sharp burst to close on the quarterback once he gets past the blocker… All-out effort type with good functional power.

Justin Bannan, 6’3", 300 pounds DT for the Colorado Buffaloes. Profile linked.

As the clock was ticking on this pick, my thought was, "I don’t pass on those big tackles." With Williams and Miami’s Bryant McKinnie still available, it was a no-brainer. Whatever happens with the Buffalo quarterback situation, the Bills have a big, athletic offensive tackle to anchor the line.

‘The New England Patroits website reports the deal is complete but the Bills appear to be working out some details directly with Bledsoe before they make it official.’

‘The Patriots will receive the Bills’ first-round choice in the 2003 draft. But the trade is conditional upon Bledsoe passing a physical, possibly as early as this week, and reporting to training camp in July. Failure to fulfill either of those conditions would void the trade. The sources said the trade has not been officially announced yet because Patriots owner Bob Kraft, who is very fond of Bledsoe, is attempting to reach him by phone to apprise him of the deal.’

‘The Patriots will receive the Bills first round pick in the 2003 draft for Bledsoe.’

Curtis Alexander rushed for 192 yards and three scores, leading the Frankfurt Galaxy to a 54-14 victory over the FC Barcelona Dragons in NFL Europe on Saturday. Alexander, allocated from the Buffalo Bills, carried 23 times and scored on runs of 36, 1 and 16 yards.

Mike Williams (holding Bills jersey), an offensive tackle from Texas, is joined on stage by family after being selected as the fourth pick overall in the first round by the Buffalo Bills of the 2002 NFL Draft in New York Saturday, April 20, 2002. The family members are unidentified.

ESPN’s Chris Mortenson reports that a deal to trade for Drew Bledsoe is more likely to happen today than not. The Bills have offered higher round selections, which now almost certainly includes a 1st rounder in 2003, and additional draft picks. The Patriots appear willing to acept the fact that none of these draft choices will be in this year’s draft.

Mike Williams took a while to get to the podium after NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced the Buffalo Bills selected him with the fourth overall pick. Williams was on the phone. The 6-foot-5, 375-pound OT from Texas answered a call on his cell phone from Bills president and GM Tom Donahoe just before his name rang out. “I got called and all of the sudden I was like, “Oh man, what are they going to tell me?'” Williams said. “Tom Donahoe got on there and that’s why I was a little late.” Williams couldn’t even remember what Donahoe said. “It was just … I know it was a happy moment,” Williams said with a big grin. “I think he said congratulations to me, the best I can remember.”‘

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We were pleased but like I said before this is just the first step. We want these young guys to come in and help us and we think that we’ve addressed some of our needs today. Hopefully tomorrow we can address a few more.

‘Williams, the most talented lineman the Bills have acquired since they drafted Bruce Smith, represented the best player available. That was the theme of the day for the Bills.’

‘"When I get on the field, I like to punish people," said Williams, a former all-state defensive tackle at The Colony (Tex.) High School. "It feels great. You just grab him and you got him. You look in his eyes and he’s like, "Oh please, let me go. I’ll never do it again.’ And I say, "Oh no, no. You’re going down.’"’