NFL
Notebook: Bledsoe insists he's still QB in Buffalo

By Seattle Times news services

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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — A defiant Drew Bledsoe provided a stern response to those questioning whether he's still capable of leading the Buffalo Bills.

"I'm the quarterback here. And I'm going to be the quarterback here," the former Washington State star said after practice yesterday. "The players on the team know that. The coaches know that. And that's just simply the way it is."

Bledsoe's comments came during the Bills' bye week and as the team attempts to regroup after opening the season with consecutive 13-10 losses to Oakland and Jacksonville. They were in response to a growing number of critics who have begun to question his age and ability to lead the offense, which has yet to shake last season's troubles.

"That's the nature of this position," said Bledsoe, 32, referring to the criticism. "When we win, I'm going to get more credit than I deserve. And when we lose, I'm going to take a lot of it. ... I understand that.

"If I couldn't handle that, I wouldn't be here 12 years into a career still fighting to win football games."

Bledsoe's fight has been a losing battle of late.

Including both games this season, Bledsoe has lost 12 of his past 16 starts and five straight. More disturbing is he's coming off the worst season of his career and has not had 200 or more yards passing in his past six outings.

That's a significant drop for a player who set 10 franchise records in 2002, his first season in Buffalo after being traded by New England. And it's a troubling stretch for a four-time Pro Bowl selection who has won only 14 times in 34 starts with the Bills.

"It's extremely difficult to lose. ... It cuts right to your soul," Bledsoe said. "But that being said, what I'm doing and what we're doing as a team is we're going forward. ... We're going to get turned around and start winning ballgames."

 
Notes

• Edgerrin James, Indianapolis Colts running back, was upgraded from doubtful to questionable for this week's game against Green Bay despite missing practice with a strained hamstring. Coach Tony Dungy said today's practice could help clear up James' playing status.

• Larry Johnson reacted sharply to coach Dick Vermeil's comments that the seldom-used Chiefs running back "take the diapers off" if he plays this week in place of injured Priest Holmes. Johnson, a first-round draft pick out of Penn State, might be pressed into action Sunday against Houston if Holmes is still hobbled by a sore ankle. "I don't need no motivation," Johnson said. "If I need motivation, I'll talk to my father. I don't need another grown man telling me I need to take the diapers off."

• Atlanta running back Warrick Dunn didn't practice and was questionable for the Falcons' game against Arizona on Sunday.

• Courtney Brown, the Cleveland Browns' oft-injured defensive end, had season-ending surgery to repair a torn foot ligament but vowed to return next season. The first overall player drafted in 2000, Brown will end the season on injured reserve for the fourth straight year.

• Running back Kevan Barlow has a sprained ligament in his right knee, but the San Francisco 49ers' leading rusher expects to play Sunday against the Seahawks.

• Quarterback Drew Brees, who suffered a mild concussion against the Jets, has been cleared to start for the San Diego Chargers in Denver on Sunday.

• As expected, the Minnesota Vikings ended the seasons of right tackle Mike Rosenthal and tight end Jim Kleinsasser by placing them on injured reserve. Rosenthal broke his right foot Monday and Kleinsasser will have surgery to repair damage to his right knee.

• Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman will miss seven to 10 weeks with a right knee injury.

• The Carolina Panthers think running back Stephen Davis could be out up to five weeks with a knee injury. Davis said it won't be nearly that long. Davis had surgery on his right knee to repair torn cartilage.

• Josh Evans, New York Jets defensive end, had back surgery and was placed on injured reserve.

• Nose tackle James Lee, coming off his first NFL start for the Green Bay Packers, had surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee and is expected to be out four to six weeks.

• Defensive end Carl Powell had arthroscopic knee surgery, leaving the Cincinnati Bengals thin on a defensive line that needs to contain Jamal Lewis on Sunday.