Two Bills Drive

‘A backup center starting for the Bengals. A slimmed-down Ted Washington tag-teaming with Pat Williams. Who wins that battle?’

‘Johnson is the starter. Any ounce of leftover doubt vanished the moment Flutie suffered a groin injury in training camp that could keep him sidelined for the first three games of the regular season. This is Johnson’s team now. Tonight, Johnson will be behind center when the Bills open the preseason against the Cincinnati Bengals at Ralph Wilson Stadium. His performance against the Bengals will have no bearing on the depth chart at quarterback. For the first time since 1998, Johnson can start a game without controversy. "I’m just anxious to get back in the groove and throw the ball well," Johnson said. "Actually, last year, when they named me the starter, it was outside Buffalo where they were more shocked. The team was very supportive. That’s what made it so easy for me."’

‘”It would be helpful for us to win games in the preseason,”, club president Mike Brown said. “If you have an established team, there isn’t the emphasis put on it. But for us, it’s different. We have to build from the bottom up. And part of that is re-establishing our confidence and getting to feel a little better about ourselves.”‘

‘Dustin Cohen, a Summit Country Day graduate and former Miami University football star, is trying to make the Buffalo Bills as a linebacker. Cohen 23, a two-time Mid-American Conference defensive player of the year for the RedHawks, was signed by the Bills as an undrafted college free agent. Working against Cohen is that the Bills had the NFL’s top-rated defense in 1999. Working for him is the linebacker-oriented style of defense Buffalo plays, a true four-linebacker setup with three linemen.’

‘Good fair preview of season for the Bills.’

‘Among the positions to watch are: Free safety, where Keion Carpenter, who’s worked with the first unit all week, will start as he challenges Daryl Porter for the vacant job…Right defensive end, where Shawn Price will get his first start filling in for Wiley, and top draft pick Erik Flowers will make his debut…Offensive backfield, where running back Antowain Smith attempts to rebound from an injury-plagued season, and Sheldon Jackson makes his debut at H-back…And special teams, where Avion Black, Drew Haddad and Sammy Morris will contend for the No. 1 returner’s job. With Flutie out until at least September, the Bills’ quarterback situation is settled with Rob Johnson the starter and recently reacquired Alex Van Pelt backing up.’

‘"My first goal is to stay healthy," Johnson said. "Playing wise, I think I’ll do fine as long as I’m healthy. I just have to stay away from getting hurt." He withstood Jevon Kearse and the Titans but he’ll need many more hospital-free Sundays before people quit looking at him as one of those medical-school skeletons. Johnson claims he hasn’t grown tired of hearing the comment, "Rob’s good, but he’s injury prone." "I’m not tired of hearing that because I want to do it," he said. "It’s good motivation. I haven’t done it yet (play all 16 games). A lot of quarterbacks get hurt in the NFL, you just have to stay away from the big injuries. The hits you take with the size of guys today, you’re going to get bumps and bruises, you just need to avoid the big injury. I can play with pain."’

‘As it usually is, the first preseason game will serve as the initial audition for most of the players on the roster. The first-string players will play briefly, but the rest of the night will feature rookies and young veterans making their first live-action statements to the coaching staff. Carpenter will have the first chance to prove himself at the free safety position. He and Daryl Porter are competing to become Kurt Schulz’s replacement, and thanks to a good performance in last week’s scrimmage and solid work in practice, Carpenter has moved up to No. 1 on the depth chart. Other areas head coach Wade Phillips will be watching closely will be cornerback, outside linebacker, wide receiver, running back and kick returns.’

‘Rookie draft choices Avion Black and Drew Haddad and rookie free agents Kwame Cavil, Kevin Drake, Corey Sullivan and Scott Pingel are all vying for those precious positions and their performances in the preseason games will most likely decide their fate. "I feel like I’ve shown my worth in practice, now it’s trying to come up with some big plays in the preseason games," said Drake, an intriguing candidate who spent the spring playing for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe and led that league with 12 touchdown receptions.’

‘I sobbed when Jan told of the day she received word of her husband’s death as she lay in her hospital bed after giving birth to her son, Bob Jr. I sniffled when the young Bob revealed he had heard his father’s voice asking him to have the first dance with his sister on her wedding day. And I cried when Bob Jr. relayed how he saw his father sitting and smiling as he and Jill moved gracefully about the dance floor. But when all was said and done, I probably felt worse about myself for never having known Bob Kalsu had even existed.’

‘Haddad has learned during the first two weeks of training camp that the seams in the secondary are much smaller in the NFL. The cornerbacks and linebackers are bigger and faster. The defenses are more complex. The offense takes more mental preparation off the field and quicker instincts are needed after the ball is snapped. So the 5-foot-11, 184-pound Haddad has a difficult task ahead, and that calls for drastic measures. He’s throwing himself in front of the proverbial train, which is to say he’s trying to win a job in the NFL by returning punts. He’s also involved in an air-tight battle for one of the few jobs at wide receiver.’

‘Starter Rob Johnson will likely open the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Alex Van Pelt likely will follow Johnson, and Mike Cawley and Phil Stambaugh also should receive some reps. Phillips said he would decide on the rotation and playing time during meetings Wednesday night. The Bills were scheduled for a light workout starting at 9:30 a.m. today before traveling to Orchard Park for the game.’

‘The Dolphins brought in Thurman Thomas for a multitude of reasons. Even at 34, the Dolphins believe there is enough left for him to be a change-of-pace third-down back and even the occasional starter if there are injuries. But it’s no coincidence Thomas is Johnson’s roommate. "We thought Thurman would be a positive influence on James," coach Dave Wannstedt said. "All he’s got to do is watch how Thurman prepares himself for the season. I don’t think Thurman Thomas has to say anything to him. Thurman does it the right way. If you watch practice, watch him in meetings, listen to the questions he asks, it’s clear why he’s a Hall of Fame candidate."’

‘An examination of a typical day in camp for a player reveals the clock is his best friend and his worst enemy. From sunup until sundown, players have less than four hours of free time a day. The rest of the time is spent eating meals, lifting weights, rehabilitating injuries, practicing, conducting interviews with the media, signing autographs, attending meetings and studying playbooks. In Irvin’s room, three playbooks are stacked on a table, one each for defense, special teams and league and team rules. Some fun. What happened to the dancing girls? "It’s like a boot camp, certainly," says coach Wade Phillips, who has been to camp with five different teams during his 24 NFL seasons. "Most training camps I think are similar in that you have to monopolize somebody’s time to learn all the things they need to, that quickly. You have a captive audience, so to speak."’

‘With Bruce Smith and Sean Moran gone, and Marcellus Wiley recovering from back surgery, Price will play even more downs within the rotation system on the defensive line. "I’ve been waiting for this for a long time," Price said of his enhanced role.’