Two Bills Drive

‘The Pill" is short for Pillsbury. Pillsbury is short for Pillsbury Doughboy. The Pillsbury Doughboy is Alex Van Pelt, the round mound capable of running the Bills’ offense, through the air or on the ground. His teammates couldn’t wait to see him Sunday morning so they could push their index finger into his lovable little belly. Anyone who witnessed the quarterbacking display last week during training camp wouldn’t blame them. Never in their recent history have the Bills needed a baseball-cap-wearing, clipboard-holding, minimum-salary-making, 6-foot-1, 220-pounds-before-breakfast, third-string quarterback than they do right now. Alex Van Pelt is a proven backup, but the Bills would have improved by signing Alex Trebek.’

‘Drake conquered NFL Europe last year. Now he’ll try and do the same with the Bills. No one questions Drake’s skills. He’s deceptively quick. His hands are so big they could fit around a powerlifter’s neck. His legs, long and lean, churn and kick up chunks of sod. The guy’s got skills, no doubt. You don’t catch 12 touchdowns in NFL Europe – as Drake did last season with the Rhein Fire – without them. He still faces a number of challenges with the Bills, though.’

‘With all-time great Andre Reed parting ways with the Bills, last year’s star rookie Peerless Price moves into the starting lineup alongside Eric Moulds. That leaves three positions to fill, including the very important No. 3 role. There are eight candidates in training camp competing for the job, but 10 days into the weeding out process, McDaniel is clearly out in front. Not that the soft-spoken 24-year-old from New Bern, N.C., would say so. "I can’t say it’s guaranteed I’m the third guy," McDaniel said. "There are a lot of great young players out here. But just the experience of last year, being on the practice squad, I do have a bit more experience. I will say I’m feeling good. I’m getting a lot of help from Eric, who’s one of the great receivers in the league, and things are going pretty well."’

‘"I think this is an exciting year," Brown said. "We have a lot of young talent. If the veteran leaders and coaching staff can bring it together, we have a good of a shot to go to the Super Bowl. If we don’t get to the Super Bowl and win it this year, than next year we’re definitely gonna win it. We’re loaded."’

‘When Bruce Smith was mulling his future last January, he knew that by remaining with the Buffalo Bills, he could earn $2 million for playing in the 2000 NFL season. However, that meant Smith would have to take a salary cut from the $4 million he was scheduled to earn from the Bills. Most of us would agree that $2 million is a living wage. Smith felt it wasn’t a fair wage for a defensive end of his accomplishments and talent, but when he signed with the Washington Redskins, Smith agreed to a contract that would pay him a base salary of $500,000 for the 2000 season. Why would Smith accept even less than what he felt was an insulting offer from the Bills? The answer is a $4.25 million signing bonus.’

‘Van Pelt is scheduled to start practicing with the Bills on Monday morning after he undergoes a physical examination and signs a one-year deal worth $440,000, plus incentives. Final details were being completed Saturday. He is expected to report this afternoon to the Bills’ training camp at St. John Fisher College. "He’s kept in shape and he’s been working out," said Brian Kelley, Van Pelt’s agent. "We knew something would happen with Alex, if not with Buffalo then with somebody."’

‘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."’