Two Bills Drive

‘You can say this about fullback Phillip Crosby: He sure is persistent.’

‘The right side of the Buffalo Bills’ line is a mess right now. It’s a shipwreck. Forget the hot tub. Rob Johnson should be tossed into a lifeboat, with the women and children.’

‘The Detroit Lions claimed veteran tackle Robert Hicks off waivers Sunday after he was released by the Buffalo Bills last week.’

“the Bills might indeed have to create a pass rush schematically, because they really have no proven pass rusher”….’The Bills’ 12-man draft class ranks as one of the best in the NFL, and should in time augment the existing nucleus of young veterans. This is a very young team that might struggle at the outset of the season, but should get better the second half of the year.’

‘The 5-9, 221-pound back hits holes quickly and possesses the burst to be a breakaway threat. "Obviously, he fits in very well with the scheme of running attack that we want," first-year coach Gregg Williams said, "and he’s picking up the passing game much better than people projected."’

‘Spokesman Scott Berchtold said no determination has been made on how long Ostroski will be out of action, but offered that "it’s a fairly lengthy time period." A minimum three-month recovery is probable.’

‘The fans are fired up and it’s largely because of Williams, who has enough chutzpah to think he can install both a new offense (the famed West Coast approach) and a new defense (a 3-4), and get away with it. All of which suggests, apparently, that basic orneriness – and Williams, whose Titans knocked off the Bills on that razzle-dazzle kickoff return just 19 months and 19 days ago, has his share of that, too – can go a long way.’

‘Maybe they should have cancelled this preseason game. In their first effort of the preseason, the Eagles looked as uneven and as sloppy as the NeXturf at Veterans Stadium in a 6-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium last night.’

‘Modrak has let go, however. "My job now is with the Bills, to make them a better team," he said.’

‘Duce Staley’s return to game action was proclaimed a success and two rookies made big plays in the passing game, giving the Eagles reason to smile despite Saturday’s 6-3 preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘"Fortunately, I have a good situation here," Modrak said. "Tom couldn’t have been more reassuring, and Mr. (Buffalo chairman Ralph) Wilson, too. I was going through the Chicago situation. He (Donahue) said, ‘There’s one here if that (job) doesn’t work out.’ I owe him a great deal. It’s his show. He knows what he’s doing and he’s a good guy to work for."’

‘Restricted by the salary cap, the Bills are severely handcuffed in going after a capable veteran. And even if they find someone, it’s difficult to determine how long it will take for the line — already featuring two newcomers in Conaty and rookie right tackle Jonas Jennings — to jell.’

‘The Bills already had a concern at right tackle, where rookie third-round draft choice Jonas Jennings is trying to win the starting job. Now playing next to Jennings at right guard is Corey Hulsey, a second-year man who spent all of last season on the practice squad. Hulsey may be challenged by Craig Heimburger, who has appeared in two games over two NFL seasons, or by rookie Marques Sullivan.’

‘The Bills have yet to unveil every aspect of their aggressive "46" defense, but they showed some glimpses Saturday of what it might look like.’

‘Alex Van Pelt is good for Johnson. He’s a pal and a mentor to the starting QB, a good guy, a media favorite and a charitable sort in the community, a new Frank Reich for the Bills’ new millennium. The one thing he is not supposed to be, under any circumstances, is a threat to Johnson’s job.’