Two Bills Drive

‘Granted, the deadpan Bledsoe barely registers on the charisma meter. But he left a legacy beyond wins and losses in New England. The Boston Globe’s Mike Holley: "He proved you don’t have to be disrespectful to make a point, you don’t have to be a self-promoter to draw attention . . . Bledsoe is the person all parents want their children to be."’

‘Tom Donahoe, the Bills’ president and general manager, said this week that the Patriots posted the deal on their site before they formally replied to the Bills’ offer.’

‘"In college my goal was to be the best," Williams said. "I knew I had the God given ability to be the best and I wanted to use those talents. I wanted to go out there and be the first offensive lineman taken and that’s what I worked on everyday when I stepped out there on the field. To accomplish that goal is so satisfying and comes with a great responsibility."’

‘On a team void of star power, the Bills have a poster boy again. And boy did they need one. Last season, attendance dipped to a 14-year low…’

The Bills first round draft pick rolled into town Thursday in preparation for the team’s orientation camp for rookies and new free agents. Williams was all smiles at his press conference because he knows where he’s going to begin his NFL career, "I have a home. When you go so many places and visit with so many teams you wonder where am I really going to be? It’s like a big poker game and I was trying to play the draft myself, but with all the possible picks you just never know. Now the difference is I have a place where I feel very accepted."

‘The Bills drafted Texas tackle Mike Williams in the first round, a huge player who will be an immediate starter. Williams will likely play right tackle, which means Jonas Jennings, who played well as a rookie, needs to find a new home. Williams plans to look at Jennings at guard and left tackle, even though the Bills signed Denver lineman Trey Teague in free agency. The team is also high on second-year man Marques Sullivan. "The best five will play," Williams said. "We’ll spend the next couple of months figuring out what’s best for Jonas."’

‘"I talked to Drew last night just briefly, and he said, ‘All right, you got me don’t you?"’ Williams said on Thursday. "And I’m like, ‘Yeah, Drew, I got you Drew. I’m kind of nervous, but I got you, Drew.’ "He’s the captain, and I’m going to work for him. I’m the workhorse."’

I talked to Drew last night. He said 'Big boy you ready, you got me don't you?' I'm talking to big time (I thought). 'I got you Drew, I got you Drew.' I'm kind of nervous a bit but I got you Drew. He's the captain. I'm going to work for him. I'm the workhorse.

-Decided Sunday to take off conditions and just make the trade for the pick straight up.

-Spoke highly of RJ as a person and a player but felt his injuries kept him from being a success. Classy treatment of RJ.

-Did say he feels Bledsoe can bring leadership that was lacking. Met him for the first time on the plane flight to Buffalo and said they guy is excited and dialed in on being the Bills QB. Impressed with his character.

-Said the turnout for a 5 minute rally was unbelievable.

-Didn’t want to call the Bills a playoff team yet,the ability of the team to gel and foster some chemistry will go a long way towards their success.

-Said he IS glad the players are starting to talk playoffs. You want the players fired up as that can only lead to good things.

-Said he hasn’t seen such excitement anywhere that he is seeing in Buffalo right now

‘Various scouting reports list his strength, intensity and awareness in getting to the ball among his pluses. Conversely, scouts say he sometimes relies too much on his strength when trying to disengage from blockers and lacks an explosive first step.’

‘"I’m really excited with how it turned out. Just to be taken is an honor," said Bannan, who leaves for Buffalo on Thursday to participate in the team’s first mini-camp. "I’m going to a great organization. They told me they needed help (at defensive tackle) and they made me feel wanted."’

‘The Bills plan to use Stevenson at outside linebacker and in nickel situations, he said. He’ll also be used on the special teams. Stevenson doesn’t have long to celebrate his selection – he leaves Thursday for the Bills minicamp.’

‘Those who question Erie County’s unemployment figures would have done well to check the stadium parking lots on Wednesday. What other reason would there be for nearly 2,000 otherwise able-bodied folks to be out tailgating at “The Ralph” on a sunny weekday afternoon? There were even vendors hawking food, drinks and Bills’ merchandise.’

As Western New York welcomed Drew Bledsoe to the Bills family the newly acquired quarterback expressed his admiration for the Buffalo franchise. He said he always considered the Bills a high caliber organization. But what made him hold the team in such high regard, even as an opponent, was his respect for the team’s quarterback at that time, "It means a lot to me to follow in the steps of one of my heroes, Jim Kelly, who was a guy that I admired greatly."