Two Bills Drive

‘"It’s just that as the season goes on, we’ve thrown a lot and you get tendinitis," said Johnson. "I’ve taken a couple of hits on my elbow and I’ve got some scabs there, so it’s been a little more tender than it was before. But I’ll be all right, it’s just something that I’ll have to deal with it."’

‘And now on Sunday, the Jets face what Coach Al Groh fears could be the finest defensive team in the league. The Bills were first in the league last season, and so far third this year.’

‘"This is the best linebacking corps we’re going to face all year," running back Jonathan Linton said. "They bring a lot of heat." So do the Bills’ linebackers, led by another former Florida State star, Sam Cowart, who already has 28 tackles and is being hyped as one of the best young linebackers in the NFL. Cowart and Jones never played together in college, but Jones served as a chaperone on Cowart’s recruiting visit. Asked how Jones sold him on the school, Cowart cracked yesterday: "He helped sell me by leaving (school), because he left a year early. "I’m from Florida, and all we get on TV are Florida State and Florida, so I couldn’t help but watch him," Cowart said. "He’s a great linebacker. He’s one of the best players ever to put on a Florida State uniform." Jones, who will be inducted tonight into the Florida State sports Hall of Fame, wants to teach Cowart a lesson Sunday. ("I have to outplay the young guy," he said.)’

‘Former Jets WR Keyshawn Johnson, who faces his old team in nine days, took another swipe yesterday at his longtime nemesis, Wayne Chrebet. Johnson, who watched the Jets’ 20-19 victory over the Patriots Monday night, said Dedric Ward has emerged as their No. 1 receiver. Ward had four receptions for 100 yards in the game. "I always said Dedric Ward was going to be their guy, and Dedric Ward is their guy right now," Johnson told reporters at the Buccaneers’ facility in Tampa. "But, in New York, they don’t want to hear that. That’s new to them. If you say that, it’s all over the AP wire. "The coaching staff and administrative people know the truth. The writers and fans don’t get the whole picture. I know the truth because I can watch and see how teams are playing them." By praising Ward, Johnson was knocking Chrebet, who had a fantastic game. He caught four passes for 71 yards, including two touchdowns in the final 6:25.’

‘Anderson, whom some are calling "Slash" because is he’s so multi-talented, did indeed ignite the Jets to that 20-19 win. Without his efforts on that drive, the Jets never even have a chance to win it in the final moments. "I think his time has come," Lucas said of Anderson, who’s been a Jet since 1993. "He’s been doing this for awhile, but nobody seemed to pick up on it. Maybe because it was spotty, maybe we weren’t using him as much as we are now. But he’s definitely dependable. You know what you’re going to get out of Richie every day. "He’s the total package," Lucas went on. "He’s a fullback who can block for you. Most fullbacks in the NFL are going out in the flat, catching the ball and picking up three yards for you. "Obviously, teams are going to have to start looking at No. 20 when they gameplan. You’ve got to pay special attention to him, because he can hurt you with the run, he can hurt you after he catches the ball and he can hurt you vertically downfield. "Not too many fullbacks in the league – not any, really – go out and line up split all the way outside and go run past people out there. Here you have Richie making catches and taking the ball all the way down the field almost by himself, almost scoring in a screen pass. "How many fullbacks get screens? I mean, we design plays for Richie a lot."’

‘They’re not printing playoff tickets yet over at Weeb Ewbank Hall, nor will they regardless of what the outcome is Sunday at Giants Stadium, where the 2-0 Jets play the 2-0 Bills. However, a Jets’ victory Sunday will go a significant way toward pushing the Jets back into the postseason for the first time since they nearly derailed Denver from the AFC title game at the end of the ’98 season.’

‘Last season, the Buffalo Bills finished first in the NFL in total defense under coordinator Ted Cottrell, allowing the fewest points by an AFC team in 21 years and setting several team defensive records. The unit not only played hard because it was their job, they played hard for Cottrell, a practitioner of the kind of tough love that endears a coach to his players. Yet, Cottrell’s phone didn’t ring once last off-season when a half dozen NFL head coaching jobs opened up. Ted Cottrell, a former Rutgers assistant coach, is black. "It was kind of discouraging," Cottrell said yesterday from his office, where he’s preparing his defense for a showdown with the Jets on Sunday at Giants Stadium. "It was only for a moment. I got over it. "But you can’t tell people who to hire. Hopefully, if I keep doing a good job, I’ll get a shot. I’m working towards that. This is my profession, and I want to reach the top of my profession. And I don’t just want to get there, I want to be successful."’

‘Linebacker Marvin Jones helped recruit Buffalo Bills linebacker Sam Cowart to Florida State several years ago. On Sunday, the two will lead their respective defenses in a battle for the AFC East Division lead. Jones, an eighth-year pro, leads the Jets with 21 tackles. Cowart, in his third season, tops the Bills with 28 tackles. "It’s a challenge," a smiling Jones said yesterday. "I’m an older guy. I have to try to outplay the young guy." "Everybody wanted to be like Marvin," Cowart has said. "He was the best collegiate linebacker I’ve ever seen."’

‘The good news for the Jets’ interior offensive linemen is that Buffalo nose tackle Ted Washington has slimmed down to a program weight of 330 pounds. The bad news is that the Bills increasingly are teaming Washington with Pat Williams, who tips the scales at 310. The Bills refer to the alignment as "The Package." "That’s a big package," running back Curtis Martin said Thursday. "That’s a load." Center Kevin Mawae calls it a brick wall. Coach Al Groh said a forklift is the appropriate industrial machine to move them. And right guard Randy Thomas, asked how it would be going up against 650 or so pounds of defensive tackle Sunday, said, "I thought he weighed more than that." Just a joke, Ted.’

‘Prediction: Bills 20, Jets 17.’

‘Two weeks ago, Mike Cawley was sitting in his Pittsburgh home waiting for the phone to ring. Specifically, he was waiting for the Buffalo Bills to send out a call to the bullpen for an experienced hurler. Since Cawley was the last quarterback cut by the Bills at training camp, he thought he might be summoned back to Buffalo when starter Rob Johnson was injured in the first regular season game. But as he waited for someone from the Bills to dial his number, it was Calgary Stampeders head coach Wally Buono who showed the most interest. Tuesday, Cawley finally answered the call and Buono got his man as the 28-year-old made his Stampeder practice debut and began working towards a spot on the club. Cawley won’t be in the lineup Saturday against Hamilton but should be ready in a week. "If Buffalo would have brought a quarterback in, it would have been me," said the James Madison University product, who agreed to a one-year contract, with a club option for 2001. "I had to take into consideration the fact that I could have been brought back there, that’s why it took a while to decide. "I had to keep my options open. But this is a good option for me and that’s why I’m here."’

‘Stamps GM/head coach Wally Buono had reportedly been courting Cawley for a couple of weeks since his release from the Buffalo Bills. "The things we liked about Mike is he’s had CFL experience, he’s tough, he’s athletic, he’s had some success in the CFL and right now, those quarterbacks are at a premium," said Buono. "And if he can come in and help us then we’ll be better for it."’

‘Bills quarterback Rob Johnson has tendinitis in his right throwing elbow, but it should not prevent him from playing this weekend. "I’ve had it for a while now. It’s just something that I’ve had to deal with," Johnson said on Thursday after he was wincing and grabbing his arm while warming up in practice. "I’ve taken a couple of hits on my elbow. I’ve got some scabs around it. It’s been a little more tender than it has been before. But I’ll be all right."’

‘Curtis Martin conceded yesterday that his sprained left knee is not yet completely right and he’ll continue to wear a brace on it until there’s no more pain. This is not a good combination with the Bills’ No. 3-ranked defense on deck.’

‘His slow starts have become a cause for some concern. But Vinny Testaverde has been a symbol of the perseverance the Jets have shown in their first two games. In Green Bay, he looked rusty in the first half, hardly resembling the form he showed in 1998. He overcame the rust in the second half and led the Jets to victory. On Monday night, Testaverde was even worse early, seemingly befuddled by Bill Belichick’s defensive schemes. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter, when he helped engineer the two critical TD drives, that Testaverde’s game came alive.’