Two Bills Drive

‘"I always knew Jim was cut out to be a coach," said Fred Smerlas, Haslett’s former running mate with the Bills. "Jim has one of the big intangibles you need to be a great head coach: He’s not afraid to cut anyone’s throat and leave ’em for dead."’

‘Here’s a theoretical Plan C the Bills could face. If Christie can’t kick this week and the Bills don’t want to cut a positional player they could decide to cut Christie and agree to re-sign him next week after the Saints game. Any other team could claim Christie if he got cut. However, being a vested veteran, Christie does not have to go to a team that claims him. He would have his choice to sign anywhere.’

‘In order to prepare for the Bills, McCarthy had his offense watch 10 Tennessee game tapes from last season. The Bills apparently showed little of their "46" defense during the preseason, forcing the Saints, in McCarthy’s words, "to chase a bunch of ghosts" while preparing a game plan.’

‘Buffalo coach Gregg Williams says Jennings will hold his own. Williams compares him to defensive end Jevon Kearse, whom Williams coached as defensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans. "He does some things down the field, some second-effort things that are like Jevon," Williams said of Jennings. "He has a lot of ability, and he has been grasping things quickly and playing at a high level. I really think he’ll be a rising star in this league."’

‘"You guys can use whatever expression you want to use. All we know is that we want to win football games and I’m pretty damn sure the coaches are planning to win football games," Fina spat. "They don’t give a s— if you say rebuilding or not, we’re going out there to win a f—— game and that’s all there is to it."’

‘Johnson is fully aware of the "fragile" tag he’s been labeled with and the legion of Flutie fans who were upset when the new Bills management opted for the former USC star over the ex-CFL great, but said he’s confident he can prove his detractors wrong.’

‘The frown Andre Reed left Buffalo with 19 months ago very likely will be replaced with a smile today when the former Bills great announces his retirement from the NFL as a member of the Bills.’

‘That a whopping 11 of 12 draft picks this year made the roster, not because they are all good players, but because they earn the least money.’

‘Donahoe and Haslett talk several times a week. But they haven’t conversed this week. "This week," Donahoe joked, "I hate him."’

‘DiMaria said fans who signed up for the trip have expressed as much dislike for Johnson as love for their man Flutie. "One little old lady came in here and said, ‘Rob Johnson is a China doll! He’s a China doll!’ " said DiMaria, who will escort the group along with her brother, R.J.’

‘Bills fans and media are talking about the over/under on how many weeks/quarters/minutes it will take for oft-injured quarterback Rob Johnson to limp out of a game.’

‘Andre Reed, Buffalo’s leading career receiver and a key member of the four Bills teams that went to four straight Super Bowls in the 1990s, has called a news conference for Saturday where he is expected to announce his retirement. The news conference is scheduled for noon at the Bills’ headquarters in Orchard Park.’

‘The team must decide by 4 p.m. whether to activate newly acquired kicker Jake Arians from the practice squad to replace Christie.’

‘How good is Sam Cowart? Buffalo Bills coach Gregg Williams thinks the Pro Bowl linebacker is so good he could line up just about anywhere on the field and still be a star. "A football player is a football player. Make no mistake about that," Williams said. "And guys with his ability, we can put his hand down as a rush nickel end and he’ll do well there. You can play him at strong safety. Unless you have somebody with blazing speed, he’d line up and do that. That’s the measure of what a really, really good player’s about."’

‘The Gregg Williams Show, presented by Galyans, will premiere at 11:30 a.m. Sunday on Ch. 29. The 30-minute show is hosted by long-time Bills long-snapper Adam Lingner. Traci Buch, of WOKR, will host a player segment and Larry Centers will give a view from the backfield each week.’