‘There is a very real possibility that the Seahawks’ leading passer (Jon Kitna), receiver (Sean Dawkins) and rusher (Ricky Watters) could be gone after the season. Kitna is a free agent whom Holmgren is not expected to re-sign, while Dawkins and Watters might be let go in cost-cutting moves.’
BillsBeat - December 23, 2000
Seahawks game preview
‘Pick: Bills, 27-20.’
Bills at Seahawks
‘Buffalo has lost four straight. Make it five. Seattle 27, Bills 20.’
Butler move is good for Bills
‘The Bills are a club that is stagnating right now. They finally made it back to the playoffs last season, but fell short of that mark this season, although injuries on defense can be argued as their downfall. But when you look closer, this is a franchise that needs to move in a positive direction.’
JOHNSON: BILLS' QUARTERBACK CONTROVERSY HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL
‘”I think I need an offseason just to rejuvenate my mind,” Johnson said. “It’s not easy playing quarterback here with the situation I’m in. It takes its toll. If it’s the same situation next year I’ve got to get ready to deal with it all over again.”‘
JOHNSON'S ELBOW HAS TEAR
‘Johnson had a magnetic resonance imaging test on his right elbow this week. “There is a slight tear in the ligament in my elbow,” he said. “I’ve had it for two years now.”‘
HEADS COULD ROLL IF BILLS THROW A STINKER IN SEATTLE
LAUGH TILL IT HURTS MORE THAN BILLS' EGOS ARE BRUISED AFTER 16 WEEKS OF FOOTBALL
‘”Every week, you can just say your platform drops as far as soreness,” said Wiley, who has been battling an elbow problem for the last six weeks. “Every week, consistently, overall you’re more sore than the week before and then depending on the game and the situation, how physical it was, it could be worse.”‘
BillsBeat - December 22, 2000
The Seahawks' opponent this week: Buffalo Bills
‘After defeating Tennessee in the opener, the highlight was a midseason stretch that saw the Bills go 4-0, winning three on the road. … The lowlight was a 33-6 defeat to the Miami Dolphins on Dec. 3, the second game in the Bills’ current four-game skid.’
Flutie says he'd like to stay
‘It would cost the Bills a $4.5 million salary cap hit to dump Flutie, and that figure rises to $6.5 million to dump Johnson. It’s financial suicide, and Flutie doesn’t see it happening.’
GM Butler spurns Bills' lucrative bids
‘During the last year of his contract, Butler kept hearing from other general managers and agents that he was grossly underpaid.’
Wasting time?
‘The defense rests. So should Spanos. He should stop his search for a general manager before it begins. He should do what’s best for his team and what’s right for his organization. He should hire John Butler. Now.’
Wiley's season has gone from tears to joy
‘While his back is still not fully healed, his mind is at ease. In his last seven games, Wiley has been in on 57 tackles, including a career-high 17 against New England, and recorded 7 1/2 sacks.’
Courting Mr. Butler
‘"It’s been said I was looking to get out," said Butler, "but that’s totally incorrect. My contract expired Feb. 28; two days later free agency starts. Most clubs have to have people in place and prepared the minute free agency opens. There wasn’t going to be any type of advantage for me."’
SALARY CAP COULD LEAD TO FLUTIE'S FAREWELL
‘It’s difficult to imagine them keeping two high-priced quarterbacks for another year. Flutie is scheduled to count $7.75 million against the cap next year, according to figures obtained by The News. Rob Johnson is scheduled to count $8.29 million. Both are under contract for two more seasons.’