Two Bills Drive

‘The Buffalo Bills are close to a contract agreement with Tampa Bay unrestricted free agent tight end Dave Moore, an NFL source said Sunday.’

Today is Monday, March 11, 2002. It has been exactly six months since the September 11th attacks that forever changed this nation. The life of a one-time Bills player will be forever linked with the events of that dark day.

‘After graduation from Michigan, Dan was drafted by the Buffalo Bills of New York to continue his football career. He played for the Bills for four years, furthering his education in the off-season by earning a masters degree from the University of Michigan in urban planning.’

‘"He has a lot of interesting qualities," new Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden said in a press release. "He’s young, talented and has experience as a starting quarterback in the National Football League."’

“Doug’s story is one of the most incredible stories I’ve ever heard of in my whole life,” Kemp said. “I just shudder when I think about it.”

‘Any way you slice it the Bills are in a great position. They’re going to get somebody very good, one way or the other.’

‘Monday will be a bittersweet day for the man who was a backup fullback on the Buffalo Bills’ 1965 American Football League championship team.’

‘It is believed Johnson changed his mind about the Texans because the situation offered no guarantee for how many starts he would get before the coaching staff decided Carr was ready.’

‘Johnson balked at the Texans’ one-year, $1 million offer, and the team’s apparent desire to groom rookie David Carr as the starter.’

‘Terms of the contract were not released, but it is expected to be similar to the one-year, $1-million deal Johnson was offered by the Houston Texans last week.’

‘In Tampa Bay, the former Southern California star will be reunited with two of his Trojans teammates in Keyshawn Johnson and linebackers coach Joe Barry, with whom he roomed.’

‘Two weeks after Gruden was introduced as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ new coach, Johnson agreed to terms on a free agent contract Saturday.’

‘”I can’t wait to get to work with Coach Gruden and his staff,” Rob Johnson said in a statement released by the Bucs. “He is a special coach and this team has special players. I look forward to competing and contributing here.”‘

‘Clearly, the Bucs organization believes that Johnson possesses too much physical skill to ignore, but it’s not his athletic ability that has ever been questioned. Johnson never fit in with the Bills and did not make himself a part of the Buffalo community. He never bought a home, even rented an apartment, and lived in a hotel during the season there.’

‘In Rob Johnson, who threw for Gruden Friday morning and delayed his original flight out of Tampa to begin immediate negotiations that evening, the Bucs have found another intriguing option, an intelligent and tough passer with a strong arm and excellent mobility.’