Two Bills Drive

‘Flutie continues to be beloved here in far greater degree than the Bills could have anticipated when they made the decision after last season that freed the quarterback to be acquired by the Chargers. Flutie is “the Magic Man.” He is the quarterback considered, literally, to have saved the Buffalo franchise. And the “Flutie Fanatics,” who are legion, won’t let anyone forget it.’

‘At 28, Johnson is in his seventh NFL season. If he is going to establish himself, he must do it soon. His failure would represent a major setback to the Bills’ rebuilding program. Should the team sever him, he would count $11.7 million next season against the team’s salary cap. In the event he is retained — by far the more likely circumstance — he still counts $5 million.’

‘The Chargers’ linebacker corps took another hit yesterday when backup Sam Rogers was forced from practice with an injured right hand. “Sam had a dislocated top joint in his thumb,” coach Mike Riley said. “James (Collins, the team’s trainer) wanted a doctor to look at it. The first indication was that it won’t slow him down being ready for the ballgame (Sunday vs. the Bills).”‘

‘San Diego’s No. 21 ranks fourth in the NFL in rushing with 544 yards in six games. And he’s the foundation of the ball-control attack Chargers offensive coordinator Norv Turner loves. The Chargers lead the NFL in time of possession, controlling the ball an average of 32 minutes, 34 seconds.’

‘"When I think of a 40-year-old man, I think of a guy who has put this part of his life behind him," he said. "But I don’t picture myself in that light. You’re as young as you feel, and right now I feel great."’

‘Doug Flutie was always about one thing. Doug Flutie.’

‘Reserve Jon Carman will be forced to start at right tackle because rookie starter Jonas Jennings is listed as doubtful with a sprained arch. Carman has the unenviable task of blocking ex-Bill Marcellus Wiley, the Chargers’ left defensive end. Carman was cut at the end of preseason, then signed to the Bills’ practice squad. He was added to the active roster just before the Pittsburgh game.’

‘Steve Tasker received some long-distance words of appreciation at the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony Wednesday in HSBC Arena. The former Buffalo Bills’ special teams standout was one of 11 inducted into the hall. Former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly introduced Tasker. Ex-teammates unable to make the festivities, including punter John Kidd and quarterback Frank Reich, sent their regards through the mail. Kidd didn’t get points for brevity, sending Tasker a four-page letter.’

"You could just see the emotions and the credibility of the Buffalo Bills come together at that point," says Jack Kemp, who quarterbacked the Bills to back-to-back AFL titles in 1964 and 1965 over the talented Chargers of coach Sid Gillman. "That hit and that win put Buffalo on the major league sports map."

"Rob did a great job of protecting himself. He did a phenomenal job of buying time with his feet, and that’s one of the positives in that ballgame, he has been buying himself time. Times when the protection has broken down, he’s found a way to still make a play. That’s good for our offense, and we need to continue doing that. Those are the most difficult quarterbacks to manage in a ballgame, the ones who can buy themselves time and turn a bad play into a good play, and he’s done that several times. Last week, he did it a lot."

"I don’t see most other quarterbacks in the league. I saw Mark [Brunell] last week because we’re pretty good friends, but that’s the only quarterback in five games that I’ve gone out and talked to."

‘"I’m off to a new beginning here in San Diego and it’s been a great situation here." It was uncertain what Flutie meant by "great." Great in that the Chargers are off to a 4-2 start and are in second place in the AFC West. Great in that he is the undisputed No. 1 quarterback of a NFL team for the first time in his career. Or great in that he no longer has to spar with his favorite foil, Rob Johnson.

In order, the answers are probably yes, yes and yes.’

‘Ostroski said yesterday X-rays of his leg show the fracture has healed, so he has begun conditioning and thinks he can return within 2-3 weeks. There is an outside chance he could play Nov. 4 against Indianapolis.’

‘The former Argo talks respectfully of his former teammates and fans in Buffalo. But when the subject of Bills owner Ralph Wilson comes up, it’s harder to hold his tongue. "Why he doesn’t believe in my abilities, I don’t know," said Flutie, who was the odd man out when new Bills management had to decide between him and Johnson last winter. "All we ever did was win games and put people in the seats for him. But whatever."’

‘Stories of an athlete taking "revenge" against a team that dumped him occupy the top two shelves in any decent sports library, but Flutie wishes to add nothing to the literature. "That’s history," he said of his conflicts, real and imagined, with Johnson and with Bills management that ultimately decided on the younger and, especially, taller, man. "That was last year. This is all a new beginning for me."’