Flutie Gone, so Johnson Faces Bigger Expectations

Buffalo’s Rob Johnson, Scott Pitoniak wrote in The Sporting News, won’t be cut much slack by Bill fans this season. Many of them were unhappy the team let go of shorter, older but more magical Doug Flutie (turning 39 in October) instead of Johnson, the 28-year-old ex-USC standout.

Flutie was 21-9 as a starter for the Bills; Johnson is 8-10.

“Johnson has shown flashes of brilliance and the durability of a China doll,” Pitoniak wrote.

“He has yet to carry a team over the long haul, and many wonder if he ever will.”

“I’ve put together short stretches,” Johnson told Pitoniak.

“But I realize that until I do it for 16 games, rather than in two- or three-game stretches, there’s going to be doubt. I understand it’s a make-or-break year for me. I have a lot to prove.”

Said Bill all-pro guard Ruben Brown: “He’s got the keys to the car, and he doesn’t have to worry about someone taking them away. He’s no longer worrying about winning the job, he’s focused on doing the job.”

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Trivia time: How many players hit 3,000 singles?

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Unimpressed: Letter-writer Charles Beattie had this rip for the Sacramento Kings and owners Joe and Gavin Maloof in the Sacramento Bee, regarding Chris Webber’s $123-million deal:

“The Maloofs ought to be on the Laker payroll. Prediction: Webber gone in less than three years. Gone from Hall of Fame. Gone to the waste pile. Can you say Juwan Howard?”

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Big hire: Paul Domowitch of Knight Ridder Newspapers gives the best off-season NFL hire award to the Denver Broncos for installing Ray Rhodes as defensive coordinator:

“Rhodes may have had shortcomings as a head coach, but he’s one of the top two or three defensive chiefs in the game.”

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Impatient: San Francisco 49er rookie Kevan Barlow doesn’t lack confidence.

When the 49ers called the University of Pittsburgh running back to tell him they drafted him in the third round, he responded: “It’s about time.”

The knock on Barlow at Pitt was his attitude. Scouts noted he was suspended from spring practice in 1999. He spent that time working with the team trainer, carrying cinder blocks while running up and down the stadium steps.

Apparently, the 49ers saw him in his final Pitt game. Against West Virginia, he gained 272 yards in 33 carries.

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In case you missed it: Mark McGwire’s recent two-home run game against the Cubs was his 66th multi-home run game. Babe Ruth holds the record, 72.

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Big change: In 1949, at the Los Angeles Olympic Swim Stadium, Japanese swimmer Hironoshi Furuhashi became the first man to break 19 minutes at 1,500 meters.

Al Franken, who promoted that USA-Japan meet, noted that Australian Grant Hackett lowered the 1,500 world mark last Sunday to 14:34.56.

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Trivia answer: Two, Pete Rose (3,215) and Ty Cobb (3,052).

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And finally: Let’s say you decide to enter the sport of mushing. Where would you find those little boots dogs wear when running on snow and ice?

A no-brainer, really. According to an ad in Mushing magazine, you’d go to https://dogbooties.com.