Two Bills Drive

The Bills start the 1999 season with a visit to Indianapolis to play a dangerous Colts team.

TBD columnist, Eric Schweitz, takes a look at the kickoff of the new season – the Bills vs. the Colts!

‘The reason the running game has been lagging is more a matter of preseason strategy than missed blocks, blown assignments and aching muscles, according to Smith. “We haven’t opened up the whole offensive package because we don’t want to show teams what we’re going to be doing in the games,” he said. “We’re limited to three or four runs that we’re trying to execute.”‘

‘The three are fullback Brian Edwards, running back Lennox Gordon and wide receiver Jeremy McDaniel, the team said Tuesday. They were among 13 players cut by the Bills on Sunday. Teams are allowed to keep as many as five extra players for their practice squads.’

‘”It’s nice. They’re my proteges,” Reed says of Moulds and Price. “It’s a sense of accomplishment for me. I try to set an example for everybody here. As far as receivers go, as a veteran, as a leader on the team for a lot of years, you take that upon yourself to be an example. When it comes down to it, the younger guys are going to look up to us veterans. We didn’t stay around this long not knowing what we’re doing.”‘

19. Buffalo Bills $326,000,000

‘Bills coach Wade Phillips knows why Carpenter is getting ready for the Bills’ season opener at Indianapolis on Sunday and not looking for a job. “He makes plays for us,” said Phillips, who was impressed with the way Carpenter managed to zero in on the ball with special teams and in the defensive backfield. “He caught my eye a lot, and he deserves to be on this team.”‘

‘”When we first announced the creation of the NFL THIS MORNING, we made clear our commitment to having outstanding talent in studio. Hiring Marv Levy is a key step in that direction,” said Terenzio who, along with FSN executive vice president programming and production Arthur Smith, will serve as executive producers for NFL THIS MORNING. “Marv’s years of experience and track record as a winner place him in an elite class among NFL coaches. We’re thrilled to have him on board for both the pregame show and for FOX SPORTS NEWS.”‘

‘Levy wound up as a runner-up in four Super Bowls when he was handling the Buffalo Bills, not that that diminished him, in my thinking. His team taught us something about gallantry, about striving and failing and coming back to strive and fail some more. That was the Bills’ triumph and it was all of ours.’

‘But Gray’s departure didn’t surprise veteran running back Thurman Thomas.

“You don’t always see everything when you’re watching the game from the outside,” Thomas said. “A guy might not be playing as well in practice as he is in a game. (Gray) made a lot of mistakes and that might have cost him.”‘

‘The biggest surprise in that group was Gray, who had 156 yards on 43 carries with two touchdowns while averaging four yards per attempt during preseason. He seemed to have secured a roster spot in Saturday night’s 16-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. In fact, with 50 yards on 10 carries plus a 36-yard run that was wiped out by a holding penalty, it appeared Gray, a free agent from Western New Mexico, might have moved ahead of fumble-prone Jonathan Linton on the depth chart. Also surprising was the waiving of McDaniel, who had eight receptions and a touchdown catch during the preseason.’

‘It was expected that the Bills would keep five running backs, and after Smith, Thomas, Jonathan Linton and Sam Gash, Gray appeared to be head and shoulders above the other candidates in training camp. And he very well might have been, but coach Wade Phillips decided to keep only the four running backs.’

‘Doug Flutie will be the 13th different season-opening starting quarterback in the 40-year history of the Buffalo Bills…The only ones to win their first start were Flores, Ferguson and Collins. Their overall opening-week record is 17-22.’