PITTSFORD -- The Buffalo Bills opened training camp on Thursday. Just thought I'd throw that out there in case you weren't aware of it.

Based on the sparse crowd at St. John Fisher College, a lot of folks didn't get the memo.

OK, it was only the first practice in the middle of a weekday afternoon. I'm sure attendance will pick up, beginning at tonight's workout.

But there was an excitement level to Day One that was sorely missing. It's a far cry from opening day last summer when fans packed the stands and lined up three deep along the fences. Of course, they came to see a certain celebrity wide receiver.

Terrell Owens is gone, and apparently, so is the buzz. Last year, there were constant cheers whenever Owens tied his shoe laces. On Thursday, a long completion or defensive play barely drew a reaction from the onlookers.

Granted, there is no one on this team with Owens' drawing power. But the first day of camp usually attracts more than a handful of hard-core fans.

Perhaps the small number of spectators is indicative of the low expectations the rest of the country has for the Bills. This team is not only under the radar, it is barely a blip on the screen.

Almost everyone has them rated as bottom feeders in the AFC East again. Given the still unresolved questions at quarterback, offensive line and a transition to a 3-4 defense, the lowly predictions are warranted.

Still, the Bills have always found a way to get the fans fired up for a new season. Despite nine of the last 10 years ending with losing records, no one sold hope like the Buffalo Bills.

It would seem the fans aren't buying this year, at least not yet.

The players don't mind the lack of attention. After all the T.O.-generated hype last year, going unnoticed isn't such a bad thing.

"Being under the radar gives you a chance to surprise people and prove them wrong," nose tackle Kyle Williams said, "The bottom line is the only way to change their opinion is going out and winning football games. We start doing that here in training camp."

I'd love to tell you how the Bills looked Thursday. Unfortunately, most of the session was a rumor since the media had to view it from the back of the end zones on the two grass fields. And wouldn't you know it, most of the action took place on the opposite end (I heard wide receiver Lee Evans made some great catches, but I'm waiting for confirmation on that).

I did notice from my limited vantage point that Trent Edwards was the first quarterback under center. That's hardly breaking news since everybody considered him the front-runner. Head coach Chan Gailey said the competition is far from over, but it would be nice if Edwards distanced himself from the pack as soon as possible so we don't have to deal with the daily task of having to chronicle the quarterbacks' every move.

One thing I'll say about Gailey is he likes drills. Lots and lots of drills. Practice was two hours old before the Bills conducted an 11-on-11 team session. One thing I liked was Gailey putting the players in full pads on the first day. You never saw that under Dick Jauron.

"We're in training camp, aren't we?" said Gailey, who seemed incredulous toward the question about the padded practice. "Training camp is a time to go to work. We only have a certain number of opportunities to get out here and get better and be a physical football team, so we take advantage of every opportunity that we have."

Whether you like Gailey or not, his no-nonsense, get-tough approach is a refreshing change from the Club Jauron years. Will it translate into more wins? We'll see.

awilson@buffnews.comnull