Two Bills Drive

‘"I know everybody wants to hype the Bledsoe story again, but the important part is that we want to beat Buffalo, a division team," Belichick said. "If you want to do well in your division you have to do well against the division teams."’

‘As season openers go, this is far from being another game. ”It’s starting to turn into like the old backyard brawl, you know, guys are switching sides,” Bills tight end Dave Moore said. ”It’s good, it just adds to the whole drama of it.” Or a potential bad dream. ”That would be a nightmare,” Patriots fullback Larry Centers said, when asked to consider the prospect of the Bills and Milloy combining for a victory.’

Milloy, a four-time Pro Bowl safety with the Patriots, signed with the Bills Thursday and is likely to make his Buffalo debut Sunday against New England in a poetic-justice sort of season opener for both teams. Those headlines could soon be eclipsed by questions over whether his agent, Carl Poston, was in contact with other NFL teams before the Patriots released Milloy.

‘"I love competing because it brings out the best in you," he said. "Whenever he gets healthy and they decide to put him out there, it’s going to make us better. I know it’s going to make me better."’

‘Milloy offered one anecdote from the practice. “It felt weird when I was running scout team cards and I was actually playing myself,” Milloy said.’

‘Companies like to become “official” product or service providers of NFL teams to promote their brands with the NFL’s loyal fan base.’

‘Bledsoe Bowl III, taking place Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium, features more twists than a box of nightcrawlers. Three ex-Bills (Antowain Smith, Ted Washington, Larry Centers) face three-ex-Patriots (Bledsoe, Sam Gash, Lawyer Milloy), none leaving their former team with a Christmas card list for the front office.’

‘The Patriots had until 4 p.m. Tuesday to resolve the issue or they would’ve been obligated to pay Milloy his full salary. Under a tight deadline, the sides never came to an agreement but were only $600,000 apart at the end of talking.’

‘”If anybody has the ball, they’ve got to get hit,” he said. “That’s how I play. I never try to see numbers. I never try to see, you know, personalities or fame. We all line up the same. And I think everyone in the league, and not just the Patriots, knows what I bring to the table. That’s what I bring to the game.”‘

‘Milloy will receive a $5 million bonus and a $2 million salary this year. Next season, and in 2005, he is scheduled to receive a $1.75 million roster bonus and $1 million salary, while in ’06 Milloy is slated for a $1.5 million roster bonus and $1 million salary. The contract also includes assurances that the Bills will not name him their their franchise player when the deal expires.’

‘Schobel and Light’s battle could put a pair of new faces on a long Pats-Bills rivalry that has been filled with great one-on-one matchups.’

‘“I sure wasn’t happy about the situation and we’ve made some moves for a tighter defense this season,” Fletcher said. “We did a lot to shore up the front seven.”’

‘Harrison is now the one responsible for setting a physical tone in the Pats secondary. The two-time Pro Bowler is the one who will line up the defense and call out the adjustments. He’s the one who will creep up into the box to stuff the run. He’s the one his teammates will look to as the last line of defense. In other words, he’ll be Lawyer Milloy.’

‘“After a few plays in the game, I don’t think it’s about which team slammed their helmets into their lockers the hardest coming out on the field,” Belichick said. “I think it’s about what team can execute and play under pressure and make adjustments during the game and make good decisions.”‘

‘”I know the type of player I am. I know the player that I see when I look in the mirror,” he said. “To go out and just confirm that is big for me, especially after a situation where I was fired, kicked out, sent away, put on the street, whatever you want to call it. It’s time for me to go out and just make a statement.”‘