Two Bills Drive

‘The Buffalo Bills are at the point of no return. They rank dead last in punt returns. They rank second from the bottom in kickoff returns. But special teams coach Ronnie Jones doesn’t think those stats will reflect the performance the Bills will turn in Sunday against the winless San Diego Chargers in Ralph Wilson Stadium. "We’re going to get it fixed," Jones said. "I expect us to break out this week and have a good day. I expect to see a lot of improvement this week. "I like what I’m coming up with after watching film. I think I’ve drawn up a play that gives us a good chance at a big return this week."’

‘"I think there’s confusion among the coaching staff," [Antowain Smith’s agent Scott] Casterline said. "Some people want Antowain and some people don’t. I don’t see a resolution unless he plays somewhere else or until there’s a coaching change. "As long as there’s certain coaches on the staff, Antowain’s best future won’t be with the Buffalo Bills, which is too bad because he enjoys the town and his teammates."’

‘…their 0-3 division record virtually dooms them to a wild-card spot and a berth in the post-season is hardly guaranteed.’

‘Running back Antowain Smith didn’t get his wish granted as he remains a member of the Buffalo Bills after the NFL trading deadline struck on Tuesday. A Bills spokesman said no deals had been made after the 4 p.m. deadline passed.’

‘Bills’ spokesman Scott Birchtold withheld comment. "There’s nothing there," he said. "Why would we want to comment on it?"’

‘[Antowain Smith’s agent Scott] Casterline said the Bills told him in May that Smith would be the featured back in the offense. "I flew out there specifically to find out what his role was going to be and what their expectations for him were," Casterline said. "Wade and John told me he was the go-to guy, their franchise back. I feel like I was lied to. "Antowain has been patient and has never complained in his career. He has been a team player. He played hurt on a painful turf toe last year. He needs to be traded."’

‘There was a lot of blame to go around from tight end to weak-side tackle. But two particular offensive linemen will be among the first to stand up and accept responsibility for mistakes made in Miami: right tackles Robert Hicks and Marcus Spriggs.’

‘It’s time for Fina and Ruben Brown to start justifying those hefty contracts they received during the offseason. It’s time for Hicks to live up to his potential. It’s time for Spriggs, Jerry Ostroski, Jamie Nails and Joe Panos to raise their games up several notches.’

‘When asked if he could use another bye week, Johnson replied, "I’d much rather go through a couple games not . . .," and then stopped himself before talking about the number of hits he’s received. "Let the body recoup a little bit." Doug Flutie’s legion of fans were excited to see the backup quarterback replace Johnson Sunday. They also might think it would be the perfect week to start Flutie and give Johnson a break. The San Diego Chargers are the closest thing to a bye week. They enter Sunday’s game at Ralph Wilson Stadium at 0-6, the worst record in the NFL.’

‘An ineffective Jim Harbaugh or a recuperating Moses Moreno? San Diego Chargers coach Mike Riley must pick one as his starting quarterback for Sunday’s game at Buffalo. "Let me think about that for a day," Riley said on Monday when asked who would start against the Bills. "I don’t want to jump to conclusions too much."’

‘His team is good, this I do not doubt, nor should he. But this year, it’s probably not good enough to make the playoffs, so I wish Phillips would stop trying to fool us with his illogical explanations for the Bills’ recent poor play and stop pretending he’s coaching a Super Bowl contender.’

‘Despite the battered and bruised state of Rob Johnson, Buffalo Bills coach Wade Phillips said yesterday he has no intention of starting Flutie against the winless San Diego Chargers this week at Ralph Wilson Stadium. "No, he doesn’t need the rest," Phillips said, as his sifted through the ruins of his team’s third consecutive loss, Sunday’s 22-13 debacle at Miami where Johnson was sacked five times and forced out of the game with 3:24 left with an inflamed throwing elbow. "If rest would make a big difference for him, that would be a different factor, but Rob’s been playing this way and he still hasn’t thrown and intercepton in I don’t know how long. And he played better in the second half. We — he, all of us, me — didn’t have a good first half, but the second half he did play well."’

‘Thurman Thomas on having words with Bills LB John Holecek: "I’m sure John was probably going at me with a little extra than some of the other guys. I wasn’t going out there looking for John until he said something to me and that’s when it really got going. From that point on, I was really looking forward to getting a shot at him and letting him know that I was out there on the football field."’

‘Bills tight ends coach Max Bowman was hospitalized for precautionary reasons after suffering dizzy spells on Monday. "I think he’s fine," said Bills coach Wade Phillips, noting that Bowman suffers from hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).’

‘Buffalo’s defense has been mostly doing its part, allowing an average 18 points per outing. The offense on the other hand has scored more than 16 points once and, against Miami, gave up nine points — one touchback and a touchdown off a fumble. "It’s boiling down to one or two plays," Johnson said. "We’re not playing well enough throughout the game to not have it come down to those one or two plays." Perhaps, center Jerry Ostroski put it best, saying: "Hopefully, we’ve hit rock bottom, because I don’t think we can get much lower."’