Two Bills Drive

‘There’s no devastation worse than losing the game. Even though you feel great exhilaration when you win and great despair when you lose, the exhilaration never exceeds the intensity of the despair.’

‘The wisdom in Western New York is that, well, they might have lost four in a row, but at least they got there. This is, of course, nonsense.’

‘"The doctors really did a great job. I can’t jog but, I couldn’t jog before so it’s not a big deal. But I’m pretty close to getting back to where I’m at least 80 percent. I don’t have any real problems doing anything that I need to get this job done at this point. If I was lifting bales of hay, it’d be a problem."’

The Buffalo Bills re-signed quarterback Alex Van Pelt to a five-year contract, rewarding the longtime backup for capably filling in for injured starter Rob Johnson.

It’s a hefty raise for Van Pelt, who earned the veteran’s minimum of $477,000 last season [plus $10,000 per TD bonus], and comes two years after he found himself on the verge of forced retirement.

St. Louis Rams quarterbacks coach John Ramsdell has a Super Bowl to deal with on Sunday, then he’ll interview with the Buffalo Bills for their vacant offensive coordinator job.

Latest news on Bills by reliable Chris Brown

Van Pelt: signed 5 year/$6 Million

OC: Competition has been heavy for Tom Clements, who interviewed in Buffalo Tuesday, will reportedly interview for the Jacksonville OC job next week and perhaps Saints as well.

Mike Sheppard: interviewing for Saints vacant QB coaching job

Phillips: Turns down Giants job – "I appreciated Jim talking to me. I’m a New Yorker, but I’m really a Buffalo, New Yorker. It’s crowded up there."

Comments on how Modrak built Steelers and Eagles.

‘The 31-year-old Van Pelt could emerge as the starter next season. Johnson has one year left on his contract worth $11.2 million against the salary cap and recently was left available for next month’s expansion draft.’

The Buffalo Bills re-signed QB Alex Van Pelt to a five-year contract, rewarding the longtime backup for capably filling in for injured starter Rob Johnson. The deal, agreed to on Tuesday, is believed to be worth $6 million, but also includes additional incentive clauses should Van Pelt become the Bills permanent starter.

‘It appears that former San Diego head coach Kevin Gilbride, who previously worked with Bills coach Gregg Williams, will not be a serious candidate for the job, even though he has interviewed for it.’

‘Why weren’t the Giants right for Phillips? “I’m a New Yorker, but I’m really a Buffalo, New Yorker,” said Phillips, who coached with the Bills from 1995-2000. “Wherever I go, I’d like to pick it. There’s nothing wrong with New York people, certainly, but it’s crowded up there.”‘

‘Speaking from his home in Texas, Phillips said, "It just didn’t fit good. It’s got to be the right situation. They have great players, a great coach, and it’s a great organization. They were more personal things than anything else. For whatever reasons, it wasn’t the right fit for me at this time in my career."’

‘In Clements, Childress and Ramsdell, Williams is eyeing a position coach from behind three of the four quarterbacks in last weekend’s conference championship games (Kordell Stewart, Donovan McNabb, Kurt Warner). However, none of the three has been a coordinator at the NFL level.’

‘Van Pelt on Tuesday signed a five-year deal he had agreed on in principle earlier this month, his agent confirmed. Van Pelt’s contract is worth nearly $6 million – top pay for an NFL backup – but comes with incentives and escalator clauses that more than triples if he becomes the team’s permanent starter.’

‘Clements, a McKees Rocks native who has been credited with helping Kordell Stewart’s development, interviewed yesterday for the offensive coordinator position with the Buffalo Bills and will talk with the Jacksonville Jaguars next week about a similar job.’