Flutie Is the Bill of Goods

Buffalo Bill Coach Wade Phillips didn’t get much of an endorsement from owner Ralph Wilson.

“I’d rather just sit with this game for a few hours,” Wilson said when asked about the future of Phillips after the Bills’ 42-23 victory over Seattle Saturday night.

Wilson fired general manager John Butler this week, and was at practice all week.

On the general manager situation, the 82-yard-old Wilson said: “I’m going to start this week. I’m going to get things squared away.”

Doug Flutie, meanwhile, showed he still has a lot to offer to the Bills if they want him back.

He completed 20 of 25 passes for a career-high 366 yards and three touchdowns as the Bills ended a losing streak at four--their longest since 1985--to finish 8-8 in a season of numerous injuries, unfulfilled expectations and a full-blown quarterback controversy.

Butler’s successor as general manager will make the decision whether to bring Flutie back. If Flutie is released, it would count $4.5 million against the salary cap.

“I’ve got no control over it,” Flutie said about his future in Buffalo. “All I’m thinking about is playing football.”

Flutie got a glowing endorsement from Peerless Price, who caught eight passes for 132 yards and a touchdown.

“Flutie’s great,” Price said. “He’s an offensive wizard. He knows all, he sees all.”

Phillips, meanwhile, has one year left on his contract. Leading receiver Eric Moulds, defensive end Marcellus Wiley and kicker Steve Christie will become unrestricted free agents.

In the rain-drenched finale, Flutie played superbly in place of Rob Johnson--who suffered his third concussion of the season last week--and talked afterward as if he didn’t want the season to end.

“Let’s go play a couple more,” Flutie said. “It’s disheartening to go home before Christmas.”

The Bills punted only once and rolled up 579 yards against the NFL’s worst defense. Antowain Smith, a former starter who was demoted to fourth-string tailback by midseason, rushed 17 times for a career-high 147 yards and scored three touchdowns. He came into the game with 207 yards rushing.

The Seahawks (6-10) committed four turnovers, losing three fumbles.