Doug Flutie is given the boot!

The Buffalo Bills made probably the biggest decision in their history when they made it know late this afternoon that they were going to go with the younger Rob Johnson over the 38-year old Doug Flutie. It was a gutsy move by the Bills General Manager Tom Donahoe, who after conducting personal interviews with both quarterbacks last week, made a decision that will not bode well with at least half the Bills fans in Western New York and across North America. But it was a decision that he felt he had to make. Weighing all the evidence and the fact that Flutie could possibly have only one or two more years left, the Bills staff decided to go with the youth.

Bills fans were on pins and needles all day, waiting for the final decision that they had been anticipating since Donahoe revealed that one of the quarterbacks had to go to get down to the NFL salary cap limit. As the day wore on and no decision had not been made, it appeared as if head coach Williams and Donahoe may have been having a difference of opinion on whom to keep. Finally, at around 5 PM Wednesday afternoon, the announcement was made.

Ever since the Bills brought in both Rob Johnson and Doug Flutie three years ago, there has been a heated quarterback controversy not only in the stands but in the locker room. The debate so polarized the community and the team that in order for the Bills to focus on their goals for next season, one of them had to go. The Bills chose to show Flutie the door.

Many Bills fans have been waiting until the quarterbacking decision was made before deciding on whether to renew their season tickets for next season. That may have been one of the reasons for the Bills to wait until the absolute last minute to reveal who will lead the team next year. The ticket holders have until March 2 to renew. By waiting until 5 PM two days before, forced many Bills season ticket holders to make their choice before the announcement on who would be let go.

Donahoe stepped into a swarming bee hive when he took over the job as Bills GM to replace fired John Butler. Butler had made an absolute mess of the Bills salary structure and Donahoe has been frantically trying to plug all the holes of the sinking ship. The Bills have until Noon on Thursday March 1 to get the total salary down to the NFL cap limit. Already they have cut Ted Washington and it appears as if the figure of Bills players let go could approach that of last year when the Bills cut loose 16 players. Amongst those were the Bills Big 3 of Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith and Andre Reed. Thomas played with the Miami Dolphins last year, but signed a one-day contract with the Bills Tuesday so he could retire as a Buffalo Bill.

The Bills announced a 7 PM press conference to announce their monumental decision. More to come about the dismissal of one of the Bills most popular players in history.

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