Two Bills Drive

‘The Patriots’ third-down efficiency ranked 26th last year, as the team allowed 95 first downs in 221 chances (43 percent).’

‘4th Down — Antowain Smith’s Buffalo performance. In four games against his former team, Smith has rushed 86 times for 374 yards and four touchdowns, while adding a pair of touchdown receptions. He’s been entrenched in a battle for snaps with Kevin Faulk, but his past outings vs. the Bills should get him more time.’

‘Talk about must-see TV.’

‘”A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns.”‘

‘Buffalo: 10-6 — This Bills defense will be good and that’s what held them back last season. You have to love their cornerbacks, Nate Clements and Antoine Winfield, and the additions of linebacker Jeff Posey and Takeo Spikes and safety Lawyer Milloy makes their “back-seven” hard to deal with. Offensively, the loss of Peerless Price is significant. Eric Moulds was quarterback Drew Bledsoe’s preferred target, but Price was nearly as explosive last year. Second-year man Josh Reed has great hands and is productive but his skill set doesn’t match Price’s. According to an NFC personnel man who scouted the Bills in the preseason, the offensive line is not giving Bledsoe enough time. Bledsoe went down 54 times in 2002 and that news doesn’t bode well for 2003.’

‘Season prediction: 12-4. Destination: AFC Championship vs. Tennessee.’

‘Lawyer Milloy will demonstrate the wrong way to deal with questions about his ballooning contract by belligerently suggesting he’s Ronnie Lott, Gary Fencik and Rod Woodson rolled into one.’

‘So they released him. Even though they knew it wasn’t for the immediate best of the team, they felt it was best for the long term. A business decision. Every player has a ceiling price. And Milloy was past his.’

‘For at least one week in Western New York, football will leapfrog professional wrestling as the official soap opera for men.’

‘We don’t know the guys who will play strong safety from Adam, but like a good Christian, I’ll be saying my prayers when other teams try to go down the middle of the field. I’m sure that Coach Belichick got down on his knees and Brady made the right decision in cutting Milloy.There’s no question that the Pats will miss Milloy’s straight out of Compton toughness and intensity.’

‘”I think that on paper and on the practice field we are a better football team,” argued Bledsoe. “We made some good additions defensively. Our offensive line has had another training camp to work together.”‘

‘They finished 4-0 in the exhibition season for only the third time in their history, but much of that good karma vanished Monday when coach Bill Belichick dumped team captain and spiritual leader Lawyer Milloy because the four-time Pro Bowl choice refused to take a pay cut from the $4.4 million he was due in 2003.’

‘Belichick has to wonder if his team is OK with the Milloy issue that broke only five days ago. He knows the players don’t like it, even resent it, but he also undoubtedly expects them to play well in spite of those emotions. “Tuesday was a tough day,” Belichick said, “but I think the overall concentration and focus on the field was good through the week. We’ll be ready to go.”‘

‘I think that every year. We’ve just got to go out and prove it.’

‘Milloy, as proud as they come, was apparently willing to take a sizable pay cut. He was also willing, if necessary, to test that open market – not always the friendliest of places at this time of the year. He did pretty well, though, with a reported 4-year, $15 million deal that included a $5 million signing bonus.’