Two Bills Drive

‘"He had a breakout year last year," Bills coach Gregg Williams said. "He’s done a very good job of playing the run very stout. He was targeted by us because he has some very good pass-rush ability. That will help our overall defense in getting off the field on third down and limiting the big strikes down the field in the passing game. You have to upgrade the pass rush as much as possible."’

‘Anyway, this could turn out to be a steal for the Bills. Donahoe and Tom Modrak, the assistant GM, have a reputation for identifying linebackers on the rise. Posey had eight sacks last season in a breakthrough year for the expansion Texans. The Bills’ top four linebackers (London Fletcher, Keith Newman, Eddie Robinson and DaShon Polk) had six sacks combined last season. Plus, Posey will count only $1.01 million against this season’s salary cap.’

‘The premature color of his hair gives him the look of a gray fox, and on the job he is just as wily. Tom Donahoe has moved like Reynard to get the re-making of the Bills’ defense off to a sprinting start.’

‘Executive vice president Ray Anderson said the Falcons would prefer to agree upon trade terms with the Bills before advancing into contract talks with Price. The Falcons and Bills have had only one preliminary conversation about a trade.’

”’The first thing I thought about was the cold weather,” Posey said at a news conference Saturday. ”It took me some time to think about it. This could be a great move to improve the defense, and it could lead to a championship.”’

"We will probably be when it's all said and done, around the average in the league of dead money," said Donahoe. "We're not out of the woods totally. We have to be careful what we do with our players, with potential free agents, with the cap. We're not in a total situation where we can go out and lead the pack in terms of being mega spenders."

On Saturday, the Bills introduced strong side linebacker Jeff Posey in a press conference at the team's training facility. Listen to the archived audio.

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‘Campbell (6-foot-6, 260 pounds) never fit the complete mold coach Butch Davis seeks in a tight end. He doesn’t have the speed necessary to stretch coverage, and he’s not a strong blocker.’

‘Campbell had 16 starts in 2002, but it became clear by November that Davis was grooming Steve Heiden for a larger role. Heiden was re-signed to a two-year extension recently.’

‘In 27-year-old Campbell, the Bills got a player with excellent hands and limited speed. He’s a possession receiver, not as much of a downfield threat as Jay Riemersma, who the Bills cut on Thursday. Of course, the Bills did not ask their tight ends to go downfield much last season.’

‘Posey’s deal averages $1.6 million a year over four seasons and came with a $1.75 million bonus. Posey, who was scheduled to sign his deal late Friday, will be introduced to the media today at an 11 a.m. news conference at the stadium.’

‘Campbell, heading into his fourth season, was dealt to the Bills for a seventh-round pick in the 2004 draft if he makes the 2003 roster, according to a source. It could improve to a sixth-round pick depending on playing time.’

‘In what could become an interesting game of tit-for-tat, free-agent linebacker Keith Newman will visit the Texans on Monday. Newman has spent his four-year career withBuffalo, enjoying his best season in 2000 when he had eight sacks for former coach Wade Phillips, who used the 3-4 defense. Playing in the 4-3 defense for new coach Gregg Williams, Newman had only 6 1/2 sacks over the past two seasons.’

‘Tim McGee, Price’s agent, said there were no serious contract negotiations Friday. ”Talking compensation is not our main focus,” McGee said. ”It’s to evaluate the Falcons’ organization. That includes viewing facilities, talking to the staff and everything that encompasses viewing the landscape, so to speak. We haven’t talked specifics. That’s not saying we won’t, or it isn’t scheduled.”’