The Book

an opposing team's scout sizes up the Bills

"The first thing you have to ask is I what is the mind-set of the Bills after getting rid of four players who'd had highly productive careers—Bruce Smith, Andre Reed, Thurman Thomas and Sam Gash—and benching another, Doug Flutie. If this were a veteran team, you'd have to be concerned about losing those guys, but only one of the offensive starters is over 30, and on defense you've got just three, all 32....

The Bills are on a mission, after they came so close to the second round of the playoffs last year, but they have a big weakness: They're strapped for cash, and they did absolutely zero in free agency....

I like their defense to repeat as No. 1 in the league, particularly if they bite the bullet and start Pat Williams over Ted Washington on the nose. Williams was twice as productive last year. What they might lack in the pass rush, with Marcellus Wiley moving in for Bruce Smith, they'll make up for in defense against the run....

The biggest concern is the secondary. They're thin back there, and they'll miss I Kurt Schulz's smarts at free safety."