Two Bills Drive

‘Andre Reed, Buffalo’s leading career receiver and a key member of the four Bills teams that went to four straight Super Bowls in the 1990s, has called a news conference for Saturday where he is expected to announce his retirement. The news conference is scheduled for noon at the Bills’ headquarters in Orchard Park.’

‘The team must decide by 4 p.m. whether to activate newly acquired kicker Jake Arians from the practice squad to replace Christie.’

‘How good is Sam Cowart? Buffalo Bills coach Gregg Williams thinks the Pro Bowl linebacker is so good he could line up just about anywhere on the field and still be a star. "A football player is a football player. Make no mistake about that," Williams said. "And guys with his ability, we can put his hand down as a rush nickel end and he’ll do well there. You can play him at strong safety. Unless you have somebody with blazing speed, he’d line up and do that. That’s the measure of what a really, really good player’s about."’

‘The Gregg Williams Show, presented by Galyans, will premiere at 11:30 a.m. Sunday on Ch. 29. The 30-minute show is hosted by long-time Bills long-snapper Adam Lingner. Traci Buch, of WOKR, will host a player segment and Larry Centers will give a view from the backfield each week.’

‘To avoid congestion, drivers can stay on the Thruway, pass the Lackawanna toll barrier and take the Milestrip Road exit and approach via McKinley Parkway and Big Tree Road (Route 20A). Or they can continue south on Route 219 to the Big Tree Road (Route 20A) exit, turn right on California Road and left on Route 20 to reach the Drive 5 parking lot. Further south on Route 219, the exit at Armor-Duells Road will provide drivers with an approach to the stadium from the south, which is usually a quick way in.’

‘”I’m always going to be a Buffalo fan, except for when we play them,” said Haslett, who played for the Bills from 1979 to 1985. “I lived up there for a long time. I’ve got a lot of fans and friends up there, a lot of players that I played with still living up there.”‘

‘Now it’s Johnson’s team, and he’ll have to remain healthy for the Bills to be solid.’

Marcellus was hurt in practice Wednesday and the stress fracture was diagnosed during tests Thursday. Wiley was scheduled for surgery for Thursday afternoon to have a screw inserted in his foot. He will be out 3-to-4 weeks.

‘Arians, 24, was with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted rookie free agent in their 2000 training camp and spent all of last season on their practice squad.’

‘Actually he’s bordering on ancient by Buffalo Bills terms. Hansen is the only holdover from the Bills four Super Bowl teams of the early 1990s and no one on the roster has been with the club longer.’

‘As of last night, the Buffalo Bills were approximately 500 tickets short of a sellout for Sunday’s season-opener against the New Orleans Saints at Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘The Bills officially kick off their 42nd season of professional football in Western New York by hosting last year’s NFC West Champions, the New Orleans Saints. Last year, former Bills linebacker Jim Haslett assumed the head coaching position for the Saints, and guided his squad to a 10-6 mark and their first playoff victory in franchise history.’

‘Bills kicker Steve Christie strained a groin muscle during warm-ups on Wednesday, so the Bills list him as questionable for Sunday’s game against New Orleans. As a precaution, the Bills signed kicker Jake Arians, who was previously with the Falcons, to the practice squad.’

‘Williams always has been a stickler for details, and with his NFL regular-season head coaching debut coming Sunday, he has worked on preparation, looks and schemes for the season opener since the team’s May passing camp.’

‘This week’s 5th Down takes a look at how one player made a quick

transition to life in Buffalo, and the ups-and-downs of professional

sports.’