Two Bills Drive

The Buffalo Bills, who have a new general manager and a new coach, will probably have a new look as well in 2001 because of a $12.7 million cap overage. Certainly the club will not be able to afford both Rob Johnson and Doug Flutie at quarterback and likely will be forced to sacrifice at least two defensive starters.

"Let’s face it, we’re hostage to the cap right now," said new president and general manager Tom Donahoe. "It’s kind of like being in a cap jail. But you have to dig your way out and part of that is making tradeoffs. You have to ask yourself, ‘If I keep the guy at this position, where do I scrimp to make up for it? Is there somewhere I have a young player ready to step up, a spot where I can let a veteran go and play the cheaper guy?’ It’s all about tough decisions and having to handle as many as possible in the right way."

‘[Ralph Wilson:] "This is second guessing by me, but we probably had people we should’ve cut but instead we retained and gave bonuses to in order to extend their contracts and get us down (under the cap)."’

‘If the Bills go with Johnson, they’re putting their future in the hands of a guy who has been knocked out of eight of 19 Bills starts. If they go with Flutie, they’re putting their future in the hands of a guy who will be 39 in October.’

‘Unfortunately, the only QB most scouts consider a sure thing to enjoy a successful NFL career — Virginia Tech’s Michael Vick — will be chosen long before Buffalo’s No. 14 overall pick. The next-best QB in the ratings is Purdue’s Drew Brees, who is rated in the bottom half of the first round in most mock drafts.’

‘Washington has already indicated a desire to sign Flutie to compete with Jeff George when Brad Johnson leaves for free agency at the end of the month. Detroit and San Diego are also possible Flutie suitors. And so is Tampa Bay, despite its denials.’

‘When you’re a good football team like Buffalo’s been, you’re always trying to find ways to keep your players, and when you do that, you push potential cap problems into the future, but eventually, you have to pay the piper, and we’re at that stage.’

‘A new season is just around the corner, with new expectations, new faces and a newly renovated Ralph Wilson Stadium. Make sure you are there to FEEL THE NEW POWER of the Bills. For information on 2001 season tickets, call the Buffalo Bills Ticket Office at 1-877-BBTICKS!’

‘DeGeorge resigned after a Monday staff meeting in which General Manager Bob Koshinski disclosed plans to emphasize coverage of the Buffalo Sabres and possibly drop aspects of its Buffalo Bills coverage.’

‘The reason is the NFL trading period doesn’t begin until March 2. That’s the first day the salary cap for the 2001 season goes into effect. So a team has to have room under its salary cap for 2001 to have a player on the roster in order to trade him.’

‘New Orleans police booked a second man Friday in the Jan. 22 robbery and carjacking of Buffalo Bills defensive back Raion Hill in Gretna.’

‘Kragthorpe told his players he was leaving to become the quarterbacks coach of the Buffalo Bills, an A&M source said Thursday. Kragthorpe coached the Aggies for four seasons, the last three as offensive coordinator.’

‘Kragthorpe arrived at A&M in 1997 to coach receivers. He was promoted to offensive coordinator the following year. When Kirksey joined the staff last season, Kragthorpe’s responsibility shifted from receivers to quarterbacks.’

‘Two more key offensive assistants have jumped from Texas A&M to the NFL, leaving Aggies head coach R.C. Slocum with a gaping hole in his staff for the 2001 season. Offensive coordinator Steve Kragthorpe is going to the Buffalo Bills as quarterbacks coach, and assistant head coach and wide receivers coach Larry Kirksey is headed to the Detroit Lions as receivers coach.’

‘Since the trading period in the NFL doesn’t open until March 2, which is also the start of free agency, the Bills can’t deal a player without accounting for his contract on their salary cap. The deadline for hitting the $67.4 million cap is March 1 and the Bills are millions over.’

‘John Fina agreed to reduce his base salary for 2001 from $2 million to the new NFL minimum of $484,000. The balance, $1.516 million, is guaranteed in the form of a signing bonus… Ruben Brown, has also agreed to reduce his base salary from $3.5 million for 2001 to the same minimum and taking the balance in a signing bonus. That deal should save the Bills about $2.4 million in cap value.’