Two Bills Drive

‘”Josh made some big plays for us as a rookie, and he’s been working really hard this off-season,” Bledsoe said. “He doesn’t have that blazing, stretch-the-field speed that Peerless has, but he’s a dependable guy who’s tough to bring down after he catches it. We are looking for big things out of him, and he’ll be helped by (free agent acquisition) Bobby Shaw.”‘

‘Sidney, a third round draft pick by the Titans in 1998, will be reunited with several familiar faces in Buffalo. His former defensive coordinator with the Titans, Gregg Williams, is now head coach of the Bills, and his old position coach in Tennessee, Jerry Gray, is Buffalo’s defensive coordinator.’

‘Sidney signed for the NFL veteran minimum of $530,000 and also received a $25,000 signing bonus.’

”’I think Keith Armstrong is one of the better special teams coaches in the league, and I think Charlie is the missing piece for that return game,” Scott said.’

‘"We feel Charlie could be the missing piece on special teams for the Dolphins," said agent Everett Scott, whose client spurned an offer from the New York Jets to sign with the Dolphins. "The opportunity really presents itself. It’s a pretty attractive scenario."’

‘With the Bills in 2002, Rogers averaged 20 yards on kickoff returns and 5.3 yards on punt returns. Both averages were lower than those of Dolphin returners Travis Minor (23.3) and Dedric Ward (10.6), but Miami thinks Rogers is better-suited for its return scheme than Buffalo’s.’

‘In essence, the Dolphins will represent his fourth different team since the end of the 2001 season.’

Well, the Bills are at it again. Ken Simonton, a street free agent signed by Buffalo, was NFL Europe’s Offensive Player of the Week for its season-opening weekend.

‘Polk accepted a qualifying offer of about $600,000 made in February.’

‘Hollis converted 75.8 percent (25 of 33) of his field goal attempts for the Buffalo Bills last season, finishing with 115 points, fifth among AFC kickers.’

Carpenter, 25, came to the Falcons following three seasons in Buffalo, after the Bills did not tender him a qualifying offer last spring. He led all Atlanta secondary players with 73 tackles and also had four interceptions to go with 10 passes defensed.

The advantage Carpenter had when he joined the Falcons was a familiarity with the scheme being installed by first-year DC Wade Phillips, his head coaching for two of three seasons with the Bills.

‘Drafted by Tennessee in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft out of Alabama-Birmingham, Sidney (6-0, 188) played for the Oilers/Titans from 1998-2002. During that time, he appeared in 48 games (six starts) and recorded six interceptions.’

‘The five-year veteran spent his entire previous career with the Tennessee Titans and knee and forearm injuries have limited him to five appearances over the past two seasons. Sidney drew surprising interest, however, during the signing period, and rejected offers from the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions to join the Bills instead.’

‘Bills General Manager Tom Donahue, former coach Marv Levy and All-Pro player Ruben Brown will make the presentation. Many current and former players also will attend the event.’

‘The Bills could use someone to push two-year veteran Marques Sullivan, who started last season at right guard but is not proven enough to be entrenched at the position.’