Two Bills Drive

‘Buffalo’s [quarterback] Rob Johnson needs something, some hook to get the Bills’ faithful on his side. But it’s a tough road for Johnson, the Newport Beach [California] native and former USC star, with fan favorite Doug Flutie constantly peering over his shoulder. Wrong choice of words. At 5-foot-10, Flutie couldn’t do that to the 6-4 Johnson without a step ladder. Wrong choice of words, again. Forget the Bills and ladders – it’s the winless Chargers, one can guess, who walked under a ladder at some point for an unlucky 0-6 start. The Bills and Johnson aren’t concerned with the Chargers’ woes. They’ve lost three straight, after opening with two wins, and they’ll try to snap their skid Sunday when entertaining San Diego at Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘Aside from Rob Johnson’s parents, it’s unlikely anybody at Ralph Wilson Stadium will be looking at the Buffalo Bills’ quarterback more admiringly on Sunday than San Diego Chargers coach Mike Riley. The reason isn’t just because Riley is saddled with a quarterbacking combination that has compiled the second-worst combined passer rating in the NFL this season. Riley was the offensive coordinator at Southern California in Johnson’s junior and senior seasons and loves the Bills’ QB. "I think the world of him," Riley said. "I really, really, really appreciated my time with Rob at USC. It was a great experience. I think he’s one of the most coachable people I’ve ever been around." The feeling is mutual.’

‘"We are all very frustrated with what’s gone on," said [San Diego Chargers Coach Mike] Riley, whose team will have a tough task snapping out of it tomorrow against the Buffalo Bills at a sold-out Ralph Wilson Stadium. "We’re just trying to climb out of the barrel. Our goals are fairly immediate. Records and playoffs and all that stuff are not necessarily (out of the question), but the first thing we have to do is get a win."’

‘So the Bills are dragging ‘ya down? You’re stayin’ awake nights haunted by third-and-five, Carl Mauck’s face and another kickoff? Take a break and think of the un-plugged Chargers. The Bills’ record is 2-3; the Chargers are 0-6.’

‘Having lost three consecutive games, the Buffalo Bills have gone to the dogs, some say. Actually, coming home to the dogs is more accurate. The team’s second annual "Bills and Their Pets" calendar, which went on sale this week with proceeds benefitting the SPCA of Erie County and the Bills Youth Foundation, reveals the team is loaded with dog lovers.’

When inquiring about Chargers right tackle Vaughn Parker’s ticket list for Sunday, one needs to only look at his jersey number: 70. "I ordered 70, but it might get up to 75,” said Parker, the former Buffalo prep star who is headed to familiar haunts this weekend. "It’s cool to go home."…In Parker, Buffalo gets to see one of its good guys. This offseason he donated a substantial sum to his alma mater, St. Joseph High. He gave $10,000 for a new weight room and $20,000 for an endowment, which he has committed an additional $20,000 to for each of the next four years.’

Weekly picks from the Buffalo Post.

‘Antowain Smith didn’t talk for long on Wednesday. But the beleaguered and benched running back, whose request for a trade before Monday’s National Football League deadline went unfulfilled, said more in a few minutes after practice than he has in three-plus years of much lengthier interviews.’

‘Price has caught 11 passes for 173 yards and one touchdown. But when you’re a high draft pick, you’re held to a higher standard. It’s not enough to play well. You have to do things that impact the outcome of games in your team’s favor. Unfortunately for the Bills, there have been too many games when Price’s presence hasn’t been felt.’

‘"Erik had a little problem with his heel to start the season, but he’s fine now and I’m pleased with him," said Phillips. "He’s very quick off the ball, he’s shown that." What he hasn’t shown is the ability to sack quarterbacks that led the Bills to use the 26th overall pick in the draft to select him. "Erik has a ways to go yet," said 10-year veteran defensive end Phil Hansen, who has been sort of a mentor to the 22-year-old rookie ever since Flowers ended his brief training camp holdout and reported to St. John Fisher College in late July. "He’s improving each week, but he has to understand this is a professional level."’

‘Every time the San Diego Chargers run on the field, a couple of turnovers by the quarterbacks are practically guaranteed, usually with disastrous results. They’ve committed 14 so far this season, including 12 interceptions, which is the biggest reason they’re 0-6 with no apparent relief in sight. Since the start of the 1998 season — Leaf’s rookie year — Chargers quarterbacks have churned out more turnovers than your average bakery.’

‘Sunday’s most indelible image should be Buffalo’s left tackle, John Fina, standing over Miami defensive end Jason Taylor, who in turn was lying on top of Bills quarterback Rob Johnson. You could also substitute Robert Hicks or Marcus Spriggs for Fina and Dolphins rush specialist Trace Armstrong for Taylor.’

‘It’s kind of the same as last week, almost like we’re on a roller-coaster of emotions," said Morris, referring to the Bills last-second loss to Indianapolis. "We got a high point and then all of a sudden we got a big, hard low point.’

‘Johnson, the Bills’ quarterback, sympathizes with the fact that Riley, the Chargers head coach, is winless. But with Buffalo having lost three straight, Johnson’s concerns are selfish, despite the Chargers’ 0-6 start. Their friendship dates back to Johnson’s final three seasons at USC when he was the Trojans’ quarterback and Riley was offensive coordinator.’

‘Thus far in the 2000 season, the Chargers have proved they can’t win with Ryan Leaf taking the bulk of the snaps. Or Moses Moreno. Or Jim Harbaugh. The simple solution? Don’t give a majority of the playing time to anybody.’