Two Bills Drive

‘Billy Shaw, you are the only Hall of Famer who spent his entire career in the AFL. You were always a gentleman when you played. Many of today’s stars could take a lesson from you. You pumped your arms and clapped your hands Friday morning, and Friday night. Yes, you are finally here, and deservedly so.’

‘”It’s not going to be exactly a scrimmage,” Phillips said. “We’ll go through all of our game procedures like making substitutions, things we’d do in a game. It will be physical, but we’re not going to tackle them and take them to the ground. It’ll be physical, but not a scrimmage per se.”‘

‘”Buffalo was a great place to play,” he said. “The people of Buffalo are wonderful, they took this southern boy in and put their arms around me. I can’t say enough for the treatment I received from the people of Buffalo.”‘

‘[Billy Shaw] started at offensive guard and defensive tackle [at Georgia Tech] from 1958-60, earning All-SEC honors two years. He was inducted into the Tech Hall of Fame in 1979. Shaw, who was selected for induction into the Pro Hall by the veterans committee, parlayed his Tech success into a legendary career with the Bills of the fledgling American Football League. In nine seasons, Shaw was named Bills captain for eight seasons, earned first-team All-AFL honors five times and helped lead Buffalo to championships in 1964-65. All that, and his salary in each of his first two years was $11,000.’

Training camp photos with a smattering of Billy Shaw thrown in.

Johnson accepts his current role, but still shows desire to show his talents.

‘When [Billy] Shaw retired after the 1969 season, the Houston Oilers, who had lost both of their starting guards, made him an offer of three years for more money than he had made in all previous nine years combined. But he turned it down for reasons having nothing to do with money. “I could not envision myself putting on somebody else’s uniform,” he said. “I was a Buffalo Bill.”…Shaw also loved the [Buffalo] fans. “They were as faithful as faithful can be,” he said.

‘[Tom Mack] had to wait 11 years to finally get the call to Canton, while [Billy] Shaw – a starring offensive guard for the Buffalo Bills from 1961 to 1969 – waited almost three times that. “There were only three guards in the hall. Now he and I make five,” Shaw said. “I can’t explain to you why more guards haven’t made it into the Hall of Fame. But it’s an honor.”’

‘Johnson is trying to be patient, but he can hear the clock ticking. “I want to play,” he said. “I’m 26. This is going to be my fifth year, and I’ve started six games. It’s not my decision; it’s their decision,” he said. “I like it here, I like the team. If they want to keep me, great. “I know there’s somewhere in the league for me. If this is going to be Doug’s team for years, they’ll probably trade me and try to get something for me.”‘

‘Jennings was signed after Jerry Ross left camp last weekend. Coach Wade Phillips wanted five tight ends in camp, so Jennings joined Jay Riemersma, Eric Stocz and fellow rookies Bobby Collins and Sheldon Jackson. Jennings played collegiately for Mississippi State, but he ran into academic problems and didn’t play as a senior. For that reason, he went undrafted last April, but Cincinnati signed him to a free-agent contract. However, the Bengals released him before training camp, so he was available for the Bills, but regardless of what he thinks, he’s a definite long shot to make the roster.’

‘”I have enough confidence that we have three tackles (including left tackle John Fina) who are strong enough to play and you always have Jerry as the fourth,” Phillips said yesterday. “If Hicks was ready but Spriggs wasn’t, then we don’t have enough guys and we don’t make the move. But it was a combination of both those guys doing well enough. Last year, we weren’t in that position.”‘

‘Phillips has cultivated some depth at a variety of positions but, as always, how far the Bills go will depend largely on overall team health. It’s the same for virtually every team in the league — injuries tell the tale.’

‘Wiley and his girlfriend filed charges against one another in Orchard Park Town Court following a domestic dispute in May, but each dropped the charges in court Tuesday.’

‘The Bills’ concern over Smith’s condition has ranged from borderline panic to relaxed optimism. Wade Phillips used the word “chronic” in describing the injury earlier in the week, but Wednesday said he was expecting Smith back. He couldn’t say when.’