Two Bills Drive

‘”Naturally, I’m disappointed in a ruling that awards money to Wade Phillips for his departure from the Bills,” Bills owner Ralph Wilson said before the team’s game in Jacksonville, Fla. “Phillips claims he was fired. I reject that. He forced his dismissal with unreasonable behavior.”‘

While the Buffalo Bills are rebuilding, it’s hard to tell what the Jacksonville Jaguars are up to. Jake Arians missed two FGs early but made the last one in the clutch and the defense stopped Brunell final effort with an interception.

Wade Phillips finally put away the voodoo doll, as the arbitrator awarded him the remainder of his 2001 salary owed by Ralph Wilson. On the same night, the Bills collected their first victory of the season.

quote: For all Jacksonville’s troubles, the Bills (an 8 1/2-point underdog)

have yet to prove that they’re better than anyone else’s second team, much

less a perennial playoff contender.

‘ESPN isn’t exactly salivating over this one.’

The NFL has their Pro-Bowl ballot prepared and as always there are a few glitches; Chrsitie is listed as the Bills kicker although he is no longer with the Bills and ex-Bill A. Smith is on it but he is listed as a Pittsburgh RB.

NOTE: the electronic ballot no longer has a fill-in-the-blank spot and allows ‘express’ submissions.

Offense:

QB: R. Johnson, RB: T. Henry, FB: L. Centers, WR: E. Moulds & P. Price, TE: J. Riemersma, C: B. Conaty, G: R. Brown & J. Ostroski, T: J. Fina & J. Jennings

Defense:

DE: P. Hansen& E. Flowers, LI: P. Williams & S. Price, OL: J. Foreman & K. Newman, IL S. Cowart (IR), CB: A. Winfield & K. Irvin, FS: K. Carpenter, SS: R. Hill

Special Teams:

K: S. Christie (released), P: B. Moorman, KR: N. Clements, ST: D. Polk

Former Buffalo Bill and Carolina Panther Pete Metzelaars spent 16 seasons in the NFL catching passes and battling in the trenches from his TE position.

Around the Carolinas, he is also the answer to a great Panthers trivia question. Metzelaars was the first Panther to score a touchdown, hauling in an 8-yard TD pass from former Bill Frank Reich during Carolina’s inaugural season.

Now his son, Anthony Metzelaars, is putting up numbers in Charlotte that will make him the answer to future trivia questions. The younger Metzelaars QBs Charlotte Christian, where his father serves as OC of the football team and as assistant athletics director. Like his father, Anthony is finding much success on the football field.

NFL Preview of game.

Warning: Joe Theismann ahead, some people like coffee others hate it.

GM Tom Donahoe made the right decision to release Flutie and keep Johnson because the West Coast style suits Johnson more than Flutie. But the problem is that Johnson isn’t getting rid of the ball quickly enough. If he can make decisions, learn the offense and survive the season, he will be fine — and so will the Bills.

Based on the records of the two teams, the Jaguars should be able to get back on track. Tony Brackens will be back to help the Jaguars’ defense.

But the Bills are a desperate team with good skill-position players. The Bills’ defense has been marred by injury, especially to LB Cowart, their best player. They have been close several times to putting things together. Under new head coach Williams, the Bills are really struggling with the system and getting everyone on the same page. The young coaching staff is just taking a little longer than other staffs to get a pulse on its personnel. That’s what they are struggling with. I don’t expect Buffalo to be an easy test for the Jaguars.

QB Johnson holds onto the ball too long and can’t finish games because of injuries. Salary cap problems forced them to dismantle a 3-4 defense that could stuff the run. The Bills have fallen to the bottom of the league. First-year coach Williams hasn’t won over his veterans so far with his aggressive style of coaching.

Grade: F (only F in AFC)

NOTE: Ruben Brown did make all AFC team

‘Jacksonville boasts the player who has the most catches and receiving yards in the NFL over the past five years – Jimmy Smith. Containing Smith, receiving partner Keenan McCardell and quarterback Mark Brunell figures to be a key to the Bills’ chances of getting their first win of the year in the nationally televised game at Alltel Stadium.’

‘Taking over for Chris Mohr, perhaps the best punter in franchise history, Moorman is the AFC’s second-ranked punter at 48.1 yards behind Denver’s Tom Rouen (48.9). The Bills’ single-season record is 44.5 by Paul Maguire in 1969.’

‘Getting Moulds involved would be a start. To borrow an old phrase from his pal, Keyshawn, give him the damn ball.’