Two Bills Drive

‘Johnson is fully aware of the "fragile" tag he’s been labeled with and the legion of Flutie fans who were upset when the new Bills management opted for the former USC star over the ex-CFL great, but said he’s confident he can prove his detractors wrong.’

‘The frown Andre Reed left Buffalo with 19 months ago very likely will be replaced with a smile today when the former Bills great announces his retirement from the NFL as a member of the Bills.’

‘That a whopping 11 of 12 draft picks this year made the roster, not because they are all good players, but because they earn the least money.’

‘Donahoe and Haslett talk several times a week. But they haven’t conversed this week. "This week," Donahoe joked, "I hate him."’

‘DiMaria said fans who signed up for the trip have expressed as much dislike for Johnson as love for their man Flutie. "One little old lady came in here and said, ‘Rob Johnson is a China doll! He’s a China doll!’ " said DiMaria, who will escort the group along with her brother, R.J.’

‘Bills fans and media are talking about the over/under on how many weeks/quarters/minutes it will take for oft-injured quarterback Rob Johnson to limp out of a game.’

‘Andre Reed, Buffalo’s leading career receiver and a key member of the four Bills teams that went to four straight Super Bowls in the 1990s, has called a news conference for Saturday where he is expected to announce his retirement. The news conference is scheduled for noon at the Bills’ headquarters in Orchard Park.’

‘The team must decide by 4 p.m. whether to activate newly acquired kicker Jake Arians from the practice squad to replace Christie.’

‘How good is Sam Cowart? Buffalo Bills coach Gregg Williams thinks the Pro Bowl linebacker is so good he could line up just about anywhere on the field and still be a star. "A football player is a football player. Make no mistake about that," Williams said. "And guys with his ability, we can put his hand down as a rush nickel end and he’ll do well there. You can play him at strong safety. Unless you have somebody with blazing speed, he’d line up and do that. That’s the measure of what a really, really good player’s about."’

‘The Gregg Williams Show, presented by Galyans, will premiere at 11:30 a.m. Sunday on Ch. 29. The 30-minute show is hosted by long-time Bills long-snapper Adam Lingner. Traci Buch, of WOKR, will host a player segment and Larry Centers will give a view from the backfield each week.’

‘To avoid congestion, drivers can stay on the Thruway, pass the Lackawanna toll barrier and take the Milestrip Road exit and approach via McKinley Parkway and Big Tree Road (Route 20A). Or they can continue south on Route 219 to the Big Tree Road (Route 20A) exit, turn right on California Road and left on Route 20 to reach the Drive 5 parking lot. Further south on Route 219, the exit at Armor-Duells Road will provide drivers with an approach to the stadium from the south, which is usually a quick way in.’

‘”I’m always going to be a Buffalo fan, except for when we play them,” said Haslett, who played for the Bills from 1979 to 1985. “I lived up there for a long time. I’ve got a lot of fans and friends up there, a lot of players that I played with still living up there.”‘

‘Now it’s Johnson’s team, and he’ll have to remain healthy for the Bills to be solid.’

Marcellus was hurt in practice Wednesday and the stress fracture was diagnosed during tests Thursday. Wiley was scheduled for surgery for Thursday afternoon to have a screw inserted in his foot. He will be out 3-to-4 weeks.

‘Arians, 24, was with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted rookie free agent in their 2000 training camp and spent all of last season on their practice squad.’