Two Bills Drive

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.’

‘In a move that was both firm and indecisive, coach Mike Riley said yesterday that both Jim Harbaugh and Moses Moreno will play Sunday at Buffalo. Harbaugh will start and work the first quarter. Moreno will play the second. After that, Riley is unsure. "I haven’t made any plans for the second half," he said. "I’m just going to leave it alone right now."’

‘If you want to know how long it has been since the Chargers won a game, don’t bother with the standings in the newspaper. Just look at hair on the running backs’ heads. Several of San Diego’s running backs have pledged not to cut their hair until the team gets a win. Suffice it to say it’s a good thing the Afro is back in style, what with the Chargers 0-6 and having no apparent gimmes on the schedule.’

‘Sunday’s 1 p.m. match of the Bills against San Diego is scheduled be heard at the buffalobills.com and yahoo.com Web sites.’

‘"We’re going to get better," Pendry said Wednesday as the team prepared for Sunday’s meeting with the San Diego Chargers. "Everybody has to grow, and we have to make plays. That’s the bottom line. "I would be extremely discouraged," Pendry said, "if we were making no first downs in the game, if we were three-and-out every game, or even worse, if we were throwing interceptions or fumbling. But we’re not making turnovers. "I feel like this offense is moving the ball, but the consistency factor must be better, and when we have a chance to make a touchdown play, we’re not making it," Pendry said.’

‘So when Phillips suggested he might use Flutie in an unconventional fashion this year, as a change of pace, it was hard to take him seriously. It’s too radical a concept in the ultra-conservative football coaching fraternity. But the time has come for him to consider it.’

‘The Buffalo Bills players were optimistic Wednesday that a players-only team meeting that was held this week would help improve the team’s mental attitude after three straight losses. "I don’t think all team meetings are always effective," said quarterback Rob Johnson. "But the team meetings here have been really good. You’ve got guys like Henry Jones and Phil Hansen talking. Doug (Flutie) talked. You get veterans like that who’ve played a lot and hopefully the young guys will listen."’