Two Bills Drive

‘Flutie and Rob Johnson are both listed as starters on the Bills’ depth chart, but even Johnson admits Flutie is No. 1 right now. Both will get more time than in the 24-10 victory at Seattle last week, when coach Wade Phillips brought the subs in early and didn’t use Andre Reed, Bruce Smith and Thurman Thomas at all.’

‘Buffalo veterans Bruce Smith, Andre Reed and Thurman Thomas won’t play forever. Or will they?’

‘In 39 previous summers, the team has had just eight winning records in practice games. Four of them occurred in the franchise’s first seven years. Only one has occurred in the past 16.’

‘Dusty Renfro, the pride of Cleburne, Texas, is an undrafted rookie trying to beat the odds with the Buffalo Bills. But three short weeks into training camp, the leading tackler at the University of Texas the past two seasons has shown that maybe he’s not such a long shot Longhorn.’

‘Washington coach Norv Turner, who played most of his starters for an entire half in last week’s 20-14 victory at New England, said his first-teamers will play well into the third quarter against the Bills.’

‘[Norv] Turner indicated that he plans to use his starters for at least a half against the Bills. Some starters will play into the third quarter, Turner said. He indicated that [Brad] Johnson will play longer than the 1 1/2 quarters of work he got against the Patriots.’

‘The college has presented a proposal to the Bills that could keep them in Fredonia, but the team has taken no action yet. “It would effect our pride more than our economy,” said Mayor Frank Pagano of the fallout from any Bills exodus. “We always say that the road to the Super Bowl starts in Fredonia.”‘

‘”The fire was extensive enough that they couldn’t stay there so he’s in the process of relocating his family and getting all those things done,” Phillips said. “But we’re happy his family is fine. The other things certainly can be replaced.”‘

‘”We’re talking primarily with St. John Fisher and I’m confident we can strike a deal with them,” Bill Duffy, the team’s executive vice president of administration, said yesterday. “We’ve exchanged proposals. Have we reached a final proposal? No. But we are in negotiations.”‘

‘With the Buffalo backfield depleted by injuries, he could become the biggest longshot running back to make the Bills’ active squad out of training camp since Benedictine’s Jamie Mueller in 1987…The Bills lack depth at running back with promising rookie Shawn Bryson lost for the season with a knee injury. Antowain Smith, the top running back last season, says his torn groin muscle is still a bit sore. Veteran Thurman Thomas can still carry the load at 33, but not all of it. Thomas has adjusted to his role as a part-time back. Jonathan Linton had trouble holding on to the ball at Seattle on Saturday.’

‘According to the selection committee, the recipient is someone who has “set a standard of excellence that has had a tremendous influence on the game of football at the professional level and is worthy of special recognition.”‘

‘Andre Reed and Bruce Smith, who are starting their 15th seasons, and Thurman Thomas, starting his 12th, will see action in the Bills’ preseason game at Washington Friday night.’

‘Two Saturdays ago, the first day individual game tickets went on sale, the Bills sold a single-day club record 24,135 tickets. Team officials say distribution through Wegmans stores was the main reason.’

‘The Buffalo Bills rushed for 188 yards in their exhibition opener against Seattle. Not too bad an effort. But subtract quarterback Rob Johnson’s 53 yards, remember that starter Antowain Smith is hobbled by sore groin and add in the fumbles of backup Jonathan Linton and suddenly, the Buffalo ground game is a lot scarier on paper than it is on the field.’

‘Linton fumbled three times, twice deep in his own territory on Buffalo’ first two series. In the second quarter, he was stuffed on a third-and-goal-at-the-one plunge. On fourth down, he fumbled again, making a meaningless recovery. “I have no excuses for that,” said Linton, who found himself the center of intense media attention yesterday after practice. “I’m not saying the ball was slick or my arms were wet or somebody knocked it out. That should never happen. I’m a running back. I know they’re going to go after the ball. Nothing really happened, it was just a lack of focus and concentration.”‘