Two Bills Drive

‘The nine-year New England quarterback won over a crowd estimated at slightly more than 1,000 in a parking lot alongside Ralph Wilson Stadium by saying, "It was always tougher to play here because of people like you. I was jealous because I wanted to be part of an organization like that."’

‘Based on the welcome Drew Bledsoe got in Buffalo on Wednesday, you’d have thought he’d won the Super Bowl, instead of just watching it from the sideline.’

‘If Bills fans haven’t rallied behind Bledsoe yet, it won’t take long.’

‘"Look at this," Kelly said, embracing Bledsoe and pointing to the dozens of reporters inside the Bills’ field house and about 1,000 fans outside. "This is all for you."’

‘"Every time he took a snap from center, I held my breath against the Patriots," said Bills Owner Ralph Wilson. "To get a player and invididual of this character is a real plus for the Bills."’

‘The Buffalo Bills released Irvin in a salary cap move in the offseason and the Saints were able to pick him up cheap.’

‘The New Orleans Saints signed free-agent cornerback Ken Irvin to a one-year contract Wednesday.’

Drew Bledsoe: "I'm coming to Buffalo for one reason and one reason only and that is to win football games. This is an organization that has a great tradition of excellence and I hope I'm part of the team that returns it to excellence."

Gregg Williams: "It's been amazing all week long how the pep in the step of everybody has been around here from the offseason workouts to selling tickets to having meetings. He's put a pep in everybody's step."

‘”It’s nice to be wanted,” Bledsoe said Wednesday at his first appearance as a member of the Bills, three days after Buffalo acquired him in a trade with New England. “To have some of that showered on us as we were coming into town — yeah, it feels very good.”‘

‘The Buffalo Bills released safety Raion Hill and kicker Shayne Graham, while also bolstering their lineup by signing 12 undrafted free agents.’

The seven-year veteran had played his entire previous career with the Buffalo Bills but was released earlier this spring for salary cap reasons.

‘[Jamarei] Bryant was contacted by several other teams, including Arizona, Chicago, Green Bay and Jacksonville. He said he picked Buffalo because he thought it was his best chance to make a team. It couldn’t hurt that Bryant’s agent is friends with Bills secondary coach Pat Thomas.’

"I am a long-time Pats fan and will continue to remain one, but I am looking forward to seeing Drew stick it to them this year and for years to come. In this day and age of everything being business oriented, I am proud to say I am following a player because of the character he has."

The news filtered through the Fleet Center stands during the Celtics game. There was a suddenness to it, a finality, a coldness. We were like kids in high school who just found out somebody had been expelled. You hear about Bledsoe? And the word spread, and it spread, and by the end of the game, probably everyone knew. Bledsoe was gone.