Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 8, 1992 TAG: 9201080060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. LENGTH: Medium
GIMPY BILLS LIMP TO AFC TITLE GAME
Just how much Bruce Smith will play Sunday in the AFC championship game remains to be seen.Smith, who has declined interviews this week, limped off the field in the third quarter of Sunday's 37-14 playoff victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
His left knee, operated on in July, has bothered Smith since, and coach Marv Levy said he was hoping the defensive end would be ready to play against the Denver Broncos.
Even at less than full speed, Levy said, Smith is a force.
"It did hamper him," Levy said. "He played for a while and he played pretty well. He wasn't at the top of what he is capable of doing."
Levy said the Bills would take it easy on Smith, the former Virginia Tech All-American who has been pushing his rehabilitation.
"We might not be able to practice him very much during the week," Levy said. "Bruce, when he was very healthy, thought about how much practice he needed, and it wasn't very much. Now, he's dying to practice. He's having trouble doing it without blowing it up."
Smith, last year's NFL defensive player of the year, was among a number of Bills banged up in the Chiefs game, although Levy was optimistic that none would miss the AFC title game.
Levy's biggest concern is his offensive line, where four starters are bruised.
"We've got a lot of them banged up," he said. "I have some concern about our offensive line's physical status."
The biggest question mark is tackle Glenn Parker, who underwent an examination of his knee Monday. Results of the test were not immediately available, but Parker was optimistic.
"I'm good and strong," he said. "There's a lot of strength in the knee. I'm walking well, so if that's any indication, hopefully it will be fine."
Tackle Will Wolford also spent time in the treatment room nursing a bad ankle.
Wolford said he was "positive I didn't do any more damage to it" since it was "taped up so much that there was no way I could wrench it anymore or twist it anymore. As much tape and support as I had on it, it wasn't going to go anywhere."
Center Kent Hull and guard Jim Ritcher also sprained ankles in the Kansas City game.
Jim Kelly has had problems with an inflamed right knee for the past month.
"It's just one of those things," he said. "When you get a bump, it burns for about 25-30 seconds and then it calms down."
Keywords:
FOOTBALL