Pro Football : Under Polian, Bills Have Changed for the Better

How do you get from near the bottom to near the top of the National Football League in fewer than 4 years?

The Buffalo Bills, who were 2-14 in 1985 and are 11-2 this season, did it this way:

First, they hired a general manager who recognizes that players acquired in trades or as unproven free agents can be as important as high draft choices.

Second, for several years, the Bills have spent only about half their time and energy scouting college talent and the other half scouting pro talent, with an eye on possible trades and free-agent signings.

The man who brought this policy to Buffalo is Bill Polian, the club’s vice president and general manager who, at 45, is a veteran of 22 years in football, mostly in scouting.

Under Polian, the organization has changed 73% of the lineup.

Of the 22 starting Bills:

----Nine, or 41%, have been drafted since 1985. This group includes running back Thurman Thomas and defensive end Bruce Smith.

--Seven, or 32%, have joined the team via trades or as free agents since 1985. These include linebackers Cornelius Bennett and Ray Bentley and defensive end Art Still.

--Six, or 27%, were acquired before 1985. In this group is quarterback Jim Kelly, who was drafted in 1983 but played in the United States Football League for two seasons and didn’t join the Bills until 1986.

Kelly really should count as one of Polian’s post-1985 acquisitions, because it was Polian who persuaded him to sign after Kelly had said repeatedly that he would never play in remote Buffalo.

“In the off-season, we target the players we want,” Polian said. “After training camp starts, we don’t bring in any new player unless he’s a targeted guy.”

In other words, the Bills aren’t wild traders. And so far, their results have surprised the league.

What is Polian like?

“He’s a 12-hour (a day) worker who gets you the players you’ve got to have,” Coach Marv Levy said.

Actually, Polian works 13 hours per day--9 a.m. to 10 p.m.--except in March, May and June, when he takes Sundays off.

“He’s a dynamo if it’s football, and low-key in any other (situation),” said Jim Overdorf, the Bills’ assistant director of administration who is one of the 27 new employees in Polian’s overhauled front office.

Polian, a former defensive back at New York University, signed on as the Bills’ pro scout in 1984. He became general manager on Dec. 30, 1985.

“Our objective has always been to get as good as we can as fast as we can,” said Polian, who hired Levy because he also embraces that philosophy.

“No 5-year building plans for us,” Polian added. “The draft is great--but slow. You’ve got to make some deals.”

The 2-11 Packers have become the runaway favorites to win the first choice in the draft next April, although they haven’t yet pulled away from the 2-11 Dallas Cowboys.

“If the records are the same, the Pack picks first,” said Dallas vice president Gil Brandt, noting that the tiebreaker is strength of 1988 schedule.

He expects Green Bay to choose UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman. In that case, who will the Cowboys take?

“There are 4 players we’d be extremely happy with,” Brandt said.

They are Michigan State lineman Tony Mandarich, Florida State cornerback Deion Sanders, Alabama linebacker Derrick Thomas and Nebraska linebacker Broderick Thomas.

Brandt declined to comment on reports that the Cowboys will trade with the Packers for Aikman, leaving USC’s Rodney Peete for Green Bay, where his father, Willie, is an offensive coach.

Three NFL teams, including the Raiders, lost games in week 13 after their kickers missed field goals just before halftime.

At Seattle, Chris Bahr missed on a 31-yard attempt that would have given the Raiders a 2-point halftime lead.

At Denver, Mike Lansford of the Rams kicked the ball first into one upright, then the other in the second quarter.

At Philadelphia, Al Del Greco of the Phoenix Cardinals missed from 26 yards.

“That’s a demoralizing time to miss a field goal,” Brandt said. “Just before the half in a close game. You could see those teams sag. I think those games were decided right then.”

The Kansas City Chiefs lost in another way Sunday.

For disciplinary reasons, they sent home their leading ground gainer, Paul Palmer, shortly before losing in Pittsburgh, 16-10.

The Chiefs lost primarily because they lacked a touchdown punch.

“It was unfair,” Kansas City cornerback Kevin Ross said afterward.

He seemed to be thinking of Palmer. But mainly it was unfair to the rest of the Chiefs, who might have won with their leading rusher.

What, by the way, had Palmer done that so upset Kansas City Coach Frank Gansz? Reportedly, during an argument, he said: “I’ll be back next year--but you won’t.”

This lacked prudence, but perhaps not accuracy.

Quote Department:

Fred Smerlas, Buffalo nose tackle, on how it was when the Bills were a 2-14 team: “I remember the empty locker room (after a 1985 game). The only person taking pictures of me was my father.”

Richard Dent, Bear lineman, on Brent Fullwood, the Green Bay running back who was involved when Dent broke a leg Sunday: “I didn’t feel too good about the way the guy rolled up on me. It was unnecessary. But I’ll see him next year, and we’ll settle that.”

Dent, on the days after a game: “Every Monday and Tuesday, your body feels like you’ve been running from the police for 2 weeks.”

Buddy Ryan, Philadelphia coach, on quarterback Randall Cunningham: “Every week, we put a saddle on him. He’s our No. 1 horse. It would be nice if someone else would get in there and do something.”

Deion Sanders, Florida State cornerback, on the NFL: “I want to make at least $1 million a year. I’m three players in one. I’m a punt returner, the best cornerback you’ll get, and an entertainer.”