Two Bills Drive

‘If I have do have one criticism of Phillips, it’s his hiring of Ronnie James [sic], a former assistant coach at Texas-El Paso, who is over his head as the Bills’ special teams coach. As I wrote earlier this week, the Bills would have been better off keeping Bruce DeHaven, who was fired after the Music City Miracle in January. Jones, who had never coached special teams before arriving in Orchard Park, has not been able to straighten out Buffalo’s horrific kick coverage. Pull out the tape against the New York Jets for proof of that. If I’m Phillips, I’d put Steve Tasker or Mark Pike on my speed dial.’

‘The Bills, according to the SportsBusiness Journal, have the seventh highest payroll in the league at $70.65 million. Despite paring several long-time top performers, that is a 32 percent increase from 1999 and compared with 1998, when the team’s player payroll was $49.8 million, represents a 42 percent rise…So what are the Bills, playing in the retro-fitted, better revenue-producing stadium, worth? Forbes Magazine ventures a guess in the Sept. 18 issue. Forbes figures the Bills are valued at $365 million, 21st overall and well below the league average of $423 million. Again, the Redskins, at $741 million, are tops while the Arizona Cardinals rank last at $305 million.’

‘Now healthy, Panos expects to return to full-scale workouts this week. But he won’t allow himself to get too excited about it. "The last time I got fired up to play, I got hurt again," he said. "It’s just been one thing after another, from my neck to my foot to my foot again. It’s tough not being out there. I waited the whole year last year, so three games this year is enough. "I know God’s got a plan for me. I’ll just have to hang in there a little longer. My time will come."’

‘"I look at wins just like a loss," says coach Wade Phillips, whose teams have a history of improving as the season wears on. "I never said everything’s rosie and we’re a great team because we beat Tennessee. There were things we had to do, like block the blitz better, run the ball better, have our quarterback make the right decisions. We’re working on all of it, but it doesn’t all happen at once."’

‘An Orchard Park man pleaded guilty Friday to stealing sports memorabilia from the home of former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly and causing crack cocaine to be planted in a man’s car. State Supreme Court Justice Russell P. Buscaglia told Mark J. Dombrowski, 36, that he will limit Dombrowski’s prison sentence to one year, but Dombrowski must pay $6,500 to Kelly or insurance companies who have already compensated Kelly for the theft of more than $50,000 in sports memorabilia.’

‘The No. 22 has gone unworn in the Natick football program for the last 19 years. Last night, in a halftime ceremony during the Redmen’s game with Braintree, the school officially retired the number made famous by the quarterback who put the town on the map.’

‘After winning the Heisman and devouring the CFL for eight years, the big stage for Flutie now is the NFL, and it’s not the best of times, come to think of it. Rob Johnson has taken over the starting job with the 2-1 Buffalo Bills. Flutie, injured during training camp, hasn’t played a down yet, although he said he could. "I feel 100 percent. I’m ready to go. But I’ve felt that way for two weeks."’

‘On the surface, the Bills are maintaining a stiff upper lip, citing their 2-1 record. Underneath, a sense of urgency has developed. Why else would coach Wade Phillips turn to sparingly used Jonathan Linton and relegate starting running back Antowain Smith to No. 3 on his depth chart? And what to make of defensive co-ordinator’s Ted Cottrell’s biting challenge issued to the Bills’ special team players? "Those rookies basically better get on the stick," Cottrell said. "If they give up a kickoff return for a lot or yards, that puts a big strain on the rest of the defence, so you better get your act together if you want to stay around here." So much for the rest and relaxation a bye week is supposed to bring. The bright side is that the Bills don’t get a chance to beat themselves this weekend.’

‘The Bills saw enough of Smith through only three games and 34 carries to demote him in favor of Jonathan Linton for the big meeting with the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 1. "He’s a good player and he hasn’t gotten to play, and I think he’ll help give us a spark," Bills coach Wade Phillips said about Linton after announcing the move Wednesday.’

‘Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino will be among the celebrity guests at the black-tie fund-raising event to kick off the annual candle campaign of the Hunter’s Hope Foundation. The organization was founded in 1997 by former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly and his wife, Jill, to fund research on Krabbe disease, a fatal genetic disorder that afflicts their son, Hunter.’

‘Saying he’s looking for a "spark" for his anemic running game, Buffalo Bills coach Wade Phillips yesterday named Jonathan Linton as his starting running back for the Indianapolis Colts game Oct. 1. Headed to the bench is Antowain Smith, whose career has been in freefall since topping 1,000 yards two seasons ago.’

‘Bills rookie linebacker Corey Moore will miss 4-6 weeks with a high ankle sprain, coach Wade Phillips said on Wednesday.’

‘Linton, who has not carried the ball yet this year has been limited to special teams play while recovering from a rib injury, will take over for Antowain Smith following the bye week when the Bills host AFC East Division rival Indianapolis on Oct. 1. "We wanted to give Jonathan the opportunity," coach Wade Phillips said Wednesday. "We’re fortunate to have a number of quality backs that can help us win games and this is Jonathan’s chance to show what he can do as the starter."’

‘While the Bills rushed for only 80 yards in New York, significantly they averaged 3.5 yards per carry. Even more prophetically, it appears there’s been a switch at feature back. Against the Jets, Antowain Smith had only five carries for 13 yards, none in the final 28 minutes of the game. His place was taken by Shawn Bryson, last year’s third-round draft choice, who had 12 carries for 40 yards and lost a 21-yard run on a procedure penalty that had nothing to do with the gain. Through three games, Smith has a microscopic 72 yards on 34 carries and you get the idea the coaching staff is growing weary of making excuses for him.’

‘Tight end Jay Riemersma, one of Buffalo’s most consistent clutch receivers, is expected to miss 4-to-5 weeks recovering from a damaged left knee ligament, his agent Jack Wirth said. "If there’s no complications, it’s probably going to take 4-to-5 weeks," Wirth told The Associated Press on Monday evening after Riemersma underwent a Magnetic Resonance Imaging exam earlier in the day. The good news, Wirth said, is that it appears surgery will not be required to repair the medial collateral ligament, and that Riemersma can begin rehabbing immediately. However, Wirth added, "You never know how these things go."’