Two Bills Drive

‘He’s been good — even great — before. But never was he this good for this long. Why? "Because he’s gotten off his (butt) and probably gotten himself in a little better shape," theorized Paul Zimmerman of Sports Illustrated. "Guys like him. They don’t think he’s a chicken (expletive). I don’t think there’s a secret formula. He decided he’s at a crossroads. He could either let it go down the dumper or make something of the situation."’

‘Otis Smith, who has handled that job for the Patriots for the last three years, continues to have problems with an arm injury, coach Bill Belichick said yesterday. Smith is listed as questionable on the injury report, meaning he has a 50 percent chance of playing Sunday in Buffalo. Belichick indicated Smith would have problems trying to play in his current condition.’

‘"It’s totally different," Moulds said. "He gives you the freedom to say what you feel, but when it’s time for him to talk and call the play, it’s totally quiet [in the huddle]. Back in the day, last year, everyone was arguing and fussing. Give me an opportunity to make a play for you, and it’s fun."’

‘The Patriots are going to have a hard time slowing down these two even if Smith plays, but it’ll be no picnic if Antwan Harris, Ben Kelly or Terrell Buckley has to start in his place.’

‘"I played against Travis in college and he was a good back in college and he’s even better now," said defensive lineman Richard Seymour, who graduated from Georgia two years ago. "He adds another dimension to their offense, he’s a quick slashing runner. They don’t run him that much, but when he runs they’re effective."’

‘”For me, it’s even more important to manage my emotions going into a game like this because I’m not a linebacker,” Bledsoe said. “I don’t get to run over people and take out my aggression that way. So I’ll do everything I can, everything in my power, to be calm and cool and just have fun with it.”‘

‘Although they have played better of late, Buffalo ranks in the lower half of the league in most defensive categories. Controlling the ball with the help of some effective work by Smith could help the Patriots keep the Bills’ potent offense on the sideline.’

‘There is not a more jacked-up, emotion-driven place to be this week.’

‘Not only has Bledsoe had a Most Valuable Player-type season on the field, but he also has become more of a vocal leader in the locker room.’

‘In Belichick’s defense, there weren’t a lot of teams interested in Bledsoe. Which tells you all you need to know about the incompetence that’s running rampant in a lot of NFL front offices. The Cowboys preferred Quincy Carter to Bledsoe. The Bengals preferred Jon Kitna and Gus Frerotte. The Seahawks preferred Trent Dilfer.’

‘Hey, at least we have some honest emotion here, not some phony, “Oh, everything’s OK.”‘

‘In 19 years of coaching University of Utah receivers, Fred Graves worked with some outstanding players and strong personalities: Kevin Dyson, Steve Smith, Bryan Rowley, Cliff Russell and others. None of them quite prepared him for Eric Moulds and Peerless Price.’

‘The 60-year-old former player for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills received a transplant at New York Presbyterian Hospital on Sept. 11, 2001, the day terrorists crashed two planes into the World Trade Center.’

‘”It’s like competing against your brother,” Bledsoe says. “When you’re playing against somebody that you’ve gone to war with, that you’ve battled with over the years, you’re going to want to win. … A lot of those guys are still my friends. If we lose the game, I’m going to hear about it all year. That’s the big motivator.”‘

‘Bledsoe realized the situation and rolled with the punches. The fans did their part, too. When Bledsoe left, there wasn’t a mass outcry of “don’t let the door hit you on the way out.” As much as they loved and admired Brady, they hated to see Bledsoe go.’