Two Bills Drive

Friday's game: Drew Bledsoe will play at least the majority of the first half. Travis Brown will work the bulk of the second half.

‘The team is negotiating with free agent Chidi Ahanotu, and all signs point to him signing with the Bills, perhaps as early as today.’

‘You can debate the importance of a single preseason game, but the defensive performance in last Friday’s opener against Cincinnati was troubling, to say the least.’

‘"The whole deal is how you approach it. There’s no such thing as a problem. It’s just a challenge and a situation you’ve got to rise to. That’s part of being a pro athlete." – Offensive line coach Ronnie Vinklarek on players replacing injured starters.’

‘Todd DeLamielleure is the 23-year-old son of Joe DeLamielleure, a standout Buffalo Bills offensive guard and member of the "Electric Company" line that blocked for O.J. Simpson. Now it’s the son’s turn, as a 5-11, 240-pound linebacker in the Indianapolis Colts’ training camp, to try to make it in the NFL.’

‘On the practice field, water and Gatorade are everywhere. Denying players water breaks is from the leather-helmet era. Football may still be the ultimate macho game, but when the thermometer soars into the mid-90s and the humidity drives the heat index more than 100 degrees, the advice is be smart, not manly.’

‘He’s no better than sixth or seventh on the depth chart, battling to get 100 percent healthy after a series of leg and ankle injuries, trying to make the most of the few repetitions he receives in live training camp drills.’

‘Price, a defensive tackle, and Ahanotu, an end, would bring a combined 18 years and 240 games of NFL experience to a Bills’ line where six-year veteran Pat Williams is the most tenured player.’

‘His base salary would drop from $1.75 million to $750,000.’

‘Bradley, out of Middle Tennessee, saw limited action in Friday’s preseason game against Cincinnati, while Fletcher, out of Rutgers, dressed but did not play.’

‘"If Drew Bledsoe and Eric Moulds start hooking up, it will make a big difference. Rob Johnson could never get the ball to him."’

‘The Bills should make progress this season and play very competitively. But they have enough holes yet and a tough schedule that could keep them from making the playoffs. They could make things interesting over the latter half of the season as the core meshes together – but this could be a very intriguing team to watch in 2003.’

‘The Buffalo Bills already seem so much better than last year’s sad sacks that linebacker London Fletcher has all but guaranteed the playoffs. I don’t know about that, but I do know the Bills can cause trouble in the AFC East if quarterback Drew Bledsoe and his offensive coordinator find what they’re after. Around here, it’s called redemption.’

You may not like him, but you can’t help but admire Tom Donahoe for the strength in leadership he’s shown in the short time he’s been general manager of the Buffalo Bills. Donahoe is the guy who had the guts to cut Doug Flutie. He’s the guy who straightened out the salary cap, too. He’s the guy who found rookie replacements for salary-cap casualties. And now he’s the guy who oversees the rebuilding of one of the AFC’s best and brightest organizations through marvelous drafting and shrewd free-agent acquisitions.

‘"It’s not done yet, but it’s looking positive," Ahanotu’s agent Scott Langley said on Wednesday, updating the progress of contract talks. "I know it’s close."’