Two Bills Drive

Yes, we have looked at the Bills’ record, so don’t suggest that we ought to be fitted for a straitjacket. Eleven of the 12 choices are still on the active roster or injured reserve and this group, which is starting to produce modest results, will represent the foundation for the future. The top three choices have combined for 14 starts and corner Nate Clements is going to be a "shut down" defender. Buffalo is taking its lumps now, for sure, but the Class of ’01 will contribute to improved play over the final 1 ½ months of this season. The Bills got quality and quantity.

Someday, maybe five or 10 years from now, Gregg Williams will be sitting down and reminiscing about the darkest days of his coaching career and the game that topped ’em all, Miami, when he lost it on a blown extra point and a fumbled kickoff. What I will say to him today is, “Get em all out of your system right now, so there won’t be any left over for next season.”

Former Buffalo kicker Steve Christie arrived in town yesterday and passed a physical. Christie is to kick at the Chargers’ practice facility this morning and, assuming all goes well, will be signed to a contract and will kick in Sunday’s game at Seattle.

‘If the Chargers like what they see from the 34-year-old Christie, they are expected to sign him to compete with beleaguered kicker Wade Richey, whose field-goal misses from 25 and 27 yards cost the Chargers dearly in their 20-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.’

On if the team’s quarterback solution last off-season should have been him:

"That’s for you guys and the fans. I’m just trying to get ready and give us the best chance to win. I could care less about that, I could care less what people think about Rob and myself, none of that matters to me right now, it would be keeping the guys going and getting us a win."

The emergence of rookie RB Travis Henry has resulted in diminished roles for Shawn Bryson and Sammy Morris, the team’s top two RBs last year. Henry leads the team with 565 yards in 168 carries; Morris and Bryson have only 73 rushing yards in 17 carries between them. Still, the team values Bryson and Morris because of their versatility. Both are good runners and receivers, and they are key members of the special teams. The Bills have been trying to incorporate them into the offense more in recent weeks. …

For all the talk about QB Johnson’s future, the next several weeks will be an audition for his backup, Alex Van Pelt. Van Pelt will be a free agent after this season, and a strong finish would increase his bargaining power for a new deal. Even if the team decides to keep Johnson beyond this year, it would like to have Van Pelt back. He knows the WCO, and his teammates believe in him. …

From Chris Mortensen:

For the Bills, how’s this for a stat: Alex Van Pelt has now thrown $90,000 worth of TD passes, thanks to injuries suffered by RJ this season. Van Pelt has an incentive clause in his contract that pays him $10,000 per TD pass (he has now thrown nine). Yes, I think if Van Pelt keeps this up, he just might be the Bills’ QBfor a while. Maybe a longer while than I ever believed.

‘The way Tillman is playing, Carpenter may struggle to get his job back.’

‘Four words of advice for Erik Flowers: Don’t buy a house.’

‘It’s imperative that Williams finds someone dependable because in the National Parity League, games more often than not are decided by a touchdown or less.’

Q: How has Alex performed in his first two starts?

"He’s been exceptional in the game’s he’s played. He’s managed the offense very efficiently, he’s shown ability to spread the ball around to a multitude of receivers, the reads that he’s made in the offense have for the most part been the correct one.

"We were able this week to get our running game going, which we’ve been inconsistent with this year, but that will only help Alex in the passing game if we can continue to run the football. We’ve been very pleased with his progress to date, and we want to see him making strides, just like we want to see our team continue to make strides over the last six weeks."

‘If Christie signs, he’ll be the fifth former Bills player to follow Butler, Buffalo’s GM from 1993 until last December, to San Diego.’

‘As a collegian, Graham kicked at Virginia Tech and set the Big East Conference record with 371 points. He was a four-time all conference player, an honor shared in the Big East only by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.’

Rookie RB Kevan Barlow’s dislocated shoulder could keep him out of the 49ers game against Buffalo on Sunday night. Barlow is listed as doubtful for the game after injuring his shoulder in the 49ers’ 40-21 win over Indianapolis. An MRI exam on the joint revealed no new damage on Monday, but coach Steve Mariucci said Barlow probably won’t be ready.

Bills (not good). Kicker Jake Arians missed a PAT, and rookie cornerback/kick returner Nate Clements fumbled a kickoff that set up the game-winning touchdown for the Dolphins.