Two Bills Drive

NFL players such as Denver Broncos running back Mike Anderson, a former Marine, and Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Bryce Fisher, who was in the Air Force, spent a lot of time on phones to check on friends.

Instead of building intensity for what traditionally is one of the biggest games of the year, the thoughts of the coaches and players were on the victims and rescue efforts at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon during Wednesday’s practice.

There has only been one similar precedent in NFL history, in November 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assasinated. The NFL went on with its slate of games, but the AFL postponed its games for a week.

The Bills were slated to play the Boston Patriots in Fenway Park when the news struck about Kennedy’s assasination in Dallas, and owner Ralph Wilson was the first AFL owner to order the cancellation of one of four games that weekend.

‘"We have to take into account there are more important things than whether I get a sack this weekend or whether (quarterback Rob Johnson) throws a touchdown," Fisher said. "There are 10,000 people who aren’t going to go home."’

‘"Doesn’t football seem pretty trivial after yesterday?" he said. "It’s a wake-up call. Go home. Hug your wife. Count your blessings."’

‘"I’m not going to be making the decision, but I think we have to seriously look at our fellow Americans and (not play)," said defensive end Phil Hansen, Buffalo’s players union representative. "Normalcy is one thing, but this is serious stuff. It certainly makes football seem very trivial."’

‘Fisher had other reasons to be distracted. A first lieutenant at the time he was granted his leave June 2, Fisher doesn’t know what his status will be if Congress declares war.’

REPORT CARD vs. SAINTS

Some comments about Cowarts injuries, Wrights play and some antedotes as well as grades on Bills vs Saints.

PASSING OFFENSE: D

RUSHING OFFENSE: C-minus

PASS DEFENSE: D

RUSHING DEFENSE: C-minus

SPECIAL TEAMS: B

COACHING: C

22. Buffalo Bills (was 16): The offensive line is awful and Rob Johnson stunk up the place Sunday.

24. Bills (0-1) (was 23) New offense; old problems for sad-sack Johnson

They expect to announce a decision regarding Week 2 as soon as possible and within the next 24 hours.

It became clear to Carrier and agent Gary Wichard on Monday evening that a deal would not be struck. The Lions are expected to now pursue veteran safety Henry Jones, released by the Buffalo Bills last week.

The nationwide moratorium on air travel could keep Jones from getting to Detroit for a visit with Lions officials and coaches. Both starters, Ron Rice and Kurt Schulz, are currently sidelined. Schulz, an ex-Bill, is expected to miss at least half the season.

Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. received the Tailgating Champion "Best of the Best" award from the self-proclaimed Commissioner of Tailgating, Joe Cahn, last Sunday at the Bills home opener

On focus on Sunday:

"We spoke about that immediatley. Today’s practice is pretty trivial compared to what occured. We would be joking each other if we thought we could focus on what we had to do without distractions or what went on. As proud as I am to be a Buffalo Bill, I’m more proud to be a United States. We are, as an organization and as a team, more proud of doing of what we need to do for the nation right now."

The Bills, who had made such tremendous personnel changes in the offseason, I felt did suffer from that. Their QB was sacked five times, admittedly against one of the best defensive pass-rush teams in the league. I’ve never seen a game that changed so much from the first half to the second. Buffalo dominated the first half and then New Orleans just totally took over in the 2nd half. Ricky Williams finally began to show why they thought so highly of him. He had a great 2nd half. The Bills looked impressive early, but fell off.