Archives for August 31, 2000

‘"We don’t need to discuss the details of that but I am pretty sure (the Bills) circled this game on their schedule," [Titans running back Eddie] George said on a conference call. "It’s going to be a great challenge. "I expect a hostile environment. I think we are all expecting that going up into Buffalo, especially the way it did end."’

‘[Titans Coach Jeff] Fisher doesn’t think Phillips’ refusual to accept the legality of the lateral as crying sour grapes. "It’s just his opinion of the play," he said. "I often put myself in coach Phillips’ shoes and can only imagine how Wade feels after the way his team played, doing what it took to win that game, the expectations they had as a team, and have it end like that. I can only begin to understand how he feels."’

‘I learned what it’s like to be as high as a kite and as low as the grass you walk on," says Dyson, who will start at wide receiver Sunday night against the Bills in the teams’ NFL season opener at Ralph Wilson Stadium. "This is going to sound strange, but the way that Super Bowl ended made me feel the way the Bills must have felt after we beat them the way we did.’

‘Backup quarterback Doug Flutie, expected to be out of action at least the first three games, participated briefly in throwing drills yesterday and said if there was a quarterback emergency Sunday, he could play. "It’s not 100 percent, but if you want a percentage it’s somewhere around 90," Flutie said of his torn groin. "I’ve played a lot of games more hurt than I am right now." Flutie said it was very unlikely that coach Wade Phillips would activate him as the third-string quarterback for the game because the team does not want to rush him back into action and risk further injury.’

‘Quarterback Doug Flutie, who practiced in pads on Wednesday for the first time in almost a month, says his torn groin muscle feels “90 percent” healthy. Despite Flutie’s faster-than-expected recovery, he won’t play Sunday in the Buffalo Bills’ season opener against the Tennessee Titans. “He won’t be ready for this game, but he’s coming along fast,” coach Wade Phillips said.’

‘Quarterback Rob Johnson says he’s still the same hard-throwing, laid-back kid from Southern California. His Buffalo Bills teammates beg to differ, noting he’s grown in poise and confidence as the team prepares for Sunday’s season-opener against the Tennessee Titans. "He’s shown maturity. He’s shown that he’s ready to lead the ballclub. He’s shown that he’s the guy this year," Bills linebacker Sam Cowart said Wednesday. "Once the season gets underway, we get a couple of wins and he proves to the fans, himself and to the team that he’s our quarterback, I think there won’t be so much of a quarterback controversy. "It’ll be Rob’s show."’