Two Bills Drive

‘Syracuse University football coach Paul Pasqualoni was saddened when he heard news of David Byrd’s departure from Bills camp. "Obviously, David’s doing what he feels is best for David to do and for his family," said Pasqualoni while attending Bills camp Tuesday. The Bills signed the former Syracuse defensive back as a free agent last April. After participating in the team’s two minicamps and the first two practices at training camp, Byrd failed to show up on Sunday, informing team officials that he wasn’t coming back. The Bills plan to waive him.’

‘Columbia football coach Ray Tellier likes to compare Marcellus Wiley with Mark Messier, the NHL superstar. "He was probably the loudest and most entertaining player we’ve ever had here," Tellier says. "He was just an unbelievable leader. He just took care of everything. Messier, he was that kind of leader for us on a smaller scale."’

‘The Bills’ star left guard reported to training camp in the greatest shape of his life. He lost 40 pounds since last season, dropping from 325 to 285. "When I got here, he was wearing a Dr. J jersey," said Brown’s agent, Eric Metz, referring to basketball great Julius Erving. "And the thing is, he looked like Dr. J." Metz was joking, but there’s no exaggerating how good Brown looks. "I feel great, and I’m really enthusiastic about this season," Brown said.’

‘There isn’t much argument about where the team’s chief vulnerability lies. Two starting members of the secondary, cornerback Thomas Smith and free safety Kurt Schulz, were lured away by free agent dollars. Backup safety Manny Martin was not re-signed. Cornerback Reggie Durden of Florida State came to Pittsford unheralded, but everyone in this camp is talking about him. Safety Nick Ferguson, fresh from the champion Rhein Fire of NFL Europe, also turned heads. As of Tuesday afternoon’s practice, so did Quincy Coleman, who made a diving interception of a Doug Flutie pass and came right back with a nifty breakup of another pass on the next down. That’s convenience.’

‘Flowers will receive a $400,000 base salary this year, followed by base salaries of $500,000, $600,000, $700,000 and $800,000, according to figures obtained by The News. The Bills created about $200,000 of extra room under the salary cap that helped them sign Flowers by restructuring the contract of running back Antowain Smith. Smith has two years remaining on the original five-year contract he signed with the Bills. He is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2001 season. As with most restructured contracts, Smith will receive the same amount of money he was scheduled to earn. The Bills converted some of his base salary this season into bonus money, some of which they can count toward next year’s cap.’

‘The sponsoring businesses are taking advantage of the opportunities, rolling out new products and offering one-of-a-kind discounts to the crowd. "This is an excellent opportunity to build our brand in our home markets and give us exposure where we haven’t had it before," said Randall L. Scroger, regional manager for Heluva Good Cheese Inc. "The Bills are a legendary thing in western New York and we’re celebrating our 75th anniversary, so we think it’s a natural tie-in."’

‘”My sense is we’re doing well,” Mayor Frank A. Pagano said Friday. “We have a large tourist industry, and the Buffalo Bills were only a small part of that. The economic impact is negligible. But maybe it was more a sense of pride that’s gone. We saw that `Fredonia’ byline in the papers every night. That’s what it was, a sense of pride.”‘

‘"I was satisfied with the second half of last year, but I didn’t think I was given the opportunity to do more in the first half," he said. "As the season progressed the coaches started using me more and I was producing and I felt a lot more confident in what I could do." This season Reed is gone, Price is the full-time starter, and expectations are high that he and Moulds can become a dynamic duo with strong-armed quarterback Rob Johnson zinging them the ball. "I know Rob expects me to get deep and I expect him to throw it deep," said Price. "That’s the game I like, throw the ball deep, air it out."’

‘Larry Felser, longtime columnist for the Buffalo News, isn’t too impressed by the Bills’ new training facility at St. John Fisher College. In yesterday’s editions, Felser took some shots at the team’s new digs.’

‘There will be some new noon time entertainment starting today. All of the attractions will be near the main concession tent, adjacent to the grass practice fields. Jazzbo the Clown will entertain children of all ages from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. today and all next week. Scooter the Clown will appear from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow and Friday. Face painting will be available from noon to 4 p.m. daily. The music of Rich Cooley will serenade guests while they eat lunch on the Alumni Terrace at Growney Stadium.’

‘For the past two years, Sam Cowart and John Holecek have been a dynamic duo as inside linebackers in the Bills’ defensive scheme. With Holecek plugging holes, and Cowart going after the ball or holding back to play the pass, the two have provided a unique one-two punch. They are a key reason why the Bills are one of the few remaining teams to play a 3-4 set on most downs, and they played a major role in why the Bills finished with the top-ranked defense last year.’

‘Forty-Niners receiver Jerry Rice, Titans guard Bruce Matthews, Panthers defensive end Reggie White, Redskins defensive end Bruce Smith and former Lions running back Barry Sanders were unanimous choices, receiving votes on every ballot.’

‘Buffalo Bills rookie defensive end Erik Flowers said he felt like a little kid in his first practice with his new team. "It kind of reminds you of being a little 5-year-old and going to kindergarten class but being late, and everybody’s watching you as you walk through the door," Flowers said at the Bills’ St. John Fisher College training camp. "I was a little nervous at the start but things settled down."’

‘Yeah, it’s all new and people are uptight, but why make the fans feel as if they are touring an industrial park? There are two major mistakes. The shuttle bus idea is not striking a favorable chord with fans. If there had been a similar bus ride in Fredonia, it would have been like traveling from midtown Dunkirk to the SUNY campus. The other mistake is isolating the players from the fans. Yes, autograph seekers can be a pain, but these are the people who indirectly pay those fat NFL salaries. All major league sports should pattern themselves off the Dodgers’ training camp in Vero Beach, Fla., where the club forces the players to walk through the crowds to get to the diamond. They’re also encouraged to pose for photos with the fans and their kids.’

‘Buffalo Bills nose tackle Ted Washington has been selected as one of the 99 "Good Guys" in professional sports by the Sporting News in the July 31 issue of the magazine. Washington, entering his sixth season with the Bills, contributes a great deal of time and money to community programs throughout Western New York. In 1998, he created the Ted Washington Foundation to benefit area youth charities. The Multiple Sclerosis Society and Junior Achievement are among the many organizations he supports.’