Two Bills Drive

‘At free safety, former Bills’ defensive staple Kurt Schulz will start against the ball club he spent nearly his entire career with. Schulz left Buffalo for Detroit following a financial disarray on the Bills’ part — and has immediately plugged the gap left by former Lion Mark Carrier.’

‘The Lions-Bills game is starting at 8:35 p.m. to accommodate ESPN.’

‘Forget about marketing, shuttle buses, crowds and interactive games that can make a kid feel like a football player. In sharp contrast with the Buffalo Bills’ training camp at St. John Fisher College in Pittsford, the New York Giants camp on the SUNY Albany campus is decidedly no-frills.’

‘[Ivan] Gustafson is the longest of long shots to make the Bills’ roster, but that he is at St. John Fisher College trying to make it to the NFL is heartwarming. This is a kid who was bailing hay at his parent’s farm outside Olympia, Wash., the day before he had to leave to come to Rochester for the start of camp. "I went to Whitworth, worked hard and had a fun college experience and got a college education which is what I wanted to do," said Gustafson. And that will someday reward him when he puts his degree in elementary education, as well as the masters degree he plans to obtain, to work. But as he said the other day, "everything is on momentary pause" right now because his stardom on the football field at Whitworth has opened the door to the NFL just a crack.’

‘"I’m excited about this opportunity," Linton said. "Anytime you get extended minutes in a ball game, you have to make the most of it. I’m looking foward to showing the coaches I can make a big contribution to this team." Depending on the ability of Smith to shake his injury bug, Linton’s contribution could be as big as last season or more.’

The competition for the Bills’ vacant free safety job kicks into second gear tonight when the team meets Detroit. On the other side of the field, ironically, will be the reason Buffalo is looking for a new free safety. Kurt Schulz, who started six seasons for the Bills, signed with the Lions as a free agent. Keion Carpenter is expected to get the starting nod tonight for Buffalo, followed by Daryl Porter and rookie Travares Tillman. Carpenter also spent time at corner and strong safety this week in practice, and Porter also can play cornerback. Coach Wade Phillips has made it clear he wants to keep the best defensive backs overall, regardless of position. "That’s the way coach Phillips handles things," Porter said. "If you’re playing well and doing your job, he’s going to play the best players. He’s always saying, `I brought you guys here, I want to see you guys perform on Sunday.’ That’s nice to hear."’

‘"We didn’t know how much we were playing against the Bengals," Johnson said. "We thought we could be out after the first drive. I think we eased up a little bit, which is not a good thing. "Hopefully, we can put some more drives together." Bills coach Wade Phillips plans to give Johnson and all the rest of his regulars a little more playing time this week. "I think we need some more work," Phillips said. "I think this game is where we’re pointing to do that."’

‘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."’