Two Bills Drive

‘A tenacious player who goes sideline-to-sideline, the Bills like Fletcher because he’ll be able to anchor the middle of their 4-3 defense and stay on the field on passing downs, either in coverage or to blitz.’

‘"I was lobbying for Sam since I got here," said Cottrell, who joined the Jets last year. "I never thought we could pull this off because he’s one of those rare players. Needless to say, I was jumping up and down when it happened."’

‘Donahoe and Williams appear determined to win or lose with their own guys. Given a reasonable amount of time, they probably will.’

‘The Steelers also are trying to bring another player home, former Pitt tight end Dave Moore, who was released by Tampa Bay for salary cap purposes…Moore was in Buffalo yesterday.’

‘Steelers kicker Kris Brown will get lots of frequent-flier miles, not much rest and, perhaps, a new place to play next week. Add Buffalo to his travel itinerary, after the Bills scheduled a meeting with Brown for next Tuesday and Wednesday.’

‘”This,” said Cottrell, who was disappointed in not getting a head- coaching position, “is one of the best days I’ve had in a long while.”‘

‘Already, some NFL observers think the Bills are better off with Fletcher leading their defense, than they would have been with Cowart and the uncertainty of his achilles injury.’

‘"I feel very fortunate that the Jets showed so much interest in me," Cowart said. "Obviously, coming off an injury like I did … some teams stayed away from me. The Jets believed in me."’

‘A three-down linebacker, and three-year starter, Fletcher led the NFC champion Rams with 90 tackles last season, and was referred to as "an integral part of the team,” by St. Louis coach Mike Martz.’

Details of Fletcher’s contract were not immediately available.

@ I criticized Dougie for his ill-advised remarks, whenever he was out of Buffalo. Naturally, Flutie fans roasted me, toasted me, skewered me and broiled me from one side to the other. Now, you find your trembling tiny tot of the kilowatt showing you that this adoring little bumpkin is fair.

The point is that Rob Johnson is gone. He should have kept his mouth shut. He couldn’t hold back his lip, just like Flutie, and had to come out with what can be perceived as a little self serving, if not vindictive assessmemt. He, like Flutie, served up a big platter of negative rhetoric in conducting pity parties.

TD gives the impression that despite numerous efforts to keep him in a Bills Uniform, Cowart may have wanted to leave regardless.

@ Q: Are you ready to sign on the dotted line? A: I have some other trips planned. It’s a process. There are some other things that have to be met. So far so good, the organization definitely has a strong interest in me and I have a strong interest in them otherwise I wouldn’t be here. I was the first guy they brought in so that shows they are definitely interested. I’m still scheduled to visit with Detroit and Pittsburgh.

@ The hole: Alex Van Pelt is being paid around $1 million a year to be either the backup or the starting QB, but new OC Gilbride cannot live with just one QB. That’s why Gilbride and the Bills management walked around the combine over the weekend looking for agents who had QBs, as well as checking out all of the QBs who were throwing in the RCA Dome.

The solutions: It’s pretty simple. Sign Jeff Blake. For some reason, the Bills are wondering if Blake has a lingering ankle problem from the 2000 season. He’s had a year on the sidelines as Aaron Brooks’ backup to rest the ankle, so he should be fine. Blake and Jonathan Quinn are the two veterans the Bills are talking to, but Blake is the right fit.

‘"We’re jumping up and down with joy to sign him," said one Jets team source. "He’s one of the top two or three backers in the game."’