Two Bills Drive

‘Henry is reveling in the fact that Bledsoe is here, and Rob Johnson isn’t.’

‘"I was at the opening (preseason) game and Drew Bledsoe really took charge. He got right up after that first sack and took them right down the field. You wouldn’t have seen that with Rob (Johnson) last year."’

‘"We’re so young there," said Bills team president Tom Donahoe. "Although we like a lot of our guys, Shawn gives us some experience. He did a good job for us last year, when he played hurt. Ahanotu wanted a couple of days to think about our offer, and we’ll probably get his decision the early part of next week."’

‘"Last week we came out on fire with the passing game. This week we really wanted to establish the run and really work the ball with both a passing and running attack. We seemed to accomplish what we set out to do."’

‘Bills coach Gregg Williams has been tossing around the word "conditioning" lately, but what he really means is Ostroski is overweight.’

‘Since his arrival, season ticket sales have been steady. Sales have been around 36,000 the past two years. Though the Bills have not compiled the updated figures yet, they still hope to reach their goal of 40,000 season tickets, which hasn’t been achieved since 1996.’

‘At the urging and underwriting of Bills owner Ralph Wilson, the original and longtime team trainer wrote a book. The finished product, "Tale of the Tape," by Eddie as told to Milt Northrop, veteran member of The Buffalo News sports staff, is being released this week.’

‘1. Buffalo…The lots open on Thursday afternoon, and some people make a weekend of it. It’s a sight to behold.’

”’I had to come to the right place,” Bledsoe continued. ”It had to be a place with a good organization and a team with a chance to win games. I feel we’ve got that here. It’s a good organization from the top down. Good people. I don’t want to just say I needed a change, because it couldn’t have been change just for the sake of change. I wanted to be someplace where I could help a team win.”’

‘”I’m in football heaven,” says the 27-year-old Melbourne podiatrist who traveled more than 10,000 miles to Pittsford.’

‘The starting offenses for the Bills and Vikings marched up and down the field seemingly at will Friday night in Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘The Bengals came out throwing in the preseason opener and the Vikings did likewise.’

‘"The only person I need to prove something to is myself," said Culpepper. "I don’t feel like I have anything to prove this year. I know what I’m capable of."’

‘Terms of the contract weren’t released, but it’s believed he received a one-year deal worth slightly more than the veteran minimum of $650,000.’

‘I neither made nor lost a cent on Kelly or the corporation founded with him as its figurehead, but as far as the publicly known facts are concerned, I find no fault with him in that situation. I am disgusted anew with those who claim to think Kelly "ripped off" anyone there. He owes nobody for his business failure.’