Two Bills Drive

Up front are a trio of first-round picks, a second-rounder and a free agent. Minnesota’s Bryant McKinnie joins fellow top 10 pick Mike Williams of Buffalo at tackle despite [Bryant McKinnie] missing half the season because of a holdout.

‘"It will feel even better next year when we are a playoff team."’

‘This season, Williams coached with a roster where 24 percent of the cap space was devoted to players the Bills had cut. Next season, that “dead” money will drop to around 10 percent.’

‘U.S. Bank, based in Cleveland, filed suits Monday against Buffalo Bills’ running back Travis Henry and Reggie Germany, an Ohio State University wide receiver the Bills cut this season.’

Former Pro Bowl running back Thurman Thomas admitted to being a recovering alcoholic and recently spent 28 days in a rehabilitation program in Minnesota. Thomas told members of the Purdue and Washington football teams at a Sun Bowl luncheon Monday that he has had problems with alcohol since retiring from football two years ago.

‘Truth is, as I see it, they weren’t good enough, and when you add the fact teams like Miami, New England, and Denver also didn’t get into the playoffs, it’s no lock they’ll be a playoff team next season even if they’re better.’

‘The officer suffered a separated shoulder, a sprained rotator cuff and injuries to his neck, chest and shoulders when Rogers resisted arrest and assaulted him on the morning of July 13 in the parking lot of the After Dark Gentlemen’s Club, according to Edward Weinstein, the East Brunswick attorney representing Kurzydlowski.’

‘According to the suit, when the officer tried to arrest Rogers, the player shouted an expletive and threatened the officer.’

‘Another defensive plus was the performance of middle linebacker London Fletcher. He finished the season with a team record for tackles, becoming only the third Bill to log over 200 in a season. But, unlike earlier in the year, his stops came closer to the line of scrimmage, rather than downfield, and he made more impact plays.’

‘"I felt like if we had played better defensively in the first half of the year, we would have had a better chance," said cornerback Antoine Winfield. "The offense carried us most of the year. We made too many mistakes and didn’t hold up our end. But we got better and guys started to get more comfortable in their roles. We just have to carry that over to next year."’

‘"I called (wife) Cara from the car (Sunday night), and it got a little emotional there," a misty-eyed Riemersma said. "I talked to guys like Phil Hansen and John Holecek, asking them how they handled it. I wear my emotions on my coat sleeve and it’s been tough. It really has. You really never know in this business what’s going to happen, but certainly you can see the writing on the wall."’

‘As Bledsoe said, there are no more long-term building projects in the NFL. You strike when the opportunity is there. Next year, in the third season of the Gregg Williams era, the door figures to be open wide for this team.’

‘Riemersma is scheduled to be the third-highest paid player on the team in 2003. With a base salary of $3.5 million and a salary cap figure of $4.8 million, only Eric Moulds and Drew Bledsoe will count more against the cap than Riemersma. By cutting Riemersma, the Bills would eat the $1.3 million portion of his bonus he is still owed, but they would save his $3.5 million in base salary.’

‘At 2-4 in the East Division and 5-7 in the conference, Buffalo had no chance in those hair-pulling tiebreaker scenarios.’

‘A play here, a play there, and they’d be breaking down film of the Steelers or Colts today.’