Two Bills Drive

3 Bills. They lost some defensive firepower but still could have enough to be in the playoff hunt.

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Consecutive offseasons of salary cap crashes, brought on by mortgaging the future to hold the Jim Kelly-Bruce Smith-Thurman Thomas Super Bowl group together as long as possible, have blown both chaff and wheat from the Buffalo roster.

Buffalo fans will spend the season squinting at the names on jerseys and inquiring, “Who dat?” Finish: 8-8.

‘The Bills will have to trim a useful player or two at all three defensive units – defensive line, linebacker and secondary – when they pare their roster from 65 to 53 players by 4 p.m. Sunday.’

"I don’t necessarily agree that the position has been minimalized, because you still need your QB to play well if you’re going to win, and that probably won’t change in this league," said Tom Donahoe. "But it doesn’t all have to be on the QB anymore. You don’t see as many offenses where, if a quarterback doesn’t have a great day, his team loses. It’s more a case sometimes of wanting your QB to give you a chance to win."

‘The officials won’t see much of Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart or Bills quarterback Rob Johnson, even though he has some problems adjusting to the quickness of Buffalo’s West Coast-style offense. Johnson still is getting familiar with the quick reads he must make and the speed with which he must release the ball. But, like the other offensive regulars, Johnson will likely play only about a quarter. Alex Van Pelt, the former Pitt quarterback, will follow.’

‘Rookie Travis Henry has had the best summer, but Sammy Morris and Shawn Bryson have shown flashes as well. Each has started one game, and tonight, Williams hopes to get all three one series each with the first-string unit before those players are lifted for the night.’

Football ISN’T just physical; it is a mental execise as well.

‘In short, 12 players must be cut from among the defensive linemen, linebackers, defensive backs, running backs, tight ends and receivers. To do it, two defensive linemen figure to go (Jarrett Procell and Tyrone Robertson?), a tight end (Josh Whitman?), two running backs (Crosby and Curtis Alexander?), two linebackers (DaShon Polk and Jim Robinson) and three defensive backs (Brian Legeib, Tony Driver and Chris Watson) and two wide receivers (from among Reggie Germany, Reggie Allen, Avion Black and ??? Rosier).’

‘Players appreciating fans… now there’s a novel concept. But it works in Buffalo. And it works because there’s a new head coach who’s decreed a lot of things — including a new offense, new defense and open practices where there weren’t any before. I like Gregg Williams, and I like him a lot. He was a good coach at Tennessee. He’s a good man in Buffalo. Nobody gained a better response from his players this summer. Here’s hoping it continues.’

‘There was room for one big signing, and that was for game-breaking wideout Eric Moulds, who settled for less money than he could have gotten elsewhere in order to stay with what he calls “a team that has a chance to win, a team with a defense that can take the other team’s quarterback out of the picture.”‘

“Hopefully, I’ll be playing against the Saints in that first game,” Hilbert said, referring to the Saints’ regular-season game at Buffalo on Sept. 9. The Bills top the list of teams that have shown interest in Hilbert, who was among 13 players waived by New Orleans on Tuesday.’

‘Sixteen months ago Josh Roth realized his dream of becoming a member of the Buffalo Bills when he signed a free-agent contract with the NFL team. On Tuesday, that dream came to an end. Roth, a Pine Valley Central School and University at Buffalo star, was released with four other players as the Bills met the league deadline to trim their roster to 65 players.’

‘The problem apparently hasn’t been Christie’s right leg but his two feet. He has been too quick on his approach toward the ball. It’s been enough to throw off his timing while he adapts to new long-snapper Dan O’Leary and holder Jay Riemersma. They replaced snapper Ethan Albright and holder Chris Mohr.’