Two Bills Drive

‘The one encouraging aspect of an otherwise awful year has been the performance of several young players with whom the Bills will build their future.’

‘"Losing always makes it seems longer and tougher," linebacker Mark Simoneau said. "You have to focus. . . . And keep grinding."’

‘Lately, teams have had surprises for the Falcons, and they haven’t adjusted well. They’d better today. The Bills have lost five games by a touchdown or less.’

”’Each week he plays more confidently,” said Buffalo coach Gregg Williams. ”As we get better around him, we think you’ll see more plays and bigger plays because he has the ability to take more risks. He’s more than a pure cover-corner kind of guy. He’s a guy who can play in the run front and do some special things there.”’

‘In 1999, Winfield, who has played professional football for three years after a collegiate career at Ohio State, gave Yetts $1.35 million to put in the stock market for his retirement and his children’s education, among other things, the SEC said. Instead, Yetts used some of the money to pay country club dues, credit card bills, student loans and insurance premiums, alleged the SEC, which is seeking to have him repay investors and pay a fine.’

‘Former Ohio State University football star Antoine Winfield and 13 others lost $1.8 million in a fraudulent investment scheme devised by a former OSU wrestling champ, federal regulators alleged in a lawsuit yesterday.’

‘Winfield was solid before this season. Clements’ emergence this year makes a tandem that could be together for years.’

‘Of course, at 2-11, the Bills can give themselves an early present with a win over Atlanta tomorrow.’

‘Leaks on the offense and defense have been the main story line in the Falcons’ 6-7 season, which continues Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. They overshadow what has been a noteworthy performance by the special teams, coached by Joe DeCamillis.’

‘Mohr called the Bills "a great organization," although he was perturbed by how it ended. Mohr said no one from the new management team, led by president and general manager Tom Donahoe, called to tell him he was getting cut. He found out when a reporter called for his reaction. "I guess different strokes for different folks," Mohr said. "That’s the way some people are."’

‘But perhaps most telling is not how many times Johnson was sacked, but how infrequently Van Pelt has been since he took over.’

‘Buffalo’s most famous game in Atlanta wasn’t against the Falcons, but the Dallas Cowboys, as the Georgia Dome was the site of Super Bowl XXVIII. Unfortunately for the Bills, the fourth time to the Super Bowl wasn’t the charm, as a 13-6 halftime lead over the Cowboys evaporated when James Washington returned Jim Kelly’s fumble to tie the game, and game MVP Emmitt Smith ran for a pair of touchdowns as Dallas won their second straight Super Bowl title at the expense of the Bills.’

"But at the same time, Chris Chandler’s doing what he can do with that offense, throwing the ball, moving it around, but they haven’t had Jamal Anderson in there to give them the running game they need, and they miss that. They’re not running the ball like they would like to."

‘Clements, who supplanted Ken Irvin in the starting lineup by Buffalo’s fifth game against Jacksonville, has teamed with Antoine Winfield to give the Bills one of the better cornerback duos in the league.’

‘"It’s been emotional; there have been a lot of dark nights," said Anderson, injured Sept. 30 on the opening drive of the 34-14 victory at Arizona. "You turn those things into the fire that gets you back on the field. Watching it slip away, when you can’t participate . . . it’s almost like watching your family get robbed and you can’t do anything about it."’