Two Bills Drive

‘"I want to play so bad, it hurts. But my time will come. It’s finally good to just totally focus on football for a change."’

‘So who’s your ruby in this year’s camp? Carl Nesmith, the All-Big 12 safety from Kansas who went undrafted? Josh Roth, the former UB fullback who spent last season on the Bills’ practice squad? David Dinkins, the Morehead State quarterback? Mine? Defensive tackle Tyrone Robertson, the very last draft choice.’

‘Coach Gregg Williams is counting on Clements to challenge for major playing time at cornerback and as a punt returner. Clements missed two days of practices, so he has some catching up to do.’

‘Yesterday was just right for a parade, nice and sunny, and not too hot. I made it to the staging area at the high school about 4:45 to prepare for the line up. There were already alot of the convertibles awaiting the players arrival. Ruben Brown was already there, speaking with several fans and signing autographs.’

‘"We had a young Jim Kelly, a young Bruce Smith, a young Andre Reed, a young Thurman Thomas," he said. "The organization was magnificent. How lucky can you get?"’

‘"Three things made Marv a great coach," Polian said. "No. 1 is his complete and total honesty with everyone he comes in contact with. No. 2 is his incredible ability to inspire loyalty and teamwork. No. 3 is his ability to make you feel that what you did, no matter how great or small, was important to the program."

‘"He demanded respect," Spielman said, "but it was automatically given to him by his players because of the kind of coach he was and the kind of person he was."’

‘Williams loves the fact that the national perception of his team is one of indifference. Let the rest of the NFL forget all about the Bills, better for them to sneak up on unassuming opponents this year.’

‘"I’m not a flashy person," he said. "I really don’t need anything now so I don’t feel there’s a reason to go out and spend. That’s one thing my mother and father always stayed on me about — keep a level head. (Blowing my money) won’t be an issue with me."’

‘"The fans may just quit coming. We keep raising ticket prices and make it more difficult for people to come, maybe that’s what it will take to get some of (these salaries) back in line."’

‘Complaints from neighbors in Brighton’s Blossom Road-Clover Street neighborhood have prompted the Buffalo Bills and St. John Fisher College to move a primary parking lot from Mercy High School to Nazareth College.’

‘Pittsford now plans to hold a parade every year to kick off training camp.’

‘As for plans to spend any of his bonus money, he said: "I’m not a flashy person. I really don’t need anything right now."’

‘To ensure that no one misses a minute of the first full day of training camp Sunday, Williams has instructed equipment manager Dave Hojnowski to begin sounding an air horn at 6 a.m. through the St. John Fisher College dormitory hallways, where the players are staying.’

"Saturday was the third and final day of the rookie/young veteran portion of Wegmans/Buffalo Bills Training Camp 2001, and there was one more rookie in attendance: first-round pick Nate Clements, who signed with the Bills late Friday."