Two Bills Drive

8. TOM DONAHOE TO BUFFALO

You know what I like about the Bills’ GM? He’s not afraid to make the tough decision. He inherited a team divided between two quarterbacks who polarized the club and city, and he wasted no time letting one of them go.

I thought Buffalo was in trouble when it canned John Butler. It would have been if Donahoe wasn’t around.

‘Surely, Cowart knew it would weaken Holecek’s standing with the team if Cowart got the middle linebacker’s job. Holecek was making too much money ($1.25 million base) to be a backup, and he lacked the speed to play outside in the Bills’ revamped defense.’

‘"I was very surprised when I first heard the news," Cowart said from his off-season home in Jacksonville, Fla. "Anytime you lose someone you play next to and bond with, it’s a tough thing."’

‘I, too, am impressed with Donahoe and Williams. Nevertheless, let’s allow a smidgen of reality to seep in here.’

‘The Buffalo Bills say season-ticket sales are progressing nicely. While the team doesn’t have an exact figure, it is optimistic about exceeding the totals of the past two seasons.’

‘"The way I’ve been treated, everything I went through wasn’t worth it," he said.’

‘The Buffalo Bills are reminding fans that single-game tickets for 2001 will go on sale to the general public this Saturday, July 14th beginning at 9:00 AM.’

y cutting Holecek the team saves just over $2 million dollars on this year’s cap and almost $1.5 million on next year’s cap.

\’He\’s a scheme-oriented player, a great team guy, a super individual, high class, team-oriented and everything else. But as the fourth LB [in a 4-3], where he can flow to the ball and use his great instincts and intangibles, he\’s a terrific player. He\’s just couldn’t be as effective in the 4-3.\’

One-team veterans becoming something to savor; Hansen and Jones are some of few veterans who remain with one team for 10 years.

‘"I think Gregg Williams is going to be a great coach and he has a terrific staff. But I can foresee some problems with the general manager and the coach because there’s not a lot of honesty coming from the general manager position."’

‘The move — which caught Holecek by surprise and has left him feeling bitter — saved the team around $1 million in cap space. The Bills are now $2.25 million under the cap, which is enough to sign their top three draft picks, Nate Clements, Aaron Schobel and Travis Henry.’

‘"But it just seems to be the story of this off-season, guys being let go. We have to rally together and young guys definitely have to step up."’

‘The four-way partnership encompasses wide-ranging initiatives, including online and offline cross promotion and marketing with America Online, a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL Time Warner Inc., and CBS. It also takes advantage of Viacom’s stable of media properties. In addition, SportsLine.com Inc. will produce and host NFL.com, the most popular sports league site.’

Quoting Marv Levy, legendary former head coach of the Buffalo Bills, who said, “I don’t consider hunting a sport; I consider it murder,”