Two Bills Drive

‘Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. was in the near vicinity of the Pentagon when a hijacked airliner slammed into the nation’s military center on Tuesday, the team confirmed yesterday. The Bills would not say why Wilson was in Washington, D.C., or the nearby area.’

‘Tagliabue spent Thursday morning on a conference call with team owners to discuss the options. Afterward, he said: "A decision on whether to reschedule this weekend’s games or play a 15-game season schedule is under consideration and will be announced as soon as possible."’

Even Buffalobills.com writers seem to be into Fantasy Football.

‘"It would be hard for me to put a word on how inconsequential this is," he maintained. "This is a game … entertainment. (The terrorist attacks) were the very core of what our existence is as a nation."’

The National Football League decided to not play this weekend due to this week’s events in New York and Washington, the first time in league history the league has postponed the entire schedule due to a national tragedy (AFL posponed games for a week after Kennedy assasination).

There is no word if the games, which includes Buffalo’s annual visit to Miami, will be made up or simply have the Bills, and every other team but the San Diego Chargers, play just 15 games this season.

We in the National Football League have decided that our priorities for this weekend are to pause, grieve, and reflect. It is a time to tend to families and neighbors and all those wounded by these horrific acts of terrorism.

We understand those individuals in sports who want to play this weekend. We also can empathize with those who want to take the weekend off and resume their personal lives and professional careers next week. We strongly believe that the latter course of action is the right decision for the NFL.

On Sunday, Sept. 23, the NFL, its players and coaches will return stronger than ever and resume our playing schedule. A decision on whether to re-schedule this weekend’s games or play a 15-game regular season schedule is under consideration and will be announced as soon as possible.

‘"If the players had a vote, I’d vote – obviously just out of respect to families and the people that died – not to do it," said Bills quarterback Rob Johnson. "It’s not up to me. If the commissioner says we’re playing, we’ll play. This is a big event in history and our life. We don’t want to trivialize it by playing. But we came today and put in a full work day. We’re ready to play if we have to play."’

‘Fisher graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1999 and was a seventh-round draft choice of the Bills that April. Air Force cadets must serve a five-year military commitment upon graduation. But the few cadets who become professional athletes often are allowed to cut their military commitment short after two years.’

The Bills might have the worst offensive line in the league and the easiest quarterback to sack, which is kind of like being bald and having pearly white skin.

Getting burned is a foregone conclusion.

NFL players such as Denver Broncos running back Mike Anderson, a former Marine, and Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Bryce Fisher, who was in the Air Force, spent a lot of time on phones to check on friends.

Instead of building intensity for what traditionally is one of the biggest games of the year, the thoughts of the coaches and players were on the victims and rescue efforts at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon during Wednesday’s practice.

There has only been one similar precedent in NFL history, in November 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assasinated. The NFL went on with its slate of games, but the AFL postponed its games for a week.

The Bills were slated to play the Boston Patriots in Fenway Park when the news struck about Kennedy’s assasination in Dallas, and owner Ralph Wilson was the first AFL owner to order the cancellation of one of four games that weekend.

‘"We have to take into account there are more important things than whether I get a sack this weekend or whether (quarterback Rob Johnson) throws a touchdown," Fisher said. "There are 10,000 people who aren’t going to go home."’

‘"Doesn’t football seem pretty trivial after yesterday?" he said. "It’s a wake-up call. Go home. Hug your wife. Count your blessings."’

‘"I’m not going to be making the decision, but I think we have to seriously look at our fellow Americans and (not play)," said defensive end Phil Hansen, Buffalo’s players union representative. "Normalcy is one thing, but this is serious stuff. It certainly makes football seem very trivial."’