Two Bills Drive

‘About the most intriguing development at the Eagles’ preseason yawn against the visiting Buffalo Bills last night occurred hours before the first snap. A banner was unfurled in a corner once strictly reserved for cynicism and despair. "Big Red Has Restored Competence," it read, and, heralds should note, no one howled. Followers of the Bills might have had trouble with the cryptic message, but surely no fan of the feel-good Eagles could have.’

‘Special teams tasted like a delicacy for the Eagles in the first half of last night’s game against the Buffalo Bills at Veterans Stadium. That was not the case, however, in the fourth quarter.’

‘As expected, Bills coach Wade Phillips didn’t play many of his starters. Quarterback Rob Johnson and star wide receiver Eric Moulds remained on the sideline, as did starting tight end Jay Riemersma. Running back Antowain Smith, who is coming off an injury, saw limited action. Defensive end Marcellus Wiley, the man who made Bruce Smith expendable, also played more because he was coming off an injury.’

‘So the 50,000 or so who stewed in a sticky Veterans Stadium last night saw a lot of Alex Van Pelt, who played a lot as you’d expect Alex Van Halen to play. Football, not the drums.’

‘On the Eagles first play from scrimmage, Antoine Winfield went deep. Donovan McNabb danced in the pocket, bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet like the prime Muhammad Ali shadow-boxing. The pass was a 55-yard frozen rope. You could have hung Ed Wade’s bad trades on it. Antoine Winfield made a pretty diving catch. For the Buffalo Bills, that is.’

‘Rossum’s dive at Christie resulted in only a bruised knee for the kicker.’

‘"Hopefully, I showed the coach I can play when given the opportunity and help the team out," said [Sammy] Morris, who also had one catch for 30 yards. "And it hopefully gives the coaches the confidence to give me more opportunities in the future."’

‘Rookie Sammy Morris made a strong case at securing a roster spot as the Buffalo Bills earned a 16-12 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in the exhibition finale for both teams.’

‘[BUFFALO BILLS] 2000 FORECAST: 9-7, AFC wild card’

‘[BEST] HEAD COACH: Wade Phillips, Buffalo’

‘Jack and Jeff Kemp: Jack led the Bills to back-to-back AFL titles in 1964-65 and started two other championship games. He won an AFL passing title with San Diego in 1960 and appeared in seven AFL All-Star Games.’

‘…Cawley, listed as a rookie, is technically in his second season he cannot be put on Buffalo’s practice squad. “Cawley will be cut when Flutie comes back, that’s what I believe,” Phil Stambaugh said. That could open the door for Stambaugh to return to the Bills on their practice squad.’

‘”I don’t know what they really based letting me go on,” said Stambaugh, who was puzzled by the move. “I didn’t get that many reps in training camp (after Van Pelt signed). I guess that should have been a sign. Signing Van Pelt eliminated that No. 3 spot. “I was shocked,” he admitted. “I could see if they cut me after Philadelphia, if I got some time and couldn’t do the job. I didn’t really get to play. I got time in an intra-squad scrimmage that I did OK in. Over the last couple of weeks, I was running the practice team, and I thought that’s what was on their mind for me.”‘

‘Rookies and younger backups figure to get the bulk of the playing time for the Bills tonight when the team closes its preseason against the Philadelphia Eagles at Veterans Stadium. Quarterback Rob Johnson may not play at all, coach Wade Phillips said. Many other Bills starters probably will only make cameo appearances, if they aren’t also held out altogether.’

‘It’s obvious that these guys aren’t bosom buddies. In fact, you have a better chance of seeing Al Gore at a Limp Bizkit concert than of Johnson co-starring in one of Flutie’s cheesy long-distance commercials. The task now is not to let this tension infect others. The two don’t have to hang out, but they must be able to coexist.’