Two Bills Drive

‘One National Football League team official said yesterday that there are at least eight teams interested in Flutie, including the San Diego Chargers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Washington Redskins.’

‘Wiley very soon will not only sign the biggest contract ever for a former Columbia University football player, but he could get the biggest contract in the free agent class of ’01, checking in at around $50 million.’

‘Finding himself on the other side of a sack for a change, Rob Johnson yesterday had a chance to celebrate. Instead, the survivor of the Buffalo Bills quarterback controversy resisted sniping at former teammate Doug Flutie.’

‘"I wish you guys knew the total situation of how divided the team was and how mentally draining it can be," Johnson said. "I mean, coaches were taking sides, it was that bad. "Guys would come out of meetings and they’d say, ‘Boy, they really bad mouthed you in there and they’re rooting for the other guy.’"’

‘Flutie, released by the Buffalo Bills Wednesday in favor of Rob Johnson, told WCMF’s Brother Wease "the only thing that really ticked me off is the perception that Rob beat me out — that’s he’s better than me."’

‘Running back Antowain Smith survived the Buffalo Bills’ final roster purge of players to meet yesterday’s NFL’s salary cap deadline. Linebacker Sam Rogers wasn’t so lucky.’

‘Now, once more, he is available to any team that wants to win. He knows he can, if only they would let him.’

The Chargers and Bills made QB decisions …

CNNSI.com puts them in historical perspective.

Sports fans love to reminisce over the days when it all went wrong: the wasted draft pick, the tragic trade or the defecting hero. These may not be, by definition, the worst roster moves ever made, but they were the ones that affected us on a personal level. These are the events that caused — and still cause — us to sit on our bar stools and lament the cruel twists of life.

‘Johnson has not endeared himself to many fans because of his knack for getting injured. He was knocked out of nine of 19 starts with the Bills. Some of that was attributed to his maddening habit of holding the ball to long, which resulted in far too many sacks.’

‘Rogers, who was to make more than $6.3 million next season, was cut along with long-snapper Ethan Albright. Also gone are safety Daryl Porter and cornerback Ray Hill, restricted free agents who were not tendered offers.’

‘"Doug Flutie’s going to have fans when he’s 60 years old. He’s that type of guy," Johnson said. "My job is to win football games. The people of Buffalo will respect that when we win."’

‘Flutie may have been 21-9 as a starter for the Bills, but Johnson (7-11 in 18 starts) is much taller. And you know how important that is…’

To most of Rob’s female fans it is!

‘President and General Manager, Tom Donahoe, said on WNSA that OLB Sam Rogers has been released and the Bills are now under the cap.’

‘"Doug’s a free agent now, that’s an upside," said Flutie’s brother, Darren, last night. "He has options. But nobody likes rejection. And that’s what they said to Doug. We don’t want you in Buffalo.’

‘The release of Natick’s Doug Flutie from the Buffalo Bills struck a chord with many MetroWest residents who pointed out the NFL franchise flourished under the 38-year-old quarterback&’s leadership.’