Two Bills Drive

‘The Bills’ top priority is to keep the game close so all their game planning doesn’t go out the window after a half. In last year’s two lopsided losses, they trailed 17-0 and 20-0, forcing QB Drew Bledsoe to put the ball in the air 72 times and allowing New England coach Bill Belichick to scheme him to death. Buffalo’s remodeled defense needs to show up from the opening bell.’

‘His decision to pick Buffalo over other suitors such as Washington, St. Louis and Minnesota involved his familiarity with the AFC East and style of defense the Bills play. Buffalo is conjuring up new blitz looks under assistant head coach Dick LeBeau and Williams’ "46" scheme has always relied on a big-time hitting strong safety to play in the box.’

‘Despite all of the changes on both sides of the ball for Buffalo, Belichick thinks the biggest improvement the Bills made was on special teams. "The biggest change that I notice in Buffalo is on special teams," Belichick said. "They have a new kicker [Rian Lindell] but they have a very explosive return game. Their kickoff return game in preseason has been strong. The punt return game is probably as good as anybody’s in the league. Antonio Brown has shown great speed and playmaking ability in that phase of the game. So that is a big change for them."’

‘Also today, the team announced that quarterback Travis Brown has reached an injury settlement with the Bills. Brown had been placed on Injured Reserve on August 31 with a finger injury.’

‘Haggan, a three-year starter at Mississippi State, was Buffalo’s seventh-round draft pick. He became the odd-man out as the Bills were already carrying eight linebackers on their roster.’

About the only way the buildup could get more intense would be if New England coach Bill Belichick started “your momma”-ing his Buffalo counterpart in the press, or if Gregg Williams publicly offered to relieve the Patriots coach of his teeth at midfield before the coin toss.’

‘“It’s not about proving myself,” Bledsoe said. “It’s about winning … If I can go win a championship with this team, that’ll be a great career. It sounds, maybe, cliche or simple, but that’s what it is.”’

‘Q: What advantage, if any, has [Larry Centers] been able to give you on Buffalo? BB: Larry has given us some insight into all of the things that you would think he would be able to. He knows the players. He has been in that system for a year and knows some things about it. Larry is a smart guy too.’

‘”In the bigger scheme I have to channel my emotions and my feelings into doing things that are not necessarily best for me but best for the team. I can’t go out [free-wheeling] and doing things that aren’t in the game plan. I have to go out and play football, play it to the best of my ability and hope for the best.” And that is probably what Belichick is hoping for from every player in his locker room, because in the end after all the theater and underlying themes are tossed aside, both teams need to start the season with a win in what is probably the tightest division in football. Yes there will be a lot of emotion on the field Sunday, but like Seymour said once the ball is snapped the players just have to play football.’

‘The Bills-Patriots game this Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium is sold out and will be televised locally.’

‘Belichick’s gambit with Bledsoe worked out perfectly last year. The Pats beat him twice and made him look bad both times. Meanwhile, Bledsoe led the Bills to a sweep of Miami, the Patriots’ archrival. That the four-game swing didn’t translate into a division crown for New England was (to Belichick’s thinking) beside the point. He took a risk and it paid off.’

‘"I don’t think there are too many Lawyers out there," said Patriots wide receiver Troy Brown in a locker room of players still stunned yesterday morning by the release of Milloy the day before. "I’ve played 11 years, and I haven’t played with any other guy like him. He is just one of those crazy defensive guys. His personality as far as getting going (in a game) was a little different than everyone else’s. He was running into someone as hard as he could. It’s kind of hard to replace that."’

‘Buffalo-based M&T is now the "official bank" of the Bills and has taken the naming rights to one of two premium suite seating areas at Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘And for a team that clearly wanted to upgrade the position – Coy Wire’s potential notwithstanding – the Bills feel they got the perfect player at absolutely the right time … and, significantly, at the right price.’

‘The Bills will beat Miami in a playoff game in Orchard Park in January, then lose to the Chiefs.’