Two Bills Drive

‘Coach Bill Belichick continued to retool his roster yesterday when he released Rucci, an eight-year veteran and full-time starter at right guard the previous four seasons.’

‘Flutie’s a cynical, hard-bitten veteran who retains a self-confidence so overwhelming it verges on megalomania.’

‘Call him the Kurt Warner of pro personnel directors. Because, like the Rams’ quarterback, A.J. Smith came out of obscurity to become one of the best in the NFL at his position.’

‘[The Buffalo Bills] could not afford to give [Kurt] Schulz the money he wanted, and only now are people beginning to understand that he might have been Buffalo’s biggest offseason loss.’

‘I hate to be critical … but heck, that’s what a column is for…’

‘"Doug Flutie?" said Lawyer Milloy. "I don’t want to talk about that little (expletive)."’

‘There is little doubt the Buffalo Bills have one of the strongest defenses in the National Football League. Just imagine how good the unit would be if it starts creating more big plays.’

‘Quarterback controversy? What quarterback controversy? As far as coach Wade Phillips is concerned, it does not exist with his team.’

‘"You Make the Call" is a presentation of both real and imagined NFL scenarios, where we invite you to "make the call" based upon the Official Rules for the NFL for 1999. Good luck, because you’ll need it.’

‘Wade Phillips wouldn’t commit to a starting quarterback for the Bills’ game at New England Sunday, Nov. 5. Rob Johnson had said he was going to throw Monday, but after coming from a team meeting, Phillips wasn’t sure whether the early-season starter had thrown.’

‘One thing we can expect against New England is that the Bills again will use the nickel defense that made a successful debut against the Jets. But they’ll have to do it without left defensive end Phil Hansen.’

‘Though the Bills have yet to name their starting quarterback for Sunday – Rob Johnson or Doug Flutie – Patriots coach Bill Belichick is preparing for Flutie. "I expect it to be Doug," said Belichick. "You can’t rule it out. Last year Rob started the playoff game, and if he’s healthy, I suppose we could see him. I expect to see Doug because he’s playing well and the team plays well with him in there."’

‘"He gets away from people and keeps the play alive with good judgment and he’s an accurate thrower," Belichick said. "Part of his being a quarterback is to pull the ball down, reverse his field, make the guy jump up in the air and pull it down again."’

‘Safety Larry Whigham wants to be counted as one of Doug Flutie’s biggest fans. "He’s earned my utmost respect," the veteran said yesterday of Buffalo’s scrappy little quarterback. "You can talk about his size, the way he throws the ball or whatever . . . the bottom line is that he wins games."’

‘"[Flutie’s] tough. He’s not a guy you look forward to playing against. He’s a pain in the butt."’