Two Bills Drive

‘Center is the most stable off-season position in the game of football. The 2001 off-season is no exception. There are likely only two teams in the NFL going into the draft with a major need at the position. Free agency could very easily reduce this to just one.’

‘He arrives at work before 6 every morning and never goes home before 10 that night.’

‘Farris was a consensus first-team All-America and All-Pacific 10 Conference as a senior at UCLA in 1999. The Mission Viejo, Calif., native also won the Outland Trophy, given to the nation’s top lineman.’

‘Farris was Pittsburgh’s third-round draft pick in 1999 but missed the entire season with a broken foot. He was obtained on waivers by the Bengals in August only to be waived a day later.’

‘Friday marks Donahoe’s 100th day on the job. Despite the challenges he’s faced, and on the eve of his first NFL draft at the helm, Donahoe is having the time of his life. “We kind of hit the ground sprinting, and it hasn’t stopped. But it’s been a lot of fun,” Donahoe said. “I’ve never looked at it as a job. I feel rejuvenated.”‘

‘The Bills today announced that the team has agreed to terms with free agent offensive tackle Kris Farris. Farris (6-8, 322) entered the NFL as a third-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1999 out of UCLA. He spent the entire 1999 season on injured reserve due to a stress fracture in his foot and also missed the entire 2000 season.’

NFL mock draft, conducted by John Clayton, Greg Garber, Chris Mortensen, Mel Kiper, ESPN coordinating producer Howie Schwab, ESPN.com AFC columnist Mark Cannizzaro, ESPN.com NFC columnist Tom Oates, and ESPN.com NFL editors Joe Lago and Peter Lawrence-Riddell. Cannizaro has the Bills taking Miami's Damione Lewis at 14, "a guy the Jets love." Cannizaro covers the Jets for a NY paper; why would he think the Bills would love him too?

"With free agent left tackle Richmond Webb in limbo, the Miami Dolphins plucked tackle Marcus Spriggs from AFC East rival Buffalo. Spriggs signed a two-year contract on Thursday. Financial terms were not disclosed."

"Normally, the thought of trading out of the top five of the draft is shameful. Trading down usually was a sellout. Though draftees are paid in accordance to their selection, what might be good for the budget may not be good for the personnel."

"Following are alphabetical lists of prospects who have appeared on Mel Kiper Jr.’s Big Board throughout the 2001 season. For months, Mel has been evaluating these prospects, with the 2001 NFL draft in view."

“Following are a few lists that indicate how some players are being viewed going into this weekend’s draft..”

"Inside the War Room, Adams and his staff will be charged with providing on-the-spot information and advice to general manager Tom Donahoe, head coach Gregg Williams and his assistants. Obviously, they need to follow what other teams are doing so they know who is available."

"One current Bill who didn’t have to worry about getting selected but where he would be picked was receiver Peerless Price. Price, who was a member of the the University of Tennessee’s national championship season in 1999, had been persued by several NFL clubs and been touted as a first-round pick, heightening his expectations on Draft day…"

"Writers at buffalobills.com examined Kiper’s picks from 2000 to examine how accurately his picks predict the actual draft day order as well as how his picks match up in terms of performances last season."

"The 14th pick in the first round’s a good pick, but you don’t know what the teams in front of you are going to do, what trades that might be involved," Donahoe said. "There’s always some speculation, and we’ll play some games where we may do some mock drafts and see if certain teams take certain players…"