Two Bills Drive

‘Bills running back Antowain Smith, nursing a swollen right knee, will miss Saturday’s preseason game against the Detroit Lions. Smith, Buffalo’s No. 1 rusher, did not participate in any contract drills at training camp this past week in Rochester. He was hurt in last week’s preseason-opening victory against Cincinnati when he was struck by a helmet. Coach Wade Phillips, who insists the injury is to Smith’s thigh, said the running back will continue to have fluid drained from his leg and should be ready to return next week.’

‘Raion Hill wasn’t a high draft pick. In fact, he wasn’t drafted at all. He’s not a household name like some of the other young players being showcased at the Buffalo Bills’ training camp this summer. But when it comes to making an impression on teammates and coaches, few have done it with as much regularity as Hill. Hill is making a strong bid to secure a spot on the Bills’ regular-season roster as the primary backup to strong safety Henry Jones. "Raion is having a terrific camp," defensive backs coach Bill Bradley said after practice Thursday at St. John Fisher College. "He’s doing so well it’s hard not to notice him."’

‘The Buffalo Bills eclipsed the 100,000 mark in fan attendance in their inaugural training camp at St. John Fisher College. According to team officials, 8,400 attended the two sessions on Thursday, the highest single-day total thus far. Owner Ralph Wilson praised the fans in Rochester and the surrounding area who attended the practices, adding that attendance was "far beyond our expectations." "Maybe it’s the highest turnout of any training camp in the country," Wilson said Thursday. "That I don’t know, but it’s really up there, first or second. It’s been a great experience here."’

‘Said current Cleveland Browns coach Chris Palmer, the former quarterbacks tutor in Jacksonville, who got to work one year with Johnson: "It’s all there. He can throw every pass. And he’s a lot more mobile than people think, too." Indeed, he flashed his surprising ability to buy time in the pocket while leading the Bills to what should have been a game-winning field goal in last year’s playoff loss at Adelphia Coliseum. But the reason the Bills shipped first- and fourth-round choices in the 1998 draft to Jacksonville to get Johnson, then rewarded him with a five-year, $25 million contract had little to do with his feet. At 6-feet-4 and 212 pounds, Johnson is a prototype pocket passer, a player who can stretch the field vertically and one who should benefit from a solid supporting cast.’

‘Defensive end Erik Flowers had a sack, forced fumble and a tipped pass. Linebacker Corey Moore had a sack and a game-clinching blocked field goal. Wide receiver Avion Black scored on a dazzling 34-yard pass play. And free safety Travares Tillman? Well, the Buffalo Bills second-round draft pick didn’t quite have the kind of splashy professional debut that the team’s other top rookies did last Friday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Then again, the others aren’t playing a position where the game is played more above the shoulders than below it.’

‘If a man is big enough to blot out the sun, that’s the kind of man you want serving as one of your bodyguards. All Rob Johnson wants is someone big enough to prevent opposing defensive ends and linebackers from breaking him in two on Sunday afternoons, and in mountainous Robert Hicks, Johnson has found his man. "The only problem with having someone so big over there, sometimes you can’t see too well (downfield), but I’ll take that any day," Johnson said with a smile. "He can be a dominant player because he’s big, he’s athletic, he’s in shape. If he stays healthy, he can have a huge year." That’s what the Bills are expecting from the 6-foot-7, 330-pound Goliath who is beginning his second year as the team’s starting right tackle.’

‘The day he was hired as the Buffalo Bills new special-teams coach, Ronnie Jones made it a point to say he had nothing to do with "Home Run Throwback." He also acknowledged, quite astutely, that he will have to live with the ghost of the greatest special-teams blunder in team history until he can write more happy chapters. Yes, Bruce DeHaven may have been fired by coach Wade Phillips after the Tennessee Titans beat the Bills 22-16 on that disputed 75-yard trick kickoff return in last January’s wild-card playoff game. Yes, Phillips may want us to believe he has rectified a growing team weakness by replacing a proven assistant, who may have grown stale after 13 seasons with the same team, with an energetic newcomer whom he will keep on a tight leash. The reality is that DeHaven is one of the very best special-teams coaches in NFL history while Jones has never coached special teams in the league on a full-time basis.’

‘As each day passes in camp, rookie running back Jason Corle watches as the men he is competing with for a roster spot — Lennox Gordon, Sammy Morris, Josh Roth and Phillip Crosby — go through drills, run plays live, and make impressions on the coaching staff. And all he can do is watch. Corle has been sidelined since the first week with a pulled left hamstring, and the inactivity is driving him nuts. "This has been terrible," said the free-agent signee from Towson. "I’m out here learning the offense and I’m learning what the game is about at this level, but it’s frustrating not being able to go out and do what you have to do to make the team. "When you’re a free agent, this is the worst-case scenario for me."’

‘Tens of thousands of people have traveled to the St. John Fisher College campus to take in a day of training camp. Some had basic, transparent reasons. They support the Bills. They’re fascinated by quarterback Doug Flutie. They want potentially valuable autographs. It’s an enjoyable summer escape for children. But a football training camp, sociologists and sports experts suggest, draws on potent aspects of American culture and personal psychology — the worship of athletes, an attraction to the grotesque, gambling and something called "BIRGing." "BIRG" is an acronym created by social psychologists to describe an ego-supporting act — "basking in reflective glory." "BIRGing is a very natural phenomenon," said Merrill Melnick, professor of physical education and sport at the State University College at Brockport. "We all want to identify with greatness, but we can’t all be great. The next best game in town is to stand in the shadow of the great."’

‘While much has been made of the cuts and defections the Bills suffered this off-season, those concerns do not apply to the offensive line, intact except for the loss of free agent Dusty Zeigler. "They look like a pretty strong group, especially together," said coach Wade Phillips. "It takes togetherness to be a good offensive line, not just great individuals, but playing together. I think we’re a lot further along than we were last year at this time."’

‘Smith continues to have swelling in his right knee after being hit with a helmet in Buffalo’s win over Cincinnati last week. Brown has been nagged by a sore right ankle. Neither starters took part in any contact drills at training camp this week. Thursday, coach Wade Phillips said he’ll wait until game-time to determine their status, adding both would play if this had been the regular season.’

‘But this, Kelly will be less involved with football than the days he was too young for Pop Warner. Rather than the rigorous schedule he worked for ESPN the last three years, Kelly will now only do NFL features for the all-sports network. "My priorities have changed…I look at it from a different perspective," said Kelly, who has three children including 3 1/2-year old Hunter who has Krabbe’s disease and has already outlived his life expectancy. "He’s not going to get any better but as long as he stays where it is … that’s a blessing." And that’s why his new job appeals. "I’m really cutting back on what I did last year, I’m not going to be gone nearly as much as I was," he said. "With the features I’ll be away one day, unlike last year when from Wednesday through Friday I was calling players and gone Saturday and Sunday. This gives me more time with my family, which is what I want." He’s even postponed a planned move to Richmond for a couple of years and is currently looking to buy land for a hunting camp. "That should make everybody happy," he said with a laugh. But Kelly quickly pointed out his wife’s family, his brothers and friends still live here. "I’d like to build a nice log cabin to come to a couple of weeks in the summer," Kelly explained, "and be able to come back for snowmobiling and the things I like to do in Western New York."’

‘Jackson, who received his psychology degree from Nebraska, has been the target of more than one raised eyebrow since he joined the Bills last year as a seventh-round draft pick. "My high school teammates used to say, "Sheldon was one of those branches that fell off the tree a long time ago. He’s just doing something his own way,’ " Jackson said. "I’m a team player, but when the pads come off I enjoy my own little world. It’s definitely different. To me, I’m OK. Everybody else is insane. Everybody else is a little weird. I love the way I see things through my eyes." The 6-foot-3, 237-pounder has a few idiosyncrasies, especially for a professional football player. He claims he doesn’t know how to draw, but wants to be a tattoo artist. He has five tattoos himself, including depictions on his back of his mother, brother and sister. While some Bills drive new Hummers, BMWs, Jaguars and other prestigious cars, Jackson’s fleet consists of an 1982 Chevy Monte Carlo, a ’95 Chevy Z-71 pickup truck and a ’77 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead. But one eccentricity stands out more than the others. In fact, 20 things stand out. Jackson polishes his finger and toe nails.’

‘"I’m nowhere near ready, but I’m getting more comfortable. Right now all I can do is ride the bike and use the Stairmaster. Flutie was supposed to have a second MRI on the groin this week, but it got moved to Monday. "I wanted to have the MRI this week but it just doesn’t make a difference," he said. "There’s no need to rush it. (The MRI) should just update the healing." The timetable for Flutie remains about the same, with his return likely to be for either the third or fourth regular-season game. The Bills have a bye in Week Four so they may give him that extra week to recuperate, but Flutie said he sees Week Five as his latest possible return date.’

‘He has grown up through the years. He has mellowed. He no longer watches the tape of his draft-day plummet for inspiration. But he does have a little chip on his shoulder. He wants to beat the Bills. He wants to make them pay not just for letting him go after 12 years, but for how they did it. "To not make a phone call to me or to tell me before the season ended, that hurt," he said. "That’s a motivational tool. I wouldn’t say that’s my whole deal that I’m using to continue to play, but it’s a little part of it. I’m a little ticked off. But what really motivates me, what makes me feel good, is that the Dolphins were the first ones to call. I want to go out and make plays for this football team."’