Two Bills Drive

Contributed by Ann Burke, Former WGR Host

1. Has his weight down to 305 — with Sam Adams on the line–he can afford to be smaller and quicker

2. Expects to be in the backfield a lot — since teams can’t double him with Sam there to require their attention.

3. Stated emphatically: “No one will run on the Buffalo Bills this year’

‘The practices (July 28 & Aug. 4) run from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and will feature an autograph session involving the entire team afterward.’

‘The locker rooms at East Aurora High School were used by the team for dressing and training room facilities. The players were shuttled between hotel, locker room and practice fields by school bus, sometimes driven by players or team personnel.’

‘"I think we have everything it takes to be a great defense," Wire said. "The offense will do its part. We just have to do ours, and I think we will. We have a defense that, to me, is going to wreak havoc on opposing offenses."’

‘The Hall of Fame will indeed be a family affair for DeLamielleure, who expects nearly 200 immediate family members. That includes a new granddaughter, who he will see for the first time in Canton.’

‘Each day about 6,000 people will be in the area for the Bills camp and 30,000 are expected to attend the PGA.’

“It’s training the mind and the body,” Wire says. “It’s an entire mindset, just a relentless desire to be the best.”

‘The prevailing sentiment is that coach Gregg Williams is the guy on the hot seat — and entering the final year of a contract, he is most definitely on the spot.’

‘Camp battle to watch: The free-safety spot will be a battle between Pierson Prioleau and Izell Reese, who was signed as a free agent. Neither is a great player, but both are decent. Tony Driver could also factor.’

‘”I’m very optimistic the offensive line is going to prove to be one of the strengths of our team,” said coordinator Kevin Gilbride.’

The recent announcement of having only single game tickets left for three of the first four home games shows poor public relations. When Bills fans who aren’t season ticket holders got their first crack at tickets, most of their choices were already reduced. Thousands were sold to the visiting teams fans prior to Bills fans having any shot.

The writer, Mark Burr, is a frequent participant on the Stadium Wall.

‘DeLamielleure credits his durability to a strict workout regimen that he still follows, including 1,000 pushups and skipping rope each day. He played at 254 pounds. Last week, he weighed in at 253.’

‘All kidding aside, Michaels said: "It would be nice to have the Vikings. The Bills are an emerging team. And with Drew Bledsoe there, clearly they’re a team . . . let’s put it this way, if we had gotten Buffalo or if we had gotten Minnesota, we would have said that’s fine. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of anybody else, really, that we’re missing that we’d like to have."’

‘In July 2003, Coy launched the Coy Wire Foundation. A charitable fund affiliated with the Buffalo Community Foundation, the mission of the Foundation is to encourage spiritual awareness by instilling hope and faith in youngsters, promote the value of education, and support underprivileged children and families.’

Bills coach Gregg Williams doesn’t fear going into the last year of his contract. Why? His defense is so much better than last year, and Drew Bledsoe enters his second season as the Bills quarterback. The key of training camp is making sure no injuries happen to the front seven of the defense. With Sam Adams and Pat Williams at defensive tackle, no one will run on the Bills. Linebackers London Fletcher, Takeo Spikes and Jeff Posey will be chasing down players all over the field. The defensive players have bought into Williams’ scheme. A big season could earn Williams a big contract.