Two Bills Drive

‘Even New England coach Bill Belichick admits he wonders at times when veteran cornerback Otis Smith will reach the point of diminishing returns. "Each year you say, ‘How much longer is this going to last, at what point is he going to start to decline,’ " Belichick said, "and I just haven’t seen it. He really has the same qualities he did five years ago when we first got him."’

‘Willie McGinest hasn’t returned to the form that once prompted Patriots coach Bill Belichick to compare him to Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor. However, he isn’t playing like Lawrence Welk, either.’

‘Damien Woody was asked straight out, ”Can the Patriots begin thinking about the playoffs?” ”Why not?” Woody said. ”We’re getting better week after week. If we can avoid mistakes and play our game, there’s no reason we can’t be a playoff team. We’re 4-4 right now, and that’s like 0-0. What we do the rest of the way, we can control that."’

‘Not able to wait any longer for Terry Glenn to get on the practice field, the Patriots had to bring in a fresh body, and yesterday signed former Buffalo Bills draft pick and former Chicago Enforcer (XFL) wide receiver Fred Coleman for the remainder of the season.’

‘New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has suffered enough. If he is asked one more time about Marcia Brady, he’s going to start wishing his last name was Partridge.’

‘But veteran linebacker Ted Johnson said he not only feels for teammate Terry Glenn, he relates to the oft-troubled receiver as well. While Johnson in no way compared his rough childhood to that of Glenn, whose mother was murdered when he was 13, Johnson detected similarities nonetheless. Johnson said he carried his own troubled past, and what he said were its resultant "self-destructive behaviors," into his adulthood. It got to the point where a few years ago Johnson had to ask for help. Johnson said until Glenn does the same thing, he will continue to struggle.’

‘Not too long ago, receiver Troy Brown was a third or fourth option in the Patriots passing game, a player that drew little attention from opposing defensive coordinators and rarely anything more than single coverage. That’s all changed. As the Pats’ top receiver – he’s on pace to catch 106 passes – Brown is suddenly the recipient of a lot of attention, and not just on third downs. For the first time in his career, Brown is being double-teamed.’

‘WFSB, Channel 3, will televise the Kansas City Chiefs-Jets game at 1 p.m. instead of the Bills-Patriots. But the decision to ditch the Pats, adding insult to their injury list, was not made by WFSB. "The [CBS] network says, `This is the game we’re going to give you,’ and unless we petition the network to change the game, that’s the game we get," Channel 3 general manager Al Bova said.’

‘Otis Smith is the oldest player on the New England Patriots’ roster, and one of the most popular. These days, he also is one of the most dependable Pats, both on and off the field. At age 36, a time when most cornerbacks have long since gone into another line of work, Smith is playing some of the best football of his career.’

‘The Patriots will not get much sympathy from the Bills when they moan about the unsettled situation with their offensive line. Buffalo has been hurt badly all season by problems with its line. The Bills, 1-6 thus far, have allowed 27 sacks. Only Detroit (32) and Seattle (30) have given up more. Quarterback Rob Johnson has had to work under severe pressure.’

‘"We haven’t had chemistry all year," Ostroski said. "Sometimes it’s tough to sit there and see things happen. Fortunately, I was able to come back sooner than expected and can hopefully contribute some this year."’

This weekend will be the 23rd year Ralph Wilson Stadium will be the site of the Section VI High School Football championship games.

Area sports business executives to be honored in NYC.

Russ Brandon from the Buffalo Bills will be honored tonight by the SportsBusiness Journal. David Stern, commissioner of the National Basketball Association, will serve as the keynote speaker.

Brandon is the VP, business development and marketing for the Bills. He joined the organization 5 years ago from the Florida Marlins and is credited with helping the franchise succeed on its regional marketing push 3 years ago, particularly to Rochester, Brandon’s home town. That’s where his sports marketing career began, with the minor league baseball team, the Rochester Red Wings.

“Everyone in sports should work in the minor leagues,” said Brandon, who was included in the 2001 Business First “Forty Under 40” class.

Among the others to be honored by the SportsBusiness Journal’s “40 Under Forty” is former Buffalo Bills linebacker Scott Radecic. Radecic who played for the Bills from 1987-89 and now is a senior principal with HOK Sport, which designs sports stadiums and arenas.

‘Bills offensive coordinator Joe Pendry apparently wanted something other than the power running Smith offers. "He never really struggled here," Buffalo quarterback Rob Johnson said yesterday via teleconference. "When he got the chance, he did well. He and the offensive coordinator, I don’t want to say they didn’t get along, but Antowain was not his guy. He’s a big back who needs a lot of carries. They would play him in spots, get him four or five carries."’

‘”I think a lot of that has all died down among the fans,” said Johnson, who will lead the Bills against the New England Patriots Sunday at Foxboro Stadium. “But in a way it will never die down. You guys know how popular Doug is. But winning games helps and we’re not doing that right now.”‘