Two Bills Drive

‘"Great players don’t always mean leadership," Phillips said during a conference call Wednesday. "They are certainly great players. All three of the guys we’ve lost are Hall of Famers, but so was Jim Kelly a couple of years ago. "Our captains of our team have been Phil Hansen and Henry Jones. They have been captains of our defense for a long time. So, we didn’t lose either of them. Our quarterback is certainly a leader. Ruben Brown has been a captain of our team on offense. We didn’t actually lose the captains of our team; we lost some great players, all-time great players."’

‘Buffalo’s Rob Johnson also had a big half in an often sloppy game, going 8-for-12 for 237 yards and three touchdowns. Johnson hit a wide-open Jeremy McDaniel for a 51-yard gain to the Rams 5 on the third play of the game. He and McDaniel also hooked up for an 85-yard touchdown with 2:32 left in the first quarter. Johnson hit Jay Riemersma for a 5-yard score and Bobby Collins for a 26-yard score.’

‘The Buffalo Bills got big contributions from three players who gave them very little last season. Shawn Bryson’s three-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter powered the Bills to a 31-27 exhibition victory over the Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams.’

‘Bills coach Wade Phillips is continuing to evaluate rookies before the first roster cuts next week. But his main priority is giving most of the playing time to those he expects will contribute during the regular season. "I plan on playing a good group," he said. "It may not be the starters all the time, but guys who are good enough to play in a (regular-season) game. (Center) Billy Conaty can play. He showed that to us last year. He may play some for Jerry (Ostroski), and then Jerry may come back in. I’d like to have our best players out there for a good while."’

‘…given the nature of the Rams’ high-scoring offense, even with Warner on the sidelines most of the night, the Buffalo secondary will be in for a major test when the Rams and Bills meet at the Trans World Dome in the third preseason game for each team. "We’re looking forward to it, and I know after the game they played the other night they’re going to be a little bit fired up on their end," said Bills defensive backs coach Bill Bradley, referring to the 30-3 pasting the Rams suffered at the hands of the Tennessee Titans. "It’s going to be a challenge. They throw the ball deep a lot, and it’s a contrast to what we just faced (against Detroit). This is a real key game for some of the young guys."’

‘Look for the Rams to turn up the intensity level Saturday night against Buffalo. But will they pull a Tennessee, and summon Michael Buffer, skydivers and fireworks for preseason game No. 3? Absolutely not.’

‘Here are five key areas to watch Saturday night when the Rams play Buffalo at the Trans World Dome…’

‘Earlier in the week, Martz had indicated that Warner might not play because of soreness in his throwing shoulder. But after Thursday’s workout, Martz said, "He’ll probably get at least a quarter of work, maybe a little bit more. If he’s going to play at all, he needs to practice."’

‘In terms of dynasties, the Buffalo Bills may never get proper accolades for their string of success in the 1990s. The franchise compiled a mark of 103-57 and earned eight playoff berths in the process. It also earned four straight invitations to the Super Bowl, something still not matched in NFL annals. But that was then. This is now. The 2000 Bills will bear little resemblance to the recent editions of the team, as 15 veterans were either released and/or left via free agency. That includes the aging trio of running back Thurman Thomas, wide receiver Andre Reed and defensive end Bruce Smith, as well as starting defensive backs Thomas Smith and Kurt Schulz from the league’s stingiest defense in 1999.’

‘The NFL MVP, held out of practice two days this week, is scheduled to play the first half of Saturday night’s exhibition game against Buffalo. He could use some work after throwing only six passes in limited action in the first two games. "I was real concerned about the arm,” coach Mike Martz said Friday. "Provided things are fine, he may go a half."’

‘Buffalo (1-1), which finished 1999 atop the league in pass defense and tied with Tampa Bay for fewest touchdowns allowed (23), will have its hands full in containing the high-flying Rams. St. Louis (1-1) scored 525 points last season and averaged 272.1 yards per game through the air. Rams quarterback Kurt Warner sliced up plenty of defenses, going to weapons such as Isaac Bruce, Tory Holt and Marshall Faulk out of the backfield. "It’s great to go against a great passing offense," said Bills head coach Wade Phillips. "All their stats are unbelievable as far as last year … and, of course, that’s why they won the world championship."’

‘Pingel wasn’t sure he would be invited to an NFL camp, even after finishing his college career with an NCAA record 436 receptions, which shattered Jerry Rice’s mark of 301. He established seven all-division records, including career yards (6,108), receiving touchdowns (75) and receptions per game (13.6). He received the 1999 Melberger Award, which is given to the Division III player of the year. As astonishing as Pingel’s statistics were at Westminster [College], his 4.7-second time in the 40 wasn’t exactly the stuff that makes the NFL take notice. These days, he’s training with the likes of Buffalo receivers Peerless Price and Eric Moulds, and while doing so has determined that he can play professionally at some level. "As far as practice goes, I’d like to be getting more reps, but I have seen improvement in my game," he said. "Coming from Division III, I thought the cornerbacks would totally kill me, but I’m finding out how to play them. I’ve always felt I belong here. I never have felt out of my element."’

‘The Bills will trim their 79-man roster to 65 as early as Monday, a day before the NFL-imposed deadline. Some of the cuts will be easier than others, but coach Wade Phillips said there is still time for players to make an impression. "The talent evaluation will go all the way through," Phillips said. "There may be a couple of guys on the bubble as far as 65, so you want to get it right every time. I think there will be a pretty good competition over who will be the final 53. "The last two weeks are important for guys, but the most important thing is getting ready for that first game with the guys who are going to play it."’

‘Today, after a number of ambitious, innovative but, ultimately, disappointing business ventures, the well-spoken 65-year-old is living in the Philadelphia area, polishing his biography. He’s lost none of his combativeness, nor his conviction he’s been a life-long victim of racism…So now that you have your own provocative Internet Web site (http://www.cookiegilchrist.com), what do you propose to call your book? “The Cookie that did not Crumble.”‘

‘In reality, Hansen — in his unassuming way — has always been a reliable leader and coach Wade Phillips said that will not change. "He’s still leading by example, but he’s also a vocal leader, and he’s been a captain for a number of years," said Phillips. "We get the leadership qualities we need from him and we always have." Said Hansen: "It’s really hard to believe that Bruce, Thurman and Andre are gone, but now it’s time for guys like myself and Henry to take a more prominent role. "I don’t think it’s a burden, I think it’s my responsibility as a 10-year member of the Buffalo Bills to make sure that this team stays on course and does what it has done in the past and that’s be a good successful team." The best way Hansen can do that is to lead by example, which is what he has always done.’