If you're a Buffalo Bills fan, you don't want to see the Saints' Drew Brees, the most

underrated top-of-the-line quarterback in the NFL, pass for 300 yards, much less 400, against

your team today. On the other hand, unless your team spirit runs to blood-thirsty, you don't

want to see him in traction either. The position of quarterback, now more than ever, is the

name of the game. The name of the defensive side of the ball is "kill the quarterback."

That's what it seems to be coming to in pro football these days.

For instance, the Bills will face one of the top three teams in pro football minus middle

linebacker Paul Posluszny, right tackle Brad Butler, tight end Derek Schouman and maybe

cornerback Leodis McKelvin. These days that number isn't particularly unusual, even this early

in the season.

Seattle is minus nine players, mostly starters including quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.

Middle linebacker Brian Urlacher, apex of the Bears' defense, is gone for the season. Star

defensive lineman Jamal Williams and center Nick Hardwick of San Diego are out and so is

offensive lineman Robert Gallery of the Raiders and Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb.

So why am I getting overheated about injuries? Because there remains serious talk by many

owners and NFL management to expand the league schedule from 16 to 18 games.

Chances are that the 18-game group would have a large number of allies among fans across

the nation. That's because an expanded schedule would mean fewer of the hated "preseason"

games for which season-ticket buyers are forced to pay regular-season prices.

The public knows that the summer games are counterfeit football but there is little they

are able to do about it. Now they may join with the owners and management to demand a change

at the ticket booth.

Injuries have always been part of football since it's a dangerous game. But it is a game

played by a far different athlete than a generation or two ago. Year-round conditioning and

the huge paychecks that induce players to take advantage of those conditioning programs have

resulted in super-massive physiques with matching speed. Sophisticated pass rushing schemes,

which now feature cornerbacks, nickel backs, safeties and the hybrids who are part defensive

end and part linebacker, are descending upon quarterbacks who, basically, remain stationary

targets.

Two generations ago there weren't more than nine or 10 linemen weighing more than 300

pounds, and some of them would be invited to wear rubber suits to lose blubber in training

camp. Now 300 pounds is the norm. One of those mastodons just falling on an opponent can

injure him. It's like having a refrigerator dropped on you from a second-floor window. That's

how Butler was injured.

Inject some meanness into the refrigerator and you get Flozell Adams, the giant Cowboys

offensive tackle. Adams is 34 now and he seems to have lost speed, quickness and possibly a

chunk of his IQ. Last week in Dallas' loss to the Giants, Adams kicked both Justin Tuck and

Osi Umenyiora. He was fined $25,000, a bargain if he had disabled the two ace pass rushers.

The incentive for the owners getting two more regular-season games would be a potential

bonanza in exchange for the TV rights. But they ought to weigh that against the cost of losing

hard-to-replace, expensive talent.

Larry Felser, former News columnist, appears in Sunday's editions.