Flutie

Flutie's benching rekindled old resentments for the 1984 Heisman Trophy winner and six-time CFL MVP.

"The thing that frustrates me more than anything is I've been waiting 10 years for this opportunity," Flutie said. "We've got a great football team. We've got the best defense in the league.

"We've got a real chance," Flutie said. "And this is the reason I came back ... and then all of a sudden you turn it over. That's the frustrating part for me."

Flutie said that when he signed with the Bills in January 1998 he was told there would be open competition for the starting job. Then Johnson signed and was designated the starter before training camp began despite having just one NFL start to his credit.

After Johnson was hurt in the fifth game last season, Flutie took over and led the team to the playoffs. Phillips waited about a month to declare Flutie the starter.

Phillips designated Flutie and Johnson co-starters in training camp this season and again hesitated to declare Flutie his No. 1.

Flutie was suspicious when the Bills told him to rest and decided to start Johnson for Sunday's game against Indianapolis, which the Bills won 31-6 as Johnson completed 24 of 32 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson also played well in the final game last season against the New Orleans Saints.

Flutie thought something was up then, too.

"I saw it coming last year," he said. "I thought that's why they were starting Rob at New Orleans. But I'm paranoid about that stuff because I've been through it too many times ... going to the Pro Bowl last year, leading the team to the playoffs and going to training camp and being named co-starter."

The Bills deny the ill-timed quarterback controversy is a distraction.

"Both guys throw the ball well, so whoever they put in there, I just catch passes from," Bills receiver Eric Moulds said. "Of course Rob has a stronger arm and he's a little bit bigger quarterback."

"I don't think the guys on the team care," Johnson said. "If you don't play well, they'll find somebody else. The team is confident in me right now."

Flutie is rated 13th in the AFC and 23rd in the league with a rating of 75.1, a notch below New England's Drew Bledsoe. He has thrown 19 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions.