Two Bills Drive

‘To be sure, after the horrific play of the offensive line in 2001, bringing in just about anybody to bolster that unit qualified as an upgrade.’

‘"I was hoping for a winning record, but now it looks more like six or seven wins. We just can’t stop anyone with our defensive line."’

The Buffalo pass rush is so flimsy that it might be more productive to send threatening letters to enemy quarterbacks.

The Bills reshuffled their undermanned defensive line by signing veterans Shawn Price and Chidi Ahanotu, but they opened a roster spot by releasing 24-year-old defensive end Erik Flowers, the 26th player selected in the 2000 draft. Flower’s release was expected because he had fallen onto the third team in the defensive line rotation before the signings of Price and Ahanoto. The 273-pound Flower only started six games in two seasons and had only four sacks. The Bills invested a first-round choice in Flowers with the hopes of developing him into an every down pass-rusher. Foot problems slowed him, and his playing time diminished once Gregg Williams took over as head coach last season.

‘The Bills didn’t disclose financial terms. The National Football League’s minimum salary for players with nine years of experience is $650,000.’

‘"I feel I played pretty good last year for being a rookie. But I’ve got to keep improving to keep that position," Schobel said, as the Bills continue training camp in suburban Rochester. "Six-and-a-half sacks is good for a rookie. But I need to improve. I need to try to get double digits."’

Important dates in Buffalo Bills history

Away games are a little different from home games. I have to pack two uniforms and make sure that I have all my necessary toiletries along with my Walkman for the plane ride and pre-game in the locker room. Being on the road, we have to adjust to sharing a room and sleeping in a different bed.

‘"When London said he was leaving the Rams, I said, ‘I’m going where ever you go, London,"’ said Ahanotu, impressed by how Fletcher quarterbacked the Rams defense. "I didn’t think it would happen. But here I am. … I was watching. It was in the back of my brain of why I might come to Buffalo."’

‘I have looked forward to visiting Buffalo ever since I met Scooter almost two decades ago, and he immediately began raving about his hometown. He has long driven me nuts by naming every athlete who ever played or lived in the city, and when I finally reached the Queen City this weekend and met his family, I found out where he gets it from. They’re even more like Scooter than Scooter is.’

‘"He is super excited," said Ahanotu’s agent, Scott Langley. "The Bills are a storied franchise and he wants to help them."’

St. John Fisher College – The Bills today announced that the team has signed defensive end Chidi Ahanotu (pronounced CHEE-dee uh-HAHN-uh-too).

Defensive end Chidi Ahanotu has signed with the team and is expected to be available for the Monday afternoon practice session. The agreement is a one-year deal.

He is a 6-foot-3, 310-pound Cinderella…a Cinderella story that is. Sixth year pro Pat Williams has elevated himself from an undrafted rookie free agent in 1997 to a key member of the 2002 Bills team defense. Working his way through the trenches known as the defensive line he is making his presence known.

Fullback Larry Centers on his 2002 teammates.