BILLS ANNOUNCE THAT OWENS GETS 81, HARDY GETS 84

With new Bills receiver Terrell Owens recently proclaiming that he’ll be wearing jersey number 81 in Buffalo and the team selling jerseys based on that presumption, the franchise has formalized the move, announcing that Owens will indeed wear 81 -- and that second-year receiver James Hardy will switch to 84. On Wednesday, Owens said that it would be an issue for the Bills and Hardy to resolve, which is contrary to the standard practice of having the new player and the old player work something out among themselves. It’s unknown whether and to what extent the Bills obtained advance clearance from Hardy before reassigning number 81. Owens said that, when he arrived in Buffalo on Saturday, a jersey bearing his name and number 81 was hanging in a locker.