Two Bills Drive

‘But the workload was misleading. The Bills were giving Gary every chance to impress them, to show flashes of his 1,159-yard season of 1999. Morris had done all his impressing early in training camp, demonstrating time and again his sure hands, his ability to run after the catch, his desire to expand his duties beyond special teams.’

‘”We’ll see how it goes,” Donahoe said after practice Monday. “We’re comfortable at least starting out that way.”‘

‘” I went home and got in shape, started lifting weights and ran a bunch and made strides in the mini-camps,” he said. ” I was able to get some good reps and work on the things that I needed to work on, and that’s what helped me the most. I think I improved a bunch because of the mini-camps. I wanted to progress throughout the four preseason games, and I think I did that. I played better each game.”‘

‘Gary auditioned — unknowingly — for the Lions in Thursday night’s final exhibition game. He gained 57 yards on 16 carries. When Stewart went out on the second possession of the game, President Matt Millen began talking to Bills General Manager Tom Donohoe.’

‘Instead of backing up Bills running back Travis Henry, however, Gary found himself as the No. 3 running back with the possibility of rookie Willis McGahee getting off the reserve/non-football injury list in mid-season. So when the Lions approached the Bills with a trade, Gary didn’t mind making the move to a team that had lost its own starting back — James Stewart — indefinitely to a shoulder injury.’

‘The Bills are trying to reach an injury settlement with the four-year veteran, opening the possibility of re-signing him after Week 10 of the season.’

‘”Olandis was probably going to have a hard time making this team,” said Bills President/General Manager Tom Donahoe. “That’s not a knock against Olandis. Some people just did really well this summer. Sammy Morris had a great camp, Joe Burns, Travis and obviously the two full backs. We felt that when we looked at the final numbers we could only keep five running backs.”‘

The Bengals replaced him with Shayne Graham, claimed off waivers from Carolina. Graham lost a preseason competition with John Kasay for the Panthers’ kicking job. Graham went 6-of-8 on field goal tries for Buffalo in 2001, then filled in last season when Kasay missed 14 games at Carolina because of a hernia.

‘“Across the board, we’re a big step ahead of last year,” Bledsoe said. “We’re ready to roll.”’

‘Initially released during training camp, Johnson was re-signed last week to fill in for injured third-stringer Travis Brown. An undrafted free agent, who established several passing records at Arizona last year, Johnson was released again on Sunday when the Bills pared their roster to the 53-player limit.’

‘The Bills have brought back five players that they cut in training camp to make up their practice squad.’

‘“Everything has been going pretty fast in the last few days,” Gary said. “It never entered my mind on Thursday that I was going to be a Lion, but that’s what the NFL is all about. You have to learn to adjust in a hurry or you will be out of the league.”’

Jerton Evans DB Virginia

Jason Johnson QB Arizona

Richard Seals OL Utah

Ken Simonton RB Oregon State

Rodney Wright WR Fresno State

‘In Buffalo’s 22-16 victory over the Lions Thursday night, Gary rushed 16 times, all in the second half, for 57 yards and a one-yard touchdown. He also fumbled twice, but both were recovered by the Bills. It’s probably not mere coincidence that Gary saw so much second-half action after Stewart went down for the Lions in the first half. Gary had carried 20 times total the previous three Bills preseason games.’

‘I’m picking a Rams-Bills Super Bowl. Regarding the Bills: New additions Jeff Posey and Takeo Spikes will make the linebackers group a premier one. Cornerback Antoine Winfield will emerge as a real star. The offense will be more balanced, by far, than any in its division. Running back Travis Henry will be reliable and great. An anonymous offensive line will hold up.’