Two Bills Drive

‘Debate all you want, but here are the numbers that seem to matter most: Johnson is 27, is 6 feet 4, and signed a five-year, $25-million contract in 1998. Flutie is 38, is 5-10, and didn’t.’

‘"I had great adviser in a guy named Phil Simms . . . and also Joe Theismann," Grbac said of the two ex-quarterbacks-turned-broadcasters. "I talked to them when I was hurt and they told me that you’ve got to understand some of the positive things you do and some of your weaknesses. If you can understand some of your weaknesses, you can stay healthy."’

‘Buffalo’s own version of it – Doug Flutie or Rob Johnson – was the subject of the Fox Sports Net program "The Last Word with Jim Rome." It was taped Friday afternoon for airing at 11 p.m. nationally with Buffalo News Sports Editor Larry Felser pro-Johnson and Dan Pompei of the Sporting News pro-Flutie.’

‘Rookie running back Sammy Morris was placed on the early inactive list for the game due to a sprained ankle.’

‘An apologetic Orchard Park handyman was sentenced to six months in jail Friday for planting crack cocaine in the car of a Springville man and was ordered to repay former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly $6,500 for sports memorabilia he stole from his home.’

‘With 199 points, Buffalo is one of just six teams in the NFL this season not to top the 30-point mark at least once.’

‘Shields, who has not missed a game in his eight-year career with the Chiefs, returned to practice Friday, and the Chiefs are confident he’ll start his 122nd consecutive game Sunday.’

‘The Bills returned about 200 tickets for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs have them on sale at the Arrowhead box office.’

‘Running back Sammy Morris, who leads the Buffalo Bills with five touchdowns, hasn’t recovered from an ankle injury and will miss Sunday’s game at Kansas City.’

‘Their 6-4 record indicates they’ve done that. But that’s mainly been true when playing at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Buffalo is 1-3 on the road, with the win coming at feeble New England. The Bills haven’t won in the stadium of a team with a .500 or better record since Nov. 7, 1999, when they beat Washington.’

‘In the days after Buffalo’s 27-14 loss to the New York Jets on Sept. 17, the Bills’ offensive coordinator banished Antowain Smith to the sidelines. For several weeks, Buf falo’s No. 1 draft pick in 1997 had to serve as the team’s most highly touted cheerleader, taking a spot on the team’s inactive list alongside guys like Victor Allotey, the third-year offensive lineman who has made a career out of spending game day in street clothes.’

‘But today’s Chiefs have eschewed the ground attack for an all-out air assault. They rank third in the NFL in passing going into Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills.’

‘Running back Sammy Morris and cornerback Donovan Greer look like the only question marks for the Buffalo Bills when they visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.’

‘The Chiefs are back home, hungry and desperate, a bad combination for the Bills.’

‘It has been a maddening tactic for Bills fans to endure, the repeated high and short kickoffs which allow opposing teams to start drives generally somewhere between the 30 or 40-yard-line.’