Two Bills Drive

‘Buffalo rode Doug Flutie all the way to the playoffs – after opening the season 0-3. The Bills became just the fifth team in NFL history to lose its first three and rebound to make the postseason. Flutie stepped in for an injured Rob Johnson and never relinquished the job, winning seven of 10 starts down the stretch. Despite that performance, Flutie is by no means

guaranteed a starting role all season – Johnson owns a $25 million contract and he doesn’t figure to just concede his spot.’

‘The starters on offense and defense are expected to play at least the first half, and perhaps into the third quarter if one group doesn’t get enough work in the first 30 minutes. Doug Flutie will start at quarterback, Rob Johnson will likely take over at the start of the third quarter, and Alex Van Pelt may see action late in the fourth quarter.’

Don’t read this. Buffalo doesn’t even get a mention. This is for your “Sports Experts to Serve Crow in December” bookmark folder.

’13. BUFFALO BILLS…Outlook: The Bills are counting on more miracles from quarterback Doug Flutie, and it could happen. The Bills have tried to build some depth, and they have some good young players like WR Eric Moulds and RB Antowain Smith. And don’t forget that guy at defensive end — Bruce Smith, who at 36 can still make big plays.’

‘The Bills had a good draft. Watch for Peerless Price to settle under some long throws from the revitalized Doug Flutie, and for cornerback Antoine Winfield’s big-time hits. They also have a good blend of top youngsters (Moulds, guard Ruben Brown, linebacker Sam Cowart) to go with a strong array of vets. There’s no lack of leadership here.’

‘”I’m just a lot more relaxed this year,” Flutie says. “I have the same intensity and the same attitude about it. I’ve always that had that drive and desire to be as good as I can be and win and all that. But I’m just so much more comfortable with the whole surroundings, locker room, guys in the locker room, on the field, the offence. It’s just a much more relaxed situation for me.”‘

‘”I play the best I can,” said Hansen, beginning his ninth year in Buffalo. “If recognition comes, great. If it doesn’t, play harder.”‘

‘”My father is a very sick man,” Smith said. “His condition is very serious.”‘

‘”We knew by mid-season last year he was ready to take the position over and by the end of the year we were probably using him more than Lonnie,” said tight ends coach Max Bowman. “By the end of the year there were things we found we could do with him where he was more versatile than Lonnie. There were games where he had more snaps than Lonnie because we were doing things that were more conducive to his ability and not to Lonnie’s.”‘

‘Bruce Smith will miss tomorrow night’s home preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers to spend time with his gravely ill father in Virginia…Right guard Joe Panos won’t play either. He missed another day of practice yesterday, and coach Wade Phillips said Panos traveled to have his neck examined by a specialist, though Phillips did not specify where Panos went or whom he saw.’

‘”Sure I’d like to go to the Pro Bowl,” Hansen admitted. “But I play defensive end on running downs and defensive tackle on passing downs. “I don’t know if that helps me or hurts me. But any good defensive end is judged on his sack numbers, not on his consistency or how he plays the run. To be recognized you need well over 10 sacks.” Of the focus on Smith, he added, “Notoriety brings notoriety. If you look at Bruce Smith you end up looking at all the cogs … and I’m one of the cogs.”‘

‘Throughout professional sport, teams are built and dismantled with such frequency and speed that players often don’t even get to know their teammates. If the Bills are successful this year, it will strike a blow for a concept long since considered an anachronism: Continuity.’