Two Bills Drive

‘GMs around the league must be kicking themselves, wondering how they missed on this guy.’

‘Maguire, a former Bill who still lives locally during the season and hosts a local cable show, isn’t surprised by the team’s collapse. But did he really expect this much of one? "When I looked at what they did in the preseason and saw the guys go down with injuries, yeah," said Maguire. "If you don’t have an offensive line, you can’t play. And they don’t."’

‘Williams is almost as futile (1-7) on challenges as his team (1-9) is in games.’

‘"I tell you, all that this family has gone through, Jeff has kept us together," Bob Garcia said this week in an interview. "I don’t know how he handled it so well, but he did. "He always stayed positive and that’s probably the biggest reason he’s been able to handle everything so well in his life. He has worked tremendously hard for it."’

‘Back in the lineup after two seasons and no less than four surgeries to repair his left ankle, Hearst has emerged as the comeback story of the NFL season. With 776 yards on 147 carries through 10 games, Hearst is giving the Niners offence the versatility it lacked while he sat out recovering from a blood disorder that essentially caused a portion of his ankle bone to die.’

‘"The most wonderful years of my life were in Buffalo," the 53-year-old Kansas native [Bruce DeHaven] said.’

‘The 49ers’ offense has become an explosive one, with Jeff Garcia throwing to Terrell Owens and Garrison Hearst back in game- breaking form, but the 49ers will go as far as their defense takes them.’

‘"Day to day,” Owens said when asked to assess his status.’

‘The entire NFL is different, too. The era of dynasties is dead. Teams can rise from the ashes or go up in flames in an instant.’

‘Hall of Fame tackle Bob St. Clair is bursting with excitement about having his No. 79 jersey retired by the 49ers at halftime of Sunday night’s game against the Buffalo Bills at 3Com Park.’

‘Up to three inches of rain are predicted for Sunday, which means the game may be played in a quagmire.’

‘"The doctor I saw in California said it was a breath away from popping through the skin. It wasn’t very good. Hopefully, it will heal correctly and I won’t have to have surgery."’

‘Hearst is in the midst of writing the NFL’s ultimate comeback story, one whose latest chapter plays out tomorrow night at 3Com Park when the 49ers host the Buffalo Bills.’

‘Looking at the rosters for the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills, who meet Sunday, both teams are among the youngest in the NFL. The 49ers have 13 rookies and nine second-year players; the Bills have 11 rookies and nine second-year players. What’s the difference between the two? Confidence.’

‘Even when the San Francisco 49ers were struggling to escape the salary-cap jail in which the Buffalo Bills landed last spring, their offense could cause problems for anybody. But San Francisco is 8-2 and on top of the NFC West two years after crashing to 4-12 in 1999 because the 49ers defense is finally catching up. That can only be bad news for the hapless Buffalo Bills, who head into Sunday night’s nationally televised game still reeling from their collapse last week against Miami. None of San Francisco’s first seven wins were by more than a 10-point margin, with five coming by six or less — three in overtime. But last week, playing on the road, the 49ers harassed Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning into throwing four interceptions. San Francisco’s 40-21 win sent Colts coach Jim Mora into one of his post-game tirades and likely ended Indy’s realistic playoff hopes. Buffalo, of course, said goodbye to such hopes well before Halloween. While plenty of numbers hint at reasons for the Bills’ 1-9 record, the most significant is minus-12. That’s Buffalo’s giveaway/takeaway ratio, and it ties the Bills with Indy, Miami and Minnesota at the bottom of the National Football League.’