Two Bills Drive

‘""We’re not much different than we were last season,"" Cottrell says. ""We planned for Bruce Smith’s leaving by drafting Marcellus Wiley three years ago and Erik Flowers this year. We like Keith Newman (the replacement for departed linebacker Gabe Northern) a lot. Antoine Winfield, our new right corner (in place of Thomas Smith), proved he could play last season. ""The only real surprise was Kurt Schulz signing as a free agent (with the Detroit Lions), but we have some good athletes at the free safety position."" Cottrell likes his unit again, and its performance in the Saturday morning training session at its St. John Fisher College base seemed to back his opinion.’

‘Doug Flutie may not be the starting quarterback, but he could have a special role in the Buffalo Bills offence. At the end of practice yesterday, Flutie was the holder on field-goal attempts, replacing punter Chris Mohr, who usually is assigned the chore. Included in the special-teams drill were a number of fake field-goal trick plays. "It was nothing, we were just trying a few things," said Flutie, who remains wildly popular with Bills fans, judging by the lineups to get his autograph.’

‘Smith isn’t longing for legendary Bills Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed and Bruce Smith, who were released by the Bills in the off-season and moved to the Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins respectively. Antowain Smith just wants to regain the form that two years ago had him touted as the featured runner in the Bills backfield and logical successor to Thomas. And Smith may be ready. A rigorous off-season training program has the 28-year-old in the best shape of his three-year pro career.’

‘Forgive the lack of sentimentality, but missing the Big Three is like missing a toothache. After 15 seasons, their absence is a much needed breath of fresh air. Any more harping on life without them demeans the quality of the current team, denying a horde of Bills their long overdue recognition as leaders. Thirty-something veterans Phil Hansen, Henry Jones, Ted Washington, John Fina, Jerry Ostroski and Sam Rogers cast a quiet confidence any team with championship aspirations can build around.’

‘From the up-close look at the players on the practice field to the interactive football games on the artificial turf of Growney Stadium, fans are treated to hours of entertainment all for the price of a $1 shuttle bus ride.’

‘"Guys were saying I lost too much weight, but I’m moving good and I feel strong," he said. "I may have lost a little bit of strength because I was up to 325 and obviously I’m not going to be as strong as a 325-pounder, but I’m quicker, I feel more energetic and hopefully I can stay injury-free during the season. "That’s the main thing, you work out and exercise so your body will be able to take the abuse during the season." Through weightlifting, Brown figures he will go up to the 295-pound range by the time the season starts.’

‘"My main focus coming into camp was to stay healthy throughout the season, and that’s a hard thing to do," said Smith. "I just want to get back to the form that I know I’m capable of. "I know what I can do when I’m healthy and I think my teammates believe in me, it’s just a matter of me staying healthy and showcasing my talents."’

‘Fans attending the yesterday afternoon practice session were given a surprise treat — a mass autograph session by the entire team. A half-hour into practice, coach Wade Phillips blew his whistle and all 79 players headed to the fences surrounding the fields. Standing nearby with handfuls of Sharpies were team public relations staffers. Players signed for 15 minutes. So did Phillips and owner Ralph Wilson. When they were finished, the crowd let out with applause and screams of "Thank you."’

‘Helping motivate Moulds is this being the final year of his contract. He can’t help but consider the multimillion-dollar prize that could be awaiting him next winter. "You’re a competitor, and you see all these guys getting these big contracts and, of course, you would like to be in that situation,” Moulds said. "But you still have to go out this year and have a good showing."’

‘"My wife wanted to lose weight after having the baby," Brown said following Saturday morning’s session at St. John Fisher College. "So she and I got together and started working out." Brown, who’s weight was as high as 325, is now a trim 286 pounds. And that has left some wondering whether Brown is in too good a shape. "Everybody was kind of like, ‘He lost too much weight,"’ said Brown. "But I’m moving good. I feel strong. I may have lost a little bit of strength because I was 325 (pounds). … But I’m quicker. I feel a lot more energetic." Brown said he’s now working on adding some bulk, aiming at a playing weight of 295.’

‘"This is why we did this (move to Rochester)," said Lynch, pointing to a media credential with the name of the Syracuse Newspapers written across it. "The only way we can survive is as a regional franchise. It’s the only way it can work."’

‘”It’s a clean environment. Everything is fresh and new,” he said. “In Fredonia, there wasn’t much to entice you to stay after practice.” That isn’t the case here. On the artificial turf field next to the practice fields, the Bills have set up The NFL Experience, a football-themed fun land geared for children. Kids could get timed in the 40-yard dash, field punts and passes tossed by modified pitching machines, kick field goals or run through an inflatable obstacle course. But probably the most popular of the Experience activities was a giant, inflatable slide that entertained a constant stream of boys and girls of all ages. “It’s obviously more appealing to the kids,” said Lisa Plukas of Irondequoit, who is originally from Angola. Her three kids slid, stumbled and dove down the slide, then quickly scrambled to the steps for another trip down.’

‘Phillips didn’t mention strong safety Henry Jones and defensive end Phil Hansen by name, but he didn’t have to. With 10 years each with the Bills, the leadership mantle automatically falls to them. "I guess I won the title by default," Jones said after the first training camp practice Friday at St. John Fisher College. "It feels a lot different not having Bruce and those guys around. I’ve always had somebody here older than me to look up to and listen to. But now, I’m that guy people are coming to for advice." "It’s really hard to believe that Bruce, Thurman and Andre are gone," added Hansen. "They were such a big part of our success for more than a decade. Now it’s time for guys like myself and Henry to take a more prominent role."’

‘Tillman admitted to having some anxiety over the drawn-out negotiations, which threatened to keep him out of training camp. "I was getting a little worried because it was very important for me to be here on time to get out and start working again," he said following the morning session. "I just told my agent I wanted to be here, and I wanted him to make it happen."’

‘”It wasn’t because when I first signed here and got to be in this locker room with all these players, you kind of forget about that,”; said Thomas, a likely Hall of Famer. “The only time you’re reminded about it is when (the media personnel) ask me.”‘