Two Bills Drive

‘So far this season, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has used anchors, shovels, movies, horse races, newspaper clippings, poems and handouts to get his weekly point across to his team.’

‘Then in Buffalo he gained notoriety for both his personality and his prowess on the defensive line. Known as one of the NFL’s great characters in an era when the homogenization of the league was starting to filter out many of those true characters, Smerlas carved a niche in upstate New York that he still occupies to this day.’

‘In 11 weeks, Brady appears to have supplanted Drew Bledsoe – an in-his-prime, franchise quarterback – while the ink was still wet on Bledsoe’s 10-year contract extension. Has that ever happened before?’

‘"Buffalo and New England have played tight, competitive games whether they were early in the season or late in the season. Whether the weather was sunny, windy or in between, they have been tight games. They have come down to the wire."’

‘The Bills are a respectable seventh in the AFC in total defense, but they have allowed about 28 points per game — second worst in the conference. Simply put, they do not force any turnovers or make big plays.’

‘The result is a team in better salary cap shape, but one that is not ready to win consistently.’

‘Bobby Hamilton, who plays on the left side, and Anthony Pleasant, who plays on the right, have combined for 10 sacks this season with Pleasant throwing in a couple of interceptions.’

‘Whereas the rebuilding and banged-up Bills have continually failed to overcome their deficiencies, the Patriots almost appear to revel in theirs.’

‘"The guys on our team played together, fought together and drank together," Smerlas said. "It was kind of a "North Dallas Forty’ lifestyle. We joked around, pulled pranks on people and did a lot of wild stuff. Most of them I can’t tell you."’

‘In fact, the last-place Bills (2-10) currently stand 17th in average home attendance in the 31-team league.’

‘"I haven’t done this many Bills games since I was partnered with John Brodie in the early 1980s," said Criqui in a telephone interview from his New Jersey home.’

‘"You won’t find a more down-to-earth, honest, hard-working guy than Phil Hansen. He’s a credit to any team. He’s from the old school."’

‘"There is a lot of stuff going on right now, needless to say," Brady said. "I mean it’s easy to get distracted, but everyone owes it to the team and their teammates to prepare as best as possible."’

‘Sometimes the only way a professional athlete is going to salvage his career is by moving on. And Smith is a perfect example.’

‘”It was hard because I felt things were being blamed on me that I felt weren’t my fault,” Smith said. “This league is a business and it’s all about what you have done for me lately. If you’re not performing, teams give up on you.”‘