Two Bills Drive

‘”To have a chance to open the season against (the Bills) is something I’m looking forward to. It’s my first time to play against guys I love as friends … Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith, Ted Washington, guys that are left from when I was there.”‘

‘”Flutie is smart and has the ability to elude the pressure to make a play. And that is what makes him special. His decision-making is very good. He gets rid of the ball quickly, so he’s not going to get sacked much,” Phillips said. “Manning does that, too.”‘

‘”It is exciting, because it’s the beginning of another season. Thirteen years, whoever thought I’d be playing 13 years in the NFL,” Bennett said. “I’m excited about playing Buffalo … getting a chance to play against guys that I love as friends.”‘

‘Some might say that neither Reed nor Bruce Smith would be missed now that receiver Eric Moulds is emerging as a superstar, and defensive end Marcellus Wiley has proved more than capable. But the Bills say they would be lost without the Super Bowl veterans.’

Sal Maiorana previews the Bills-Colts and also has this to say:

FEARLESS FORECAST

Doug Flutie is not going to take the big dip that many people are predicting this season. Opposing teams now have more video on Flutie to study, but the bottom line is that this guy knows how to play the game. Whatever defenses throw at him, he’ll find a way to exploit it. He may not be as dynamic as last year, but that’s only because it will be tough to top last year.

He actually picked the Colts to win.

‘Flutie, 36, was rewarded with a huge contract, thus giving Buffalo two signal callers (backup Rob Johnson is the other) with starting-quarterback salaries. The downside of this was that the Bills couldn’t afford to make a peep in the offseason free agent market, and therefore are pretty much the same team they were a season ago.’

4. Buffalo Bills 6-10

‘Buffalo Bills Outlook: Like Miami, the key rests with the ground game. Team officials showed their concern with RB Antowain Smith by unsuccessfully pursuing free agent Lawrence Phillips. Without a solid rushing attack, an early playoff exit looms.’

‘For the few remaining skeptics who figured the phenonenom known as Flutiemania would die off during the off-season, the exact opposite has transpired. Less than a year after the six-time Canadian Football League MVP returned to the NFL in relative anonymity as the backup quarterback of the Buffalo Bills, America’s love affair with Flutie has continued to swell.’

‘BILLS (10-6): Can Magic Man Doug Flutie do it again? Why not? C has been upgraded now that Jerry Ostroski has been moved there from RT, where hulking Robert Hicks takes over, and rook Peerless Price looks like nice third receiver, freeing up Kevin Williams for KOR and PR duties. And WR Eric Moulds is super. Antowain Smith and Thurman Thomas led third-best rushing attack last year. Rook CB Antoine Winfield will shadow slot receivers (Wayne Chrebet) and shore up third-down pass defense. DE Bruce Smith can still rush QB and NT Ted Washington and LBs John Holocek and Sam Cowart can stuff run.’

‘The Colts will open the season with an encouraging, 31-20, victory.’

‘The Bills had the NFL’s third-ranked rushing offense last season (135.1 ypg). But more telling than the raw numbers is Buffalo’s commitment to the run. Despite the passing options provided by quarterback Doug Flutie and wide receivers Eric Moulds and Andre Reed, the Bills rushed a league-high 531 times in 1998. “Buffalo has the mentality to just pound you if they want to,” Fangio said.’

‘Apparently big bucks don’t guarantee thick skin. Throughout the preseason Phillips handled his two pricey quarterbacks like a pair of fragile Little Leaguers, granting them equal status on the depth chart as co-starters. But Johnson, the oft-sacked former USC star who fires bullets, but sometimes wanders into trouble, knew the score. “It’s Doug’s town and Doug’s team,” Johnson said, “until something happens.”‘

‘”I went to see the doctor yesterday and he said it would be in my best interest to sit down for this week,” Panos said. “But they all agreed if I absolutely had to play and there were no other guards here, I would play. “I don’t like the situation, but there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m going to listen to them.”‘