Two Bills Drive

‘Rob Johnson, Phil Hansen, Jay Riemersma, Alex Van Pelt, Kris Farris and Michael Early were among those who signed autographs at the Walden Galleria on Saturday. They also accepted donations from shoppers and pooled an unspecified amount of their own money to help in the rescue and recovery project.’

Here’s the explosive Colts offense’s first test against a top-notch defense. With 18-16 and 44-20 wins in Buffalo and Indianapolis, the Colts swept the Bills in ’00 for the first time since ’94.

If they don’t take this deal, which will give them a 50% raise this season and a 100% raise in the fourth year, the NFL is expected to play the season with the replacement officials.

Count on them taking it.

How could they not? As one league insider noted, the stock market is down nearly 700 points and the officials are squawking about a 50% increase for a second job?

Tom Condon, chief negotiator for the union, told USA TODAY Monday night that the report was erroneous and no deal was in place.

"Given everything that you have to go through if you’re one of those last two wild-cards teams, staying around in the playoffs for any length of time is (a hard thing)," said former Buffalo Bills coach Wade Phillips.

‘It’s difficult to gauge how the Bills will react. They are a mostly young team, featuring 37 players with two or fewer full seasons of NFL experience. Receiver Eric Moulds challenged the young players to step up their levels of play. "The veteran players we have know how to win. But the young guys have to come forward and learn how to win," Moulds said. "This team is known for winning ballgames. We have to show those guys how you win around here."’

‘The 6-foot, 240-pounder served as a backup to Cowart and John Holecek, and he made one start last year — ironically against the team he will start against Sunday, Indianapolis. When Williams took over the team, Wright had to prove himself again. With 24 special teams tackles last season, third-best on the team, Wright had an edge because Williams values special teams play.’

‘In addition to linebacker Sam Cowart’s operation to repair his torn Achilles’ tendon, defensive end Bryce Fisher had a screw placed in his thumb. Fisher did not practice yesterday, but is expected to be back tomorrow wearing a cast on his hand to protect the thumb. The Bills are not practicing today. Coach Gregg Williams said if the Bills had played in Miami Sunday, Fisher would have played with a cast.’

The Buffalo Bills and Meadow Brook Dairy are kicking off the second annual "School is Cool" Essay Contest for kids between the ages of 6 and 14.

To participate in the contest, kids need to write a short essay on why they think "school is cool". One hundred winners will receive a pair of tickets to the Bills/Seahawks game on November 18th.

The Bills today announced that a number of good seats are still available for the September 30 game with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

‘One of the most prolific running backs in NFL history, Thomas becomes eligible for induction in 2006. But with four other strong candidates in the same class — Troy Aikman, Reggie White, Deion Sanders and Warren Moon — Thomas admits he might not be a first-ballot selection. "When all those guys had retired, they had won a Super Bowl," said Thomas, referring to Aikman, White and Sanders. "I haven’t. That makes it pretty tough to get in. "But I’ve always thought that it doesn’t matter whether I make it on the first time. Just as long as I make it and can say my speech and they say, `Thurman Thomas made it as a Buffalo Bill.’"’

‘"It’s going to change the history of the world," Morris said of the terrorist attacks that leveled the twin World Trade Center towers and a portion of the Pentagon, killing perhaps more than 5,000 people. "You think about it every day, all the personal stories of what the families have gone through. It’s still a shock. Especially when you see more and more video."’

‘After attending a memorial service Friday, the Bills took the weekend off before their scheduled practice Monday. Along with collecting money to help victims of the attack, many Bills players were expected to attend a city-sponsored vigil Sunday evening in front of Buffalo’s city hall.’

‘Jones admits he does not love the way coach Gregg Williams deals with players. "I didn’t totally agree with their approach," he said. "He’s not treating them like men. And I’m not the only guy who feels that way. You don’t insult players. There’s a certain way you talk to grown men, and there’s a certain amount of respect you give grown men, and liberties and freedoms you give them. . . . I think he’s still trying to figure that out as a head coach as far as how he wants to do it."’

‘When middle linebacker Sam Cowart suffered a partially torn Achilles tendon in the season opener, Buffalo Bills coach Gregg Williams acknowledged the team’s defensive star likely would miss a "significant" amount of time. It appears now that "significant" translates into the balance of the season.’

‘It’s almost seven months later, and it seems the Dolphins might have had made the offseason’s best decoy move by getting the Buffalo Bills to keep Rob Johnson instead of Doug Flutie. In February, a top team source with the Dolphins told The Herald and two other South Florida newspapers the team would be very interested in Johnson if the Bills were to let him go. But did they mean it?’