Two Bills Drive

‘”I’m not proclaiming to be the best linebacker to ever play the game,” said Spikes, the 6-foot-2, 245-pound hulking specimen that toiled in relative obscurity for five seasons with the Bengals. “But I really don’t think the city of Buffalo knew what they were getting when they got me. And it’s real … it’s real.”‘

‘”He’s shown that you can go through some difficult times and still have things work out great for you,” Brunell said.’

‘Minuses: The Bills averaged just 3.2 yards on 33 rushing attempts against New England. … Henry fumbled again on Sunday, raising his total to 16 over the past three seasons.’

‘The Buffalo Bills, who visit Alltel Stadium, have played only 10 games in their history — including preseason games — in temperatures above 87 degrees.’

‘With more than 8,100 tickets unsold, the Jaguars didn’t even wait until the 72-hour deadline at 1 p.m. yesterday to make the blackout official for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills at Alltel Stadium.’

‘The thing that kills me is that not only do we not get the Jags game, but they won’t show any other game. Instead we get re-runs of "Joanie loves Chaci."’

‘”I know I could do it,” the former Jay and Texas Tech standout said. “Over the past few years, I’ve learned a lot about how to prepare physically (for the season) and how to take care of my (6-foot, 220-pound) body. I’ve also improved as a runner since my rookie season.”‘

‘The Dolphins denied a caller’s report on a Buffalo television station that there have been talks about moving the Sept. 21 home game to Buffalo and having the Bills come to Miami on Dec. 21 because of Hurricane Isabel. ”We haven’t talked to the league or the Bills or discussed it at this point,” Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene said.’

‘Jasper eats, drinks and bleeds Buffalo red, white and blue because of a chain of loyalties that leads back to Mississippi: Jasper likes the Bills because he likes Eric Moulds because he likes Moulds’ alma mater, Mississippi State.’

‘Gilbride was the Jaguars first ever offensive coordinator under Waterloo native Tom Coughlin, helping build the expansion team into an instant success. “We took a program that was just starting, and within two years climbed on number eight’s back and he took us to the AFC Championship game,” Gilbride said of his time in Jacksonville with quarterback Mark Brunell.’

‘Besides the penalties the Bills did have a couple of minor hic-cups. Receiver Josh Reed dropped a well worked flea-flicker and had a disappointing game, punt returner Antonio Brown failed to live up to his pre-season promise (but that should be put down to first game nerves), and the running game never really dominated like it should have done until late in the game. But these were minor glitches in an overall superb performance. The Bills are back looking like the great teams they had a decade ago (is it really that long ?) and can now be considered genuine contenders.’

‘”We stayed to the plan,” Williams said. “It pained me to see some of those great defensive players leave here, but that’s what we had to do.”‘

‘Myers was initially signed last April as an undrafted rookie free agent out of LSU, where he was a teammate of Bills receiver Josh Reed.’

”’I’m going to be able to have fun in this defense,” Milloy said. ”This defense is one that allows the playmakers to make plays, and forces everybody to get to the ball. And it was evident last Sunday.”’

‘"We are disappointed that many of our fans will not get to see our home opener," said senior vice president /sales and marketing Dan Connell in a statement released by the Jaguars. "So we encourage them to come to the stadium and be there in person to experience the first home game under Jack Del Rio."’