Two Bills Drive

‘While Graves is out, the Bills will shift assignments among their assistants. Running backs coach Les Steckel will coach the wide receivers. Offensive assistant and special teams coach Tommy Kaiser will coach running backs, along with former NFL running back Barry Foster, who is assisting at Bills camp as part of the NFL’s Minority Coaching Fellowship Program.’

‘As a public service for those who plan to visit the team’s training camp at St. John Fisher College and later to assess the performances in the preseason games, we offer this guide to things to watch…’.

‘Obviously, having a consistent running game will help Moulds’ cause. But Gilbride’s game plans will play the biggest role in what kind of season Moulds has.’

‘If die-hard Buffalo Bills fans could have spent 10 minutes watching and listening to Takeo Spikes on Saturday afternoon, they probably would have jumped in their car, driven directly to Ralph Wilson Stadium and started camping out for the Sept. 7 season opener against New England.’

‘Tickets for $5 are on sale now for the Browns scrimmage against the Buffalo Bills at 10 a.m. Saturday at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Call Ticketmaster at 216-241-5555.’

‘” I think moreso it’s not that I was needed (by the Bills), but how much I needed them,” Spikes said. ” It’s a good tradeoff.”‘

‘Undrafted in large part because he’s small (5-foot-8, 191 pounds), Simonton didn’t have a spot in football last fall after he was cut in mini-camp by the San Francisco 49ers. ” When you don’t get into camp, trying to get into this league is a monster,” Simonton said. ” It’s like one team doesn’t want you until they find out another team likes you.”‘

‘Former Browns coach Sam Rutigliano wasn’t sure if Joe D. could be acquired when the trade was made in 1980. “It took us a New York hiccup to make that decision,” Rutigliano said in a recent interview.’

‘Walking up the stairs to the team’s headquarters at St. John Fisher College, alongside fellow starting linebackers London Fletcher and Jeff Posey, Spikes called out to a group of reporters. ”Here are the three best linebackers in the league,” Spikes said. ”Print it, fax it, write it, photocopy it. This is where it’s at.”’

‘The parade drew hundreds of community members from their home to wave and cheer as the Bills officials and players, including veterans Josh Reed and Mike Williams, floated through town saluting and greeting fans.’

‘Buffalo Bills receivers coach Fred Graves had surgery on Saturday after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Doctors said he will need up to four weeks to recuperate before he can start coaching again.’

"There’s not anybody that has to worry heat problems or hydration problems today," head coach Gregg Williams said following the morning workout.

‘”I want to surround myself with positive influences and positive energy,” Wire said after Friday’s practice at St. John Fisher College. “I like to give myself constant reminders throughout the day to stay focused, and to keep in my consciousness the goals I’ve set for myself.”‘

‘"When the system was created it was designed to eliminate holdouts," said Donahoe. "It didn’t do that last year and it doesn’t look like it’s going to do that this year. So you have to start to question what’s wrong with the system."’

‘Brown, 26, has great physical tools and could be something special if given the chance to develop. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder played most of the 2001 season finale at Miami when Van Pelt was injured and showed his raw talent by going 15 of 33 for 201 yards, with one TD and two interceptions.’