Two Bills Drive

So, which teams will leverage their last-place schedules into a breakthrough season? The most likely candidates are a pair of 8-8 teams from the competitive AFC East and AFC West Divisions. Buffalo, at 8-8, was last in the AFC East, while Kansas City was 8-8, last in the AFC West. Some experts feel they both have the opportunity to execute an instant replay of the Baltimore Ravens, who went 8-8 in 1999, then won SB XXXV the next year.

The funny thing? Because they both finished last, the Bills and Chiefs play each other in one of their two positional games. In the parity-leavened NFL, that Oct. 26 game could be the difference.

On the trade for RB Olandis Gary: “Olandis Gary was a player that we brought in during the off-season and considered signing him as a free agent acquisition. He’s a veteran, he’s played in the league and he’s played well. Given the health of our situation at tailback, a trade was a possibility so we pursued it. Matt (Millen) worked on it for the last day or two and ended up getting it done. He gives us another veteran back on board. Shawn Bryson is really the only other one that’s played a little bit. Avon Cobourne is a rookie and we don’t know quite how long James will be out so we felt to sure up that situation a little bit, adding a back like Olandis Gary gives us a bit of a security blanket there.”

‘None of the Bills draft picks this season got released. Chris Kelsay is pushing Ryan Denney to start at LE. Mario Haggan and Angelo Crowell both looked very good in camp providing depth at linebacker. Guard Ben Sobieski looked very good against the Lions. CB Terrence McGee showed great return ability and improved quite a bit in his coverages. Lauvale Sape looks undersized to me at defensive tackle so I was surprised he made it over Irons.’

Updated as of 53 man roster cuts.

‘In other moves, the Bills placed third-string quarterback Travis Brown on the injured reserve list, meaning he will miss the season.’

‘The Detroit Lions announced today that they have completed a trade with the Buffalo Bills to acquire RB Olandis Gary for an undisclosed future draft pick.’

Bills gamble and go with 2 QBs –

Grant Irons DE, Notre Dame;

Jason Johnson, QB, Arizona;

Marcus Jones, DE, North Carolina;

Ken Simonton, RB, Oregon State;

Scott Turner, DB, Illinois;

Rodney Wright, WR, Fresno State.

In addition Travis Brown went on IR. The team also announced that it has traded RB Olandis Gary to the Detroit Lions in exchange for an undisclosed future draft pick.

According to the ESPN ticker, RB Olandis Gary was traded to Detroit for undisclosed draft pick.

Falcons LB Newman was suspended for 4 games Saturday for violating the NFL’s policy on anabolic steroids and related substances. Newman played his first 4 seasons in Buffalo. Former Bills coach Wade Phillips, now in his second year as Atlanta’s DC, selected Newman in the fourth round of 1999 draft.

‘"You hope you find a grouping that gives you a personnel advantage," said Gilbride. "Then you develop your package within that. You have to have enough going on so there’s diversity. The defense can’t say, "This is all they do.’ There has to be some change-of-direction plays. There has to be play-action passes. You have to be able to threaten them in a variety of ways."’

‘These Bills now believe in themselves.’

‘David M. White, a fullback/linebacker with the Tampa Bay Storm Arena Football League who played for the Buffalo Bills for two years, and his bride, Monica J. Brown, multicultural affairs director for Fredonia State College, will be at home in Depew. The Rev. Ronald P. Sadjak performed their marriage ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday in St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church.’

‘” It’s a big-time game for us,” said guard Ruben Brown, who will be playing in his ninth opener as a Bill. ” We have a lot of stuff riding on it. We don’t want to end up like last year, losing the opener. We want to get off to a good start.”‘

‘Sportsmen can help “Hunt Out Hunger” and get a shot at a hunting trip with former Buffalo Bills All-Pro center Kent Hull.’

‘His first regular-season game of the year could create some anxious moments, as Carroll gets the Buffalo Bills against the New England Patriots next Sunday in Buffalo. Those two teams could end up battling for the AFC East championship.’