Two Bills Drive

‘Football has not been kind to Bill Kushner. He has been axed more times than a cord of wood.’

‘Coslet said [Akili] Smith could play Saturday when the Bengals face the Buffalo Bills in their preseason home opener, but only in the right circumstances. “I refuse to put him in there to fail,” he said. “I’m not going to put him in there when (reserve right tackle) Mike Doughty’s playing left tackle and Bruce Smith is still in there.’

‘[The Bills are] a solid football team across the board but short on the superstars that win championships. Wide receiver Eric Moulds is entering that zone, but both wideout Andre Reed and defensive end Bruce Smith are descending in the mid-30s. The Bills have been so good for so long that they haven’t drafted high enough to add those necessary blue-chippers.’

‘Bill Kushner admits it’s just about time he finds a real job. With standout veteran Chris Mohr back for a ninth season, the 29-year-old free-agent punter with the Buffalo Bills is sure to be among the first round of cuts Tuesday.’

‘”I think we have to wait until the preseason is over, see where we are and how they fit in. If we don’t get them both ready, we won’t be able to do those kinds of things. If I only say one guy’s the starter and we’re only getting one ready, the other guy’s going to be behind and I don’t want that.”‘

Peerless is looking sharp this preseason. Says all the right things, too.

‘”Buffalo is a great football town,” he says. “It reminds me a lot of Knoxville (Tenn.). The fans are wild in Buffalo. They expect a lot of me. That’s OK. I expect a lot of myself.”‘

‘McDaniel is battling Kamil Loud for the fifth spot, unless Phillips decides to keep McDaniel for his special teams work and cuts an extra defensive back or linebacker. “He’s worked very hard, he’s a smart kid who pays attention in meetings, and he watches the other receivers run routes,” said Joiner. “That shows his dedication to the game and his ambition to make this team.”‘

Team report. Gives some insight into the sorry state of our running game. Not to worry, Buffalo fans!

Is there any way to get these people OUT of the gene pool? Sheesh!

Season schedule. Quick one-line analysis.

‘Doug Flutie and Rob Johnson are listed as co-starters on the Buffalo Bills’ depth chart even though Flutie has started since the sixth game last season. But a dubious start by Johnson against Washington on Friday erased any concerns about Flutie’s status as No. 1.’

‘”It’s early, I don’t think there’s any concern about the running game, but we have to stop blowing assignments and do the job we’re supposed to do…”‘

‘As for those four consecutive Super Bowl losses, Levy says he doesn’t dwell on them. “That would be foolhardy,” he said. “I prefer to remember the good things. Would I like things to be different? Sure. But you can’t change the past. I’ve had a great life in football.”‘