The Bills' worst fears were realized regarding rookie TE Kevin Everett, the club's good-looking third-round pick from Miami.

Everett tore his left ACL in last Friday's mini-camp and could miss the season. He was scheduled for surgery by mid-week. With nine months to go before the end of the NFL season, club officials haven't ruled out the possibility of Everett playing in 2005, but it's a stretch. ACL repairs can take up to a year to heal fully. As is their policy, the Bills won't put a timetable on Everett.

Everett was injured on a very innocent looking play in practice. He caught a pass over the middle and headed up field when his left foot stuck to the synthetic turf. He collapsed and immediately clutched his knee and had to be taken off by cart. Nobody touched him on the reception. Up until that point, Everett had looked very good in his new surroundings, making several nice plays. The Bills were hoping to incorporate his athletcism into their attack.

Buffalo can't shake the injury bug at the position. The team's top two tight ends, Mark Campbell and Tim Euhus, suffered knee injuries last season and are still recovering from surgeries. They are expected back for the start of summer training camp. Ryan Neufeld was unable to take part in mini-camp due to a groin injury.

The only healthy tight ends at the current moment are Rod Trafford and rookie free agent Mike Cieslak (Northern Illinois). Another prospect, Mike Gomez, is playing in NFL Europe. The Bills could shift Jason Peters back from tackle.

--Rookie OL Ray Preston III from Illinois, commenting on why the Bills think he can contribute as a rookie (His dad, Ray II, played linebacker for the San Diego Chargers): "I don't know. I just think that I've been preparing for this my whole life. I know everybody says that, but in my situation, having a dad that played in the NFL, going to a school that played a pro scheme, I just think my preparation to this point has prepared me to play well. I don't know how soon that will be, when my number will be called, but it's my job to be ready."

---Players have three weeks off but Mularkey has four blocks of voluntary (read mandatory) organized team activities scheduled for the last week of May and the first three weeks of June.

--QB Shane Matthews, who has not officially signed his contract, didn't take part in mini-camp, instead golfing in the Dodge Celebrity Invitational in Fort Myers, Fla. The Bills do expect him to sign soon and take part in the OTAs.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"I try to tell you guys that I'm not the normal California kid that you guys all think. I've been hearing all the rumors. I work hard. This is my job and this is my profession and my craft. I'm going to do whatever I can to make the most of it. I worked hard to get where I am and I'm not going to stop now that I'm here." -- QB J.P. Losman, who bristles at the laid-back reputation attached to West Coast athletes. In other words, he's working hard to distance himself from the ghost of Rob Johnson.

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