Two Bills Drive

‘So Flowers’ deal figured to fall between $5.5 million and $6 million over five years with a signing bonus of $2 million to $2.5 million.’

‘Gaining support from Rochester-based corporations is one of the keys to the franchise’s ability to compete financially in the NFL. Buffalo-area fans of the Bills may shudder at the thought of having to share their team with another city, but the economic reality of professional sports speaks to greater priorities — survival. Population projections support the Bills’ broad-based marketing strategy. The Buffalo metropolitan area continues to shrink, ranking among the NFL’s smallest. By 2025, the region that stood among the nation’s 20 largest markets when Ralph Wilson brought the team here in 1959, will be close to falling out of the top 50. While the loss of population put the Bills at a competitive disadvantage with its NFL brethren, the corresponding erosion of private sector businesses based here has created greater obstacles. When companies such as Trico, Bethlehem Steel and National Gypsum cut back their operations or moved, the core of corporate support here withered even as major professional sports franchises increasingly turned to local business in search of sponsorships. By stretching the Bills market, companies such as Wegmans are taking a higher profile in the team’s marketing plans. The direct appeal to fans becomes stronger as well, as the players spend three weeks in Rochester each summer.’

‘Levy had a roster in his hands, and he said he counted only 21 players who were with the team when he last coached. Of course, the three most notable absences were Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed, all of whom were released in February. "I hated to see those last three remnants of all four Super Bowls go, but there are young players and things change," said Levy, a hint of sadness in his voice. "But I’ve said this before, when Babe Ruth left, Joe DiMaggio came, and when DiMaggio left, Mickey Mantle came. There is a changing of the guard. "When I came into my last camp, Jim Kelly (who retired following the 1996 season) wasn’t there. If you coach long enough, great stars are going to leave. There was quite a bit of sentiment when I heard they were releasing them. John had told me a couple days before, and he told me it was going to be one of the toughest things he’d have to do."’

‘The second-year player, a seventh-round draft choice out of Nebraska, is one of the busiest players in the Bills camp as he is trying to learn two positions — tight end and fullback. "For a guy in his second year in the league, that’s about as tough as it gets," Jackson said yesterday during a break at St. John Fisher College. "I can’t think of anything harder, other than playing quarterback, than to have to learn two positions. "There’s no real scheme to it, you just know when you’re playing tight end you think about playing tight end, and when you’re playing fullback you think like a fullback and just go with it."’

‘"I haven’t felt healthy like this in a long time," said the hard-nosed Buffalo Bills offensive guard, who missed the 1999 season after underdoing neck surgery. "I’ve never taken for granted what I have, but I do appreciate it all the more. This training camp isn’t drudgery at all for me."’

‘Yesterday, there were approximately 8,000 sets of eyes providing analysis from the stands and hillside. The crowd, believed by the Bills to be the largest ever for a basic training-camp session, again made a routine practice a little more fun for the players. "With all these people, it’s like you have a game-day atmosphere," said second-year wide receiver Jeremy McDaniel. Life at St. John Fisher College already is better than the Bills believed it would be, and the players appreciate it. "People love to play the game but don’t let anyone fool you, people love playing in front of the fans, too," said second-year tight end and fullback Sheldon Jackson.’

1st round draft choice, Eric Flowers, is in Rochester with a new contract and will practice Monday morning.

‘Contenders: Buffalo: No team has done a better job in the salary-cap era than the Bills. Now they have to show they can do it without the veteran leadership of Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed. They also lost three other starters from their defense that was ranked No. 1 last season and didn’t sign a single unrestricted free agent. On offense, quarterback Rob Johnson has to prove he can stay healthy and keep Doug Flutie on the bench.’

‘This is an important year for Smith, who is entering the last year of his contract. The Bills are still committed to him, but he must avoid the injury bug and re-establish himself as the elite running back in the offense. “It’s basically put up or shut up,” said Smith, who ran for 1,124 yards in 1998. “I’m at the point now where I know I have to produce. I won’t say I’ve got something to prove to myself, but I want to go out there and let my teammates and the coaching staff know that I am the guy that can carry this team.”‘

‘Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson is not a proponent of such money-making devices. He said he would never force fans to pay to watch practice. "Not as long as I’ve got a pulse," he said. "We just like to get as many fans out as possible to build up some enthusiasm and interest in the team now through the regular season. Whatever other people do, it’s up to them. But we wouldn’t do it. It might prevent some people from coming. We’re trying to attract more fans, not turn them away."’

‘""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.’