Two Bills Drive

‘Russ Brandon is quick to note that his Buffalo Bills are the only NFL team in New York state. The New York Giants and Jets, their monikers aside, technically are residents of The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J. But geographical quibbles aside, Brandon and the Bills hold no illusions about becoming the state’s official football team. The fanatics behind the Giants and Jets have a firm grip on the turf of New York City and its environs. Beyond those boundaries, however, the Bills figure the rest of the state is up for grabs. And that fight to win the upstate fan’s allegiance is why the Bills have moved into new summer digs a mere 75 minutes west of Syracuse.’

Today, one day before the team is scheduled to report to training camp in Greeley, the Broncos will host visits with former Buffalo standout wide receiver Andre Reed and Arizona’s free-agent defensive tackle Eric Swann….But the depth the Broncos really would like to add is at wide receiver and defensive tackle. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan already has spoken with the 36-year-old Reed about signing with Denver, where he likely would be the team’s No. 3 wide receiver, a position the Broncos have tried unsuccessfully to fill for years.’

As soon as Broncos work Andre out and approve of his conditioning, he will sign.

‘Want to know why special teams will be a high priority for the Buffalo Bills in training camp? They ranked 22nd in kickoff returns, 21st in kick coverage, 18th in punt coverage and 11th in punt returns. There was also a certain kickoff return by the Tennessee Titans that shall remain nameless.’

‘Wannstedt brought in former Buffalo assistant Tom Bresnahan to fill Boudreau’s spot in the interim…Bresnahan last coached the Bills in 1997 and spent 16 years in the NFL. Bresnahan, 65, was given a crash course via telephone Monday and Tuesday by Boudreau, and he was scheduled to meet with offensive coordinator Chan Gailey on Tuesday night. "I’ve been on the opposite side of the field from Chan, but I have a lot of admiration for what he does," Bresnahan said. "I don’t know the intricacies, but I’m a pretty quick learner and I’m sure before long I’ll be up to snuff."’

‘Bresnahan’s name should be familiar to Dolphins fans from his nine-year coaching stint in Buffalo. Not only did the Bills field dominating offensive lines during that span, but Bresnahan also served as offensive coordinator for the Buffalo teams that reached Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII.’

‘Tom Bresnahan, the former offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills, will serve as offensive line coach while the Dolphins’ Paul Boudreau undergoes surgery to remove what is believed to be a cancerous tumor from one of his kidneys. Bresnahan, 65, flew to South Florida on Tuesday from Phoenix, where he has lived since retiring from the Bills after the 1997 season. Bresnahan spent nine years with the Bills, helping them reach the Super Bowl four times during the 1990s.’

‘In recent years, the Bills have a good, but hardly spotless, record of player behavior. There have been several incidents of domestic violence. Last fall, lineman Marcus Spriggs and wide receiver Jeremy McDaniel were arrested for an incident involving an off-duty female Buffalo police officer in a bar. During training camp at Fredonia, there were several occasions when players put their fists through drywall, usually after learning they’d been cut. Lost room keys and stolen linens added to the final bill. When the team trained at Niagara University, free-agent running back Terry Morehead went berserk after getting cut in 1984, throwing a chair through a window. He was given a police escort all the way to the Buffalo airport.’

‘It’s playoff time in Buffalo. The Buffalo Bills are hosting the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game. Incredibly, after *two* overtime periods the two teams remain tied. Which of the following rules now applies…’

‘The 13th castaway has been voted off Buffalo Bills Island. This former OLB was best known for his bone breaking tackle in the AFL Championship Game in 1964. That tackle defined this player’s career, but it wasn’t enough to save him this round.’

‘These are quotes from off-season conversations with free safety Daryl Porter. They don’t include Mike Doser’s questions, rather, it is just pure, uninterrupted comment from Porter about his off-season and preparing for his second year with the team.’

‘The Buffalo Bills made two signings official Monday, announcing contract agreements with third-round draft choice Corey Moore and seventh-round pick Drew Haddad.’

‘The team transferred its operations to Fredonia State in 1981, but it wasn’t until 1987 that the Bills created a personality for the training base. What did it was the coming of Marv Levy as head coach. There would be no more serious contact, much less scrimmaging. There would be an abundance of light sessions. Voices rarely were raised. Observers named the camp "Club Marv," a take-off on "Club Med," the famous string of resorts. Football watchers shook their heads in disapproval. What good could possibly come from such an easy training camp? Try eight winning seasons in the next 10 years, seven division champions and four Super Bowl teams. Rochester should be so kind.’

‘…the Bills think they have a tight end who can do a good impersonation of a fullback in Sheldon Jackson. Jackson is no Gash as a blocker – who is? – but the Bills believe he’s capable. And what they might lose in knock-your-heels-over-your-head blocks they might gain in the element of surprise.’

‘All the activity was proof positive that this will be a different kind of training camp, a mix of marketing, merchandising and star-watching. "Years ago, you wouldn’t see anything like this," Woody Ribbeck, the assistant equipment manager, said of the off-field activities at Fisher. "Everything has changed in football."’