Archives for August 2000

‘Where was the second practice field? Where was the crowd? The Bills returned to the practice field outside the Buffalo Bills Fieldhouse for a session closed to the public. The cloudy, breezy day was another reminder that fall was coming.’

‘Former Buffalo Bills executive Chuck Burr was reunited with his lost championship ring Wednesday night as he and Paul Hudson, who found the ring, met for the first time. Burr lost his 1964 AFL Championship ring 30 years ago while playing catch on the edge of Lake Erie at Sherkston. Hudson found it in July off Wyldewood Beach at Sherkston Shores while snorkeling with his metal detector.’

‘This year’s camp drew 122,000 fans and was considered a marketing coup, as the Bills tried to further regionalize the team.’

‘Drew Haddad and Josh Roth found their first NFL training camp experience to be a bit wearisome. And they’re glad they had each other as much as they’re glad it’s over. The rookies from the University at Buffalo broke camp with the rest of the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday, departing St. John Fisher College for their local apartments. Haddad, a receiver drafted in the seventh round, and Roth, a free agent fullback, were roommates at camp. Whether things were going well or poorly, their friendship made the experience that much better. "We’re very fortunate to have the opportunity we have," Haddad said. "Every night we would just sit there and joke and talk about the things that happened at UB. "Like when we won (the Bills’ preseason opener) against Cincinnati. That was our first win in a long time."’

‘"Rochester’s nice, but you want to get home, sleep in your own bed and eat your own food," quarterback Rob Johnson said.’

‘"Offense takes a little more time than defense, we’ve got to be totally on the same page, and if one guy screws up, the play doesn’t work."’

‘Early in training camp, Buffalo Bills veteran linebacker Sam Rogers pulled rookie Fred Jones to the side and whispered, in so many words, "Don’t worry kid, you’ve got this team made." When word filtered back to coach Wade Phillips that Rogers might be filling Jones’ head with grandiose praise, he quipped: "I want Sam and the rest of the team to worry about cuts. Maybe Sam better worry about Freddie." Indeed. Jones, like Rogers a product of the University of Colorado, began making plays in practice on Day One and hasn’t stopped. With the first cut to 65 players fast approaching on Tuesday, Mr. Jones is among the few newcomers who can breathe easy, not that he’ll allow himself that pleasure, despite what Rogers has told him. "I’d stress myself out thinking like that," he said. "Every day out here, anything can happen. All I can do is try my best. If it’s not good enough, at least I know I tried."’

‘The new-look Buffalo Bills broke training camp Wednesday with much still to do, but with some pieces firmly in place. With almost three weeks of practices and two preseason games behind them, the Bills relocate to their Orchard Park home to concentrate on the regular season.’

‘After the separate offensive and defensive workouts and before the 7-on-7 drills, coach Wade Phillips interrupted Tuesday afternoon’s practice for about 15 minutes and had players go the fences to sign autographs for the crowd of over 8,000. “The players want to get home to their families,” Phillips said of today’s expected hasty exit following practice. “And I didn’t want it to look like we didn’t care or that (the fans’ support) wasn’t important to us. “That’s why I thought we should make the gesture to all the fans today. We opened camp that way (with an autograph session) and we finished it up that way.”

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‘Considering how bad the Buffalo Bills’ kickoff coverage looked on its final play of the 1999 campaign, maybe fans should be a little more forgiving when watching this year’s unit get the kinks out. The Bills, who covered dozens of kicks in actual games and countless more in camps and practices, were embarrassed when their season ended on the Tennessee Titans’ now-infamous Home Run Throwback return. So if the Bills’ special teams can have that sort of letdown after all that repetition and with their playoff lives at stake, it only stands to reason those units will experience some growing pains this year with a new coach and a slew of young players. "They’re going to make mistakes," coach Wade Phillips said after Tuesday afternoon’s practice at St. John Fisher College. "I saw the aggressiveness I want, but some of the techniques and mental mistakes we’ve gotta correct. We’ve gotta get that aggressiveness tuned in."’

‘Then there’s the prospect of playing the Bills at least twice a year in the AFC East. Thomas insists that wasn’t a factor in signing with Miami, but can hardly contain his desire to see the Bills again. Miami hosts the Bills on Oct. 8 and visits Buffalo on Dec. 3. "It won’t be just another game for me," Thomas says. "It’s personal." Thomas left Buffalo with a bitter taste, he says, because he learned the news that he, Bruce Smith and Andre Reed were going to be cut while watching ESPN2, when a news item "crawl" appeared at the bottom on the screen. He says it wasn’t until after the release was official that GM John Butler called. Had the team approached him earlier, Thomas says, he might have just announced his retirement as a Bill rather than be humiliated with a release. Thomas and Reed share the Bills record for career touchdowns (87). "I was angry," he says. "I was upset over how it went down. But I’ll use it to motivate me. I always seem to find something to keep me going."’

‘But from owner Ralph Wilson on down, no one on the Bills seems to question that the camp at Fisher met its marketing goals, showcasing the team before large numbers of fans. (Indeed Wilson believes that the camp may have outdrawn all other NFL camps.) "The reception by the people in Rochester was just great," Wilson said by telephone yesterday. "Our players, our staff, everybody was accepted. We were really pleased."’

‘By all accounts the Bills first 19 days have gone according to, or better than, planned with the three F’s — fans, facilities and food — drawing the greatest raves from the players. "The accommodations are terrific, the dorm food is great, it’s really been first class all the way around," said starting tight end Jay Riemersma, one of several players who also signed autographs after practice. "I haven’t had a problem with anything out here so far."’

‘"I felt quick," Wiley said after practice at St. John Fisher College. "I got some good moves in there and got to fly around. I was happy. Now it’s time to get my body and my legs in sync with everything else. But the sky’s the limit now. Physically I was cleared to go, so today was a mental hurdle I had to clear." Wiley, who has 8.5 career sacks, said he’s pain free for the first time in years. "I’m much better as a player," he said. "My quickness, range of motion, everything is better. And sitting out the last six weeks, I actually got a chance to analyze the game. I think that’s going to help me in the long run, too."’