SB Nation - Roscoe Parrish

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/11

MattRichWarren — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:22:40 -0000

Buffalo Bills' special teams coming into form | Democrat and Chronicle
"I just took one of the young guys aside and explained what 'backdoor ear hole' means," Bills special teams coach Bobby April said. "That's a common term that I've used (for how you initiate angled contact with an opponent). He didn't know. In terms of having a lot of different guys out there, it's been unbelievable how many guys we've moved in and out. You're always teaching, but not with that much detail (at this time of the year)."

McGee looking good for Sun. – Inside The Bills
"Bills CB Terrence McGee practiced fully for a second straight day on Thursday enhancing his chances of returning to a full time role in Buffalo’s defensive lineup."

Really? The Buffalo Bills All-Decade Team : Buffalo Sports Daily
Pat Moran gives his team of the decade. FYI - the coach is Mike Mularkey and Trey Teague is the center. Yikes!

Bills kick game specialists roughing it – Inside The Bills
Special teams coordinator Bobby April accompanied his specialists out in the elements yesterday.

Bills linebacker Posluszny quarterbacks the defense : The Buffalo News
Rodney McKissic profiles Bills LB Paul Posluszny for the News' Friday Player Profile.

Question Mark: Plenty of blame for no LB depth : The Buffalo News
Mark Gaughan answers questions on the linebacker depth issues, Trent Edwards' fall from grace, and the undefeated teams in the NFL.

Buffalo Bills' Parrish says confidence isn't lacking | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
"Roscoe Parrish is back returning punts for Bills, but he hasn't made an impact."

Chiefs QB Cassel Familiar With Former AFC East Foe Bills - Arrowhead Pride
"Cassel has started and beaten the Bills on two occasions and admits that he's a little familiar with them."

Chiefs Granted 24 Hour Extension To Sell Tickets for Bills Game - Arrowhead Pride
"The Kansas City Chiefs have been granted a 24 hour extension to sell the remaining unsold tickets for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills, Josh Looney of KCChiefs.com reports."

Video: AccuScore likes Bills to win in K.C. - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"Jenny Dell of "Countdown Daily" delivers the AccuScore report for Sunday's game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium. The Bills win a surprising 56 percent of AccuScore's 10,000 simulations."

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
Bills interim coach Perry Fewell is expecting a challenge in Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles. Buffalo is 32nd in the league in run defense. "Charles is really a fine running back," Fewell said. "He's not a power running back, he's more of an outside speed back - really good in one-on-one situations."

Countdown Daily Prediction: Bills-Chiefs - ESPN Video - ESPN
"Herm Edwards and Mark Schlereth give you their pick"

DL Mace brought back – Inside The Bills
"Just two days after being waived from the 53-man roster, DL Corey Mace was re-signed to the Bills practice squad. The defensive lineman was waived Monday as the team re-signed Joe Klopfenstein to give the Bills three tight ends on their roster. The open spot on Buffalo’s eight-man practice squad to re-sign Mace was created when LB Anthony Waters was signed by the New Orleans Saints."

John Clayton with Schopp and the Bulldog
The ESPN NFL correspondent talks with the guys each week.

Stadium Seating - Interactive Features - Portfolio.com
The Bills are having financial problems in Buffalo but Portfolio.com says Rochester, NY could support an NFL franchise. (Toronto, however, could not).

Team in Transition
Hiring Super Bowl-winning coach offers no guarantees of NFL title - Don Banks - SI.com
"The track record of coaches who have scaled the game's highest summit and then went on to work for other NFL franchises does not spawn some sort of murky debate. It's clear cut. The coaching magic that won a Super Bowl has never been rekindled to the same degree in a subsequent stop."

Bills notebook: Receivers coach Tolbert headed to LSU : The Buffalo News
Buffalo Bills wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert has been hired for a similar position at LSU, according to a report Thursday on neworleans.com. Tolbert played at LSU as a wide receiver from 1988-90.

Bills Tweets
Nic Harris
Man this snow is too crazy, first Blizzard! Sweet Jesus!!!

Lydell Sargent
Jst put up my first tree in my own place.Did it without moms helping me to!! Not the prettiest but it works fo http://tweetphoto.com/6186786

Sargent again
maybe its me but ur tree SHOULD be bigger than ur TV.lol<--haha well tht will NEVER happn n my house!!TVs alwys

Shawn Nelson
mannn its a blizzard out here in buffalo...........this is not of GOD!!

Twitter / Chris Mortensen
chance T.O stays in Buffalo. ))) I 'd guess very slim.

Identifying the "crux players" on Buffalo's roster

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

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

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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.

Opponent History: Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars

sireric — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:50:01 -0000

Buffalo Bills (3-6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4)
Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 1:00 PM EST
Jacksonville Municipal Stadium - Jacksonville, FL

This is a little later than we normally start to look at next week's opponent, but after the events of the past two days, it seemed appropriate to push it back a little bit. This will be the tenth meeting between the Bills and the Jaguars, including their first ever meeting in the 1996 AFC Wild Card playoff game. The Bills hold a 5-4 lead in the all-time series. This is also the fifth ever meeting to take place in Jacksonville, where the Bills hold a 3-1 victory edge. With the exception of two contests, these have been very close games, with the average margin of victory being a little over a touchdown. Recaps of last five meetings are after the jump.

Sunday, September 14, 2003: Bills 38, Jaguars 17
Completely unable to run the football, Drew Bledsoe and the Bills went to the air. Bledsoe passed for 314 yards and two touchdowns, while Travis Henry proved to be useful in the red zone by pushing in three goal line touchdowns to pace to Bills' offense. Alex Van Pelt even got into the game late and completed one pass for 14 yards. Eric Moulds had a nice day, with 7 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown.

Sunday, September 12, 2004: Jaguars 13, Bills 10
This was another good day for Moulds, but his 8 catches for 75 yards and a touchdown weren't enough. The Bills had a 10-6 lead in the closing seconds of the game, but Byron Leftwich hit Ernest Wilford in the back of the end zone as time expired to give the Jags the win. I remember that I couldn't watch this game, but I was watching a different game looking for updates. The scroll on CBS kept saying that the game was over and the Bills had won, so I was happy. When they showed the game break, I got really pissed.

Sunday, November 26, 2006: Bills 27, Jaguars 24
This time it was the Bills scoring as time expired to get the win. The Bills jumped out to a 17-7 lead on the strength of two Willis McGahee touchdown runs and a Rian Lindell field goal. The Jags pulled closer by adding a David Garrard-to-Marcedes Lewis touchdown pass to the Maurice Jones-Drew TD run they already had to make the score 17-14 at the half. After a Roscoe Parrish punt return for a touchdown and a Josh Scobee field goal, Garrard hit Matt Jones with 28 seconds left to tie the game up. But the Bills got into filed goal range in just 28 seconds, and Lindell hit a 42-yarder to give the Bills the win as the clock hit zeroes.

Sunday, November 25, 2007: Jaguars 36, Bills 14
This game was never really close. Fred Taylor and Jones-Drew combined for 124 yards and two touchdowns, and Josh Scobee hit five field goals as the Jags rolled over the Bills. Anthony Thomas and Roscoe Parrish found the end zone for the Bills as lone bright spots.

Sunday, September 14, 2008: Bills 20, Jags 16
This was probably the one game that I blame the high expectations from the previous year on the most. The Bills headed into heavily favored Jacksonville and pulled out a win. With the Jags leading 16-10 late in the fourth quarter, Trent Edwards hit James Hardy in the back of the end zone on a beautiful fade pass to give the Bills a 17-16 lead. Lindell added an insurance field goal to help seal it for the Bills. Buffalo would win their next two game to move to 4-0 on the season before starting a downward spiral that would crush all of our hearts.

Fewell sticks with Fitzpatrick at QB, Levitre at LT

Brian Galliford — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:00:30 -0000

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

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Various news outlets - we'll link WGR 550 and Paul Hamilton, since it's been a while - are reporting that Ryan Fitzpatrick is taking first-team reps at quarterback in Perry Fewell's first practice as interim head coach of the Buffalo Bills. Fewell confirmed this fact after practice. That bit of news confirms an NFL.com report from Wednesday - prior to the firing of Dick Jauron - that Fitzpatrick would be the club's starter.

With Demetrius Bell dealing with a knee injury, rookie lineman Andy Levitre lined up at left tackle in practice on Wednesday, again according to Hamilton. Levitre saw his first reps of the season at that position last week in Tennessee after Bell left the game at halftime. Replacing Levitre at left guard was, and remains, Seth McKinney. If that move is permanent, Levitre will become the sixth player to line up at either tackle position for Buffalo this season, and the third on the left side.

Additionally, Chris Brown at BuffaloBills.com is reporting that, while safety Donte Whitner and defensive tackle Kyle Williams are back on the practice field, several players missed today's session. That list includes Roscoe Parrish, Justin Jenkins, Bell, Jonathan Scott, Marcus Stroud, Keith Ellison, Terrence McGee, Ashton Youboty and Jairus Byrd. McGee, recovering from knee surgery, worked with trainers on the sideline. Scott was absent as he continues to mourn the passing of his father.

One last note: converted strong safety Bryan Scott continues to take practice reps at linebacker, again according to Brown. That likely won't change until Ellison returns to the lineup.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/17

MattRichWarren — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:41:14 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

about 1 month ago: Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (28) scores a touchdown on a one-yard run ahead of Buffalo Bills linebacker Nic Harris, right, in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

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DE Schobel Questions Bills Lack Of Direction -- NFL FanHouse
"I mean, we're technically, mathematically still in it, I guess," said Aaron Schobel, "but it's like what ... are we doing here?"

Obscene Gesture Costs Adams $250K -- NFL FanHouse
The NFL has fined Titans owner Bud Adams $250,000 for making an obscene gesture at Buffalo fans while celebrating Tennessee's victory over the Bills.

Jauron on Whitner situation – Inside The Bills
Basically Whitner was dressed to play in an emergency situation, but was still not 100 percent recovered from the severe bone bruise on his ankle.

Jauron to announce starting QB Wednesday | BuffaloBills.com
Chris Brown says the offense hasn't looked much different with Trent Edwards or Ryan Fitzpatrick starting. The team won't make a decision on the starter until Wednesday.

Jauron not optimistic about Bell – Inside The Bills
Demetrius Bell’s injured knee won’t be re-evaluated until later Monday, but Dick Jauron was not optimistic about his status moving forward.

Buffalo Bills NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com Rapid Reports
Bills DT Kyle Williams - one of Buffalo's best defenders this season - is hoping to return this week from a torn MCL. "I’m hoping this week, but I don’t know ... it’s better than it was last week," Williams said. "I tore that ligament and they say it’s just at time issue."

Bills rookie Byrd continues fine season - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The last time a player had at least eight interceptions in five games was Tommy Morrow for the Oakland Raiders in 1963.

Bills notebook: Jauron won't say if Edwards is starter: The Buffalo News
Ever true to his guarded approach, Bills coach Dick Jauron would not say whether Trent Edwards will be under center Sunday when the team visits Jacksonville.

Bud Adams Fined $250K for Flipping off the Bills - Music City Miracles
Bud Adams fined $250K for the Music City Salute. The MCM blog says that's way too high. I agree.

Buffalo Bills Replay: Where does team go from here? | Democrat and Chronicle
Sal Maiorana and Leo Roth go back and forth on the future of the Bills.

Music City Meltdown | Democrat and Chronicle | Three-Point Stance
Here’s a few things Sal Maiorana would do if he was calling the shots at One Bills Drive: start Trent Edwards, start Fred Jackson, get rid of Terrell Owens and start James Hardy, say goodbye to Donte Whitner, play Aaron Maybin, let Roscoe Parrish return punts, and get Shawn Nelson more involved.

Jauron Hints At Changes In Presser : Buffalo Sports Daily
Personnel decisions are aplenty with injuries and poor play across the board.

POLLOCK: These Bills are a team in disarray | Olean Times Herald
"What a mess," says Chuck Pollack.

Jeff Nixon: "Head Games" : Buffalo Sports Daily
The former Bill looks at concussions and the NFL in light of Trent Edwards' return from the injury.

Kawika chops the hair! – Inside The Bills
Bills LB Kawika Mitchell, whose season is over due to a knee injury suffered a month ago, made a bold decision recently to cut his long locks off. Photo there.

Latest Meltdown Has Bills’ Season On Verge Of Imploding : Buffalo Sports Daily
Pat Moran likens the Bills to Amy Winehouse in the meltdown department as he gives his game recap.

Niagara Gazette - BILLS DVR REWIND: Bad decision accelerates Bills’ implosion
Tim Schmitt looks back at the Bills loss in Tennessee focusing in on the last 3:30 minutes of play.

Notebook: Byrd is again the word | BuffaloBills.com
Dan Bates gives some positive notes from the Titans loss featuring Jairus Byrd, Lee Evans, T.O., and the OL reshuffle.

Statement from Titans Owner K.S. 'Bud' Adams, Jr. | Titansonline.com
The full text from Bud Adams double-finger apology.

High pick in cards for Bills : Jerry Sullivan : The Buffalo News
Jerry Sullivan recounts a meeting with Rex Carr at Cole's Monday discussing the demise of the Bills and the upcoming offseason.

Owens Sums it Up: What's New? | wgrz.com
Adam Benigni poses the question to key parts of the Bills and comes up with the answer "nothing".

Bills WR Owens questionable for Week 10

Brian Galliford — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:07:13 -0000

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

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After missing two days of practice this week with a strained hip, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens has been officially listed as questionable for his team's Week 10 matchup with the Tennessee Titans.

Owens practiced on Monday after returning from the bye week, but the missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday with his sudden, aforementioned hip injury. Owens was limited on Friday.

Starting defensive end Aaron Schobel, safety Donte Whitner, tackle Jamon Meredith and receiver Roscoe Parrish are also listed as questionable.

Meanwhile, three defensive starters - defensive tackle Kyle Williams, linebacker Keith Ellison and cornerback Terrence McGee - have all been officially ruled out for this contest. Spencer Johnson will start once again in a short-handed defensive tackle rotation that will dress just three players Sunday. Former starting free safety Bryan Scott will get the start at Ellison's weak-side linebacker spot, while Reggie Corner - the team's nickel back - is expected to be in the lineup for McGee. Ashton Youboty and Ellis Lankster will see nickel and dime work; Youboty will likely play outside on passing downs, allowing Corner to stay in the slot.

Six Bills players are listed as probable: quarterback Trent Edwards, fullback Corey McIntyre, tight end Shawn Nelson, right tackle Jonathan Scott, linebacker Bryan Scott and free safety Jairus Byrd. All are expected to play on Sunday.

Source: BuffaloBills.com

Playoffs or not, Bills have much to learn post-bye

Brian Galliford — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:04:49 -0000

More photos » by Mike Groll - AP

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The Buffalo Bills are 3-5, and as they enjoy their last weekend off until their 2009 season comes to a close - whenever that may be - it's time for us fans to stop reflecting on what they've done through the first half of the season and to start discussing what we might learn over the next eight weeks.

Clearly, the big questions in Buffalo remain the coaching situation - which is probably tied directly to the outcome of the season - and the quarterback position, which we've discussed very thoroughly over the last couple of days. But from a player personnel standpoint, there is still plenty of progress to be made for several young players. What follows is a breakdown of Bills players with the most to gain, most to lose, and those waiting for some developments to unfold.

Three Bills with the most to gain developmentally
Demetrius Bell. Buffalo's starting left tackle has had his share of struggles early in his career, particularly with consistency (which isn't a surprise) and mistakes (which are incredibly irritating). He's cleaned up his act in the latter department in recent weeks, and it's therefore not impossible to think he can work out some consistency issues over the next eight games, too. No one denies that Bell has solid talent. If he proves he can play left tackle in this league, that's one less major issue the Bills will need to address in the off-season.

Aaron Maybin. I've preached patience in regards to Maybin, and even though that argument is nearly universally accepted, fans still don't like the pick because Maybin's rookie contributions have been minimal. Depending on how the rest of the season goes, however, there's a strong chance Maybin's playing time could increase as the season progresses, particularly as he's already starting to see a few more snaps per game. Again - this is a player whose talent is undeniable. If he starts producing in the second half of the season, the minds of a large number of fans will be put at ease.

Jairus Byrd. Yes, he's been Buffalo's MVP through the first half of the season, thanks to his league-leading seven interceptions. He's a leading candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year. But he's not a complete, two-dimensional safety yet. If his groin injury doesn't hamper him over the next two months, Byrd has a chance to gain a ton of starting experience and develop his tackling skills. The more he plays, the closer he comes to becoming an all-around playmaker, and if that happens, he could be considered one of the elite defensive backs in the NFL.

Three Bills with the most to gain if they're on tape for a new coaching staff
Trent Edwards. That one's pretty obvious. He's a young player that has some talent, and he's shown (very occasional) flashes of competence at the game's most important position. If a new coaching staff is in Buffalo in 2010, that staff's most important decision will be centered around what to do at quarterback. A strong finish to this season could help Edwards survive a regime change. Of course, it could also help save his current coach's job, as well.

Paul Posluszny. The completely unbiased view of Posluszny outside of Buffalo right now is as follows: perfect teammate, tremendous competitor with leadership skills and smarts, limited playmaker and an injury risk. He might be playing out of position as well, and is this kid's ceiling as high as originally thought? Like Edwards, Poz isn't going to be leaving Buffalo any time soon, but if he wants to remain this team's starting middle linebacker through next off-season, he needs to close this season well.

Donte Whitner. He's missed at least one game in each of his four pro seasons, including four of the Bills' first eight games this season. Prior to his departure from the lineup, Whitner was playing at the highest level of his career - but as he's missed time, Byrd has established himself as one of the elite young defensive backs in the NFL. Whitner has been a team captain, but he's not anymore. His production remains an issue, even if his versatility remains a tremendous asset to this team. Again - he won't be going anywhere any time soon, but he's got a lot to prove if he's to remain a key part of Buffalo's defense through a regime change.

Three Bills playing out the string
Roscoe Parrish. He's been relegated to third quarterback duties, and there's a chance he could be released when the team activates James Hardy from the PUP list. One of the elite punt returners in NFL history, Parrish has worn out his welcome in Buffalo thanks to a mistake-prone 2009 season and his inability to learn the Bills' offense.

Chris Ellis. A third-round pick in 2008, Ellis had a quiet rookie season and, thanks to the presence of three veterans and Maybin, hasn't had much opportunity this year, either - he's been active just once. He barely hung on to a roster spot as it was, and did so only after a strong pre-season. Unless a veteran or two leaves and the coaching staff remains intact, Ellis is unlikely to get his career started in Buffalo.

John McCargo. He's been hurt, ineffective, traded, and returned to the Bills over the past couple of seasons. He is the only Bills defensive tackle that doesn't have a contract that expires in the 2013 season - and the Bills could use additional beef at that position. Add it all up, and McCargo is probably done in Buffalo after this season ends.

Three Bills pondering future roles with the club
Brad Butler. He started the season off relatively well at right tackle, but now he's on IR, and Buffalo's offensive line is a mess. A new regime would almost certainly address the O-Line, and particularly each tackle position, but Butler also has a contract that expires in 2013. He'll be in Buffalo for a while - the question is simply where he'll be playing, and whether or not he'll be starting.

Eric Wood. Again, Wood's not going anywhere soon - the only Bills locked up as far into the future as Wood is are WR Lee Evans, DE Aaron Schobel and Maybin. But most NFL personnel executives saw Wood as a pure center prospect entering the 2009 NFL Draft. Obviously, he's playing guard in Buffalo. I, for one, would support the move, but Wood needs to put good tape together so a new regime - or even the current regime - wises up and puts him at center.

Leodis McKelvin. He had a so-so rookie campaign, and to say the start of his 2009 season was disastrous would be a monumental understatement. Now he, too, is on IR, and Buffalo's secondary is getting along swimmingly without him. CB Drayton Florence has filled in admirably in his stead; his play has been so good, in fact, that if it continues, McKelvin may not regain his starting role in 2010.

Three Bills free agents waiting on tenterhooks
Terrell Owens. T.O. is in a tricky position. His numbers are so far down that it seems unlikely that many teams will be interested in him as a UFA in 2010, even if he's been on his best behavior as a Bill. Then again, he's unlikely to stay in Buffalo beyond this season if Dick Jauron is let go. Owens has eight more games in Buffalo, and then it's anyone's guess what happens from there.

Ryan Denney. People tend to grossly underestimate just how valuable Denney is to this team. He gives the Bills quality reps as a rotational defensive lineman - at both tackle and end, by the way - and he's been one of Bobby April's key special teams players throughout his career. He's scheduled for free agency after the season, however, and the Bills have serious investments in Schobel, Maybin and even DE Chris Kelsay. Particularly if Jauron leaves, but even if he doesn't, he could be looking for a new home.

Keith Ellison. He's currently fourth in the NFL with 68 tackles, and he's clearly having his best season as a pro. He's been an incredibly valuable commodity to Perry Fewell, as he has played all three linebacker spots - strong, middle, weak - as the Bills have dealt with ridiculous injuries and shake-ups at the position. But he also has his limitations, and while the Bills have been able to scheme around them, a new regime might not view Ellison in quite the same light. He'll be a UFA as well (though if there's no new CBA, he'll be an RFA), and like many players, Ellison's Bills fate may be tied directly to his play the rest of the season as well as the fate of the coaching staff.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 11/6

MattRichWarren — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:34:41 -0000

Offense focused on moving the sticks | BuffaloBills.com
The Bills have used the bye week to focus on converting third downs. This will help even out the time difference their defense is on the field.

Bills' Hardy will join the crowd : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
The Bills have until Wednesday to activate or IR James Hardy. Jay Skurski puts forth the names of Roscoe Parrish and Todd Johnson as likely casualties.

Where Bills run ‘D’ is getting hurt – Inside The Bills
The Bills are giving up the majority of their yards to the outside with opponents averaging 7.31 yards per rush on Buffalo's left side (Kelsay). Chris Brown gives a complete breakdown of where the yards are coming from.

Don’t blame the run game – Inside The Bills
Chris Brown shows that most of the Bills problems are on converting third and short yardage.

Question Mark: No-huddle offense hastened Walker's exit from Bills : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
Mark Gaughan of the BUffalo News answers questions on Langston Walker, futility following turnovers, and Jeff Garcia.

Bills still have a shot to win AFC East - AFC East - ESPN
AccuScore pegged the Bills' chances at winning the AFC East at 1 percent and their chances of making the playoffs at 2 percent. Zubaz reference, too.

The Real Biggest Reason The Bills Don’t Win : Buffalo Sports Daily
Pat Moran goes back to 2002 to show how Tom Modrak has become the namesake of the article.

Rookie Watch - ESPN
Jairus Byrd comes in 4th on the midseason list of rookies behind Percy Harvin, Michael Oher, and Brian Cushing.

Bills kickoff 50 days of savings | BuffaloBills.com
Every day through December 24th there will be a special merchandise offer for Bills fans to take advantage of. Check it out.

With no game preview the pickings are slim, folks. Catch up on the front page articles.

2009 NFL Trade Deadline: What will the Colts do?

BigBlueShoe — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:59:20 -0000

More photos » by Jim Prisching - AP

4 months ago: Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Cribbs, right, attempts to fend off a tackle by Green Bay Packers safety Anthony Smith (29) during the first half of an exhibition NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)

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If rumors are to be trusted, we've seen two pretty reliable sources say the Colts have actively worked to trade for Cleveland Browns kicker returner Josh Cribbs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Barrett Ruud. I think it is pretty safe to say that the Colts will try to do something before the deadline ~~today~~ tomorrow at 4PM Eastern. The last three seasons, the Colts have made two significant trades just prior to the deadline (with one going through and the other getting voided because the Buffalo Bills tried to pawn an injured player on us).

So, factoring all this in, here is a bit of analysis:

Trading for Cribbs would be an absolute coup. Cribbs had a TD on a return yesterday against the Steelers, and if you give this offense the kind of field position Cribbs gains on a consistent basis, watch out! Cribbs would immediately energize a rather stagnant return game, and provide another weapon in the arsenal for a 5-0 team.
Ruud is, arguably, the best Tampa-2 middle linebacker in football right now. The problem is, the Bucs don't play Tampa-2 anymore. Gary Brackett is a great Tampa-2 backer, especially in coverage (where he is arguably the best). But, whereas Brackett struggles in run support, Ruud seems to thrive. Ruud also brings size to any linebacking corps, at 6'2 245 pounds. He's essentially Philip Wheeler, except good. If Indy trades for him, they will likely move him to strongside backer, meaning Wheeler's days in Indy are numbered.
People keep yapping about Glenn Dorsey of the Chiefs. Yes, he'd likely play much better in a Tampa-2 4-3 defense. And likely, Dorsey is the under tackle. However, Eric Foster and Daniel Muir have played very well, and Fili Moala is now in the rotation. So, for me personally, I don't see a need for Dorsey.
Terrell Owens. Um, no. If the Colts wanted an old, overpaid wide receiver, they'd have kept Marvin Harrison.
Another Buffalo Bills player to think about is Roscoe Parrish. Parrish is a better wide receiver than Cribbs and, in some ways, just as dynamic a returner.
Left or right tackles. It is very, very rare that a offensive lineman is traded before the deadline. So, I don't expect this.

Of course, it is entirely possible that the Colts will simply stand pat. They are 5-0 after all. However, we've seen to much activity from them to suggest they will simply "take it easy" today. So, for someone like me, I expect a trade. I mean, what ease do I have to look forward to today, a Monday after a bye week?

Keys to Victory: Buffalo Bills at New York Jets

Kurupt — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:00:30 -0000

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The Buffalo Bills sit at 1-4 as they head to the Meadowlands to face the New York Jets this Sunday. If they have any plans of even contending for a playoff berth the final two months of the season, this is an absolute must win. We all know that it'll take more than a miracle for this season to turn around, but this is a game that the Bills can win if they come ready to play. The Jets are coming off back-to-back losses to the Saints and Dolphins, the latter running all over them last Monday night. If the Bills can channel some of that Miami success against the Jets this week, we could be in for a surprise, at least in the sense that they can compete with the Jets. Check out the following keys to a Bills victory:

Don't get abused along the Offensive Line: The Bills will be starting rookie Jamon Meredith, who was added off of the Packers' practice squad a few weeks ago, at right tackle this weekend. That's not exactly a recipe for success against an aggressive, complicated scheme that we'll see Rex Ryan's defense running. Look for the Bills to give as much help to Meredith as they can, and look for the Jets to really bring the heat against him. The Bills have to find a way to stabilize that side of the line this week. It doesn't get any easier for the interior of the OL with Kris Jenkins anchoring the Jets defensive line. Last season, the Bills, with Duke Preston at Center, did a nice job against Jenkins in the second meeting, rushing for 187 yards. It'll be imperative to open some holes early and pick up yardage on the ground if the Bills are to play well enough offensively to win. Demetrius Bell and Meredith will need to play extraordinarily with help from the TE's and RB's, and give Trent Edwards some time to throw.

Time for Edwards to put up, or sit down: Well, almost. Edwards has looked terrible, to be kind, of late. His struggles date back to the second half of last year and he shows no signs of snapping out of it. It'll be hard to win this week, or any week for that matter, with a QB playing with so little confidence and guts. There comes a time when a player playing so poorly needs to just say "screw it" and just let it all hang out. This is that time for Edwards. It's time for him to stop overanalyzing and overthinking every pass and start letting it rip. I expect him to take some shots downfield to Terrell Owens and Lee Evans this week, but he needs to do that more than once or twice. He has to get the ball downfield and start throwing it over the middle. If he continues to show he is incapable of doing that, we might see Ryan Fitzpatrick soon (*shudders*).

Ride Lynch and Jackson: One way to take pressure off of Edwards is to really base the offense around the running backs. It may be a good idea to hand it off 40 times this week, assuming the game can stay within reach, and take the ball completely out of Edwards' hands. The Jets have a middle of the road run defense so far this season, so they can be run on. If the OL can play solid football against the Jets 3-4 defense, the Bills might be able to move the chains and maybe find the end zone again.

Limit the mistakes: I'm looking at the offensive line here. A team simply cannot have 9 false start penalties and expect to win. This offense has lacked discipline and has made far too many mistakes, as we all know. It's time for the young guys to step up and cut the mistakes. There's no excuse for all these mental errors. Maybe the change from the no-huddle offense will settle some of these guys down.

Force Sanchez to win the game: The Jets will try to run all over the Bills' bottom feeding run defense. They should have plenty of success in that area this week, but if the Bills can slow their run game down some and force Mark Sanchez to make plays, they'll have a much better chance of springing the upset. If the Jets are able to grind out yards five at a time, and open up the play action passing game for Sanchez, the Bills are in trouble. The defense needs to force the Jets into 2nd and 3rd and longs, putting the ball in Sanchez's hands. With Jerricho Cotchery, and maybe Brad Smith, out this week, there won't be as many receiving options for him. I said something similar when the Bills were getting ready to face Miami and Chad Henne. It obviously didn't happen with the Dolphins running all over the Bills. Let's hope for something different this time.

Match the Jets' toughness: The Jets play physical, aggressive and tough football. The Bills routinely don't. It's time for the Bills to match or exceed their opponents toughness for once. It would be excellent if they were able to stick it to Ryan and his Jets. If the Bills come out flat, like they usually do, the Jets will ram the ball down their throats and control the game the whole day.

Watch out for Washington: Leon Washington seems to make a lot of big plays against the Bills. He has become a bigger part of the Jets offense this year, getting roughly 12-15 touches a game. With his big play ability, the Bills need to keep an eye on him and be ready for anything. I expect the Jets to utilize Washington on screen passes, draws and maybe even the occasional reverse or misdirection. Paul Posluszny and the Bills front seven needs to be ready for all of this when Washington is in the game.

Play better on Special Teams: Piggybacking on the previous key, the Bills absolutely must clamp down on Washington in the return game. Of course, this is assuming the Bills will actually be kicking off more than once, so we'll see if they even have to worry about him there. Besides kick coverage, it'd be nice if the Bills return units finally made a play. Roscoe Parrish is averaging 6 yards per punt return and 23 yards per kick return, which is pretty bad, especially compared to the Bills' return units of recent memory. If Parrish can hit a big one in the return game, it may just be the boost the Bills offense needs to get going. Or at the very least, put them in field goal range without them having to do anything!

Play with some urgency for once: I say this all the time. This team just shows no passion out there, and just looks resigned to their fate. They play defeated before they actually are defeated. I know this is unlikely to change until the entire culture is changed with this franchise, but the players can come out and play with their playoff lives (and jobs) on the line, right? If you're going to lose, fine, at least go down fighting.

*****

It's hard to get up for a game like this knowing the season is basically shot and it'll be difficult for the Bills to win. No matter what, we're all going to watch and we're all going to root for the team to do well. Maybe they'll surprise us this week, and I suppose that's all we can really hope for at this point. Enjoy the game Bills fans!