Two Bills Drive

‘Charles Schumer has thrown down the chicken wing in defense of Buffalo. Our senior senator took umbrage Monday when he heard Jay Leno joke that the best way to punish the five men arrested last week on terrorism charges is to let them die of boredom there. Jumping to the snowy city’s defense, Schumer has invited the Boston chin to the Nov. 3 Bills-Patriots game. The challenge: If the Bills win, Leno tapes a show in Buffalo. If they lose, he and his band get a bucket of Buffalo’s fabled chicken wings. Alas, the comic is scheduled to perform in Minneapolis that day. But Leno assures us, “I’ve been to Buffalo many times and I actually like it, especially during the two summer days when it is actually warm.”‘

‘The OHS football prgram will receive a check for $1,000 from NFL Charities and the Bills’ Youth Foundation. Coach Kane will receive a certificate signed by President/GM Tom Donahoe and head coach Gregg Williams and he will be a guest of the Bills on Sunday, Dec. 15 for the game against San Diego, where he will participate in pre-game ceremonies on he field with all 11 weekly winners. A “Coach of the Year” will be announced on that date as well.’

‘”Every penny counts,” Kelly said. “I don’t care what it is. It’s good that people are here are willing to lend a hand and support us.” It’s all part of Kelly’s crusade. All in the name of Hunter.’

Reed finished with 41.4% of the 32,847 total votes and received more than twice as many votes as the nearest competitor. The other four finalists and their final vote percentages were Carolina DE Julius Peppers (18.2%), San Diego LB Ben Leber (also 18.2%), New Orleans WR Donte Stallworth (13.0%) and NY Giants TE Jeremy Shockey (8.7%).

‘The Broncos rushed for 201 yards against a good San Francisco defense in a 24-14 road win last Sunday. The Bills allowed 213 rushing yards in their overtime win at Minnesota.’

‘Hollis already has kicked three field goals from beyond 50 yards in the first two weeks, tying the team record for most 50-yard-plus kicks in a season. Steve Christie booted three in 1992 and ’99.’

‘"If you look historically at the teams that have won championships, they’ve had a good degree of balance," Bledsoe said on Wedne-sday. "Even the Rams with all their success, you look at what they’re actually doing and a lot of it is predicated on the fact that they’ve got a great threat at running back in Marshall Faulk."’

‘Teague was drafted by the Broncos, played his first four NFL seasons there, started 20 games and learned a ton. He doesn’t harbor ill will that Denver coach Mike Shanahan let him sign with the Bills as a free agent. Teague said it was difficult leaving. "Sure it was," he said. "I have friends there, I was comfortable, had a great coaching staff. Everything was difficult about it, but I just felt like my best decision was to come here."’

‘”If there’s a game where we playing against an offence that’s putting up some points,” Bledsoe said, “then we have to put the pedal to the metal and go get it.”‘

‘So it has gone for the madcap Bills. A coach’s nightmare, a spectator’s delight. Until Bledsoe’s arm falls off, that is.’

‘San Francisco and St. Louis have combined for 103 ground yards against Denver. Take away one 31-yard carry by the 49ers’ Reggie Barlow and a 15-yard tote by the Rams’ Marshall Faulk, and Denver has yielded only 57 yards on 31 carries – a 1.8 average.’

‘"This offense has a little bit more flexibility than what I’ve been in the past three, four years," Bledsoe said. "I have more flexibility to change things at the line of scrimmage, more flexibility in the routes and how I’m going to read things. It’s a good offense for me because it’s challenging . . . I’m having a lot of fun."’

‘Drew Bledsoe endured some tough times against the Broncos when he played for New England.’

‘For a short time after Denard Walker’s arrival in Denver before the 2001 season, the Broncos cornerback went through separation anxiety from his defensive backs coach with Tennessee, Jerry Gray. "Getting away from him was like a baby getting away from his mama," Walker said Wednesday. "It was a tough adjustment."’

‘The gaudiest statistic of the young NFL season, not counting Terrell Owens’ false starts, is this: The Broncos’ defense ranks first in the league against the run. If this doesn’t tell you what’s coming, you haven’t been paying attention. Or, possibly, you sit in the club section and haven’t left the bar in a while. The last time the Buffalo Bills played a team that could stop the run – Minnesota, for example, which ranks first in the NFC for some reason – Drew Bledsoe threw the ball 49 times.’