Two Bills Drive

Tom Donahoe knows about salary cap problems. He knows about seasons sacrificed to the concept of salary cap repair, and about weathering the storm of criticism that accompanies self-imposed losing, and about somehow remaining firm and committed and hopeful of what a couple seasons of sacrifice will mean to the long-term health of the franchise.

When did you start wearing earplugs and why? – Dan (Dudley, MA)

“I learned it from Jeff Feagles my first season, preseason, with the Seahawks. He’s been doing it for years and he got me into it. I started doing it religiously over in Europe when I was over there (for the NFL Europe season) because they have very loud stadiums with all the noisemakers they use. I just feel like it helps me concentrate – block out the background noise – and let me focus on what my job is.”

The Ft. Lauderdale, FL-based Sports Fans of America Association, Inc. has awarded its 2002 NFL Sports Fan’s Quality Award to the Buffalo Bills as the league’s “Fan Friendliest” team.

‘Marty Schottenheimer doesn’t get back often, but he always thought fondly of Western New York. He enjoyed some of his best days playing football as a linebacker for the Buffalo Bills in the 1960s.’

‘Friends say he remains undecided. Bills officials have heard these rumblings before and won’t give them much credence until they hear it from Van the Man himself.’

‘Quarterback Drew Bledsoe was elected Bills Man of the Year, fullback Larry Centers earned Unsung Hero, receiver Josh Reed was named Rookie of the Year, and the trio of Mike Hollis, Brian Moorman and Sammy Morris will be honored as Special Teams Players of the Year.’

‘”It’s been a great transition coming in here,” he said. “The perception of Buffalo from the outside world is not real strong. You think it’s just a bunch of snow and nasty weather. But it’s really been great. This area is a very family-oriented place. People are friendly; they kind of leave you alone. It’s almost like playing in a college town. It’s not crowded. They support the team. The whole thing has been a good move for us all around.”‘

‘”So many times Buffalo is maligned because of the weather and things, but I always say the people there are special. Those fans are great. They were football-wild fans – and still are.”‘

‘Gilbride would love planting an uppercut on the Chargers. He doesn’t like to expand on it, but it’s obvious he’s still bitter about being dismissed in 1998 by then-general manager Bobby Beathard after 22 games.’

‘”It just doesn’t seem right that a coin flip should determine the outcome of the game. Guys are fighting, playing hard and if a team returns a kickoff, the other team should at least get the opportunity to match it. Once they have that opportunity and lose, I don’t have a problem with it being sudden death. You can’t play forever. But it seems to me that would be a more fair system.”‘

‘”As much as I love those players and the people in that organization, I’m a Charger now, and we’re coming there to try and play the Bills well and hopefully get a win.”

The Bills playoff hopes were dashed last week in New England, they now have to rely on pride the rest of the way. It starts with a chance to put a crimp into the playoff hopes of former GM John Butler when the San Diego Chargers come to Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday.

Nate Clements felt the Bills played the best this year when the players were reacting on instinct, rather than adhering to the stringent functions of a system.

San Diego (+3) at Buffalo: Peerless Price needs a new agent. Why aren’t we seeing him on a billion holiday ads? Hi, I’m Peerless Price and you can find me at . . . whatever. The big-ticket stereo store. AOL. The auto agency. The Chia Pet boutique. Somewhere selling Something. Pick: Chargers.

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Bills: Up With basically no tiebreakers, things didn’t look very good for the Bills even before Sunday. Well, after Sunday they look even worse. At 6-7, the Bills now trail eight teams (they’re behind the Ravens based on conference record) in the wild-card race. That’s just way too many teams to pass.