Two Bills Drive

‘”My sense is we’re doing well,” Mayor Frank A. Pagano said Friday. “We have a large tourist industry, and the Buffalo Bills were only a small part of that. The economic impact is negligible. But maybe it was more a sense of pride that’s gone. We saw that `Fredonia’ byline in the papers every night. That’s what it was, a sense of pride.”‘

‘"I was satisfied with the second half of last year, but I didn’t think I was given the opportunity to do more in the first half," he said. "As the season progressed the coaches started using me more and I was producing and I felt a lot more confident in what I could do." This season Reed is gone, Price is the full-time starter, and expectations are high that he and Moulds can become a dynamic duo with strong-armed quarterback Rob Johnson zinging them the ball. "I know Rob expects me to get deep and I expect him to throw it deep," said Price. "That’s the game I like, throw the ball deep, air it out."’

‘Larry Felser, longtime columnist for the Buffalo News, isn’t too impressed by the Bills’ new training facility at St. John Fisher College. In yesterday’s editions, Felser took some shots at the team’s new digs.’

‘There will be some new noon time entertainment starting today. All of the attractions will be near the main concession tent, adjacent to the grass practice fields. Jazzbo the Clown will entertain children of all ages from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. today and all next week. Scooter the Clown will appear from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow and Friday. Face painting will be available from noon to 4 p.m. daily. The music of Rich Cooley will serenade guests while they eat lunch on the Alumni Terrace at Growney Stadium.’

‘For the past two years, Sam Cowart and John Holecek have been a dynamic duo as inside linebackers in the Bills’ defensive scheme. With Holecek plugging holes, and Cowart going after the ball or holding back to play the pass, the two have provided a unique one-two punch. They are a key reason why the Bills are one of the few remaining teams to play a 3-4 set on most downs, and they played a major role in why the Bills finished with the top-ranked defense last year.’

‘Forty-Niners receiver Jerry Rice, Titans guard Bruce Matthews, Panthers defensive end Reggie White, Redskins defensive end Bruce Smith and former Lions running back Barry Sanders were unanimous choices, receiving votes on every ballot.’

‘Buffalo Bills rookie defensive end Erik Flowers said he felt like a little kid in his first practice with his new team. "It kind of reminds you of being a little 5-year-old and going to kindergarten class but being late, and everybody’s watching you as you walk through the door," Flowers said at the Bills’ St. John Fisher College training camp. "I was a little nervous at the start but things settled down."’

‘Yeah, it’s all new and people are uptight, but why make the fans feel as if they are touring an industrial park? There are two major mistakes. The shuttle bus idea is not striking a favorable chord with fans. If there had been a similar bus ride in Fredonia, it would have been like traveling from midtown Dunkirk to the SUNY campus. The other mistake is isolating the players from the fans. Yes, autograph seekers can be a pain, but these are the people who indirectly pay those fat NFL salaries. All major league sports should pattern themselves off the Dodgers’ training camp in Vero Beach, Fla., where the club forces the players to walk through the crowds to get to the diamond. They’re also encouraged to pose for photos with the fans and their kids.’

‘Buffalo Bills nose tackle Ted Washington has been selected as one of the 99 "Good Guys" in professional sports by the Sporting News in the July 31 issue of the magazine. Washington, entering his sixth season with the Bills, contributes a great deal of time and money to community programs throughout Western New York. In 1998, he created the Ted Washington Foundation to benefit area youth charities. The Multiple Sclerosis Society and Junior Achievement are among the many organizations he supports.’

‘Buffalo Bills’ quarterback Rob Johnson was down but not out yesterday, practising despite battling stomach cramps. Feeling ill for the last few days, Johnson had antibiotics delivered to his room at about 2:30 a.m. EDT yesterday, coach Wade Phillips said.’

‘They asked the former Buffalo Bills offensive line coach to cast aside the strongest NFL bond he forged over a 37-year career and help the AFC East rival Dolphins. Bresnahan responded in heroic fashion. He was on a cross-country flight the next morning . . . and on the field coaching Miami’s linemen the morning after that. "There was no decision to make," Bresnahan says. "I mean, I checked with my wife, but she was going to urope with her sister and I wasn’t invited — I would have been scrambling."’

‘The team’s first-round draft choice out of Arizona State ended his four-day contract holdout late Sunday, and was on the field for the first time yesterday at St. John Fisher College. All eyes are fixed on No. 96, the first defensive end drafted by the Bills since a guy named Bruce Smith back in 1985. With Smith now wearing Washington Redskins colors and veteran Marcellus Wiley recovering from back surgery, Flowers will get immediate playing time, something that should help his career blossom sooner than normal. "He’s ready to play. He obviously has been working out," coach Wade Phillips said. "He didn’t miss anything we didn’t go over in our June mini-camp, so he seemed to fit right in."’

‘"I hate the cold," he said at training camp yesterday. "And I’ve seen about two inches of snow in my whole life. So where do I end up? Buffalo." Somebody down here likes Cavil, too. The Buffalo Bills. "He’s looking pretty good," Eric Moulds said. "He’s big, fast and strong. That’s hard to find in a receiver."’

‘Artificial turf causes wear and tear on the joints of the body, not to mention scrapes and "turf burns" to the skin during a fall or tackle. That’s why all the drills are taking place on the grass practice fields. "You want to save your knees and legs and everything," punter Chris Mohr said. "We’ve always practiced on grass. We don’t even practice on the Astroturf in Buffalo." That goes for the kickers, too. "The grass is just so much easier on the body," kicker Steve Christie said. "I’d rather stay on the grass as long as possible."’

‘The couple met about five years ago at a concert, and the first questions Gary asked were: Do you smoke and Who’s your favorite football team? Shari answered "No" to the first one and "Bills" to the second. "When she told me Bills, I said, ‘That’s so cool,’ " said Gary, whose late father hooked him on the team years ago. When Bills officials heard the Kums were on their honeymoon, they invited the couple to the camp’s VIP section. Following the morning practice, Gary and Shari began their Finger Lakes vacation. They hope to take in a regular-season game at Ralph Wilson Stadium this fall.’