Two Bills Drive

‘The Texans’ search for a quarterback remains up in the air as the team awaits a decision from Rob Johnson, who seemed all but signed, sealed and delivered a few days ago. Johnson is the Texans’ first choice, but general manager Charley Casserly isn’t going to wait on his decision much longer. Chris Chandler, who spent the past five seasons with the Falcons, appears to be the top fallback option, and former Saints quarterback Jeff Blake’s name has begun to resurface although Blake has said he’s leaning toward Buffalo.’

‘"By them bringing me in as their first free agent visit, it showed me they really wanted me," Fletcher said. "Coach Williams looked me in the eye and I saw his passion for having me here. It would have been hard-pressed for any of those other teams to sell me on their organization."’

‘”I just thought it was time to move on,” said Fletcher, a 26-year-old who won a Super Bowl with the Rams two years ago and played in their 20-17 loss to the New England Patriots last month. “My gut told me that I had done everything I could accomplish in St. Louis.”‘

@ Buchsbaum: The Bills, who needed an impact LB to replace injury-prone Cowart, signed former Rams LB London Fletcher. Fletcher can be a very effective player if the tackles in front of him keep him free. He?s extremely active and runs very well and has good instincts. However, at times he will gamble too much and take himself out of position. He has some hot dog in him and is a very aggressive player who will take some dumb penalties. He also likes to call attention to himself.

@ A scouting report on Fletcher from the view of a avid Rams fan.

Shout’s Mike Doser has inside info on new uniforms.

‘Where have you been and where are you heading? This is my first visit. I am headed to Chicago this afternoon and scheduled for Pittsburgh on Monday.’

‘"This is a true football town and I am thrilled to death about getting involved in the community and just becoming a true Buffalonian."’

‘"I know there’s not a lot of difference between winning and losing," he said, noting the Rams were 4-12 in his rookie year, 1998 and went to the Super Bowl the next season. "That year we were fortunate to get Marshall Faulk and a couple of other free agents. I hope we can get some other free agents excited about coming here."’

‘"I was a leader in St. Louis," he said. "I considered myself a leader from the moment I stepped into the locker room. I was captain of the special teams as a rookie. You don’t have many guys who come in and be a captain as a rookie. I don’t have a problem with being the leader."’

‘That’s what you have to like about the 5′-10" Fletcher, who wasn’t even drafted. He has a MOTOR, and Donahoe LOVES players with MOTORS. They don’t need fancy pep talks, they don’t take plays off. That’s London Fletcher, who led the Rams in tackles three years running. He also doesn’t come off the field on passing downs, and in fact, had six interceptions over the past two seasons.’

‘Now if linebacker Sam Cowart can return from a lost year as the human wrecking ball he was for Jets defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell during two standout seasons in Buffalo, the Jets landed the steal of this free-agent class yesterday.’

Fletcher has discussed what assistance the team’s community relations department can offer in setting up inner city scholarships both in Buffalo and his Hometown of Cleveland.

‘Combined with a high left ankle sprain suffered at the end of his 2000 Pro Bowl season, Cowart has played just one half of football in the past 20 games. But he said that has taken away none of his play-making ability. "Most definitely, the impact is still there," he said. "Right now I’m 95 to 97 percent. The Jets told me this is no rush issue, we don’t play until September, we’ll bring you along slow."’

‘He is a fireplug-shaped tackling machine who starred on the Rams’ defense the last three seasons. His nickname is "dot.com" because, as he likes to say, he’s always on line to make the tackle.’