Two Bills Drive

‘And that focus and intensity again will be the difference this weekend when Indianapolis visits Buffalo, where it has not won since 1994. Especially against a quarterback such as Rob Johnson, who is agile enough to lead the Bills in rushing this season. "We’re facing a similar type of quarterback as we did last week," coach Jim Mora said. "He’s an athletic-type quarterback that is tough to bring down."’

‘Before Flutie tore a groin muscle in July, Buffalo Bills head coach Wade Phillips suggested using Flutie in certain situations in place of starter Rob Johnson. With Flutie expected to be promoted to No. 2 quarterback for this Sunday’s game against Indianapolis, Phillips didn’t sound all that certain about sticking to his original plan. "We have to play that by ear," Phillips said on Wednesday. "Certainly, I think he can help you. I think he’s a guy that can come in and spark-plug you."’

‘"I think we’re going to be more of a passing team this year. That’s what it looks like to me," Phillips said on Wednesday. "I think we’re going to be able to move the ball through the air efficiently."’

‘After spending the first three weeks of the season as the third-string quarterback because of a groin injury, Flutie has moved ahead of Alex Van Pelt on the depth chart. Flutie began working with the second-team offense last week, and his workload will likely increase this week as the Bills prepare for Sunday’s AFC East showdown against the Indianapolis Colts at Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘Smith got the ball 18 times per game in 1998 when he ran for a career-high 1,124 yards, but averaged just 10 carries last season. "For me, I feel like I really wasn’t getting a fair opportunity at it," Smith said. "The last game, I only had five carries. Thirty carries (actually 34) in three games. . . . I guess that’s enough carries to do your job. I guess."’

‘"The running game hasn’t gotten off to a good start so the blame had to fall on somebody’s shoulders, and I’m that guy," said Smith, who was demoted to No. 3 on the depth chart behind Jonathan Linton and Shawn Bryson. Asked how big his shoulders were, an uncharacteristically angry and sarcastic Smith quipped: "Big enough to carry this blame."’

‘”You know something, for me I feel like I wasn’t given a fair opportunity. Last game I only had five carries. I guess 30 carries in three games is enough carries to do your job, I guess,” Smith said. “The running game hasn’t gotten off to a good start, so the blame has to fall on somebody’s shoulders and I’m that guy.”‘

‘While the Bills enjoyed a week off, Indianapolis, which already had its bye week, will be entertaining tough Jacksonville tonight. In case you’re wondering, Buffalo has one of the NFL’s best records in games after bye weeks, since those open dates were added to the schedule in 1990. The Bills are 9-2 following bye weeks, 6-2 at home, 3-0 on the road. In fact, they’re even inspired heading into bye, going 8-4 the game before, one of those losses coming a week ago at the Meadowlands.’

‘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."’