Two Bills Drive

In 1995 the Atlanta Falcons signed linebacker Darryl Talley, a Pro Bowl performer during his years in Buffalo, as an unrestricted free agent. They quickly found out that Talley, who played well in the Bills 3-4 defensive front, could not handle the move to a 4-3 design. Talley became not only a bad player, an aging and intransigent veteran who couldn’t understand why he could not play up to his previous level, but eventually a locker room malcontent.

‘The Buffalo Bills’ head coach said Friday he is interested in pursuing safety Blaine Bishop and linebacker Eddie Robinson.’

‘"I want to start in this league and there are a couple teams that want me to be their starter," said Blake, who plans to shop around. "I don’t think I’ll be out of a job next year."’

‘But Johnson always will be my prime example of why the NFL’s complicated passer rating system is flawed. The formula rewards him for what he does best and completely ignores his major flaw — getting sacked.’

‘Blake said Houston, Baltimore, Washington, Chicago, Carolina and Buffalo have shown interest in him.’

‘The Bills will probably now take a run at Blake as a free agent.’

‘Saints general manager Randy Mueller tried to trade Blake to the Buffalo Bills Friday but neither team could agree on compensation for the veteran quarterback so he was released by the Saints.’

‘Safety Blaine Bishop, released by the Titans on Thursday, spoke yesterday with Buffalo Bills Coach Gregg Williams and, not surprisingly, there is interest on both sides.’

The Titans may also have some stiff competition for defensive tackle Jason Fisk. His agent, Josh Wright, said Fisk is heading to Indianapolis tonight and will meet with representatives from the Browns, Bills and 49ers.

‘The Buffalo Bills, who released quarterback Rob Johnson on Thursday, could be among the teams interested in the 31 year-old Blake’s services.’

Possible suitors: Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, New York Giants, Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons. Reports out of Buffalo indicate that Cowart, despite missing all of last season with an Achilles injury, will demand a signing bonus in the neighborhood of $10 million. That eliminates teams like Jacksonville and Baltimore, who have the need but lack the cash. Houston, with its 3-4 defense and cap room, makes sense. The Giants need a replacement for Jessie Armstead, and the cap-strapped Jets could find a way to make Cowart work and keep him in New York with Marvin Jones and James Farrior on the market. Atlanta, with talent like Keith Brooking, Chris Draft and Mark Simoneau at :B, could use a player like Cowart if new DC Phillips decides to go to a 4-3 look. Cap concerns – the Falcons are only $800,000 under the cap at this writing – and the likelihood that owner Arthur Blank wants to spend his money on offensive players to surround Michael Vick could nix such a deal.

@ After being cut by Buffalo, QB Rob Johnson will have to take the veteran’s minimum, with incentives, in order to get a job with another NFL team. Johnson is a workout warrior, very smart, tough – you can’t say a bad thing about him if you go off practice tapes. He throws the ball beautifully, has a strong arm, and is not immobile. The problem is that Johnson is a thinker, not a reactor in games. He’s got to see the play develop, think about it and then go, and that takes way too long. As a result, he holds onto the ball way too long, gets sacked way too many times and gets injured because he?s holding onto the ball so long and is so focused that he has almost no peripheral vision for the rush.

@ The Buffalo Bills did not tender offers to 3 players, including LB Kenyatta Wright, making them restricted free agents Friday. Joining Wright are offensive lineman Craig Heimburger and safety Keion Carpenter, according to a list of free agents released by the NFL.

Wright struggled in an attempt to help take over for Sam Cowart, who partially tore his Achilles’ tendon in the Bills’ season opener. After appearing in Buffalo’s first 11 games, Wright was listed as inactive for the final five games.

@ With Seattle Seahawks vice president Mike Reinfeldt turning down the job, the Falcons’ other options are Saints general manager Randy Mueller and Tom Modrak, the Buffalo Bills’ director of player personnel. Modrak would fill the personnel side of the job, but that could force the Falcons to make another hire to handle the business side.

@ Update on the bigger half of the Bills Special Teams Demon Pair, Tasker and Pike. He owns 3 health clubs back home in Cincinnati and in North Kentucky area.

Now that the Saints have released Blake, the Bills have the ability to sign him as an UFA and do not have to absorb his salary cap figure. There were rumors the Bills were waiting for New Orleans to release him before they actively pursued Blake. Will Blake land in Buffalo to compete with Van Pelt for the starting job in 2002?