Two Bills Drive

Three weeks ago, SportsLine.com gave Tom Donahoe, Gregg Williams, Tom Modrak and company the top spot of our offseason grades. They had no first-round pick and could not pay two receivers Eric Moulds money. They had the guts to franchise Price, then shop him for a No. 1. They found their dance partner in Atlanta and the Bills are back in the first-round derby.

Grading the impact of an NFL draft is a tricky business, particularly before the prospects have yet to report to their first minicamp. But you can be assured that on Monday morning following each and every NFL Draft, various media outlets across the country will share their thoughts on how teams fared.

Now a full-year later, here's a look back at how Buffalo's 2002 Draft was graded.

Gary played in 13 games and made two starts (vs. St. L., 9/8 and at S.F., 9/15), rushing for 147 yds. on 37 carries (4.0) with a long of 26 and one touchdown, while catching 18 passes for 148 yds. (8.2) with a long of 19. He was declared inactive for the season finale vs. Ariz. (12/29).

‘ Buffalo Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson will be presented the Seymour H. Knox III Humanitarian of the Year Award at a dinner Thursday night in the Adam’s Mark Hotel. The Amherst Chamber of Commerce and Entercom Communications are hosts for the second annual event.’

‘Gary is the 11th veteran player added by the Bills this offseason.’

‘Of the 22 players picked in 2001 and 2002, 19 made the final 53-man roster and one made the practice squad in his rookie year. Eighteen played at least one regular-season game; the group totaled 98 man-games started in its respective inaugural seasons; and 18 of those players are still with the team.’

‘The Buffalo Bills should soon have a quality backup for running back Travis Henry.’

‘Gary and the Bills reached agreement Monday on a two-year deal that included a $175,000 signing bonus and enough makable incentives to earn the running back up to $3 million the next two seasons.’

‘Last season, Gary rushed 37 times for 147 yards and one touchdown and caught 18 passes for 148 yards. He figured to be a third option, at best, in Denver this season behind Portis, the 2002 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Mike Anderson, who won that honor in 2000.’

‘Selected in the fourth round of the 1999 draft by Denver, Gary has rushed for 1,614 yards in his career. As a rookie, he started 12 games and gained 1,159 yards and seven touchdowns on 276 carries. He missed the following two seasons due to injury.’

The Buffalo Bills have agreed to terms on a contract with running back Olandis Gary. Selected in the fourth round of the 1999 draft by the Denver Broncos, Gary has rushed for 1,614 yards in four NFL seasons. In 2002, he ran for 147 yards as a backup to NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Clinton Portis.

A former University of Georgia standout, Gary rushed for 1,159 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie in 1999, replacing fellow Bulldogs star Terrell Davis when the latter sufferd a career-ending knee injury. But Gary suffered a knee injury the following year and has battled to regain the form of his debut campaign. In the past three seasons, Gary has rushed for 455 yards and two touchdowns on 107 attempts. He also has 46 catches for 346 yards.’

So even picking the so-called "best available athlete" isn't that simple. Sprinting times, vertical jumps and senior-year stats don't tell everything. It's far too easy to think a team can pick any player with elite ability and "mold" him into the locker room. You can't shoehorn a guy into a team. Case-in-point: Ryan Leaf.

‘Seeking a third defensive tackle to rotate behind Pat Washington and Sam Adams makes Ty Warren of Texas A&M enticing if he’s still available at No. 23.’

‘Thanks to Donahoe’s work over the past two years, Buffalo enters this draft without a singular glaring need. The Bills still don’t have a pass-rushing end who can remotely approximate the havoc wrought by Smith, but they don’t have to reach for one if he’s not really there.’