Two Bills Drive

‘The Buffalo Bills have shored up their backup quarterback situation, agreeing to contract terms with veteran Alex Van Pelt…Neither Butler nor coach Wade Phillips would comment yesterday, but it’s known that the team re-worked the contract of one player to free up salary cap room. Van Pelt’s one-year deal, which he will sign today or early tomorrow, is for the veteran minimum of $440,000 with incentives.’

‘Some day, Mike Cawley, 27, may wind up a reliable, backup quarterback in the NFL. He might also wind up a used car salesman. What is known for certain is that the uninspiring five-year professional vagabond will not open the regular season backing up Rob Johnson for the Buffalo Bills. The hook has come early. Today, proven free agent Alex Van Pelt, still living in Buffalo where he has lowered his golf handicap to single digits, re-joins the club.’

‘Defense ruled the morning as the Bills in the blue shirts pretty much had their way with their white-shirted offensive teammates during the spirited hour-long glorified practice in front of an estimated 5,500 fans at St. John Fisher College.’

‘While [Keion] Carpenter is vying for a starting position, two other defensive backs who are just trying to make the team took a good first step. Raion Hill, who spent the second half of last season on the Bills’ practice squad, and Quincy Coleman, a free agent signee this year, both made a number of standout plays in the scrimmage.’

‘"Sure, they lost several good players, but they have some potentially great players waiting to come in. Antoine Winfield could be a Pro Bowl player, and I know linebacker Keith Newman is going to play great for these guys. It may not be the No. 1 defense, but certainly it will be a top 8 defense." Tasker likes the offense, too. He says the key will be quarterback Rob Johnson’s health. "If he can stay healthy for 16 games, the Bills have a chance to be one of the teams to beat, not just in the AFC East, but in the league," he said. "Rob’s that good if he’s healthy. But that’s going to be a question until he goes out there and does it over the course of a season.’

‘Bills owner Ralph Wilson, a long-time thoroughbred race horse owner, headed for Saratoga Race Track after watching his team’s scrimmage. This will be the 50th straight year he has vacationed at the storied town north of Albany. Though he has cut way back on the number of horses he owns, Wilson still has one racing at Saratoga. It’s name is Country Coast, and Wilson says he might enter it in the prestigious Travers Stakes.’

‘"By taking care of my back problem when we did, I’d be able to make it back in time for the regular season, and I’d be coming back without the pain that had been bothering me for a while," Wiley was saying after a recent training camp practice at St. John Fisher College. "Yeah, the timing might have been better, but it also could have been worse. It could have happened in the regular season." Those who know Wiley are not surprised by his positive response. He has always been a turn-lemons-into-lemonade kind of guy.’

‘Doug Flutie is injured, Rob Johnson is still recovering from an illness and Alex Van Pelt is still in limbo. So the Buffalo Bills’ remaining quarterbacks, and their offense, struggled in an intrasquad scrimmage before 5,500 spectators Saturday morning at St. John Fisher College.’

‘It appears the Bills are leaning toward signing a veteran quarterback in the near future. It could reopen the door for Alex Van Pelt, the veteran backup who was released by Buffalo after last season and remains unsigned. "There are several quarterbacks out there and, of course, Alex has been with us. That’s a plus," Bills coach Wade Phillips said. "He’s been with us and knows the system. But again, we have other considerations. It may turn out we feel we’re strong enough to go through the first how many games it takes with a first and a third quarterback."’

‘"From a couple days ago, when I wanted to die, I felt all right," Johnson said after the morning workout. "I just got worn down and tried to practice through it, and that made it worse."’

‘In a few years Thurman Thomas will be in Canton, Ohio, on this weekend priming for his Hall of Fame speech. Jamie Duncan will not be on his mind. Duncan was on it plenty Friday when the Dolphins practiced against Tampa Bay in Orlando at the Citrus Bowl. In what was supposed to be a controlled practice, Duncan, who is the first choice to replace Hardy Nickerson as Tampa Bay’s middle linebacker, picked up Thomas and slammed him to the ground. Not one Dolphin came to Thomas’ rescue.’

‘Still-available free agent Alex Van Pelt, who played five seasons for the Bills and is still living in Buffalo, is the likely candidate…"We’re looking at our options right now," coach Wade Phillips said. "It’s a lot more complicated than it used to be when there was no salary cap. Those things have to be worked out and we’re discussing those things." Phillips said the team isn’t looking for just "another arm" to get them through the rest of training camp at St. John Fisher College, but rather a player they know can play in the NFL. That’s Van Pelt. Brian Kelly, Van Pelt’s New Brunswick, N.J., agent, placed a phone call to general manager John Butler yesterday. "It’s the obvious move but I haven’t heard from them yet," Kelly said. "I’ve heard there’s no one up there that can come in and play (if Johnson got hurt), so I’d expect to hear from them soon."’

‘"I was two plays away from going into the game and now I’m one play," said Cawley, who moves up the depth chart behind starter Rob Johnson after Doug Flutie suffered a severely torn groin muscle in practice Thursday. "One play isn’t much of a difference. I just plan to come out here and perform the way I have been."’

‘"It’s my first chance to see how my knee is going to react with guys flying around," said an obviously excited Bryson. "We’re flying around here (in practice), but it’s nothing like a scrimmage situation."…"He’s still not going to have any contact because we’re not going to tackle anybody, but we’re going to hit at the line of scrimmage hard, we’re going to get to the football, we’re going to knock the ball down, so it will be more of a test," said coach Wade Phillips.’

‘Families who have visited the Buffalo Bills’ training camp say the experience is a hit because it’s free, includes sports activities for kids and visitors often meet some of the professional football players. But to make the most out of a visit to the St. John Fisher College campus, families who’ve been there recommend some strategies. For starters, be ready to move around or bring diversions…line up early if you want autographs.’