Two Bills Drive

‘In the next couple of seasons, it will be interesting to see if the Patriots can protect that stronghold or if Bledsoe and the Bills can establish a foothold of their own.’

‘”He’s just in different surroundings, that’s all,” cornerback Patrick Surtain said. “He’s a great quarterback, and he’s got some weapons in Eric Moulds, Peerless Price and Josh Reed. That’s going to make Drew that much better.”‘

‘Buffalo Bills rookie Ryan Denney, because of his tall frame, the position he plays and the No. 90 jersey he’s been assigned, has drawn comparisons to Phil Hansen. Whether he can play like Hansen, the Bills’ 11-year, blue-collar defensive end, who retired last January, is now the question.’

‘While the long-term plan might call for him to guard quarterback Drew Bledsoe’s expensive backside, at the more important left tackle position, Buffalo wants the draft’s fourth overall pick to walk before he runs. That’s why until further notice he’ll be on the right side, where he feels most comfortable and knows the dance.’

A position switch isn't something new for Wire. At Stanford, Wire started seven games at running back from 1998-99, but was moved to safety in the spring of 2000 and then to linebacker in the fall of 2000. The only time he has ever stepped on the game field as a safety was during the Senior Bowl.

‘"It’s very valuable in the fact that he showed the young guys how important it was to start off the battle on the same foot, the same page, the same communication," Williams said. "It was fun to see that."’

‘"He looks very light on his feet, especially for a man his size. And it seems like he has a good attitude about things."’

‘"You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression, so that was important," said Bledsoe, who joined the Bills in a trade with the New England Patriots on Sunday.’

‘The better the Bills’ record, the lower in the first round is the pick New England gets for Bledsoe.’

‘”I think he’s a baby. They can let him sulk and moan (in Buffalo),” Jay Fegan of Milford, an attendant at the Mobil station on Rte. 85, said yesterday. “He didn’t want to be part of the team after the Super Bowl. I have no sympathy for him. Life goes on.”‘

‘Bledsoe ended the letter saying that although he is excited about his future in Buffalo, he will miss the fans of New England.’

‘"There’s a fine line between hope and belief," said Buffalo head coach Gregg Williams, on the first day of his team’s three-day minicamp. "But he brings belief. All of us became better coaches the second that deal was cut."’

‘”Our personal biases aside, the Bills have arguably the premier personnel tandem in the league in Donahoe and director of football operations Tom Modrak, and they will get things right. The deal for Bledsoe certainly solidified Donahoe with the loyal Bills fans. And anyone who looked at the second straight powerhouse draft by the team and isn’t impressed with the work of Modrak — take a hint, Arthur Blank, when you get around to considering general manager candidates in Atlanta again — ought to have a cranial MRI.”‘

‘Williams credited Bledsoe for showing the commitment to suit up for a camp that featured mostly rookies. "I thought that spoke volumes about him being in practice today and getting started as soon as he can," Williams said. "And he jumped right in with both feet today and took charge."’

In total, 57 players attended the first-day workout. Some of the big names taking part included quarterback Drew Bledsoe, wide receiver Reggie Germany, first-round draft pick offensive tackle Mike Williams and linebacker London Fletcher.