Two Bills Drive

‘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.’

‘Christie has been with the Bills for nine seasons, and in that time he has broken most of the team records for kicking and scoring. But the 59-yard field goal and the 12 game-winning three-pointers pale in comparison to his work with Camp Good Days and Special Times. Continuing a tradition begun by former Bills kicker Scott Norwood, Christie donates money to the camp for each field goal he converts. Camp founder and director Gary Mervis says Christie has helped raise more than a quarter of a million dollars since becoming involved. The money has been used to construct a 35- by 18-foot arts and crafts building on the campgrounds near Keuka Lake.’

‘The Bills worked in their dime defense for a substantial amount of the afternoon practice. The dime line consisted of Erik Flowers at left end, Shawn Price at left tackle, Phil Hansen at right tackle and Sam Rogers at right end. Rogers, of course, is filling in for the injured Wiley.’

‘Four days late, rookie defensive end Erik Flowers felt like all eyes were on him Monday morning. “It kind of reminds you of being a little five-year-old going to kindergarten class, but being late and everybody’s watching you as you walk through the door,” Flowers said after making his debut at Buffalo Bills training camp. “I was a little nervous during the beginning of the drills. But things started to fit in a little bit.”‘

‘Regarding Buffalo’s many off-season moves, Levy said he became sentimental when the team cut veterans Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed last February. “I hated to see those three last remnants of all four Super Bowls go,” he said, adding that he called all three of them the day after it was announced. “But I realize that faces change. When I first started coaching, Merlin Olsen and Deacon Jones were on the team I was coaching. It changes.” Still, Levy remains impressed with his former team. “If I’m into predictions, and I will do this on my show, I’m going to say it’s Indianapolis or Buffalo in the (AFC) East,” Levy said. “(The Bills) have good depth at quarterback, excellent receivers. I’m impressed how they’ve kept the team going.”‘

‘Former Syracuse University wide receiver David Byrd reportedly packed his belongings and left the Buffalo Bills training camp Sunday, stating he needed to attend to family problems, according to a source close to the NFL team…The Buffalo Bills signed rookie defensive end Erik Flowers on Sunday, the last of the team’s eight draft picks to sign.’

The 15th castaway has been voted off Buffalo Bills Island, leaving only one survivor standing – Mr. Buffalo Bill! The voting wasn’t lopsided, but it wasn’t close either. The vote count was 110 to 64. Who won – Kelly or Tasker?

‘Critics have said Flutie needs to stop wallowing in self-pity and get over it. They feel his constant harping on the past might have a negative effect on the team’s preparation for the season. Don’t buy it. It’s highly doubtful Flutie’s words bother the Bills one bit. If fact, they are glad to have a backup who believes he is worthy of being a starter. Furthermore, Phillips knows his team is in great shape at quarterback with a talented young starter and a proven veteran in reserve. You can count on one finger the number of NFL teams who have the same luxury.’

‘”I’m not tired of hearing it (avoiding injury problems) because I want to do it,” he said. “It’s good motivation. I haven’t done it yet. A lot of quarterbacks get hurt. You just have to stay away from the big injury. The hits you take, with the size of the guys hitting you, you’re going to get some bumps and bruises week to week. You just have to avoid the things that keep you out a long time.” “I can play with pain. It’s not that. It’s just the injuries I’ve had. The ribs are tough to play with quarterback-wise because it’s tough to throw. The head was a fluke thing that I hope never happens again. I just have to stay away from the unlucky breaks.”‘

‘So Flowers’ deal figured to fall between $5.5 million and $6 million over five years with a signing bonus of $2 million to $2.5 million.’

‘Gaining support from Rochester-based corporations is one of the keys to the franchise’s ability to compete financially in the NFL. Buffalo-area fans of the Bills may shudder at the thought of having to share their team with another city, but the economic reality of professional sports speaks to greater priorities — survival. Population projections support the Bills’ broad-based marketing strategy. The Buffalo metropolitan area continues to shrink, ranking among the NFL’s smallest. By 2025, the region that stood among the nation’s 20 largest markets when Ralph Wilson brought the team here in 1959, will be close to falling out of the top 50. While the loss of population put the Bills at a competitive disadvantage with its NFL brethren, the corresponding erosion of private sector businesses based here has created greater obstacles. When companies such as Trico, Bethlehem Steel and National Gypsum cut back their operations or moved, the core of corporate support here withered even as major professional sports franchises increasingly turned to local business in search of sponsorships. By stretching the Bills market, companies such as Wegmans are taking a higher profile in the team’s marketing plans. The direct appeal to fans becomes stronger as well, as the players spend three weeks in Rochester each summer.’

‘Levy had a roster in his hands, and he said he counted only 21 players who were with the team when he last coached. Of course, the three most notable absences were Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed, all of whom were released in February. "I hated to see those last three remnants of all four Super Bowls go, but there are young players and things change," said Levy, a hint of sadness in his voice. "But I’ve said this before, when Babe Ruth left, Joe DiMaggio came, and when DiMaggio left, Mickey Mantle came. There is a changing of the guard. "When I came into my last camp, Jim Kelly (who retired following the 1996 season) wasn’t there. If you coach long enough, great stars are going to leave. There was quite a bit of sentiment when I heard they were releasing them. John had told me a couple days before, and he told me it was going to be one of the toughest things he’d have to do."’

‘The second-year player, a seventh-round draft choice out of Nebraska, is one of the busiest players in the Bills camp as he is trying to learn two positions — tight end and fullback. "For a guy in his second year in the league, that’s about as tough as it gets," Jackson said yesterday during a break at St. John Fisher College. "I can’t think of anything harder, other than playing quarterback, than to have to learn two positions. "There’s no real scheme to it, you just know when you’re playing tight end you think about playing tight end, and when you’re playing fullback you think like a fullback and just go with it."’

‘"I haven’t felt healthy like this in a long time," said the hard-nosed Buffalo Bills offensive guard, who missed the 1999 season after underdoing neck surgery. "I’ve never taken for granted what I have, but I do appreciate it all the more. This training camp isn’t drudgery at all for me."’

‘Yesterday, there were approximately 8,000 sets of eyes providing analysis from the stands and hillside. The crowd, believed by the Bills to be the largest ever for a basic training-camp session, again made a routine practice a little more fun for the players. "With all these people, it’s like you have a game-day atmosphere," said second-year wide receiver Jeremy McDaniel. Life at St. John Fisher College already is better than the Bills believed it would be, and the players appreciate it. "People love to play the game but don’t let anyone fool you, people love playing in front of the fans, too," said second-year tight end and fullback Sheldon Jackson.’