Sports101

Doug Flutie of the Buffalo Bills has a cereal named after him ("Flutie Flakes") as well as a candy bar. He plays drums in a band called The Flutie Brothers. If you watch pro football, you'll see him throwing passes all over the place, dashing down the field with the football, or even throwing himself against 300-pound defensive linemen to block for a teammate.

At 5 ft., 10 in. and 175 pounds, Flutie is a lot smaller than the average pro quarterback, but he seems unstoppable. Last weekend, he threw three touchdown passes to help beat Pittsburgh, 24-21. The Bills are 4-1 this season. Says Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Kevin Henry, "We've got quarterbacks on our team that are fast, too, but he's got that shake-and-bake move with it, so that makes it extra hard to contain a guy like Flutie."

Q: Where did Doug Flutie's pro career start?

A: After graduating from Boston College, Flutie signed with the Chicago Bears in 1986 and was traded in 1987 to the New England Patriots. He signed with the Canadian Football League in 1990, and took over the starting QB job in 1998 with the Buffalo Bills. He was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year by AP and Pro Football Weekly.

Q: What makes Flutie's style of play different from other quarterbacks?

A: He is a master at deceptive ball handling and fooling defenses. He is also one of the best scramblers in the NFL - his mobility allows him to escape tackles. Because of his speed and elusiveness, he's always a threat to run for a score himself. He's also a fierce competitor who shows great confidence and poise on the field.

Q: What is Flutie's most memorable play?

A: At Boston College in 1984, he threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to teammate Gerard Phelan in the final seconds of the game to give BC a 47-45 upset over the University of Miami.

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