Two Bills Drive

‘Today, about 25 members of that Bills team that repeated as American Football League champions in 1965 will be honored before the Green Bay Packers game at the stadium that bears Wilson’s name. You can be sure there will be plenty more laughs as the oldtimers tell tall tales over tall ones. Lou Saban, the well-traveled coach, is expected to be there, as is Jack Kemp, the quarterback who became a Congressman and presidential candidate, and Billy Shaw, the Hall of Fame guard who anchored a vastly underrated offensive line. "Our ’64 championship team was healthier and had more overall talent, but the ’65 season may have been more gratifying because we had to overcome so much more," recalled Kemp, the director of Empower America, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.’

‘Green, Favre and company will face a very good Buffalo defense. The Bills finished last season with the NFL’s best defense, and it shows no signs of relinquishing the crown. Last week the Bills limited Titan running back Eddie George to 37 yards on 17 carries. "The Bills defense is very strong and powerful," said Packer head coach Mike Sherman. "They haven’t lost much from last season."’

‘"I had a great fondness for that team," said Saban, who is coaching at Canton (N.Y.) Tech. "I thought it was one of those teams that I coached that did it when they were all beat up and still able to win the championship. I had great respect for the people as individuals as well as football players." Saban will return to Western New York this weekend and join some 40 of the 52 players on the Bills’ last championship team. Festivities include a cocktail party and dinner tonight, a ceremony before the Packers-Bills game Sunday and the Quarterback Club luncheon on Monday. Among those in attendance will be the stars of that game, Jack Kemp and Ernie Warlick, who connected on an 18-yard touchdown pass, and Butch Byrd, who had a 74-yard punt return for a TD. Others include Dubenion, Hall of Fame guard Billy Shaw, center Al Bemiller, fullback Wray Carlton, cornerback Booker Edgerson, linebacker Harry Jacobs, linebacker Marty Schottenheimer, quarterback-receiver Ed Rutkowski, defensive tackle Ron McDole and linebacker Mike Stratton. "It’s always good for a good time," said Stratton, whose tackle on Keith Lincoln in the ’64 title game was one of the biggest plays in team history. "You get to match your recollection of things against other people’s recollection. It’s amazing how much difference there can be. If you look back 35 years, I made all the tackles and (safety) George Saimes didn’t make any. Of course, he remembers it just the other way."’

‘Bentley is moving his wife and five children from Grand Rapids, Mich., to Western New York because he is the head coach of the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League. "I can’t not be there," said Bentley, who expects his Destroyers position to be mentioned in the broadcast. Fox, after all, has allowed him to continue coaching. "They understand that it really can only help as far as being a better broadcaster," Bentley said. "Now I can look at it not only as a former player but also from the perspective of a current coach."’

‘"I’ve had teams hold me to one catch and things, but I’m not really concerned about it," Moulds said. "If I go out and play hard, you can’t (double-cover me) every play, so eventually I’ll be singled up and that’s when I have to make the play." Moulds might have a field day tomorrow when the Bills play host to the Green Bay Packers. The Packers secondary is banged up and will be without Mike McKenzie, Green Bay’s top cornerback who hurt his knee during last week’s loss to the New York Jets.’

‘Green Bay Packers return specialist Allen Rossum will not only be the smallest player Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium but also possibly the biggest target. Two weeks ago, Rossum was playing for the Philadelphia Eagles in their final exhibition game when, with 31 seconds left, he hustled around the corner and dived, attempting to block a field-goal attempt by Steve Christie of the Buffalo Bills. Rossum slid into Christie’s leg and the kicker went down for more than a minute before being carried off the field. Bills coach Wade Phillips was yelling and pointing at Rossum, who stayed with medical personnel until Christie was moved. His 33-yard field goal ensured the Bills’ 16-12 victory. Rossum was penalized 15 yards for running into the kicker. It turned out that all Christie received was a bruise below the knee, and within a few days he was fine. But some Bills were incensed at the time, given the circumstances. "In high school, we’d have had a fight after the game over something like that," Bills defensive end Marcellus Wiley said. Traded to the Packers the next day, Rossum forgot about the incident until he was asked at mid-week if he feared the Bills’ special teams would be out to wreak physical revenge. "You know, I’m not worried about that if they’re going to have that type of attitude," he said. "I didn’t try to hurt the guy. If that was the case, I would have run right for the kicker. He was coming down and we just bumped into each other." Bills general manager John Butler was as concerned as anyone about Christie’s condition at the time but absolved Rossum of malicious intent and doesn’t anticipate retaliation from Buffalo coverage units.’

‘"If Brett Favre pulls on that No. 4 jersey and goes out there to play, we know he’s going to give 110 percent," free safety Keion Carpenter said. "That injury stuff doesn’t mean a thing." Said defensive end Marcellus Wiley: "Brett Favre can go 0- for 20 then rip your heart out with pass 21. They say he’s hurt but like they say, a wounded animal is a dangerous animal."’

‘"No secret," Packers quarterback Brett Favre said. "(The Bills) are as good as they are hyped up to be. Very good, even better at home. Tremendous size up front and, on top of that, they’re very quick. "I’m not blowing smoke here, they’re good. We’ll have our hands full. By far the best run defense that we’ll probably face all year, or close to it. If you can’t run, then you have to throw every time and are playing into their hands." The heart of the defense are nose tackles Ted Washington and Pat Williams, perhaps an ideal combination of size and more size. Packers coach Mike Sherman used to coach Williams at Texas A&M, so he knows what the Packers are up against. "It’s a strong, powerful defense," Sherman said. "Washington is listed at 330 pounds, he might be more like 360. He is a huge man, probably one of the best run stoppers in football."’

The coach began the day by comparing the Week 1 defeat to Muhammad Ali losing the first round of a heavyweight fight. It was an analogy the players appeared to buy into, Favre in particular. “I’d like to think this of’fense has a knockout punch to it,” Favre said. “It has in the past. To say that I was rusty, had not played in three weeks, had not played in a game – yes, that is true. That is no excuse.”‘

"Miracle: Have y’all tired of hearing "miracle" tied to Tennessee and Buffalo. It’s over — besides, in Buffalo, it wasn’t a miracle; it was a forward lateral."

Nice bit on the "Social Security Three" at the bottom, too.

‘Smith will be the man mostly on first and second downs when the Bills are more likely to run. He still has the power and burst of speed to make plays. Even though Smith won’t catch a lot of passes, his presence in the backfield on first-and-10 could help set up the play-action pass. Linton, who led the team in rushing last year as a part-time player, excelled as a third-down back. He’s got good hands and the 6-foot-1, 230-pounder is difficult to bring down. Though listed as questionable, it’s possible he could see his first action on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Linton also can play some fullback. Bryson has unlimited potential as a runner and receiver. He also has the breakaway speed to turn short gainers into long ones.’

‘"Last year, the defense just carried us," he said. "I don’t want it to be a situation where we’re a one-dimensional team as far as the defense just carrying us each week because we’re going to play Minnesota and some great offenses. Tennessee has a good offense, but they don’t have the capabilities of the Minnesota offense."’

‘It will be harrowing enough on Sunday for Brett Favre to have to look across the line of scrimmage at two fire-breathing behemoths who weigh a combined 650 pounds two. But the Green Bay Packers superstar knows things could be worse Bills. "That’s a 1-2 combo that’s as good as any in the league," Favre said of the Bills’ two imposing nose tackles, Ted Washington and Pat Williams, who are now being used in tandem in certain situations by defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell drive. "I can say this, I’m just glad I’m not a center or a guard," Favre said the other day. "Ted’s an imposing force. We go way back, and it never ceases to amaze me how quick he is. And Pat Williams may be the quickest nose tackle I’ve seen. "Being a quarterback against them ain’t easy, but being a center or a guard, you’ve got your hands full."’

‘Disgruntled Buffalo Bills wide receiver Eric Moulds has cleared the air with his coaches and teammates and is ready to resume his role as the team’s most marked man two. Moulds, who caught just two passes for 46 yards in last Sunday’s victory over the Tennessee Titans, stormed out of the locker room after the game, apparently upset with not getting the ball enough Bills. He refused interviews for three days, but yesterday told The Empire Sports Network he spoke with offensive coordinator Joe Pendry and felt better drive. It’s also known that Moulds spoke with all three of the team’s quarterbacks, Rob Johnson, Doug Flutie and Alex Van Pelt, about his role. Without released veteran Andre Reed, second-year pros Peerless Price and Jeremy McDaniel have to prove themselves in order to take some heat off Moulds. Until that happens, the former Pro Bowler will attract much attention.’

‘"We didn’t have a high number of sacks, interceptions, things like that," said linebacker Sam Cowart, who led the Bills with 186 tackles last season (fifth-best all-time in team history two). "We were a very conservative defense Bills. As a result of that, we gave up the least amount of big plays last year drive. That’s our philosophy. It kind of takes away from our players’ stats, but we’re able to do that and finish in the top three or four in defense every year."