Two Bills Drive

Tomorrow afternoon, quarterback DREW BLEDSOE will arrive in Buffalo for the first time since joining the Bills.

‘"It puts us up with Miami and the Jets . . . and really gives us a chance to stick it to New England."’

‘Donahoe certainly has earned a vacation. Over a period of two months, he and his staff have taken a staggering football team and lifted it back to respectability.’

‘The Buffalo Bills have not released the names of undrafted free agents they signed, but various published reports have Pittsburgh quarterback David Priestley, Notre Dame defensive lineman Grant Irons, West Virginia safety Rick Sherrod and Louisville long snapper Chip Mattingly coming to Buffalo.’

‘Buffalo Bills fans are excited about Drew Bledsoe’s becoming the team’s new quarterback, and many are proving it at the ticket window.’

‘It’s almost – almost – enough to make you want to skip summer and go right to fall.’

‘What the Bills are getting is a strong-armed quarterback with good accuracy who is 240 pounds and not very mobile. He has never been adept at processing information quickly enough to be a dominant factor on third down, and that’s why he was replaced last year by sixth-round draft pick Tom Brady.’

‘"I said all of last year I thought Buffalo was a good team, a lot better than their record," Patriots’ wide receiver Troy Brown told the Boston Globe. "You add Drew Bledsoe to that team, and our rival is that much stronger. For Buffalo, it’s unbelievable to add a guy like that in that locker room."’

‘Buffalo’s trade for Bledsoe is another reason why the NFL’s prime-time TV decisions should be made after draft weekend. The Bills suddenly have the potential to be a far more competitive and entertaining team this season.’

”’I think you’re always motivated to play at the highest possible level, and that won’t change,” said Bledsoe. ”This is a great opportunity for me to be a starting player again and resume my career. I get to do it in a terrific setting. It’s a great opportunity to show I’m at the top of my game. And I want that more than anything.”’

”’Let me say this. If New England let us talk to him before the deal, we would have given them more than we did. He is going to make a terrific impact on our team and this city. We’ve been selling tickets ever since the trade was announced.”’

‘Though Patriots director of player personnel Scott Pioli spent several weeks trying to negotiate a Drew Bledsoe deal with more than one team, including the Cincinnati Bengals, the Buffalo Bills were the only ones who made an actual offer.’

‘“I am eager to get to Buffalo over the next few days to meet my new teammates and to look for a place to live. And, on the field, I could not be more enthusiastic about jumping into the next phase of my career and contributing to the success of the Buffalo Bills."’

‘This reporter was a guest on a Buffalo sports talk radio station yesterday morning. Opinion there was unanimous. Acquiring Bledsoe was the first stroke of good luck for the Bills franchise since Scott Norwood’s kick went wide right in Super Bowl XXV. Not “Hey, maybe with Bledsoe, we won’t stink” luck, mind you, but the “Lombardi Trophy, here we come” variety.’

‘One thing’s for sure. By December 8, we’ll have a much better idea whether Bledsoe has anything left, and if Tom Brady still has it.’