Two Bills Drive

‘Lofton didn’t dance or get in any Raiders’ faces after the first of his two touchdowns that day. He just came off the field as he always did, Bills coach Marv Levy recalled. “You could read it in his face, but he was too much of a gentleman to give them the finger or anything,” Levy said.’

‘The players like Gregg Williams. But they aren’t out there on the field trying to get the coach a new contract. They know if they do their jobs, this team will win. If this team wins, Gregg Williams will be around for a long time. That is why I think come January, this question about the coach will answer itself.’

Later, and well away from the hulking players, the governor conceded that “growing up, I was a Jets fan” (even though that team wasn’t even founded until Pataki was 15 years old) and that “obviously, I love the Bills – the only real New York team right now.“

Veteran DE Chidi Ahanotu, who started for the Bills last season, is at home in Toronto, taking care of his three young kids and hoping to make it to somebody’s training camp. After eight years with the Buccaneers, Ahanotu was a late signee with the Rams in 2001 and ended up starting for the eventual NFC champions. Last year, he signed with the Bills on Aug. 19. "I think I’m being typecast," Ahanotu says. "Now teams see me as a guy they can bring in at the last minute and stick right in there. I would’ve loved to have signed early on (in the free-agency period). It’s frustrating." Ahanotu received an early offer from the Bills, and the Broncos and 49ers have also shown interest.

‘Fullback Larry Centers signed with the New England Patriots on Wednesday after spending the last two seasons with the Buffalo Bills.’

‘Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe wanted to clear up a report in Tuesday’s News that stated Willis McGahee will open the season on the physically unable to perform list. He still might, but the Bills will not make a definitive decision until he signs and joins them for training camp. McGahee will likely start training camp on the non-football injury list because his knee injury happened while he was at the University of Miami.’

‘Miami (12-4), Jets (10-6), Buffalo (9-7), New England (8-8).’

‘"The greatest thing that I can say about being on the Bills during the time that I was there was when O.J. ran for all the yards. The notoriety that the whole offensive line got as a group. That being, we went to banquets as a group and so forth. And our picture is in the Hall of Fame as a group. There are some neat things about that just because O.J. was the first running back in football to really bring his offensive linemen along with him. The deal is – everybody got something out of the experience."’

‘Criqui, who along with Enberg is the co-host of the Hall of Fame Festival Parade on Saturday, is pleased that he is being honored the same weekend that two former Bills, James Lofton and Joe DeLamielleure, are entering the Hall of Fame. "I am a blown away Bills fan," he admits. "If I have one regret about the Hall of Fame, it’s that (Bills owner) Ralph Wilson isn’t in it."’

‘Thomas was overwhelmed and confused for weeks, if not months, and for most of last season it showed.’

‘” People ask me if I would like to get the ball more, and I say, ‘ No way,'” says Gash, who has a total of four carries the past four seasons and only 120 during his 11-year NFL career. ” Those running backs have targets on their backs. They got 11 guys after them. I’d much rather be the guy doing the punishing. I love knocking a linebacker off his feet and watching a back like Travis Henry run down the field for a big gain.”‘

‘” He can play center or guard and that makes him a valuable commodity in the NFL,” offensive-line coach Pat Ruel said. ” Trey Teague (the starting center) will be a better center because he has Mike behind him.”‘

‘Another possible stumbling block in talks is Buffalo’s plans for McGahee once he does sign. Donahoe is giving out signals he may place McGahee on the non-football injury list, meaning the Bills would not be liable for his base salary until he’s ready to play. Apparently the non-football designation can be used since McGahee was hurt while still in college.’

‘”I know a lot of people expect a lot of great things out of me,” he said. “I expect a lot of great things out of myself. That’s why I feel there’s no pressure.”‘

‘”I could have gone anywhere and visited a lot of teams,” he says. “This is where I wanted to be. I felt this was the best shot for me.”‘