Two Bills Drive

‘"We want to make a statement throughout the year and it starts today," said Joe Johnson. "It’s very important we rattle (Rob) Johnson early and take out the running game."’

‘The majority of fans and media in western New York think not. There isn’t much hope for success today, or in 2001, the negative nabobs insisting that the Bills have undergone too radical a change, are too young and are simply not talented enough to contend for a playoff berth. Not surprisingly, the attitude is much different within the confines of One Bills Drive as players, coaches and front office officials deny the team is about to embark on the mother of all rebuilding years.’

‘What pops into your head when someone mentions Buffalo? ”The cold weather. I don’t know what it would be like. Everybody I talk to back home, it’s ‘How’s the weather? Is it cold up there? Is there snow on the ground yet?”

‘"When Travis gets the ball, you get the feeling he knows where he’s going. He understands the importance of not rushing things and letting the play unfold. Thurman was like that. Real patient with the ball, real intelligent — then boom he sees his opening and takes advantage of it. And Travis can’t be a treat to tackle because he is nothing but shoulder pads and knees coming through that hole. Like a bowling ball ready to make contact with pins."’

‘But because the NFL is so parity-driven, there is still a glimmer of hope that the Bills can be competitive this year.’

‘"You have a lot of fans up there. I have a lot of friends still living up there, a lot of players I played with still up there, and it’s odd. I still want them to be successful too, other than against us."’

‘With former teammates Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas standing proudly at his side, Andre Reed — the leading receiver in Buffalo Bills history — bid adieu to the team yesterday. Too bad Steve Christie, the team’s all-time leading scorer, did not have the same opportunity to say goodbye.’

‘How well the Bills’ untested offensive line protects Johnson is a huge key. "One of the things that I really studied hard the last two years when we played against this team was the extreme depth of drops," said Bills coach Gregg Williams, who was the Tennessee Titans’ defensive coordinator the past four years. "We knew going into the ballgame that we were going to have a chance to get after him and put a lot of hits on him because of how deep they were setting him."’

‘Joe Horn knows all about Eric Moulds. "He’s from Mississippi. I’m from Mississippi," Horn said. "I was telling my father-in-law it’ll be the battle of the Mississippi boys."’

‘"When the job came open initially when Wade got it, I thought there was some interest, but we (Steelers) were in the middle of the playoffs. We were in the AFC Championship Game, and they named Wade. That would have been great to go back and coach a team that you played on for so long.’

For the 3rd year in row, TBD will bring fans together for the annual pick ’em contest. This season we will host the contest on CBS Sportsline. Just sign-up at the link above. The group password is "gobills". Come join us!

Buffalo will improve as the myriad youngsters learn their roles. If things

break right, the Bills could even make some noise in the division.

‘"He came from a little school, Kutztown University in Pennsylvania," Bills owner Ralph Wilson said. "This chap came to the Bills in the fourth round of the 1985 draft. It was probably the best deal the Bills ever got."’

‘"We didn’t win any Super Bowls, but it was the ride of my life," he said. "During that time, there will never be an assembly of players like that here again. Never. It’ll never be duplicated, and I don’t know if it will be duplicated in the NFL again."’

‘Buffalo Bills placekicker Steve Christie’s 188-game kicking streak will end Sunday after the team placed him on injured reserve Saturday.’