Two Bills Drive

‘Quarterback Doug Flutie, who practiced in pads on Wednesday for the first time in almost a month, says his torn groin muscle feels “90 percent” healthy. Despite Flutie’s faster-than-expected recovery, he won’t play Sunday in the Buffalo Bills’ season opener against the Tennessee Titans. “He won’t be ready for this game, but he’s coming along fast,” coach Wade Phillips said.’

‘Quarterback Rob Johnson says he’s still the same hard-throwing, laid-back kid from Southern California. His Buffalo Bills teammates beg to differ, noting he’s grown in poise and confidence as the team prepares for Sunday’s season-opener against the Tennessee Titans. "He’s shown maturity. He’s shown that he’s ready to lead the ballclub. He’s shown that he’s the guy this year," Bills linebacker Sam Cowart said Wednesday. "Once the season gets underway, we get a couple of wins and he proves to the fans, himself and to the team that he’s our quarterback, I think there won’t be so much of a quarterback controversy. "It’ll be Rob’s show."’

‘[Buffalo Bills] 2000 Prediction: 10-6, second in East.’

‘Helping motivate Moulds is that this is the final year of his contract. He can’t help but consider the multimillion-dollar prize that could await him. "You’re a competitor, and you see all these guys getting these big contracts and, of course, you would like to be in that situation," Moulds said. "But you still have to go out this year and have a good showing." Watching the team’s off-season moves to clear room under the salary cap, Moulds hoped some of that was being saved for him because he wants to remain a Bill. "I want to be here and I’m pretty sure it’ll get done," he said. "But I just go out there and approach it that, if I play well, then I figure they’ll take care of it."’

‘Buffalo (11-5) will forever be known as the victim of football’s most unexpected lateral, but coach Wade Phillips may be remembered for a fumble if the Bills struggle this year.’

‘It’s hard to improve on being the top-ranked defense in the NFL, which the Bills were in 1999. But there is one area the team is looking to get better. Despite their defensive success, the Bills did not create a lot of turnovers. They forced 21 of them last season, the 15th-lowest total in the AFC and 29th overall in the NFL. But if the preseason is any indication, the Bills may wreak more havoc on opposing offenses than they did a year ago. In four exhibition games, the Bills created 10 turnovers (four interceptions and six fumbles). There were at least four other passes that could have been intercepted and a couple of forced fumbles that were almost recovered. "The more opportunities you give your offense to score, the higher their scoring percentage is going to be," linebacker Sam Rogers said. "This defense has that capability to make things happen. It’s an exciting defense to play in."’

‘At 81, the man who pays the Bills hasn’t lost his sense of humor, and that’s good because you need one to survive in a business that can be just a kickoff return away from breaking your heart. "Sometimes you have to laugh in order not to cry," says Wilson, one of the National Football League’s most respected owners. Such an attitude will come in handy during Sunday night’s season opener against Tennessee at Ralph Wilson Stadium because the Titans’ visit is sure to conjure memories of Buffalo’s devastating loss to them in last January’s AFC wild-card game in Nashville. "Worst defeat I’ve experienced in 40 years of football," Wilson says. "Worse than any of the Super Bowl losses."’

‘Every single day since Super Bowl XXXIV, Kevin Dyson has been reminded about the way the game ended. Dyson, the Tennessee Titans receiver who was tackled on the 1-yard line by St. Louis Rams linebacker Mike Jones as time expired, insists this without a doubt. Was it not brought up for one day . . . like maybe on vacation? "Not one day," Dyson says. "I don’t think about it until people ask me about it. I was done with it right after it happened. But wherever people see me — at the mall, in stores, on the street, wherever — if they recognize me, they say something. "Every single day, it’s either that or the Buffalo play." Ah, the Buffalo play. Tennessee would never have been in position to lose Super Bowl XXXIV 23-16 without Dyson’s breathtaking 75-yard kickoff return touchdown off a cross-field, Frank Wycheck lateral. Dubbed "The Music City Miracle," it lifted the Titans to a 22-16 victory in an AFC wild-card game. "And just think," Dyson says, "I wasn’t even supposed to be on the field for that."’

‘Even with all the defections, the Bills are still a solid football team. However, facing the NFL’s toughest schedule will make it tough to challenge Indianapolis for the division title. Nine wins may be the most realistic projection.’

‘The Bills like many of their division rivals will be looking up at the Indianapolis Colts most of the season. Look for an 8-8 finish and a possible coaching change at year’s end.’

‘The problem for the Buffalo Bills was that opposing defenses eventually became untangled by Flutie’s antics. They worked toward shutting down the run and dared the Bills to beat them with their quarterback. And his arm didn’t scare anyone. This year should be different. Rob Johnson is the quarterback now. He has a stronger arm, one more suited for throwing downfield. He has younger, faster receivers, who can get open downfield. And he’s running an offense geared more toward making plays downfield.’

‘University at Buffalo products Drew Haddad and Josh Roth were among five players who were assigned to the Buffalo Bills’ developmental squad on Monday. Haddad was taken in the seventh round and hoped to catch on with the Bills as a punt returner and receiver. He returned three punts for 22 yards in the preseason. He also had three catches for 22 yards. Roth had one catch for 11 yards. He did not carry the ball. "It’s a big help for kids in the developmental stage," Bills coach Wade Phillips said. "I think they can learn a whole lot in that situation."’

‘[New Buffalo Bills Special Teams Coach Ronnie] Jones is here to make sure Buffalo’s kickoff coverage team doesn’t forget what happened nearly eight months ago. "That play will not work this time," he promised. "Now, something else I can’t guarantee, but I can guarantee that one will not work."’

‘"It was a blur. The first thing I remember after it really was one of the chain gang came up to me and said, ‘Hurry and kick the extra point because it was a forward lateral.’ And I said, ‘It doesn’t matter because it’s the last two minutes, they’re going to review it anyway.’"’

“He shot straight with me,” Reed said of [Broncos’ coach Mike] Shanahan. “Last year in Buffalo I didn’t get that kind of straight talk.’