Two Bills Drive

‘A college quarterback at Colorado State, and a second-team all-WAC selection behind Jim McMahon as a senior, Fairchild spent the past four seasons at his alma mater as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Like most of his colleagues on the Buffalo staff, he is viewed as a strong teacher.’

‘Fairchild, 42, spent the last four seasons as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Colorado State.’

‘As a wide receiver, Dubenion spent eight years with the Bills (1960-1968). The team awarded him its highest honor by selecting him to the Wall of Fame in 1993. After retiring, Dubenion served as a scout for the Bills.’

‘The Buffalo Bills officially returned to the ranks of professional football on July 10, 1960, as the new AFL squad opened training camp in East Aurora, NY. Buffalo had an earlier version of the squad in the old All-America Football Conference during the late 1940s, but the team disbanded along with the league a decade before the new AFL was born.’

‘The Bills today announced that the team has agreed to terms with Steve Fairchild as running backs coach. Fairchild, 42, spent the last four seasons at Colorado State, including the last four as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.’

‘WNSA seems to be making a tactical programming error that gives that argument some credibility. Far too often, the station is focused on the Sabres when the talk of the town is the Bills.’

‘Moulds signed the richest contract in team history. According to a league source, it’s worth a total of $40 million over six years with a $12.5 million signing bonus… That puts Moulds virtually even with Tampa Bay’s Keyshawn Johnson at the top of the pay list for NFL receivers. (Moulds’ deal averages about $6.6 million a year, Johnson’s about $6.68 million).’

‘But this question: After the Bills finish tending to their salary cap overage for 2001, will they still have four veteran defensive linemen with which to enact the new scheme?… [Also,] it appears, for now at least, that Donahoe and rookie coach Gregg Williams aren’t close yet to a decision on which quarterback they will keep. ‘

‘The asking price for Wiley will be close to the $32-million the New York Giants gave Michael Strahan. That included a $12-million signing bonus. "We would certainly like to keep him," Wilson said, referring to Wiley. "Maybe we can work something out, but I will have to put that on the doubtful list."’

‘What’s wrong with the current colors?: red helmets and socks, white pants and blue jerseys. To my eye, the Bills have one of the best-looking uniforms in the NFL.’

‘Kelly got emotional as he talked about his bed-ridden son. The disease attacks Hunter’s brain, robbing him of his motor skills and the ability to breathe on his own. Hunter is on a respirator 24 hours a day and has nurses tend to him around the clock. He must be fed through a tube attached to his stomach.’

Shout’s Lary Bump breaks down the Bills re-signing of Eric Moulds: ‘Eric Moulds will be a Buffalo Bill for the next six seasons. He and the Bills signed a contract Friday, Feb. 16, that will keep him in Buffalo through the 2006 season. The amount of the contract wasn’t disclosed, but a source said estimates of $40 million-$45 million were accurate.’

Peter King writes: ‘Buffalo did the right thing in paying through the nose — about $6 million a year — to keep wide receiver Eric Moulds. Why? One AFC scout told me this week the Bills have no offensive weapon remotely close to Moulds in his ability to break a game open. As the scout said, Moulds can turn every eight-yard cross into a Randy Moss – type home run. Buffalo has no one else to strike fear into a defense. Though the Moulds’ signing will likely cost the Bills the services of valuable defensive players Ted Washington, Phil Hansen and John Holecek because of salary-cap constraints, this was easily the most vital of new GM Tom Donahoe’s goals.’

Mike Doser likes what he hears from this new cast of coaches: ‘Bills coach Gregg Williams introduced his offensive coaches Thursday afternoon. All of these people seem to be well spoken. Fans should enjoy this new era of Bills football simply because these coaches have no problem communicating their thoughts to the public. It’s refreshing.’