SB Nation - Brian Moorman

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/18

MattRichWarren — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:45:36 -0000

More photos » by Steven Senne - AP

3 months ago: Buffalo Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel (94) carries New England Patriots running back Sammy Morris (34) on the way to the goal line as he scores a touchdown after an interception in the second quarter during an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 14, 2009, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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Incognito could start Sunday – Inside The Bills
"With Kendall Simmons nursing a shoulder injury and not practicing again on Thursday, Richie Incognito said he stepped right in with the first unit in Simmons’ place at right guard."

Owens is sick – Inside The Bills
Terrell Owens missed Thursday’s practice due to illness.

Phil Sheridan: One ex-player presses on for safer NFL helmets | Philadelphia Inquirer
"Mark Kelso, who now does radio commentary on Bills games, isn't remembered as well for his 30 career interceptions as he is for wearing the ProCap helmet pad - an extra layer of protection that made him look, in his own words, like the Great Gazoo from the old Flintstones show."

Dierdorf expecting competitive game – Inside The Bills
"There are some teams in this league that just aren’t competitive," said Dan Dierdorf, the CBS color analyst for this weekend's game. "Maybe once or twice a year they can muster it up, but the Bills certainly don’t fall into that category. The Bills are 5-8. This is a much better Buffalo team than some of the bottom dwellers. They only lost to Jacksonville, 18-15. They lost to the Jets, 19-13. This is not a bad football team. It’s a team with a losing record, but this team is far from being an embarrassment."

Question Mark: To get competitive, Bills need more elite players : The Buffalo News
The News' Mark Gaughan answers your questions about the Bills missing a home run in the draft, getting an eye on young players now that we're out of the playoffs, and line of scrimmage.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - The 2000s so far: Moment No. 9
Nick Mendola says the angriest he's ever been doing his job was covering the Bills announcement of the Toronto series. It's moment 9 on WGR's list of the top 10 Buffalo sports moments of the decade.

Bills eager to end Pats streak - BuffaloBills.com
"It’s the Patriots. They’ve beaten us 12 straight times now. We’re trying to get rid of that. We want to. I haven’t beaten them since I’ve been here," Fred Jackson said. "I want to get that first win and know what it feels like to beat the Patriots."

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Whitey's Bills-Pats preview: What they have, that we don't
Jeremy White visited Boston and took in a day at Patriots Place, the stadium for the hated rival. Well as White explains, you can do virtually anything and buy anything right at the stadium. Take a look.

Video: Bills given little chance versus Pats - AFC East Blog - ESPN
ESPN's Jenny Dell previews the New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills game with the AccuScore report. In one of the more lopsided forecasts of the season, the Patriots won 71 percent of the time in AccuScore's 10,000 simulations

Shawn Springs keeps eye on Terrell Owens - BostonHerald.com
If they both play this will be the 11th meeting between Shawn Springs and Terrell Owens this weekend.

Pats recall an eerie trip to the eastern end of (Lake) Erie - Brockton, MA - The Enterprise
The Patriots recall the weather conditions last December in Buffalo when wind gusts made kicking and throwing virtually impossible and the goal posts had to be realigned before each kick.

Return to Buffalo is special for Aiken - Patriots.com
Patriots special teams captain Sam Aiken discusses playing against his former teammates.

Evans and Draft fuel up - BuffaloBills.com
Bills wide receiver Lee Evans and linebacker Chris Draft spoke to the kids about the importance of nutrition and being active for 60 minutes a day. Students also participated in various physical fitness activities like jump roping, relay races and three-legged races and received a healthy lunch.

Schobel vs. Brady - Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston
Aaron Schobel has sacked Tom Brady more times (12) than any other player. Obviously that's more an indictment of Matt Light than anything else.

Patriots Today - Brady, Buffalo, Wrap-A-Pat and more video
"The Patriots are naturally quite familiar with the Buffalo Bills, but it's been three months since the division rivals first faced off in 2009. Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and others chime in on Wednesday with thoughts on what's in store this Sunday in Buffalo."

Lightening the load - Press-Banner
Andy Levitre donated $5000 to his old high school football team to kick off their campaign to install lights on their football field. The NFL matched the donation.

Perfect Game - 12.21.09 - SI Vault
Sports Illustrated did a feature on punters this week and as part of that article showed how, in their words, "Browns punter Dave Zastudil almost single-handedly beat the Bills."

Si's Punter Ratings - 12.21.09 - SI Vault
Sports Illustrated ranked Bills punter Brian Moorman 24th on their list of NFL punters using this bizzare adapted QB rating system for punters. Shane Lechler, who is having an amazing season in Oakland, isn't even in the top 10.

Fitz on former teammate Chris Henry – Inside The Bills
"It was very sad," said former Bengal Ryan Fitzpatrick. "Tragic news. I think for the guys that know him, it’s very different than the public perception of him. The trouble that he got in the past and all that, everybody knows that he’s a great guy."

Former teammate's death throws Bills' Fitzpatrick for a loss : The Buffalo News
Fitzpatrick said, "I'm still trying to grasp what really happened because it's such tough news and a shock to hear."

Not so Incognito
Wilfork might meet his match – Inside The Bills
"It’s no secret that Vince Wilfork has had his share of cheap shots against the Bills over the years. Only difference between Richie Incognito and Wilfork is the Patriots DT rarely gets caught. For those that don’t know here’s the quick laundry list."

Bills claim OL Incognito - BuffaloBills.com
"The last three years we won five games total," said Incognito. "That’s a lot to lose and it takes its toll on you as an athlete more than I really imagined. And now it’s good to take a step back, get out of the situation and come here with a clean slate and play ball. I’m going to be a lot less selfish with the penalties and just the acting out." Incognito will wear jersey number 62.

New Bills lineman Incognito defends his play : The Buffalo News
The News profiles newest Buffalo Bill Richie Incognito and his reputation.

Team in Transition
Redskins hire Allen as GM | WIVB.com
"Bills sources told us weeks ago they had approached Bruce Allen to see if he was interested in coming to Buffalo. He was not."

Warming up the NFL coaching carousel | National Football Post
"Buffalo is a job for a retread without other options, a Charlie Weis (Wilson tried to hire him six years ago), Brian Billick or first-timer willing to work cheap. The retread is the statistically better option. "

Bills Tweets
Twitter / Fake Perry Fewell
,500 record = Bills Coach of the Decade.

Twitter / Sal Maiorana
Bills sold out Sunday' Pats game on time, but there are still 5,000 tix left for Colts. That might be 1st blackout of the year

Twitter / Sal Maiorana
CBS' Dan Dierdorf on Bills: "It’s a team with a losing record, but this team is far from being an embarrassment." Still, no playoffs 10 yrs

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/16

MattRichWarren — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:25:15 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

6 days ago: Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) is chased by Buffalo Bills defensive end Ryan Denney (92) and safety Donte Whitner (20) as he runs 76 yards for a touchdown during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009 in Kansas City, Mo. The Bills won the game 16-10. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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Bills' Byrd doesn't mind sharing the wealth : The Buffalo News
Rodney McKissic profiles the Bills' safety phenom Jairus Byrd and his 9 1/2 interceptions.

Video: Bills run D historically bad - AFC East Blog - ESPN
KC Joyner, aka the Football Scientist, highlights the biggest matchup in Sunday's game between the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills in Ralph Wilson Stadium. Joyner notes the Bills could give up 3,000 yards on the ground this year, something that has been done only three times in NFL history. [Ed note: Bad like in the picture above, giving up a 76-yard TD run.]

How the Buffalo Bills can still win the division : Buffalo Sports Daily
"The following is what needs to occur for the Bills to be still playing football after January 3; The Buffalo Bills win out, while the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins lose out, and the New York Jets win no more than one of their last three games."

Bills Daily - "A Christmas Carol"
A Buffalo Bills Christmas Carol from Bills Daily. It's amusing.

Bills secondary a den of thieves - BuffaloBills.com
Despite being banged up all year, the Bills defense, the secondary in particular, leads the league in interceptions. "Their 25 picks have already matched their best total since the AFL-NFL merger as the 1975 Bills had 25 in a 14-game season."

Rival receivers have some catching up to do - The Boston Globe
"The Bills and their bombastic receiver, Terrell Owens, host the Patriots and Randy Moss in a matchup of AFC East rivals that features two go-to receivers who do not like each other."

Let’s see what Brohm brings to the table - Wellsville, NY - Wellsville Daily Reporter
Paul Jannace adds his voice to the litany of writers pining for Brian Brohm.

How I See It: AFC East Stock Watch - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Stock Rising - Marshawn Lynch "He has rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown and averaged 8.0 yards per carry the past two weeks."

Week 15 power rankings: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The Bills move up one spot to 25 after defeating the Chiefs.

Where's AFC East in Pro Bowl balloting? - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"The Bills' Brian Moorman, one of the NFL's top three or four punters, isn't in the AFC's top five. "

AFC East: Patriots circling wagons around Moss - The Sports Netowrk
"But if there's one area that person is least likely to touch, it's a secondary that has ever-so-quietly been among the best in the league this year, and is unquestionably the single best piece to build around on this team."

McShay has OT going to Bills – Inside The Bills
"The Bills are projected to pick 10th overall in his mock draft where he has Buffalo taking Rutgers OT Anthony Davis. Mel Kiper says if he waits a year Davis will be a top 5 pick, otherwise he’ll go in the 10-15 range of round one this year. Kipier has him as his top rated junior tackle."

2009 NFL Redraft - Don Banks - SI.com
Don Banks does the draft over again and the Bills end up with Brian Orakpo with the top three OTs off the board.

Losman update – Inside The Bills
"With Bruce Gradkowski injured, JaMarcus Russell a mess and Charlie Frye an unrealistic option J.P. Losman heads to Oakland with an opportunity to be a long term answer at quarterback."

Raiders sign former Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman - Inside Bay Area
Jim Fassell coached J.P. in the UFL and his son is on the Raiders staff. Think that had anything to do with it?

Willy Living his Dream | WIVB.com
Former University of Buffalo QB Drew Willy was signed to the Colts practice squad a few weeks ago and could see time in the final game of the season in Buffalo.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/15

MattRichWarren — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:47:31 -0000

More photos » by Ed Zurga - AP

6 days ago: Buffalo Bills defensive back Jairus Byrd (31) breaks up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Lance Long in the the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo. Long was call for pass interference on the play. The Bills 16-10. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

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Buffalo Bills’ All-Decay Team : Buffalo Sports Daily
"Every franchise has its busts, but few can put together a complete lineup of failures who came with so much promise. These aren’t just any scrubs; they’re guys who, based on what was invested in them, were counted on to make the team respectable at least. " Can't say I agree with Willis McGahee on here.

S Byrd leads NFL and interception-happy Bills - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
John Wawrow of the AP analyzes the Bills' interception totals from the year. [Ed. Note: Check out the caption on the photo above and catch the mistake.]

Evans again forgotten on Bills' offense : Jerry Sullivan : The Buffalo News
"You have to feel a twinge of sympathy for poor Lee Evans. Good guy. Good teammate. Good in the community. Good hands. Great speed. But in his sixth NFL season, the Bills' wide receiver is struggling through the most discouraging season of his career."

Bills replay: Running backs finally run wild : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
In his game tape review, Allen Wilson focuses in on the Bills run blocking and running backs.

Buffalo Bills Replay | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
"We're trying to say some nice things about the Bills because this might be our last chance. This is probably the last game they're going to win this season." Thanks Sal!

Perfect ending for Colts, Saints would be Super Bowl | Democrat and Chronicle
Buffalo was holding opponents to a 62.5 passer rating before Kansas City's Matt Cassel registered a 35.4 rating in a 16-10 home loss to the Bills. The Bills entered Sunday with a 25th-ranked 70.0 passer rating themselves, and Ryan Fitzpatrick had a 65.8 rating in victory Sunday.

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
The Bills are currently leading the league in INTs with 25. The last time Buffalo had that many takeaways through the air was in 1975.

Moorman has shot at elusive number – Inside The Bills
"After Sunday’s masterful performance in which he finished with a net average of 53, Moorman’s net average for the season is now 41.4, good for third in the league."

Monday Morning Quarterback - Peter King - SI.com
King named Brian Moorman his special teams player of the week for punting four times for a 53-yard average and not surrendering a return yard. He forgot to mention the other stuff like getting a bad snap up for Rian Lindell and calling a timeout instead of taking a delay of game penalty.

Run game revs up - BuffaloBills.com
"My hat goes off to Jonathan Stupar because he played every play on offense," said Fred Jackson. "He was on the field (throwing up) at one point. He was a guy that wanted to perform for us and help us get a victory. Jamon coming in as another tight end to help us [when Shawn Nelson went down]. It was about guys just wanting to get a victory."

Scott growing into role at linebacker : The Buffalo News
"He's a big safety and a small linebacker," Fewell said. "Bryan is really stepping up to the plate for us because we need guys to step up to the plate. It's not the role that he envisioned himself to be in at the beginning of the season but it shows how unselfish he is and how unselfish this team is."

What Else Can We Expect? | Democrat and Chronicle | Three-Point Stance
Sal Maiorana lauds defensive ends Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay for playing well and explains why he dislikes Aaron Maybin so much. He also calls for Brian Brohm because Ryan Fitzpatrick "couldn’t start for about 20 Division I college teams."

No passing mark yet for Fitzpatrick | Olean Times Herald
"One question was emphatically answered on Sunday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium: neither Trent Edwards nor Ryan Fitzpatrick will be the Bills’ quarterback come training camp next July."

Taking out the Trash: Bill of goods - George Winkler - Fantasy Source Blitz - Sporting News
"Perry Fewell says he's sticking with Fitzpatrick, but it doesn't take an Ivy League education for fantasy owners to know the Harvard grad should be punted."

Bills Announce Tickets Available For Last Two Games | WKBW News
The Bills have announced that approximately 2,000 tickets are available for Sunday’s game vs. the New England Patriots and over 5,000 tickets remain for the January 3rd game vs. the Indianapolis Colts.

Countdown Daily Insight Center: NE-BUF - ESPN Video - ESPN
Football Scientist KC Joyner takes you into the IBM Insight Center to tell you the keys to victory.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Jake Locker Could Have Been #1
"Sam Bradford is a mid-first round talent. I project Colt McCoy as a late first to early second round pick, with the likes of Tim Tebow, Dan LeFevour, Tony Pike and Sean Canfield in a glut just beyond him. Watch out for Arkansas's Ryan Mallet, however. He's a very raw talent and underclassmen, but has the skills to sneak in to the first round if he elects to leave early."

It's my mom's birthday today so happy birthday mom!

Rams missing from "All Fundamentals Team"

VanRam — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:02:58 -0000

More photos » by Ted S. Warren - AP

Can the Rams' Donnie Jones, left, buy some attention for his excellent punting skills?

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The All Fundamentals Team has been announced by the NFLPA and USA Football Association. Players are selected based on "the combination of their fundamentally sound play and their commitment to community."

Nobody from the St. Louis Rams made the list, though you could make the case for a few names. Those include:

RB Steven Jackson - Every week, injury or not, he gives 110% and says nothing about the fact that the team can't win despite his work. What else is there to say? Ryan Grant was the RB named.

P Donnie Jones - Is there a better punter in the league? Apparently. The All Fundamentals selection committee thinks Brian Moorman from the Bills is a better punter.

And, what, no Kyle Boller for throwing mechanics? Booo.

Take a look at the All Fundamentals Team and the skills the players were selected for. What other Rams could qualify?

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Link, 12/10

MattRichWarren — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:01:51 -0000

Bills' Maybin barely toes the line : Jerry Sullivan : The Buffalo News
"In time, Maybin might turn into a star. But it's disconcerting to watch so many other rookies having good years while the Bills' top pick struggles to find himself. Well, they're 4-8. Maybe someone up top should tell Fewell the time has come to find out about Maybin."

All Fundamentals Team - Brian Moorman
The Bills' punter was named to the USA Football "All Fundamentals team" for his excellent form on and off the field.

Lindell having another strong season | BuffaloBills.com
"The most accurate kicker in franchise history, Lindell is putting together another solid season. Entering this weekend’s action the veteran kicker is 20-23 on field goal attempts this season (87%). With four games left to play Lindell is within striking distance of his single-season career high in field goal percentage set back in 2006 when he went 23-25 for a 92 percent success rate."

Bills bleeding away points in the red zone : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"The Bills have scored just nine touchdowns inside the opponent's 20-yard line, tying the St. Louis Rams and Oakland Raiders for the fewest in the NFL. The Bills' 27 red-zone possessions are tied with the Detroit Lions and Sunday's opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs, for the fifth fewest in the league."

Byrd’s injury improving – Inside The Bills
"Fewell wasn’t ready to go so far as to say that Jairus Byrd’s snaps will be increased significantly as a result of his improved condition. But it’s a good sign that the rookie ballhawk could be out on the field more than he has been in recent weeks."

Bills notebook: Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"Cornerback Terrence McGee practiced fully for the first time since having knee surgery during the bye week. Whether he's able to return to the starting lineup won't be known until the end of the week. Defensive tackle John McCargo also practiced fully after being sidelined the last two weeks with a calf injury."

Injury report – Inside The Bills
Terrence McGee practiced fully. Check out the list of players who didn't here.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Bills vs. Chiefs; So Similar, It's Scary
"Fewell was asked if some of the Bills younger players, like Aaron Maybin, James Hardy and Steve Johnson would see playing time over the last few weeks of the season. He replied that he's trying to put the best 45-man roster on the field each week and that the younger players that aren't playing as much will get a chance when he (Fewell) feels that they give the Bills a chance to win. "

Time for Bills to go with Brohm? | Democrat and Chronicle
"One way the Bills could make some headway on 2010 is to start finding out, as soon as possible, if new quarterback Brian Brohm is someone that could help the team."

Back to Work With the Bills | Democrat and Chronicle | Three-Point Stance
Sal Maiorana looks back at the Jets loss and forward to next season.

Bills looking toward 2010 for Maybin - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"I think he's going to be a dynamic player for us," said Perry Fewell. "It's very tough to play in this league, and I think he will get better, and he’ll be a top-flight pick. Maybe not at the end of this season, but he’s going to be a top-flight pick for this football team."

Video: AFC East Huddle - AFC East Blog - ESPN
ESPN's John Clayton takes his weekly spin around the AFC East and touches on a variety of subjects.

Jones, McNabb headline the top fantasy starters for Week 14 | NFL.com
Terrell Owens is a "Start 'Em" this week now that he's not locked up against Darrelle Revis.

wgrz.com | Buffalo, NY | Bills Roundtable
Watch 2-On-Your-Side's Adam Benigni and Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle on this week's Bills Roundtable.

Owens and Lynch have long pass contest | WIVB.com
45 second clip of Terrell Owens and Marshawn Lynch in a long pass contest following Wednesday’s practice.

Bills search for motivation | WIVB.com
"We're all competitors number one," Fewell said Wednesday. "We talked about it this morning, that in order to get what you want in life, you have to have enthusiasm and a vision. Our vision is to win."

Bills top draft pick DE Maybin remains motivated - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
"Maybin is willing to lower his expectations a little for this year. The level of confidence he has in his abilities, though, remains unchanged."

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
Bills interim coach Perry Fewell on LT Demetrius Bell (knee): "That's a day-to-day thing with Bell. He worked out Monday, really looked good on Monday. Did not participate today so we’re just trying to find out what the problem is there."

Further Evidence Edwards Is Done : Buffalo Sports Daily
Pat Moran, who two weeks ago called for Briam Brohm to get a look, now wants Trent Edwards back as the starter since he lit up the Chiefs a year ago.

Countdown Daily AccuScore Report: BUF-KC - ESPN Video - ESPN
Jenny Dell tells you the chances the Bills go into Kansas City and beat the Chiefs

Saints sign LB off Bills practice squad – Inside The Bills
"LB Anthony Waters, who was signed to Buffalo’s practice squad on Oct. 14 in the wake of a rash of injuries at the LB position, has been signed by New Orleans as they deal with injuries themselves at the LB position."

Owens open to re-signing with Bills in 2010 | BuffaloBills.com
"Terrell Owens seems to view the Bills as the victim of circumstance in 2009, which is why he’s not as discouraged by what has transpired this season as some might think." He is quoted as saying, "It’s no coincidence as (Ryan) Fitz(patrick) has been in the offense that I’ve been getting involved and he’s kind of been dropping back and looking downfield and he’s seen on the film where I have been open and we’ve taken full advantage of that."

Bills Week 14: Bills at Chiefs | Buffalo News Video
"The Bills head to Kansas City this week where they face the the Chiefs. Last time the Bills played in Arrowhead Stadium the Bills racked up 54 points in a win. Can the Bills repeat this season? Al, Sully and Rodney take a look at the matchup."

Bills celebrate Play 60 with students | BuffaloBills.com
The event included appearances by wide receiver Lee Evans, safety George Wilson, linebacker Chris Draft, long-snapper Garrison Sanborn, linebacker Jon Corto, defensive end Aaron Maybin, safety John Wendling and team mascot Billy Buffalo as they encouraged kids to stay fit.

Wilson: Bills work out Pettiti | National Football Post
The Bills worked out former Cowboys offensive tackle Rob Pettiti, late of the UFL's Florida Tuskers, Tuesday.

Team in Transition
WGR 550 SportsRadio - Getting a new football coach - in 12 stages
Jeremy White's 12-step program of getting over your old coach and finding your enthusiasm for the next season.

ProFootballWeekly.com - Assistants will draw interest for head-coaching jobs
"With the majority of the teams likely to be looking for new head coaches at the end of the season also having financial concerns that figure to keep them from pursuing heavy hitters such as Mike Shanahan, Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden and Mike Holmgren, PFW this week takes an in-depth look at the more affordable alternatives whom our leaguewide sources have identified from the NFL assistant-coaching ranks."

2010 NFL Draft
FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Cover-3: A Man Named Suh
FO profiles the big Nebraska DT.

Locker might return to Washington - San Jose Mercury News
"Washington coach Steve Sarkisian says he's "very optimistic" that star quarterback Jake Locker will return to the Huskies for his senior season rather than enter the NFL draft."

Bills Tweets
Nic Harris
Off tired, think this is what they call the rookie wall, imma fight thru! Time to bite down!

Letterman writer Eric Stengel
Terrell Owens has signed with a modeling agency. A couple of gigs and maybe the guy can finally get some attention!!

Dorsey, Edwards and Krumrie Highlight Chiefs and Bills Connections

Chris Thorman — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:00:30 -0000

by David Duprey - AP

2 months ago: Buffalo Bills' Kawika Mitchell is carted off the field after being injured during the first half of the NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday Oct. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/David Duprey)

View full size photo »

The normal five comments this connection post gets each week will likely be zero today because there is really nothing of interest to point out between the Kansas City Chiefs' and the Buffalo Bills' connections.

Let's see. Our nose tackle was a Bill for five seasons. One of our tight ends is from Buffalo. And Glenn Dorsey has a cousin on the team.

Whoopty do.

To make this post more interesting than it already is, can you think of some guys from earlier years that were both Bills and Chiefs? Getcha coffee ready (Yeah, that was a bad TO reference. You got a problem with that?).

Chiefs GM Scott Pioli ('88-89) and asst. GM Joel Collier ('88-89) were graduate assistants at Syracuse. Collier was born in Buffalo, NY.
Collier's father, Joe Collier, served as the Bills head coach ('66-68), leading the club to the '66 AFL Championship Game vs. Kansas City.
Chiefs DL coach Tim Krumrie held the same role with Buffalo (2003-05).
Chiefs DT Ron Edwards spent five seasons with Buffalo (2001-05).
Bills asst. to the head coach/special projects Chuck Lester was a scout for three seasons with the Chiefs ('84-86).
Chiefs offensive quality control coach Nick Sirianni is a native of Jamestown, NY.
Kansas City TE Sean Ryan is a native of Buffalo, NY.
Buffalo asst. LBs/special teams coach DeMontie Cross played ('94-96) and coached ('98-99) at Missouri.
Bills P Brian Moorman is a native of Wichita, KS and played collegiately at Pittsburg State in Pittsburg, KS.
Bills LB Kawika Mitchell is currently on IR. He entered the NFL as a second-round (47th overall) selection of the Chiefs in 2003.
Chiefs DE Glenn Dorsey is the cousin of the Bills TE Shawn Nelson.
Buffalo offensive quality control coach Nathaniel Hackett is the son of former Kansas City offensive coordinator Paul Hackett.

Let us know if you come up with any players that were Bills and Chiefs.

Identifying the "crux players" on Buffalo's roster

Brian Galliford — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:00:30 -0000

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

Browse more photos »

Two weeks ago - a day before the Buffalo Bills fired head coach Dick Jauron, in fact - we here at Buffalo Rumblings took a look at the core players of Buffalo's roster. The idea behind the post was to identify players that, based on their contract status with the franchise, are very likely to survive a regime change at One Bills Drive.

We'll recap the fruits of that labor quickly after the jump, but the purpose of this post is to take that exercise a step further. With the core players out of the way, it's time to look at the players that I'll term "crux players" - guys with flexible contract situations that will define a new regime's focus on re-building the Bills.

Core player recap
We named 17 current Bills as "core players," splitting the group up into vested veterans, young players with promise and role-playing veterans awaiting new roles once the regime change is complete. Of those 17 players, we defined a solid 9 as starting-caliber, a further six as fringe starters, and two as reserves. Here's that breakdown:

Starters: RB Fred Jackson, WR Lee Evans, G/C Eric Wood, DE Aaron Schobel, DT Marcus Stroud, LB Kawika Mitchell, CB Terrence McGee, FS Jairus Byrd, P Brian Moorman

Fringe starters: TE Shawn Nelson, OT Brad Butler, OG Andy Levitre, DE Aaron Maybin, DT Kyle Williams, CB Leodis McKelvin

Reserves: C/G Geoff Hangartner, DT Spencer Johnson

Keep in mind that all of these players are currently under contract through the end of the 2012 season. That means that, if each plays to the end of their contract, they'll be in Buffalo for another three years. The fact that each player has at least three years left on his deal at least ensures that they'll be part of the roster in Year 1 of a new regime, and many of them will be playing considerably large roles.

For this exercise, the criteria changes a bit. "Crux players," as far as we're concerned for now, are players that, once the 2009 season ends, will have either one or two years left on their current deal. Each is under contract for the 2010 season, but each also has a deal that makes it possible for a new regime to play football in 2010 without these players under contract. They are truly "crux" players in that a new regime will be making its most important decisions amongst this group. The entire new direction of the franchise from a personnel standpoint will be based largely on evaluations of these 19 players.

Keep in mind, also, that this list changes if 2010 is an uncapped year. Ask MattRichWarren about it.

Buffalo's 19 "crux players"
You'll have a task at the end of this exercise, but for now, here's a quick summary of the 19 crux players on Buffalo's roster:

Trent Edwards, QB - Signed through 2011. He's been benched and needs a new environment, but some talent remains.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB - Signed through 2012. Has proven to be reliable as a backup, but is not considered a franchise signal-caller.
Brian Brohm, QB - Signed through 2012. A project player with some solid tools, there's a chance he never sees the field for Buffalo.
Marshawn Lynch, RB - Signed through 2013, with an opt-out clause in the final year. No longer the starting running back, Lynch might be the subject of trade talks this off-season.
Corey McIntyre, FB - Signed through 2011. Run-of-the-mill player.
James Hardy, WR - Signed through 2012. Buffalo invested a second-round pick in him, and the talent is there, but Hardy has had injury issues and hasn't seen the field much.
Roscoe Parrish, WR - Signed through 2012. Has clamored for a trade, but a new regime might be inclined to keep him as a punt returner. Unlikely to get PT as a WR anywhere.
Steve Johnson, WR - Signed through 2012. Held in high regard by current regime, but that could change quickly, and doesn't carry the same investment as Hardy.
Derek Fine, TE - Signed through 2012. Probably survives a regime change because he's a role player with special teams ability.
Demetrius Bell, OT - Signed through 2012. Has struggled with injuries and on the playing field, but again, there is raw ability to work with.
Chris Kelsay, DE - Signed through 2011. A heady veteran who has improved under position coach Bob Sanders, but has a large salary that might seal his fate.
Chris Ellis, DE - Signed through 2012. Does not play a significant role now and that's not likely to change, but represents a significant investment ('08 third-round pick).
John McCargo, DT - Signed through 2011. Nothing more than a rotational tackle at this point in his disappointing career.
Paul Posluszny, LB - Signed through 2011. Sure to be the most intensely-debated player on this list.
Drayton Florence, CB - Signed through 2011. Has been excellent as a fill-in starter, and has scheme versatility.
Reggie Corner, CB - Signed through 2012. Reserve-type corner that has his uses, but should never be counted on as a starter.
Donte Whitner, S - Signed through 2011, with an opt-out clause in the final year. Could be a UFA as soon as this coming March. New regime might feel differently about him.
John Wendling, S - Signed through 2011. Special teams player only.
Rian Lindell, K - Signed through 2012. Reliable and gets more consistent with age.

Your Task
There's your list, folks. Some of those names obviously carry much more weight and importance than others. Your task: pick out the players that you believe are worth keeping around. Then, of those names, split them into starters and reserves. Combined with your input from the original post, this should really cement your ideas about where you'd take the franchise if you were GM.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/1

MattRichWarren — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:14:24 -0000

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Lynch Fine With Back Seat Role
"I feel good. It feels good to come home and get a win in the fashion that we did," said Marshawn Lynch. "It's all right. If I could sit down and watch Fred (Jackson) do his thing, then that's what I'm going to do. As long as we get wins, I'm satisfied."

Veteran Florence proving a valuable pickup : The Buffalo News
"Drayton Florence is doing his talking on the field this season, and his performance says he is rehabilitating his career."

Bills Announce Thursday's Game in Toronto Is A Sellout | WGRZ.com
The Buffalo Bills announced late Monday evening, the game against the New York Jets in Toronto on Thursday is officially a sellout and the game will be televised locally (in Buffalo - NOT Rochester).

Fitzpatrick helps Bills finish | BuffaloBills.com
"In winning his sixth game as an NFL starter, Fitzpatrick led four touchdown drives on 17-26 passing for 246 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also capped a scoring drive with a 31-yard run—the longest rush by a quarterback in team history."

Bills replay: Run defense stiffens : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
The rushing defense didn't look great in the first half but that changed in the second when they clamped down on Ricky Williams.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Home of the Buffalo Sabres - Levy and Thomas reunite on air
Former Bills head coach Marv Levy joined Thurman Thomas and The Bulldog on Buffalo Football Monday's Extra Point show, and Levy touched on a number of topics and memories.

Buffalo Bills Replay: Has team turned corner? | Democrat and Chronicle
Leo Roth and Sal Maiorana take a look back at the Dolphins game giving their feedback.

Buffalo Bills give Fred Jackson chance to be No. 1 RB | Democrat and Chronicle
"We need two running backs and he needs to get started and he needs his carries," said Fred Jackson. "I know he's the feature back and that's who they want to try to get rolling, but yeah, anybody in my situation wants the ball. You want to help the team as much as possible."

Food for Perry | Democrat and Chronicle | Three-Point Stance
Sal Maiorana gives his opinions on Perry Fewell and other events surrounding the Miami game.

Six from Sunday: Questionable calls prove costly
"The Dolphins' Wildcat pass from the 3-yard line in the opening drive of their loss to Buffalo is a play the Fish would love to have back. The play resulted in an interception, after Miami had rushed five times for 32 yards (6.4 average) to reach the 3"

Buffalo Bills | NFL at CBSSports.com
Bills interim coach Perry Fewell has quickly won over his team with his energetic approach. "He's the type of guy that has come in and gotten everybody behind him," DT Marcus Stroud said. "We want to play ball and ... we're trying to build up some wins."

Week 12 Morning Aftermath | ProFootballTalk.com
Mike Florio thinks that "Under Fewell, the Bills are dangerous." He continues saying, "It's easy to have big gonads when there's no real danger of getting them cut off."

No pads practices this week – Inside The Bills
"We will have walk-through practices, they won’t be padded full-speed practices because you’re coming off a game on Sunday," said Fewell. "And so we must try to keep our players fresh but give them good information."

BillBoard: Porter & Fish LBs | Buffalo News
"This will sound odd, but even though Miami linebacker Joey Porter had 2.5 sacks in Sunday's game against the Bills, he did not play a great game."

Oh Snap! Guess What I Saw? | The Goose's Roost
"Fewell may not be the guy, but he’s making Russ Brandon and Co.’s decision a little bit tougher every day. It’s hard not to root for him."

Niagara Gazette - BILLS DVR REWIND: Defense kept Buffalo in Sunday's win
Tim Schmitt rewatches the game and thinks the Bills defense is what won the game - not the offense.

Inpspired Bills down Dolphins | Olean Times Herald
"BUT THE real winner was Fewell who the players have embraced for his upbeat personality, positive attitude and willingness to get in their faces if needed," says Chuck Pollack.

Bills/Dolphins notebook: A record run for Fitzpatrick; Lindell redeems himself
Notes from the Bills’ 31-14 win over the Dolphins on Sunday afternoon at "The Ralph:"

Bills hope to get warmer reception in Toronto - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
John Wawrow talks with Brian Moorman and Rogers Communications' Adrian Montgomery about the upcoming game north of the border.

Anything But | The Goose's Roost
Ryan knows it's better for the Bills if they lose but, like me, can't bring himself to root against Buffalo.

Kubiak must go, the amazing Colts, coaching blunders - Don Banks - SI.com
"If the Bills can't land one of the big-name coaching candidates they've pursued, they could do a lot worse than retain Fewell, who at least has his guys playing impressively early on in his seven-game audition."

Stock Watch: Bills RB Fred Jackson - George Winkler - Fantasy Source Blitz - Sporting News
Fred Jackson's fantasy stock has gone way up now that he is the featured back.

Underdog Buffalo Bills likely to bite New York Jets | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
Bob Matthews wonders why the Jets are favored on Thursday night when the Bills beat the Jets while they still had their two best players in Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington.

The 10 best NFL games of the last decade - Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
The Music City Mirage makes the list as the third-best game of the decade.... and it's barely part of the decade (January 8, 2000).

Touchdown for Teachers award winners announced | BuffaloBills.com
The Buffalo Bills and M&T Bank announced the "Touchdown for Teachers" program finalists and grand prize winner during the Bills vs. Dolphins game on Sunday, November 29th.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/30

MattRichWarren — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:45:12 -0000

In a game of gut checks, Fewell passes the test : Jerry Sullivan : The Buffalo News
Sullivan runs down the list of Fewell going with his gut: attempting a 56-yard field goal, the deep bomb to T.O. (which Fewell didn't call), and starting Fred Jackson over Marshawn Lynch.

Miami Dolphins' Vontae Davis says officials gave Terrell Owens a break - Palm Beach Post
"We knew that we were playing against them and the refs," rookie cornerback Vontae Davis said. "That's tough. You can't make the game close. After that, I just knew (the officials) were not letting us get out of here with that game."

Bills Notebook: Moorman and Lindell find their finishing kicks : The Buffalo News
Brian Moorman and Rian Lindell had rough starts to the game but when it counted the most the Bills' kickers delivered late in the fourth.

WGR 550 SportsRadio - Immediate Reactions, Wk12
Nick Mendola is downright giddy in his postgame analysis.

Buffalo Bills trample Miami Dolphins | Democrat and Chronicle
"Playing to win as opposed to playing not to lose as his predecessor, Dick Jauron, often did, Fewell was grandly rewarded."

Buffalo Bills two-minute read | Democrat and Chronicle
Sal Maiorana recaps the game in condensed fashion.

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
- The Bills technically had four safeties on the field for most of Miami's first drive. George Wilson and Jairus Byrd lined up at strong and free safety, respectively, with Donte Whitner at the nickel spot and Bryan Scott starting his third game in a row at LB.
- The Bills suffered only one injury today, as LB Nic Harris left the game with an eye contusion.

Bills 4th qtr changes perception – Inside The Bills
"In less than two weeks Perry Fewell has gone a long way in convincing this team they’re capable of better and that fighting to the end of games despite the postseason not really being in the cards is impressive."

Bills use fourth-quarter surge to put away Dolphins : The Buffalo News
"The great thing about it is the fourth quarter has been our Achilles' heel," said Bills linebacker Bryan Scott. "This fourth quarter we were able to ... score some points and then light our tails on fire and get after the quarterback."

Fitzpatrick shows qualities that are Peytonesque : Bob Dicesare : The Buffalo News
"If only for a day there's reasonable cause to compare Ryan Fitzpatrick, a starting quarterback by default, with Peyton Manning, a star quarterback by birthright."

Bills-Dolphins report card : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
The entire Bills team gets a "B-" or higher. What gives?

Dolphins' late collapse is tough to explain : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Dave Hyde of the Orlando Sentinel is despondent about the fourth quarter collapse the Dolphins suffered.

Quarterly report: Bills-Dolphins : The Buffalo News
The News' Mark Gaughan breaks down the Bills' 31-14 win over the Dolphins quarter-by-quarter, analyzing statistics, key plays and more.

Buffalo Bills two-minute read | Democrat and Chronicle
Sal Maiorana recaps the game in condensed fashion.

Buffalo Bills Report Card | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
The OL gets a "C-", tight ends "C+". Everyone else is sitting pretty in "B" territory or higher.

Playoff hopes take big hit as Dolphins fall in Buffalo - The Phinsider
"The Dolphins 17 point loss in Buffalo was a tough one to swallow."

Recap: Buffalo vs. Miami
The Sports Network recaps the game.

My First Dolphins Game Ever...with some pictures - The Phinsider
Great pictures from the game yesterday from dolphinsinbuffalo.

Refreshed Rivalry and Bright Future ahead - The Phinsider
DPL3 Rollin of the Phinsider is glad the Bills-Dolphins rivalry is back.

Bills playing with pride under Fewell - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"About a third of the way into the tryout, I'd say Fewell is making a sound case to get the job permanently. I'm not saying Fewell is the best option, but there's no denying he has been impressive so far."

Wrap-up: Bills 31, Dolphins 14 - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"The Buffalo Bills deadened the hopes of an AFC East playoff race by denying the Miami Dolphins their first peek at a winning record this year."

Run, Ryan, run? Throw, Ricky, throw? - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"Ricky Williams is throwing interceptions and Ryan Fitzpatrick is busting off 31-yard touchdown runs. What's next? Joey Porter taking a monastic vow of silence and Dick Jauron taking a job as a color commentator?"

Fitz and Fewell Bring Bills Fodder for the Future | wgrz.com
"Loved the way Perry Fewell has injected enthusiasm into his team, and is playing to WIN, not playing not to lose. On the other hand, to be honest, it's a bit easier to play it that way when you have everything to gain and little to lose."

Fewell's gut instincts provide spark for Bills | Democrat and Chronicle
Buffalo interim head coach Perry Fewell trusted Rian Lindell to come through on a fourth-quarter 56-yard field goal and it paid off for the Bills on Sunday.

Fewell fuels Bills | Ken Fidlin | Columnists | Toronto Sun
"It's probably too little, too late, but there's no questioning that Perry Fewell's appointment as interim coach has energized the Buffalo Bills in a way most of them never thought possible."

Niagara Gazette - BILLS NOTEBOOK: Fitzpatrick flashes running ability
"Ryan Fitzpatrick is making Bills fans forget about Trent Edwards. Ironically, he’s doing it with some of J.P. Losman’s old moves," says Jonah Bronstein.

Niagara Gazette - TIM'S TAKE: Fewell's fire gives Bills a much-needed spark
"It’s a difference, right? It’s a difference," Donte Whitner said. "And around here, it’s no knock on anybody, but we’re used to playing it safe in those situations. And the opposition, they know that. Today, they didn’t really expect that. Even last week, when (Terrell Owens) caught the 98-yard touchdown pass, they expected us to run the ball, run the ball, run the ball, punt the ball."

The right spark - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow
"Fitzpatrick proved Sunday you don’t need to have a lot of style, or the strongest arm, to win a game in the NFL. With the way the season has gone for the Bills and their fans, it might just be what the team needs going forward."

Jackson's the man in Bills backfield - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow
Bryan Sullivan looks at Perry Fewell's decision to start Fred Jackson over Marshawn Lynch.

Fewell’s presence is having an impact in the locker room - The Dunkirk Observer
"The players stood behind Jauron and always gave him their vote of confidence. I honestly believe the players LIKED playing for Jauron. But I think the players LOVE playing for Fewell."

The Miami Dolphins' defense allowed Buffalo to rush for 129 yards and score three rushing touchdowns in Sunday's 31-14 loss. -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Buffalo averaged 5.3 yards per carry against the Dolphins and scored three rushing touchdowns

Ex-Dolphin Jim Mandich's take on Dolphins game. -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
"You wish you had that one back, but the Dolphins let many more get away by letting the Bills hang around all game."

T.O. helps Bills beat Dolphins in 31-14 win - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
The AR's John Wawrow gives his account of the game from the press box.

Bills strong 4th quarter sinks Dolphins - BuffaloBills.com
"For once this season the Bills owned the fourth quarter, and it was pivotal as Buffalo outscored the Dolphins 24-0 to overcome a touchdown deficit and win for the first time in a month, 31-14 over division rival Miami."

Scott Pitoniak: New coach "Fewells'' Bills victory vs. Dolphins
The Rochester writer likes what he sees from Perry Fewell so far and gives other thoughts from the win over the Dolphins.

Does God Hate the Buffalo Bills? : Buffalo Sports Daily
Jeff Nixon gives his recollections from losing to the Dolphins for the 19th and 20th straight times before finally knocking them off in 1980.

You Can’t Rush Beauty, Partna : Buffalo Sports Daily
"The T.O. turnaround is in full flight and suddenly, labeling it as beauty would be quite the understatement. Breathtaking may be more fitting."

Other Bills bits
Congrats, Hall Semifinalists, and Good Luck: You'll Need It This Year -- NFL FanHouse
"Andre Reed and now Tim Brown further clog the receiver backlog -- I'm coming around on Reed after long talks about him with his bosses in Buffalo: Bill Polian and Marv Levy."

Haslett hasn't been contacted as a candidate for NFL job | ProFootballTalk.com
A league source tells us that Haslett hasn't been contacted regarding himself.

No Monday update from Fewell – Inside The Bills
Interim head coach Perry Fewell will not be giving a wrap up on Sunday’s game Monday. It’s due to the fact that the Bills have a very short week of preparation with their next game coming on Thursday night against the Jets.

Identifying the core of the Buffalo Bills' roster

Brian Galliford — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:00:05 -0000

by John Russell - AP

View full size photo »

Welcome, Buffalo Bills fans, to yet another "coping with disastrous football" post. The Bills, as I'm sure you're aware, lost 41-17 on the road to the Tennessee Titans yesterday; the loss puts the Bills at 3-6 under Dick Jauron for the first time since 2006, Jauron's first season in Buffalo. The players have been awful, the coaching staff is officially in "play out the string" territory, and that broad, sweeping change that fans have called for since December of 2008 is probably coming after seven weeks are up.

As brutal as it may be to watch the Bills during that two-month stretch, there's still plenty we can learn. The front office and the coaching staff will probably have new faces come next February. (Read that as me being hopeful on the former, and realistic on the latter.) But in all likelihood, many of the faces you currently see on game days will still be donning red, white and blue in 2010 and beyond.

This post is the first of a three-part series in which we'll attempt to segment the Bills' roster up to accurately pinpoint where change is not only most-needed, but most likely. Up first for discussion: those Bills players who are likely to be in Buffalo far longer than many of their teammates. After the jump, you'll find three groups of these players, as well as your task for the comments section. Here's hoping you find the discussion therapeutic.

Criteria
In order to qualify for this first group of players, one must have a contract that has at least three years remaining on it at the start of the 2010 season; in other words, all of these players are locked up in Buffalo through either 2013 or 2014. That qualifies 19 players for this list, but we'll only discuss 17. Sorry, fans of Nic Harris and Ellis Lankster, but your guys are fringe prospects and all too easy to release at any point, particularly under the employ of a new decision-making hierarchy.

The unknown status of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the possible free agency rules changes has little to no effect on this list. All veterans that have been in the league for a number of years remain unchanged, while the young players on the list (four years or less of experience) will only see the status of their free agency change (from unrestricted to restricted), likely increasing their time in Buffalo, in most cases.

We've split these 17 players into three groups: the veteran core, the youth core, and the vets whose roles would be dependent on how a new decision-making hierarchy attempted to address the team's bigger issues.

The veteran core (7 players)
These are players whose contracts meet the above criteria and who are veterans, either age-wise or experience-wise, with established reputations across the league. They are all players that have significant roles with the team, as well, and would likely hold onto significant roles, at least initially, in a regime change. These players will likely be the heart and soul of Bills football for the next few years.

Fred Jackson, RB - Signed through 2013. Cheap, versatile player who leaves everything on the field and makes plays.
Lee Evans, WR - Signed through 2013. Is proving this season that he can make big plays when he has help.
Aaron Schobel, DE - Signed through 2014. On the down side of his career, but can still produce, and is very consistent.
Marcus Stroud, DT - Signed through 2013. Again, on the down side, but still a more-than-capable starter in a 4-3.
Kawika Mitchell, LB - Signed through 2013. If he can start at LB on a Super Bowl champion, he can do it in Buffalo, too.
Terrence McGee, CB - Signed through 2014. Has enjoyed a consistent, successful career at a premium position.
Brian Moorman, P - Signed through 2013. Still an excellent punter and a fantastic teammate/community member.

The youth core (6 players)
These players meet the above criteria contract-wise, but carry far less established professional resumes. These six players' development - or lack thereof - will have a critical effect on how a new regime will address future iterations of the Buffalo Bills, but for now, their status as Bills players worth building around remains intact.

Shawn Nelson, TE - Signed through 2013. Great physical talent in need of playing time. Minor injuries are concerning.
Andy Levitre, OG - Signed through 2013. Versatile, plays the game the right way. Inconsistent, makes too many errors.
Eric Wood, C - Signed through 2014. Listed as a center because that's where he belongs. Also inconsistent.
Aaron Maybin, DE - Signed through 2014. Like the pick or not, his potential still remains through the roof. Needs PT.
Leodis McKelvin, CB - Signed through 2013. Elite talent at premium position, but has had two disappointing seasons.
Jairus Byrd, S - Signed through 2013. Ceiling may be somewhat limited, but has proven he's an elite ball hawk.

Veterans awaiting roles (4 players)
Again, these players meet contractual criteria and should be in Buffalo for the foreseeable future. These players might not be guaranteed much in the way of starting positions or playing time, however, under a new regime.

Brad Butler, OT - Signed through 2013. Has been dependable as a starter, but is a major risk for injury every season.
Geoff Hangartner, G/C - Signed through 2013. Disappointing as a center, but hard to ignore versatility and experience.
Kyle Williams, DT - Signed through 2013. Again, dependable, but new staff might view him as only rotation-worthy.
Spencer Johnson, DT - Signed through 2013. See Williams. Probably sees PT, but DT might be an upgrade area.

Your task
That's it. 17 players who are probably going to be Bills for a while, split into three pretty-easy-to-define areas in terms of how new regimes will view them. Your task for the comments section: split all 17 of these names into starters and non-starters. That's it. Only list a name as a starter if you think they could start for a playoff-caliber football team. My guess is that, at least for this part of the series, opinions will be pretty universal. Have at it, folks.