Two Bills Drive

‘[This Steve Tasker column appears in Shout!’s 2001 NFL draft issue, on newstands this week. Call 1-800-932-4557 for a subscription.] The new off-season training program that Gregg Williams has instituted is really the players’ best opportunity to adjust to the new coaches without the pressure of having to play a game the next Sunday.’

‘But his position seems obvious: He was waiting to get an offer that he considered good enough to make him want to stay. He didn’t get it. Wilson fired him. Wilson says he is convinced there was no offer that could have kept him.’

‘Remember when the Bills signed Bryce Paup and Ted Washington in 1995, then added Chris Spielman the next year for the free-agency triple crown? We may never see that again.’

‘They both had their reasons for Doug Flutie’s coming and his going, but in the end it came down to this: The club for which he won a lot of games believed he had less to do with those victories than the club that just hired him did.’

‘In the autumn of 1924, while in his final year of dental school at the University of Buffalo, where he had been captain of the football and basketball teams, Ailinger joined the Buffalo Bisons of the N.F.L., which had been founded only four years earlier. Listed at 5 feet 11 and 185 pounds, he played guard on both offense and defense.’

‘A final decision isn’t due until June 1, although the issue could be put to a vote at a May meeting. The plan that many league and team officials believe has the best chance of receiving the necessary 24 votes for approval is called Option A1.’

"These guys, they’re teachers and they want to work hard," explained Wright when asked about the new coaching staff and offseason conditioning program. "Actually, (DB’s coach) Pat Thomas’s nephew was my roommate in college, so I knew his style a bit. He’s up in everyone’s face. He gets down with the defensive backs and backpedals with them.

‘Being drafted versus doing the drafting certainly supplies different kinds of pressure. Marv Levy handled that pressure from inside the Buffalo Bills’ “war room” quite well… it comes as no surprise that two of the more memorable recollections of the Hall of Fame coach came in the late 1980s just prior to the Bills’ Super Bowl run.’

’14. Buffalo (8-8) – Marcus Stroud – DT – Georgia.

Bills front four has gone through some more major overhauling, and Stroud would be an excellent new anchor in the middle.’

"If you saw the film with Buffalo, (Bills linebacker) Sam Cowart rarely got touched," Washington said. "He went to the Pro Bowl. I’m not taking full credit for that, but that’s my job. I don’t like to see guards and centers get on the linebackers because of the size difference."

‘Former UB Player Ed Ellis, 6-7, 325, appeared in 12 games for the Washington Redskins in 2000. He played exclusively on special teams on kickoff returns and field goal protection. A three-year starter at the University of Buffalo, Ellis originally entered the NFL in 1997 as New Englandís fourth-round draft choice. He spent three seasons (1997-99) with New England, playing in nine games with one start.’

‘Top-flight veteran players who thought they were going to strike it rich as unrestricted free agents are finding out teams aren’t willing to spend rarified salary cap money. Just ask former Bills nose tackle Ted Washington.’

‘Free agent Ray Hill, primarily used on special teams last season, re-signed with the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday.’

‘Dr. James Ailinger, the National Football League’s oldest former player, has died. He was 99…the former Buffalo dentist’s NFL career began and ended in 1924, when he played one season as center and nose guard for the Buffalo Bisons, formerly called the Buffalo All-Americans.’

‘Up front Phil Hansen and Erik Flowers will play on the ends and Pat Williams will slide over from nose tackle to one of the tackle spots. Coach Williams now has to find another starting tackle as the only one currently on the roster is second-year man Leif Larsen who played sparingly as a rookie.’