Two Bills Drive

"We’d never say because somebody is a safety that makes him less valuable," Bills general manager Tom Donahoe says. "It’s not inconceivable that a safety or tight end could be the first guy in the draft, because for us, it’s strictly a matter of evaluating the guy’s skill."

‘Joe DeLamielleure, Pat LaFontaine and Chris Spielman will be among 10 people inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday.’

‘A graduate of Notre Dame with a degree in economics, Gibson entered the League when he was drafted in the fourth round of the 1995 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers (120th overall). He played for the Steelers from 1995-98 before signing with the Bengals as an unrestricted free agent in March of 1999.’

‘The 32-year-old defensive tackle spent the last five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played in all 16 games last season, marking the eighth time in the last nine years he has appeared in every contest.’

‘Donahoe can, and should, cross “find a backup quarterback” off the to-do list immediately. He’s not going to find someone better suited to the job, or the situation, than Stewart.’

‘In 133 career games, Gibson has recorded 243 tackles and 17 1/2 sacks. He is expected to compete for a backup spot with Justin Bannan and Ron Edwards.’

‘After tearing his Achilles’ tendon in 2002, Gibson was used as a backup last year, and credited with 24 tackles and half a sack in 16 games. A fourth-round draft pick in 1995, he spent his first four seasons with the Steelers.’

‘Gibson is a 6-foot-2, 305-pounder who will vie for a roster spot behind starting defensive tackles Pat Williams and Sam Adams. The signing helps the Bills create legitimate competition at the position, something they are trying to do across the board on their roster. Ron Edwards and Justin Bannan return as reserve defensive tackles.’

‘”I think there’s no question we underachieved last year,” Bledsoe said. “I think we failed to play the style of football that we set out to play. This year, you’re going to see us be a little more stubborn about playing the brand of football that fits our talent. We’re going to pound the ball, we’re going to play-action it, we’re going to play great defense like we did last year, and we’re going to score more points because we’re going to avoid the mistakes that killed us.”‘

‘On the draft front, the Bills’ eyes are wide open about the possibility of using the 13th pick on one of the two top pass-rushing ends, Ohio State’s Will Smith and USC’s Kenechi Udeze. Both players helped themselves dramatically with solid pro day workouts. Smith ran a dazzling 4.55 and Udeze a 4.72.’

‘In 1999-2000, his Tennessee defense recorded a league-best 109 sacks; and in 2000, the Titans led the NFL in total defense. As Buffalo’s head coach from 2001-03, the Bills’ defense improved from 21st to 15th to second. Williams was fired by Buffalo after going 6-10 last season.’

‘”I was diagnosed in the summer of ’95,” Marv Levy says. “I’d gone in for my regular physical and afterward the doctor called to tell me I had a high PSA score. I didn’t know PSA from SAT.”‘

‘A league source said the Washington Redskins will trade fullback Bryan Johnson to the Bears on Monday in exchange for a sixth-round draft choice. The Raiders and Bills were the other teams in the running for the hard-nosed Johnson.’

The Bears also have made a contract offer to former Buffalo guard Ruben Brown, who is thought to have narrowed his choices to Chicago and Detroit.

‘Buffalo looks at the now-healthy Willis McGahee as a 2004 addition and, in truth he is. He is part of the reason Buffalo wants to become a northern version of the Carolina Panthers on offense. The plan now is for McGahee and Travis Henry to split the running-back duties, for the rest of the offense to change its pass-first mindset, and for Bledsoe to become the picture of efficiency not explosiveness.’

‘”You could see by body language, the way they play the game, the way they carry themselves, the way they approach their teammates, you have a pretty good feel who those leaders are already,” Mularkey said. “I’m finding other things out being out here that there are some guys who lead by example. And there are some guys on offense that are standing up a lot better than I thought they would.”‘