Two Bills Drive

‘"I just wanted to come over here and play well," he said. "I’m just glad that the Buffalo Bills have given me the chance to do this with them signing me and sending me over here. I want to show them what I can do and what I have to offer."’

‘But in a Mother’s Day special that aired Saturday and repeats at 3:30 p.m. Thursday on ESPN, Drew’s mom, Barbara, describes her All-American oldest boy in adoring terms.’

‘Roth appeared to be on his way to a fullback job with the Bills under then-coach Wade Phillips, but Phillips was then fired and, after a training-camp injury, Roth was later cut by new Bills coach Gregg Williams prior to the 2001 season. ”Sure he was discouraged,” Roth’s father said of being let go by the Bills. ”The other coaching staff almost promised him a fullback job. Then he went to training camp and got hurt, so they let him go.”’

‘McKenzie, a consensus All-America in 1971, later starred for the Buffalo Bills in the NFL, where he blocked for O. J. Simpson on a line called the Electric Company. He spent 11 of his 12 NFL seasons with Buffalo.’

‘Reggie McKenzie, who was an All-America guard at Michigan, will be among 13 players and two coaches inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this year.’

‘Fullback Josh Roth impressed the Chiefs enough in a tryout at the weekend minicamp that the club signed him to a two-year contract. Roth received plenty of work in practice Tuesday. He and fullback Paul Shields were the only healthy running backs.’

‘Offensive linemen Reggie McKenzie (Michigan 1969-71) and Jerry Sisemore (Texas 1970-72) as well as defensive back Randy Rhino (Georgia Tech 1972-74) and linebacker Gary Spani (Kansas State 1974-77) also were chosen.’

‘Brady said he and Bledsoe have exchanged voicemail messages since the trade. “We’ve both been running around,” Brady said. “It’s kind of tough to find all the time in the world to talk. I know he’s doing well. I know he’s excited about being in Buffalo, from the things I’ve read.”‘

Who was helped – WLB DaShon Polk & TE Brady McDonnell. Who was hurt – G Jon Carman.

He has deep speed, quarterback Drew Bledsoe loves to throw the deep ball, and coordinator Kevin Gilbride is one of the few in the NFL who will challenge down the field.

The Bills’ top two RBs are Travis Henry and Shawn Bryson but there are rumblings the coaching staff isn’t completely sold on that combination and wouldn’t mind upgrading the competition.

(Curtis) Alexander figures into the mix, but should former Atlanta Falcon star Jamal Anderson become a post-June 1 cap casualty, the Bills will take a peek at signing him if he came cheap. Anderson has battled a series of knee injuries.

Another name that has surfaced in connection with Buffalo is Duce Staley of Philadelphia.

The 6-foot, 238-pound Roth attended training camp with the Buffalo Bills last season, but was released just before the season started and did not catch on with another team. He entered the NFL as a rookie with the Bills in 2000 and spent the season on the practice squad. Roth played for the University of Buffalo.

‘The other players honored were…offensive guard Reggie McKenzie of Michigan…’.

Potential Bills season ticket holders will have the chance to try some of the best seats on for size this weekend at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The stadium will be open and available seating will be tagged so fans can simply walk around and choose the seats they would like.

Bledsoe’s acquisition in a trade with the New England Patriots turned into a marketing highlight film for the Bills. Spikes in ticket and merchandise sales are unusual at this time of year, particularly for a team coming off a dismal season, where it won only three games and was eliminated from playoff contention before the first frost. But sales are up and interest is growing.