Two Bills Drive

‘"Every time I step on the field I have to prove to the world that I can play and make the people upstairs (Phillips and general manager John Butler) second-guess themselves," the 37-year-old quarterback said. "After all I’ve done, that’s discouraging."’

‘He was having a game of touch with nieces, nephews, and friends from his hometown of Natick; with relatives, and buddies from Buffalo, and former high-school teammates. "Don’t make a big deal out of this," he said that night, after I’d gone down to the field to talk with him. But it was a big deal.’

‘"He’s mammoth," the 320-pound Woody said of the 6-foot-5 Washington, who clearly is heavier than his listed program weight of 335 pounds. "Seeing someone bigger than me, that’s strange enough. But this man, whew, he’s one of the biggest dudes I’ve ever had to take on."’

‘But inside, the game within the professional game has left its mark. The snubs — whether they’re 10 years old or still fresh — are easily recalled and Flutie’s mind traces them casually like some veteran from a real war might.’

‘Here’s my pick. Pats 52, Bills 7…That’s my story and I’m sticking to it, fable though it may be.’

‘Patriots 19, Bills 17.’

‘"I think the NFL would have been a lot more receptive to me now than they were 15 years ago," Flutie said in a conference call this week. "With the zone blitzing and all that, [coaches] realize the advantage of a mobile quarterback…."’

‘"He’s a legend in this area," Pats QB Drew Bledsoe said. "It’s an exciting thing. He’s still got great fans here, I just hope they’re cheering for us."’

‘Everyone should love Doug, but they don’t. Which is perplexing.’

‘Max Lane’s anger at the Patriots decision to release longtime friend and teammate Todd Rucci may have had more to do with Lane’s future than Rucci’s.’

‘With the Patriots (2-6) sinking again after a brief turnaround, some fans may be cheering when Flutie does well. "He shouldn’t be a crowd favorite at our stadium," Milloy said. "If I have the chance, I’m going to drag his butt into the ground. It’s kind of sickening to me."’

‘But Washington’s weight is the subject of some debate with the 330 total considered an understatement of sorts. Just how much does the big fellow actually weigh? Inquiring offensive linemen want to know.’

‘Eric Bjornson had the look on his face this week of a player hanging onto his job by his fingernails. Is he the New England Patriots tight end? Or new wide receiver?’

‘Johnson told Rome he talked to Flutie about it and the popular veteran told him he only talked to the magazine about quarterback ratings and never mentioned Johnson by name. Johnson said if Flutie did make the comments, it’s only going to make a strained relationship worse.’

‘"For someone to go anonymously and say those things is kind of, I don’t know, cowardly," he said. "It’s not typical of football players. . . . If a lot of guys feel that way, they should come to me and say it to my face," he said. "I’m a man. They’re men, and I can take it. I’d rather hear about it from them than hear about it on the radio when I’m driving home, from an FM channel when I’m trying to listen to Limp Biskit."’