Two Bills Drive

‘"It’s very hard to get yourself up from week to week knowing you dug yourself such a deep hole and you know there isn’t any hope of getting into the postseason, which is what we are all here playing for each season," Brown said.’

‘The Bills need a lot of players at different positions, so they may choose to wait to select a lesser-known player who might be available in the second or third round.’

‘So long as Sheppard recognizes where he has failed, he deserves a season to make amends.’

‘Winning today would further illuminate the progress the team has made since the start of the year.’

‘In Vinklarek, the Bills have a friend and colleague whose life story is a steady dose of perspective and inspiration.’

‘"Besides, at the end of the year when it comes time to renegotiate your contract, they want to know how many sacks you have."’

”’It’s been a hard season. We had a lot of little things that didn’t go our way and it forced us to do different things each game. But next year, I feel we’re going to be a lot better."’

‘The Bills have allowed just two sacks in the last three games.’

‘With a victory today at Carolina (1-14), New England (10-5) will clinch the AFC East title. That means the Dolphins would be playing Buffalo to secure a first-round home playoff game as a wild card.’

‘The Dolphins are minus-13 in turnover margin, fourth-worst in the NFL, and their 38 turnovers are tied with Detroit for second-worst in the league.’

‘So the night before each of the past 11 contests, the unit has gathered without coaches present to hear one of the first-team players discuss the upcoming opponent and whatever else is on his mind.’

‘When Bowens was signed by the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 22, it marked the fourth team the defensive end had been with in the past 2 1/2 months and fifth in his three-year pro career.’

‘”They stepped up last week in a game they had nothing to win for,” Miami quarterback Jay Fiedler said. “They dug themselves out of the snow and went down to New York and beat a pretty good team. . . We all know Buffalo steps it up when they play against Miami. We’re not expecting a walkover.”‘

‘If the Dolphins win today, they will clinch a home playoff game.’

‘Essentially what the Bills need is for Johnson to reduce his 2002 salary cap charge of slightly more than $11 million. The tricky part is that, while such a reduction can be accomplished easily with a long-term contract extension, Buffalo officials aren’t yet ready to make a commitment to Johnson beyond the 2002 campaign.’