Two Bills Drive

”’One thing I will say is that we weren’t going to give up a pick in this year’s draft,” he said. ”We never had the opportunity to speak to Drew or his agent. We are not going to be put in that type of position.”’

‘The Pats want a first-round pick as part of the compensation package for Bledsoe. The Pats are apparently willing to accept a conditional pick, but it has to be fair. The Patriots believe the Bills’ offer on Friday – a 2003 second-rounder that can become a first-rounder if Bledsoe plays in 12 games and the Bills make the playoffs – isn’t close.’

‘Instead of Bledsoe, the Bills ended up with a 365-pound offensive tackle as their key acquisition of the day.’

‘The Bills were set to take Tulane quarterback Patrick Ramsey in the second round, but Washington took him with the last pick in the first round.’

‘…Belichick and Pioli will look like geniuses for not giving in yesterday and taking what ever they could get for him.’

‘Of Williams, Bills’ president/general manager Tom Donahoe enthused, “He’s a large, agile, tough individual who adds chemistry to our football team.” Indeed, personality was seemingly one factor that pushed him ahead of McKinnie.’

‘”We never got a call,” said an almost incredulous Buffalo president/general manager Tom Donahoe, who quickly added, “and we never made one.”‘

‘”If you want a quality football team in Buffalo, it starts with the offensive line,” Donahoe said. “It makes the whole team better. You look at teams that are quality teams year in and year out and it usually starts with the offensive line.”‘

‘”I felt like they wouldn’t have made that pick if they didn’t think I could do it,” Reed said. “They showed some belief in me so now I’m going to have to show some belief in myself.”‘

‘”It feels great to be selected by such a good team.”

‘”It feels great to be selected by such a good team,” Reed said. “It’s been a long day, an anxious day. I’m really happy that it finally came in and the way it came in.”‘

‘Reed is in the NFL. And the Bills are thrilled to have him. “He’s tough, and he’s going to give you a full day’s work,” said Tom Modrak, the Bills’ director of football operations. “He’ll sneak deep on you. . . . He knows how to get open.”‘

‘”I went out there (to Buffalo) and it was a great trip,” Denney said. “I talked to each coach individually. They said there’ll be an opening at left defensive and, and if I came there, I’d have a chance at that position. “I liked the trip out there. If I hadn’t gone, I’d be a little preoccupied about (playing for Buffalo). But they have great coaches that are defensive-minded.”‘

‘Although ESPN mistakenly used a photo of his younger brother, John, when announcing the pick, Denney was thrilled to wind up in Buffalo, where team officials told him he will have a chance to compete for significant playing time at left end — particularly in running situations. The Bills need somebody to fill the void left by the retirement of Phil Hansen, and they made a trade with San Francisco to move up and take Denney.’

‘A short time later, Denney was fielding a phone call from the Pittsburgh Steelers, who informed him the team was set to select him with its No. 62 pick. But thanks to call-waiting, that conversation was interrupted by another call — this one from the Buffalo Bills, announcing they would pick Denney at No. 61.’