--The NFL has finalized the eight-member committee that will determine the qualifying rules for revenue sharing under terms of the new labor deal with players. Joining Buffalo are the New York Giants and Seattle. Previously named were Green Bay, Cleveland, Detroit, St. Louis and Houston. Bills owner Ralph Wilson's one-man crusade against the new collective bargaining agreement led to his appointment to the committee by commissioner Paul Tagliabue after some arm twisting by New York state politicians. Happy with the NFL's response so far, Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, has called off his request for hearings into whether the CBA violates antitrust law. Meanwhile, Jacksonville owner Wayne Weaver has joined Cincinnati's Paul Brown in support of Wilson, who has claimed the new deal hurts small- to medium-sized market teams. Said Weaver to the Florida Times-Union: "People portrayed Ralph as this older guy who wasn't thinking clearly. Ralph was thinking just fine. He understood the situation perfectly. It turns out that Ralph was right and he was far ahead of many of us."

--Linda Bogdan, daughter of owner Ralph Wilson and a member of the team's scouting department since 1986, has been promoted to vice president/assistant director of college and pro scouting. Bogdan is the only active female scout in the NFL. She works the East Coast, bowl games, all-star games and the scouting combine workouts in Indianapolis.

--SS Donte Whitner, the Bills' first-round draft choice out of Ohio State, is confident he'll be in the starting lineup sooner than later. "I'm always going to be confident even if I'm wrong. But if I learn this defense, do my job, do what they expect, I will be able to become a starter," he said. "Maybe it's opening day, mid-season, maybe it's next year. But if I do what I'm supposed to, I will be a starter here."

--Coach Dick Jauron appreciated that veteran LB Takeo Spikes attended Buffalo's recent three-day mini-camp for rookies and newcomers with other veterans. Spikes, recovering from Achilles' tendon surgery, took "mental" reps while doing light jogging on the side. Jauron said Spikes set a fine example for the rookies. "We've stressed in team meetings that this is what it takes," Jauron said. "You can't expect to win on Sunday if you haven't put in all the time prior to that. They're aware of it and when you have veteran players who live it, it's a lot better." Conversely, Jauron's disappointment was evident when asked about why RB Willis McGahee was a no-show for a second voluntary organized team activity.

--Buffalo is making way for another Kelly. The University of Buffalo and Brian Kelly. Kelly, a 6-6, 310-pound offensive lineman from Richmond, Va., is the nephew of Bills Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly. He has signed to play at the University of Buffalo for new coach Turner Gill, the former Nebraska star. Buffalo, 1-10 last year, has an impressive schedule outside the Mid-American Conference next fall, facing Auburn, Boston College and Wisconsin. "It's a great opportunity for me in a growing program with an excellent coach," Brian Kelly told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "There are some perks associated with Buffalo ... but some pressure, too, living up to the name."

--As promised, Jauron gave equal time to quarterbacks Kelly Holcomb, J.P. Losman and Craig Nall during mini-camp. There are two more sessions planned for May and June before training camp starts in late July. There won't be a clear-cut starter by then, setting the stage for an intense competition through the pre-season. "That's been our plan and we'll stick to it right into training camp," Jauron said. "Then we'll see where it goes from that point on."

QUOTE TO NOTE
"I can do some things, but it's not smart for me to go out there now and overexert myself and try to prove something to anybody. It's not worth it. My payday comes in September." -- All-Pro linebacker Takeo Spikes, commenting on his recovery from Achilles' tendon surgery.

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