Two Bills Drive

‘Jim Nantz got an invitation this month that might have been even tougher to get than the one he received for a black tie and boots inaugural ball for his old golfing buddy, President George W. Bush. Scott Norwood, the former Buffalo Bills kicker, invited Nantz to interview him about the memories of the Bills’ 20-19 loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV.’

‘"Naturally, I was concerned who the new man was going to be," admitted Adams, who has two years to run on his contract. "There would have been some people I wouldn’t have felt good about working with. Tom Donahoe was not one of those. I’ve known Tom from meetings and games like the Senior Bowl and I know his reputation – a guy who works hard and is not an ego guy."’

‘Household roster names like Phil Hansen, Henry Jones, Chris Mohr, Joe Panos and Sam Rogers have all been mentioned as likely candidates to seek alternate color uniforms and helmets. The cap is also mentioned as the prime reason that Buffalo’s nationally famous dysfunctional duo will see the end to their convoluted relationship…’

‘"It went well enough, I think, that I’m pulling my name out of Cleveland," Williams told the Nashville Tennessean before heading to Tampa for the Super Bowl. This hardly squared with reports that Lewis, not Williams, is Donahoe’s top choice to coach the Bills.’

‘The irony of being back in the same place 10 years later didn’t escape Levy. And while yesterday’s news at least gave him some good memories to take from this city, it couldn’t completely take away the sting of his Super Bowl defeats.’

‘Marv Levy’s journey has taken him from the South Side of Chicago to the hallowed sanctuary of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.’

‘Norwood said he never was demonized in Buffalo. "They’ve always been supportive. … The fans in Buffalo saw me as somebody who had a great career up there, won a lot of football games for them, was an All-Pro and handled myself well in the community," he said.’

‘"Time has muted a lot of those emotions," Norwood said. "I’m still probably of the feeling that a lot of the questions that I’m answering even today are ones I’ve answered so many times. I can appreciate from [the media’s] perspective why it has to be done, but you also have to understand my position that I’m the one that answers them. It may be fresh to you but over and over, I’m the one that has to answer them."’

‘"Gratitude is the first one. Especially to the Hall of Fame selectors, but to everybody who made it possible. That includes the Buffalo Bills fans so much. They played such a key part to the thrilling decade that I spent there."’

‘"It’s so great to finally have something to celebrate on a Super Bowl weekend," said Levy, alluding to his team’s four Super Bowl losses in the 1990s — including a 20-19 defeat against the New York Giants 10 years ago in the same city as this year’s game, Tampa, Fla.’

‘On Aug. 4, Levy will become only the third member of the Buffalo Bills organization (O.J. Simpson and Billy Shaw are the others) and only the 11th coach in NFL history to receive a Hall of Fame bust.’

‘"You’re clicking the remote and that damn lowlight comes up, and you pray that one freaking time that kick will hook just a few feet to the left," says Jim Kelly, the quarterback of all four Bills Super Bowl teams. "But it never does. It’s always wide right." Then. Now. Forever.’

‘In terms of longevity and achievement, Wilson belongs in Canton. Hopefully he’ll be elected while he still is breathing.’

And so it beings…… Bills fans with less intestinal fortitude may wish go shopping or skiing on Sunday – as Super Bowl coverage is certainly going to bring back a lot of painful memories.

‘Now, Fox and Lewis are hotter than hot. The Browns and Bills are set to go on the offensive Sunday night for Fox and Lewis. The Browns have the money. The Bills have a friend of theirs in high places — team president Tom Donahoe, who worked with Lewis and Fox in Pittsburgh.’