Two Bills Drive

‘It’s possible Bruce Smith will miss Saturday’s final preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘”I don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Zeigler, the Bills starter at center since Kent Hull retired after the 1996 season. “I’m looking at it like whatever happens happens. If I get cut, hopefully some other team picks me up. Maybe it won’t happen right away, it might be in mid-season if somebody gets hurt. You’re always an injury away from playing. I can see that happening.”‘

‘Players cut Monday included quarterback Mike Cawley, …wide receivers Tony Akins, Todd Floyd and A.C. Tellison; guards Mercedes Hamilton, Corey Hulsey and Andy Meyers; linebackers Craig Guest and Dusty Renfro; running back Kendall Cleveland, safety Raion Hill, tight end Eric Stocz and kicker Jaret Holmes.’

‘”The cause of the fire was determined to be an infant child playing with a butane lighter igniting clothing in the bedroom,” East Aurora police said in a news release.’

‘Gray survived yesterday’s first roster cut, and with seven running backs/fullbacks left, seems assured of being one of the five ball carriers the Bills normally keep.’

‘Based on past numbers kept at each position, the Bills have no cuts to make at quarterback (three) or linebacker (nine). They do need to trim three receivers to get to five, two offensive linemen (nine), one tight end (three), two running backs (five), two defensive linemen (nine), two defensive backs (nine) and one punter (one).’

‘I’d feel comfortable with either Flutie or Johnson as starting QB. In my opinion, Flutie would be the more effective of the two coming off the bench.’

3. Buffalo Bills 10-6

‘The sponsorship agreement adds to the Bills’ impressive list of corporate sponsors that includes Pepsi, Wegmans, Xerox, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Anheuser Busch, Molson, Cellular One and McDonalds. The Bills, according to the National Football League, are among the top tier franchises in generating revenue through local and regional corporate deals.’

‘Is it possible that Rich/Bills/Ralph Wilson Stadium may one day again have a different name on it? That, it seems, may hinge on what kind of deal the next owner of the Bills strikes…”What the contract says is the Bills have a right to name the stadium,” said Michael Hughes, spokesperson for Erie County Executive Dennis Gorski, of the new lease agreement signed earlier this year. “The county has the rights to review it if the Bills sell the name of it.”‘

‘Both of their quarterbacks look sharp, the backup receivers are putting on a show and the defense is as stingy as ever. No wonder the Buffalo Bills feel so good about themselves two weeks shy of the season opener.’

‘Doug Flutie passed the Buffalo Bills into the playoffs and himself into the Pro Bowl last season. But you wouldn’t know it by the treatment he has received from coach Wade Phillips this summer.’