Two Bills Drive

‘The truth is Lucas played well enough during the exhibition season while Fiedler was absent after hip surgery that a debate could have begun about who deserved the starting job at the start of the season. If an underlying dissenting current did exist, Lucas wasn’t part of it. He expressed belief in his own ability — and said he considers himself capable of being a starter — but always called it Fiedler’s position.’

‘He is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against Buffalo, and wide receiver coach Robert Ford said the wrist is not broken but there is ligament damage.’

‘"Ray was a perfect fit for Bill Parcells," said Buffalo quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who will face his former New England teammate when the Bills visit Pro Player Stadium on Sunday. "Bill just absolutely loved the guy. He would do whatever he could to get noticed on film to make a play. He would always find a way to show up and that’s really what kept him around. And he was not one to shy away from saying something about it, too. Parcells liked that as much as anything."’

‘Fiedler is expected to miss at least six weeks and will be in the cast for a month. Depending on how quickly he rehabilitates the injury, he could be ready Nov. 24 against San Diego.’

‘”We have a lot of confidence in Ray Lucas. Probably as much as he has in himself,” Miami Dolphins left guard Jamie Nails said.’

‘Lucas, who was 6-3 in nine starts for the New York Jets in 1999, will bring a much different kind of energy to the Dolphins’ huddle. Whereas Fiedler is known for being calm and not letting his emotions show, Lucas is more like the Tasmanian Devil.’

‘Coach Dave Wannstedt said there is a possibility injured wide receivers Chris Chambers and Oronde Gadsden could play this week, but just in case the Miami Dolphins will hold a tryout for four or five receivers on Friday.’

‘Ward says Lucas exudes a positive attitude that knows few limits. “Sometimes he makes the play, sometimes he doesn’t,” Ward said. “But he’s never going to let you think he can’t make a play.”‘

”’In order to get into the middle of this thing, we’ve got to beat a good team, and the Dolphins are playing as well as any team in the league right now.”’

”’Everybody in this locker room makes me feel like I belong here,” he said. ”I won’t let them down.”’

‘Dolphins receiver Oronde Gadsden might miss the rest of the season after spraining his left wrist last weekend against the Broncos. He was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against Buffalo.’

Shane Conlan, who was voted to the Pro Bowl three times during his six years with the Bills retired after the ’95 season, enjoying a nine-year career. Why did he find success in the NFL?

‘ Buffalo Bills running back Shawn Bryson will be sidelined indefinitely after having surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee Wednesday. Bryson, who missed his rookie season in 1999 with torn ligaments in the same knee, was injured in Sunday’s 31-24 win at Houston.’

Bills running back Travis Henry has been selected as the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in last week’s win at Houston.

Starting offensive tackle Mike Williams, the fourth player selected in last April's NFL Draft, is listed as doubtful with a hamstring injury for Sunday's game at Miami and backup running back Shawn Bryson is ruled out with a knee injury. Williams was hurt in the first quarter of Buffalo's 31-24 win at Houston on Sunday.