Two Bills Drive

‘The Bills, who won’t get defensive end Phil Hansen back for another two or three weeks, had a host of players who stayed out of practice yesterday.’

‘With Johnson poised to return as the Bills starter this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs at raucous Arrowhead Stadium, the quarterback controversy between Johnson and Doug Flutie temporarily has taken a back seat to a more pressing issue — the rash of injuries that suddenly has plagued the team.’

‘Don’t be surprised if you see Derrick Alexander returning punts for the Chiefs on Sunday. Or Tony Gonzalez attempting to block one.’

‘"If Flutie plays, we can go out and make a statement that we can play against a scrambling type of quarterback. If Johnson plays, we can go out and make a statement about that type of quarterback, too."’

‘Translation: The defense was a lot more effective when I was the defensive coordinator from 1995 to 1998. Kurt Schottenheimer is no Gunther Cunningham.’

‘If you’ve ever played golf in North or South Carolina, scenes from "The Legend of Bagger Vance" will be incredibly familiar. But finding the perfect course for the movie involved a worldwide search that actually ended in the office of former Chiefs quarterback Steve Fuller.’

‘Second-year man Mike Maslowski will make his first NFL start Sunday against Buffalo when he takes over at left outside linebacker for Lew Bush.’

‘"(Johnson) was our starter at the start of the season, and that really hasn’t changed," Phillips said Wednesday in a conference call. "Doug came in when he was hurt. There was no big, monumental decision here."’

‘Gunther Cunningham said Wednesday he was "as close as I can be" to installing starting receiver Derrick Alexander as the Kansas City Chiefs punt returner for Sunday’s home game against Buffalo.’

‘Rob Johnson, back as the Buffalo Bills’ starter after missing four games with a separated shoulder, isn’t worried about Doug Flutie or any quarterback controversy.’

‘Tony Gonzalez and Derrick Alexander, two key ingredients in Kansas City’s rejuvenated passing attack, may have new jobs when the Chiefs meet Buffalo on Sunday.’

‘Not practicing were: guard Ruben Brown (foot), safety Keion Carpenter (ankle), backup defensive back Donovan Greer (ankle), running back Sammy Morris (ankle), nosetackle Ted Washington (neck), backup quarterback Doug Flutie (ankle) and defensive back Antoine Winfield (shoulder).’

‘His once water-tight defense has sprung more leaks than the Titanic in its death throes, but Gunther Cunningham clings to his belief that a rescue boat is in sight.’

‘Thanks to a three-game winning streak, the Buffalo Bills have played their way back into the AFC playoff race. But they are a long way from clinching a spot.’

‘Say what you will about Thurman – and there is plenty to say – but nobody wanted to see him lying on his back, grimacing in pain and cupping his right knee after making one too many cuts in his Hall of Fame career.’