Wednesday, February 3, 1999
Flutie is not
short on talent
The Bills' quarterback made
By Paul Arnett
the most of his chances
to play in NFL
Star-BulletinWhen Doug Flutie first floated the idea of making a return engagement to the NFL, he knew he'd have his detractors.
The press would question why give up a good thing in the Canadian Football League. The radio talk show hosts would say short quarterbacks have no reason to live under center. Even the fans would wonder if this 36-year-old had all his pads on.
"But I never thought that some of my fellow Heisman Trophy winners would question my sanity," Flutie said before yesterday's first Pro Bowl practice. "They thought I was crazy."
Flutie found out during last year's Hula Bowl that the Buffalo Bills were the only NFL team to express an interest in him. He and several other Heisman Trophy winners, including Texas A&M's John David Crow and Michigan's Desmond Howard, were on Maui to help publicize the 52nd annual college all-star game.
But what was originally a paid vacation to Hawaii turned out to be the first step toward Flutie's inaugural Pro Bowl appearance this Sunday. He was crazy enough to believe it would happen.
"That was what I was hoping for," Flutie said. "As soon as I learned Buffalo wanted to sign me, my competitive juices started flowing because I knew this year was going to be something different.
"I believed all along that I could do it in the NFL, I just needed the opportunity. The way things turned out this year were fantastic because I didn't feel real comfortable going in. It was like being a rookie all over again."
This is the fourth time for Flutie to be a rookie. The first one occurred in 1985 when the Boston College graduate opted to play one season for the New Jersey Generals of the defunct United States Football League.
In 1986, he was signed by the Chicago Bears, only to be traded to the New England Patriots nearly a year later.
He began his third rookie season in the CFL in 1990 for the British Columbia Lions, only to sign as a free-agent in 1992 with the Calgary Stampeders.
That year he won the first of three Grey Cups and the second of six CFL Most Outstanding Player honors. But all the while, he longed to return to the NFL.
"When I got my wish, I realized how difficult the transition was going to be," Flutie said. "Not only did I have to learn a new offense, but I had to get used to all the new defenses that are in the league.
"I was nervous. But then I realized it was still a game of throw and catch, reading defenses and making the right decisions. That's key for a quarterback at this level. I felt very confident in my skills and abilities.
"I thought going in that I would be competing for the starting job, but basically, they gave it to Rob Johnson.
"But when he got hurt, the opportunity came my way and I made the most of it."
You won't get any argument from his Buffalo teammates. They were there to see this 5-foot-10 born-again wonder complete 202 of 354 passes for 2,711 yards and 20 touchdowns en route to leading the Bills to the playoffs.
Miami halted Buffalo's surprise run a month ago with a 24-17 victory that was punctuated with a sack of Flutie. After the hard-fought win, the Dolphins celebrated by stomping on a cereal box of Flutie Flakes.
"We had our chances in that game, but the turnovers hurt us," Flutie said.
"It was still a great experience for me and something I can build on next season.
"We helped revive football in Buffalo," he added. "People got enthusiastic by what we were doing. The guys were having fun on the field. And that's what football is all about. Too many people play this game with a frown on their face."
Perhaps that's why Flutie plans to enjoy his first Pro Bowl experience. He spent yesterday being interviewed by nearly everyone in the state, including two young girls working on a class project.
He signed autographs, promised to be involved in several promotional spots and even grudgingly talked about being reunited with New York Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde.
They are forever linked to one of the most memorable college football games. Flutie, who was later named the 1984 Heisman Trophy winner, ended his Boston College career by engineering a stunning upset of Miami of Florida.
Not only did Flutie complete 34 of 46 passes for 472 yards, he threw a 48-yard scoring strike to wide receiver Gerard Phelan on the last play of the game to give Boston College the 47-45 upset of Testaverde's Miami Hurricanes.
"To the media, it's a big deal," Flutie said.
"But for Vinny and me, it's not. Vinny and I are in the same corner, so maybe I'll win this one, too."
June Jones makes
By Paul Arnett
Seau a UH fan
Star-BulletinMaybe somebody over at the University of Hawaii should send a couple of season-ticket packages to San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau.
After yesterday's AFC practice, the eight-time Pro Bowl player pledged his allegiance to the Rainbows and their new head coach, June Jones.
"Number one, June Jones is a great guy," Seau said. "He's a fair person and a guy that I'm going to miss. The time we spent together we kind of built a bond. You guys definitely have a good coach here. And I'm going to be a big Rainbows fan from here on out."
Jones said he hopes to get out to a Pro Bowl practice later this week to see Seau and Chargers safety Rodney Harrison, who is making his first Pro Bowl appearance.
"Those two guys were key players in our defense," said Jones, who served as interim head coach for San Diego the latter half of the season. "You can't say enough about Junior and what he means. And I was glad to see Rodney make it. He's one of the hardest-hitting safeties since Jack Tatum."
Harrison is in his fifth year out of Western Illinois. Like Seau, he was sad to see Jones sign a contract with the Rainbows.
"June was a coach you enjoyed having around the clubhouse," Harrison said. "He was fair and honest. Everyone liked him and it's a shame he decided to leave.
"But we understood that this was his dream, to coach in Hawaii. He thought that this was what was best for him and his family. When you believe in something that strongly, you have to follow it.
"We'll miss him, but we all have to move on. It has left our team in a little bit of a transition, but I believe we'll get through it. Once we fill a couple of spots on offense -- quarterback and receiver -- we'll be back in the playoffs."
Seau shares a similar view. The nine-year veteran only wishes Jones was along for the ride.
"We're only a couple of players away from contending," Seau said. "I wish June could have been the coach to get us there, but he's happy here, and that's what counts the most."
Pro Bowl
Today
Pro Bowl Kickoff Rally Pro Bowl players, the Pro Bowl Cheerleaders and mascots at Tamarind Park, noon to 1 p.m. Free.
Tomorrow
