Two Bills Drive

Buffalo's 2003 Opponents

If there is one reason the Buffalo Bills have maintained their competitive position in the AFC despite the rapid turnover of personnel in the NFL, it’s their picks in the NFL draft. The Bills’ 2002 final roster contained 26 of their draft picks. Twelve of those players started in 2002.

‘"They gave [Gash] an opportunity to be a full-time starter," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "Sam knew what his role here was. We very much would have liked to have Sam back, but we wanted to give him the opportunity to see if there was anybody out there that wanted to approach him about being a full-time starter. It’s going home for him as well. I hate to lose Sam, but those are excellent circumstances."’

‘"It seems like everybody knows me," Spikes says. "The guy behind the ticket counter at the airlines. Baggage handlers. The people at Children’s Hospital."’

‘Army Staff Sergeant Norbert Reed, 28, is somewhere in the Middle East. Where exactly his family doesn’t even know, claiming that they haven’t been in contact with him much since the fighting began. And somewhere over there, in the Persian Gulf, is Navyman Damian Jolivette, 19, Josh’s cousin who he declares is more like a little brother.’

Win a 2002 Buffalo Bills Media Guide autographed by wide receiver Josh Reed! The winner will be notified via e-mail on April 11, 2003.

There's no player on Buffalo's roster-not Sam Adams, not Takeo Spikes, nor anyone else-who is more likely to single-handedly (or single-footedly, in this case) win a football game in one play. Now that we know sudden-death overtime is going to remain the rule in the NFL, that's even more true. This week, Tim O'Shei looks at Rian Lindell.

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‘While Gash has played 11 seasons in the NFL, he should come to Buffalo refreshed. He saw very limited duty last season with Baltimore, as the Ravens decided to develop second-year man Alan Ricard as their blocking fullback. Gash played mostly on the kickoff return team. He did not have a carry.’

‘While the Bills like young fullback Phillip Crosby, Gash, 34, is a proven commodity as a blocker, and with 11 years’ experience, the last three spent with the Baltimore Ravens, he replaces some of the leadership that was lost by letting go Centers and linebacker Eddie Robinson.’

‘Gash gives the Bills one of the NFL’s best blocking fullbacks. They had lacked that the last two seasons with pass-catching fullback Larry Centers, who was released last month.’

‘The National Football League’s minimum salary for players with at least 10 years of experience is $755,000.’

The SHK III Humanitarian of the Year Award is made to give public recognition and honor to persons for meritorious achievement contributing to the betterment of the Western New York/Niagara Frontier community.’

‘Gash should be a tremendous escort for emerging Buffalo tailback Travis Henry, who rushed for 1,438 yards in 2002. While he is not as effective a receiver as Centers, it likely won’t matter much if Gilbride keeps the same design he used last season.’

‘Gash, who won a Super Bowl ring with the 2000 Ravens, provides the Bills a big-bodied backfield blocker, something they lacked the past two seasons in pass-catching fullback Larry Centers. The Bills released Centers partly because the team wanted to complement its Drew Bledsoe-led passing attack with a ground game built around running back Travis Henry.’