Proud Pettine eager to turn Bills defense around

New Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is still evaluating the high-priced, underachieving group he has inherited, but he saw enough from the opposing sideline last season to know ''the cupboard is not bare'' in Buffalo. Having spent the past four seasons with the Jets, Pettine says Friday in his introductory press conference that the talent level in Buffalo was one factor in his decision to switch teams two weeks ago. Pettine says there are still some good football players here, who are explosive athletes and playmakers. He says he's looking forward to building a system that is going to take advantage of that. Pettine's challenge is to transform a defense that last season finished 22nd in yards allowed, while giving up 435 points, the second-most in team history. Buffalo went 6-10 before coach Chan Gailey was replaced by Doug Marrone.