Buffalo News

‘”I think I need an offseason just to rejuvenate my mind,” Johnson said. “It’s not easy playing quarterback here with the situation I’m in. It takes its toll. If it’s the same situation next year I’ve got to get ready to deal with it all over again.”‘

‘Johnson had a magnetic resonance imaging test on his right elbow this week. “There is a slight tear in the ligament in my elbow,” he said. “I’ve had it for two years now.”‘

‘”Every week, you can just say your platform drops as far as soreness,” said Wiley, who has been battling an elbow problem for the last six weeks. “Every week, consistently, overall you’re more sore than the week before and then depending on the game and the situation, how physical it was, it could be worse.”‘

‘It’s difficult to imagine them keeping two high-priced quarterbacks for another year. Flutie is scheduled to count $7.75 million against the cap next year, according to figures obtained by The News. Rob Johnson is scheduled to count $8.29 million. Both are under contract for two more seasons.’

‘Wilson also might have taken his recent vote of confidence for coach Wade Phillips off the table. When Wilson was asked during his Tuesday news conference about the future of the coaching staff, he declined to reiterate his pro-Phillips stance. “As far as Wade and the coaching staff is concerned,” Wilson said, “I’m here today to talk about John Butler, not about the coaching staff. So I’d rather not comment.”‘

‘Flying five uncomfortable hours to watch his quarterback get mugged, his blockers wave at blitzers and his ball carriers seldom make it more than a couple of yards past the line of scrimmage is not likely to make the boss’ back feel very good.’

‘Wilson said he needed to settle the issue due to the weighty matters facing the team this offseason, and Butler was reluctant to strike a deal. Butler, meanwhile, was eager to receive what he considers his full market value given his lofty reputation for personnel evaluation in the NFL. And it was clear from Wilson’s description of events that Butler was not impressed enough by the contract offer the owner made in the past week.’

‘”There’s definitely a surprise,” Bills linebacker John Holecek said. “You don’t expect this. . . . The timing is what’s shocking. We kind of expected some changes, but not at this time.”‘

‘The free-agent salary cap also came into play in 1993, but Butler didn’t seem encumbered by it.’

‘The Bills’ performance has been miserable in the past four weeks, increasing pressure on the coaching staff. The offense, in particular, has been a big disappointment.’

‘Now Butler is gone, too, like Polian the victim of his owner’s rash and dubious judgment. Wilson fired him Tuesday for refusing to sign a new contract and take himself out of the running for other GM positions in the league — specifically, the San Diego job that is apparently his for the taking.’

‘Owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. had been on record as praising Butler’s work and wishing to sign him to a new contract. But Butler had declined to negotiate seriously with the Bills and had expressed an interest in seeking his market value before making a commitment.’

‘”I just wanted to say thank you to the Bills and the Bills fans,” said Wiley, who will be an unrestricted free agent after Saturday’s season finale in Seattle. “I’m still a Bill for another game and, hopefully, for another contract, another year. But I’m not in a situation right now to even think about it or make any moves. If this is it, dire straits, I tried to show them everything I could and thank them for everything.”‘

‘”They’re calling it a slight concussion,” Phillips said of Johnson. “It’s more like a headache. He banged his head on the ground, but he never lost consciousness or had trouble remembering anything.”‘