Two Bills Drive

‘Johnson is the Bills’ man for the foreseeable future. That was settled at the end of last season when he tore apart the Indianapolis Colts in the final regular-season game and then Wade Phillips handed him the starting assignment for the playoff game in Tennessee. The move should have been made weeks before, but the many Flutie loyalists still have the notion that Doug will be able to wrest the job back from Johnson if he outplays him in the summer games. That’s not going to happen.’

‘Before the stabbing, Byrd was projected as an early-round draft pick. After the stabbing, he went undrafted. Now, as a free-agent pickup, he tries to cling to a Bills team replete with openings in the secondary. To do so, the Schenectady native needs to use the speed that made him such an attractive commodity in the first place. Though after the stabbing he lost about two-tenths of a second off his sprinter’s speed – Byrd took a year off from football at Syracuse to run track – he said he still runs around 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, certainly passable for an NFL cornerback. But Byrd’s natural speed will not alone win him a roster spot. He must use the June minicamp to memorize the Bills’ complicated zone defenses and multiple schemes.’

‘Although he spent his first day of mini-camp mostly observing after re-aggravating a hamstring injury, Bills head coach Wade Phillips took notice of the tools Pingel used to shatter 15 Division III records and seven all-division marks during his four years in Fulton for Westminster. "When you look at that guy and you see the mechanics of catching the football, somebody taught him something somewhere," Phillips told The Buffalo News. "Somebody did a good job with him."’

"Wade Phillips had said the Bills’ rookies and other younger, backup players would have more playing time, more reps, during the second week of the mini-camp. This afternoon, they did. A thunderstorm again pushed the practice inside the fieldhouse, where it was hot and humid."

‘Phillips was asked by reporters if he’d consider working on other HBO series, like “Sex And The City.” “Well, I don’t know about that,” he said, laughing. As for The Sopranos? “I’d get killed on The Sopranos.”‘

"Rob Johnson has come to the Buffalo Bills minicamp calm, cool and focused, having reclaimed the title of No. 1 quarterback. Johnson even was spotted sharing a couple of laughs with fellow quarterback — and sometime nemesis — Doug Flutie during practice Wednesday at Orchard Park Fieldhouse."

‘Bills coach Wade Phillips needed another receiver because rookie free agent Corey Jones hasn’t shown up this minicamp and likely never will. Pingel is wearing No. 18, the jersey number assigned to Jones.

"When you look at that guy and you see the mechanics of catching the football, somebody taught him something somewhere," Phillips said. "Somebody did a good job with him."’

"Eight first-year Buffalo Bills players will participate in a pizza party with patients and staff members at Buffalo Children’s Hospital tonight from 6-7."

This is an older article written before last year’s college season about the Bills newest roster addition – WR Scott Pingel.

"Playing for Westminster College in Missouri, Pingel was a three-time All-America and was selected Division III player of the year in 1999. He holds seven Division III records, including 436 career receptions, eclipsing the mark of 301 set by Jerry Rice, now of the San Francisco 49ers."

‘Earlier, the Broncos had talked to 36-year-old Andre Reed, recently cut by Buffalo after 15 seasons. Reed had 52 receptions for 536 yards last year, continuing a decline in productivity that has coincided with the Bills’ erosion since Jim Kelly’s retirement. Initially, we heard the Broncos might not be able to afford Reed. Of course, Shanahan was saving money for Young. Now Denver can use that cap room for a No.3 receiver. Either Dawkins or Reed could fill that role, but Dawkins should be the first choice.’

‘For the past two summers, Bryce Fisher has used up all his vacation time to fly in from Colorado and attend Buffalo Bills training camps.

Yet he is not an avid fan. Nor does he visit Western New York to collect autographs. Fisher was one of the Bills’ seventh-round picks in last year’s draft. He was the defensive tackle who recorded four tackles, a sack and a forced fumble, and helped cause an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the preseason opener at Seattle. The next day, he was back in Colorado Springs, fulfilling his obligation to the U.S. Air Force Academy. Fisher hasn’t played a game of football since his debut, but he’s with the Bills again and is set to play the full preseason slate this time around. Of course, he still has at least one more year to serve and will not play a down of regular-season action this year. Nevertheless, he burns up his furlough time working at his second job.’

‘Wade Phillips welcomed the players back from their weekend off, gathering them together before practice in the fieldhouse for another reminder. "I talked about the mental aspect, stressing the mental part of the game and being prepared."’

‘By 1999 the Bills average ticket cost had escalated to $40.89, about a 50 percent jump over 10 years, and a 15 percent increase in a year’s time. Last year the average cost of an NFL ticket was $45.63. The addition of premium club seating is a primary reason for the increase. Like the Sabres, the Bills in recent years have steadily remained on the low end in average ticket costs. Since 1994, the least expensive seat at Ralph Wilson Stadium has gone up to $30, a $4 boost. "There are a lot of factors that go into (ticket prices) and there is not any single factor that dominates the conversation," said Bills’ vice president/communications Scott Berchtold. "We look around the league and Western New York."’

‘When wide receiver and special teams ace Steve Tasker played for the Buffalo Bills, he planned carefully for his future after retirement. During his off-seasons, Tasker worked for Buffalo’s WKBW-TV (Ch. 7), an ABC affliate. "I was there for six or eight years,” Tasker said. "I was an intern there. I ran scripts around, did all that. I wrote a story or two for the 11 o’clock news, so that helped me out with my writing.”’