Two Bills Drive

‘”All those people who think this is a wasted draft pick are going to be eating their words,” says Hurtt, referring to the controversy surrounding the Bills’ selection of McGahee with the 23rd overall pick in last weekend’s NFL draft. “I know a thing or two about knees and I know a thing or two about Willis McGahee. What he’s done in just three months is nothing short of miraculous, and what he will wind up doing for the Buffalo Bills is going to make him a hero in western New York.”‘

As a senior at Iowa State, defensive end Merv Krakau was named All-Big Eight, and was a third-team All-America. In a game against Nebraska that season, he had 11 unassisted tackles, two sacks, deflected three passes, caused two fumbles and recovered two fumbles. Yet when the 1973 NFL draft took place, no less than 343 players were selected before the Bills took Krakau. In fact, he was the 18th player and fourth linebacker chosen by Buffalo during the two-day draft.

”’I look at it as they took the best player available, and grabbing him had nothing to do with me,” said Henry, the NFL’s fifth-leading rusher last season. ”I can only control what I can control. And everything else will play out.”’

"The way I look at it, a lot of people were shocked. Most of the media thought we were going to pick a defensive end and we took a running back. I'm shocked like everybody else. I see the selection as the front office taking the best player available. I don't believe that my fumbling the ball last season had anything to do with it."

Bills running back Travis Herny will be hosting his 1st Annual Celebrity Football Camp Weekend this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in Central Florida.

‘Former KU assistant coach Pat Ruel will be Sands’ position coach with the Bills. Sands said he expected to sign his contract today and report to mini-camp Thursday in Buffalo. An intern in KU’s weight room this semester, Sands will graduate next month with a degree in exercise science.’

Quarterback Drew Bledsoe visited relatives in Portland, Oregon recently and visited the Portland United Bills Supporters (PUBS) chapter of Bills Backers.

Former Bills receiver Andre Reed will be in the broadcast booth this weekend providing commentary on Fox Sports Net's national broadcast of NFL Europe's game of the week.

‘Paris Jackson’s roots may be a little hard to trace, but there’s no doubt about the strides he’s made in his football career.’

Honorable mention All-ACC guard…first-team Strength All-American in 2001…started at three positions over his Clemson career…second on the Tigers in knockdown blocks in 2001 with 130…finished his career strong with 13 in the win over Louisiana Tech in the Humanitarian Bowl.

‘He was flagged for a team-high seven pass interference or illegal contact penalties. He also had one other penalty, a roughing-the-kicker call in New York on a 26-yard field-goal attempt. It gave the Jets first-and-goal at the 4 and started New York on the path to an easy win.’

‘Buffalo Bills: Rolling dice on McGahee, but why not gamble on potential greatness? Second-round DE Chris Kelsay is first-round talent. Next three picks (LB Angelo Crowell, CB Terrence McGee and WR Sam Aiken) provide depth and special teams help. Grade: B.’

Another player who was taken too early was RB Willis McGahee, but it wasn’t to fill a need. That’s what makes the Bills’ 1st round selection even harder to figure. McGahee is not expected to be able to help the Bills much this season, and his ability to overcome the physical and mental barriers associated with tearing three knee ligaments is questionable. In the 1st round, risk should be at an absolute minimum.

“We had fun.”

-Tom Donahoe, on this year’s draft

Second-best line of the night: emcee John Murphy asked TD (who had a root canal earlier in the day) whether he’d rather have three root canals or one telephone conversation with Drew Rosenhaus. That one got a big laugh.

‘Instead of the six-year, $38 million deal with a $10.5 million bonus that San Diego gave LaDainian Tomlinson — the last running back chosen in the top 5 back in 2001 — the market for McGahee is more like five years, $7.5 million with a $3.2 million bonus.’