The drive within

"The one thing I thought about was that in Detroit, we had four different defensive coordinators in eight years, and this year would have been another one. ... I just think if s easier for one player to make the adjustment than to have 11 make the adjustment. We found that out last year, when we struggled for the first 10 games. We didn't know what the hell we were doing. And I'm not blaming anyone. I'm just saying on the whole, we didn't get it done - the players, nobody. I didn't want to go through that again."

There was a time when Spielman felt he would spend his entire pro career in Detroit But the NFL's liberalized free-agency system and salary cap have made that idea preclusive for many players. He severed his ties with the Lions rather unceremoniously one morning in January, when he was working out at the Silverdome. Suddenly, he felt like he didn't belong there anymore. "It's time to go," he thought. So he cleaned out his locker and found a gym that same day.

In Buffalo, Spielman essentially will play the same role as he did for the Lions. He'll be an inside linebacker in the Bills' 3-4 defense, a spot that was shared last year by Mario Perry (who has moved to the outside) and Monty Brown know with the Patriots). His primary responsibility will be stopping the run. When he stays on the field in passing situations, hell lock up with the tight end or fullback, although Bills defensive coordinator Wade Phillips says, "He's not the man-to-man cover guy we had," referring to Cornelius Bennett, who left as a free agent and signed with the Falcons.

Spielman made an immediate impression on his new teammates on the first play in minicamp. "He stepped up and took charge," Phillips says. "He just took over the huddle. Besides calling the signal - we didn't tell him the got everybody together and gave them a little pep talk."

Although the players didn't have to be at minicamp until 9 a.m., Spielman would arrive at 6:30 to watch film. Then he would stay after practice and watch more film. The Bills weren't scheduled to open training camp in Fredonia, N.Y., until last Thursday, but Spielman was planning to get to Buffalo almost two weeks early to begin his preparations. "They say some players go over and beyond," Phillips says. "He's definitely one of those."

It has been an offseason of many changes for the Spielmans. In addition to Chris, signing with the Bills, they welcomed Noah into their family in April, put their house in Rochester (a Detroit suburb) up for sale, found a house to rent in Buffalo and bought a house in Columbus - lose to the campus of Ohio State, which Stefanie also attended - and plan to make their permanent home there.

"We did four of the most stressful things in life in about a month," Spielman says. "My wife told me life with you is either extremely boring or extremely exciting. There's no in-between.'"

Spielman picks up his bill and looks at it skeptically. He waits until Cheryl walks within earshot. "I eat the same thing every day, and every day it's a different price."