| | By John Clayton
ESPN.com
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- For a few days following their heartbreaking playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans, Rob Johnson couldn't escape people asking him his thoughts about whether
officials robbed his Bills. That was easy compared to what followed for the
next six months.
|  | | Doug Flutie catches a pass during his youth clinic at Bills training camp on Thursday. |
"The play (the Music City Miracle) took a little away from that radical decision that Wade Phillips
made (benching Doug Flutie in favor of Johnson)," Johnson said. "Once
Tennessee beat Jacksonville, that play was obsolete and nobody else talked
about it. That would be nice now. I'm sick of people asking, 'Who's
starting.?' "
The tough part for both Flutie and Johnson is that the subject remains so
uncomfortable. They don't have answers for the reason why Phillips made the switch at that time, and while they can
peacefully coexist now that Johnson is the starter, both quarterbacks won't
feel comfortable again until the season ends and the results are in.
"Who's starting doesn't mean anything," Johnson said. "If I'm starting
in Week 16 or 17, that means something. Hopefully, I won't have to answer
any of them by next year."
|
“ |
There is the frustration of not
playing. And I have no say in the matter ... (even
though) I have the highest winning percentage of any quarterback who is active now
that Steve Young has retired. ” |
|
|
— Doug Flutie, Bills quarterback |
Flutie has the tougher assignment. During the offseason, he thrives on
competitions. He plays in basketball leagues, hockey league and now soccer
leagues -- indoor and outdoors. If there isn't anything organized, he'll go
for a pick-up game.
The only thing that he can't compete in and win for now is being the Bills'
starting quarterback. That's Johnson's job.
"I'm going into my 16th year of professional football," Flutie said. "I
start the season fresh, but then there is the frustration of not playing.
And I have no say in the matter. I've been told, as of right now, I have the
highest winning percentage of any quarterback who is active now that Steve
Young has retired.
"I just shake my head about that perception (that he isn't good enough). I
thought I was past that."
Both Flutie and Johnson are struggling with the end of last season. It
will be in the back of their heads until the end of this year.
John Clayton is the senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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