Two Bills Drive

‘"When you’re told that Doug Flutie, after the first mini-camp, is terrible and send him back to Canada, you fight those battles. When you’re told Eric Moulds is a bust, and let’s cut our losses, you fight those battles. You fight ’em until you’ve had enough. The same with Antowain Smith. There’s a long, long list of names. I’ll give you three, not 43."’

‘So when asked to predict the winner of today’s Buffalo-San Diego game, pitting Johnson’s Bills against Flutie’s Chargers, he politely played it right down the middle. "Shoot, I don’t know. I couldn’t pick ’em when I was coaching them," Phillips says by phone from Texas, letting out a chuckle. "I just don’t think you can tell. I know and like people on both sides so that’s the good thing for me. It doesn’t matter who I pull for, one is going to win."’

‘I don’t know what’s been most nauseating about this No-Longer-So-Great Quarterback Debate: Rob Johnson’s inability to take the high road in the fray; the fanatics who think Doug can walk on Flutie Flakes without crushing them, or the thin-skinned members of the western New York media who believe Flutie should burn in hell because his huge ego rubbed them the wrong way.’

‘Travis Henry and the running game need to give Johnson some help. Johnson isn’t good enough to win this game with a one-dimensional passing attack, so he’ll need Henry to rip off chunks of yardage on the ground to keep the San Diego defense honest. Rattle Flutie and prevent him from getting into a comfort zone.’

The Bills had a scare Thursday when WR Eric Moulds rolled an ankle, but he returned to practice Friday and was fine. He participated in all of Friday’s drills. The Bills are expected to give backup WR Jeremy McDaniel another week to heal from his ankle injury. DE Phil Hansen says he will return after two missed games because of a dislocated elbow. He may not start, but he is expected to play. That will help the Bills run defense against San Diego. Jon Carman will start at right tackle for injured Jonas Jennings,who has a foot injury.

‘Bills quarterback Rob Johnson has a big fan in Riley. The two share a special relationship from their days together at USC. Johnson set numerous records there while Riley was the offensive coordinator. "Rob spent about every day in my office," Riley said. "He was a great guy to have around, and I really enjoyed coaching him. He was a heck of a kid."’

‘All Tomlinson has done is resurrect a Chargers’ running game that hasn’t produced a 1,000-yard rusher since 1994. He is the NFL’s fourth-leading rusher with 544 yards – more than any San Diego running back has gained in a season the last two years.’

‘He insists he had no arrangement in place with San Diego when Wilson fired him before the last game of the regular season in December. And he said it’s ludicrous to think any financial decisions were made without Wilson’s knowledge and consent.’

‘Henry was accused of having consensual sex with a 15-year-old girl in his home Sept. 23, authorities said. The girl, a runaway from the Hopevale residential facility for girls whom Henry had met at a Camp Road gas station, told Henry she was almost 18.’

‘”I came in as a second-round draft choice and I went to three Super Bowls right away,” Hansen said. “They (the Bills) have done nothing but treat me well, and I’ve given them an honest day’s work with the talent I’ve got. It’s been a good marriage.”‘

‘Yesterday’s practice was supposed to give linebacker Junior Seau a better idea of whether he’ll be able to play tomorrow against Buffalo. But after going through his second practice in as many days, Seau (strained groin) seemed no closer to having an answer.’

‘"I don’t have to face him," Johnson said of Flutie. "He’s not playing defence. Some of his fans probably think he can play defence, but no." Johnson’s problem, of course, is that few Buffalo fans believe he can play offence.’

‘"We’ve gone beyond ridiculous (on the Flutie-Johnson issue) a long time ago," he said with a sad smile.’

‘"He’s a great player, a great athlete, so you always like to watch him, but now the tables are turned. We have to go against him, I can’t be in awe of what he’s going to do next. The awe is over with, I know what he can do, now we have to stop it."’

‘With that in mind, tomorrow may provide the ultimate irony. Just as Ralph Wilson Stadium is sprinkled with Flutie supporters on any given Sunday, there will be a pro-Johnson faction of family, friends and fans at Qualcomm. Johnson is still remembered fondly in these parts for setting a number of passing records while at USC.’