SB Nation - Pat Thomas

Chiefs Name Season Captains: Cassel, Waters, Brown, Vrabel, McGraw

Joel Thorman — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:13:30 -0000

3 months ago: Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mark Bradley, left, celebrates a third quarter touchdown by Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe during the NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009 in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

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A few minutes ago, I put up a post wondering why the Chiefs hadn't named their season captains for the 2009 season.

I went back and looked at the last couple of announcements via the KCChiefs.com archives and noticed that the team usually made an announcement a couple of days before the game.

Well, as it turns out, the Chiefs DID name their season captains.

I just missed it.

I was perusing through Josh Looney's game day blog over at the Mothership (which is a good read the day after as well FYI), and he passed this nugget along:

Chiefs season captains are Vrabel, Brown, Cassel, Waters and McGraw

I mean...of course I miss something like this, then write an entire article wondering why it hasn't happened. As Homer Simpson would say, "Doh!"

So, the Chiefs did name their captains. After the jump, I posted the article I had up here before I realized by bone-headed mistake.

For a complete listing of all NFL team captains, click here.

Last Wednesday, I posed the question: Who will be the Chiefs captains in 2009?

I chose that day because last season the Chiefs named their captains on the Thursday before the season started. So, I wanted to get a jump on the announcement and get our thoughts on who we think should be the captains.

Funny thing happened. The Chiefs never made an announcement of season captains.

The four Chiefs that walked onto the field yesterday for the coin toss were:

G Brian Waters
LB Mike Vrabel
S Jon McGraw
S Mike Brown

Last season, Waters and McGraw were named season captains. CB Patrick Surtain and LB Pat Thomas were also captains last season but no longer on the team.

So, I'm not quite sure how the Chiefs are doing this captain thing. I thought most teams named them for the entire season. At least the Patriots (8) and Cardinals (5) did in 2008.

It's unclear if they've named season captains, which are many times done via player vote, but just aren't announcing it or if the captains change from game to game.

Who Will the Chiefs Name Team Captains?

Joel Thorman — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:34:37 -0000

More photos » by Orlin Wagner - AP

4 months ago: Houston Texans wide receiver Kevin Walter (83) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Corey Mays (51) after a catch during the first quarter of an exhibition NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

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This is a question that hasn't come up around here very often. Very soon, possibly tomorrow, the Kansas City Chiefs name their team captains. Last year, the Chiefs announced the captains on the Thursday leading up to the season opener.

Many times they're done via a player vote. Last year the Patriots had eight team captains while the Cardinals had five.

The captains on the 2008 Chiefs were Brian Waters, Patrick Surtain, Pat Thomas and Jon McGraw. Each represented their side of the ball.

Suffice to say, this year's set will be a lot different. Patrick Surtain and Pat Thomas are not on the team anymore.

There's an argument there that Waters will remain a team captain. Despite his reported run-in with Todd Haley prior to offseason workouts, he's been one of the players that the rest of the team looks up to. Though he reported out to mandatory workouts in June a little out of shape according to Haley, he's now in game mode and by all accounts in great shape for the season.

I could also see Jon McGraw leading the special teams unit. He's a well-spoken and respected member of the team and apparently on Haley's good side as evidenced by his appearance on the first team defense.

Make the jump for a possible list of candidates for the Chiefs '09 team captains.

Mike Vrabel: He didn't sound enthused to be in Kansas City when reports first surfaced of a trade but, by many accounts, is quickly becoming a leader on the defense. Just this week Tank Tyler talked about Vrabel's on-the-field presence.

"It’s not often you hear guys speak up and talk out there," he said of Vrabel. "It’s great having him with us. You have to listen to what he has to say."

Mike Brown: He's a player in a similar mold as Vrabel in terms of being a veteran, who reportedly works hard and has been around success before. His future with the Chiefs has been optimistically compared to Rodney Harrison with the Patriots. Another leader on the defense at the safety position.

Corey Mays: I have no idea how Mays acts on the field with the rest of his teammates. I don't know how vocal he is or whether he's got the playbook down better than anyone else. But I do know his story is unique and, just a guess, probably a Haley favorite.

He's one of the off-the-street guys who came in and gave the Chiefs reason to part ways with Zach Thomas. From an outsider's perspective, he's the epitome of Haley's 'I go by what i see' mantra.

Brandon Albert: I think Albert deserves serious consideration because of the way he reacted to the new regime. He first came into offseason workouts weighing as high as 340 pounds. After a, ahem, talking-to from coach Haley, he'll start the season around 305.

He bought into the system and appears to be someone Haley is counting on.

Bills release LB Pat Thomas

Brian Galliford — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:17:17 -0000

WGR 550 reported, and the Buffalo Bills themselves have confirmed, that veteran linebacker Pat Thomas has been released by the club.

Thomas, a four-year NFL veteran, was signed this past March as depth and competition for several young players. However, Thomas has been dealing with an ankle injury, which has caused him to miss several weeks of practice as well as the last three pre-season games.

With Thomas out of the picture, the Bills now have no linebackers behind their starting trio with significant NFL experience. Jon Corto and Marcus Buggs spent 2008 with the Bills, but rarely saw the field at linebacker; Nic Harris, Alvin Bowen, Ashlee Palmer and Ryan Manalac have never seen a live down of regular season NFL action.

Don't be surprised if the Bills try to rectify their lack of depth at this position via trade over the next few days. The Bills have defenders that can be dealt, and if they can swap a corner or an end for linebacker depth, they could very well pull the trigger. NFL rosters must be set at 53 players by 4:00 PM ET Saturday.

Five nagging Bills injuries that could affect roster decisions

Brian Galliford — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:00:23 -0000

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To say that the Buffalo Bills have struggled on the injury front over the past couple of years is an understatement. You'll be hard-pressed to name every player that has ended their season on IR, so numerous have the catastrophic injuries been.

This season, the Bills enter their final pre-season game of the year with a healthy roster. No players have missed significant time due to injuries, and those players still dealing with injuries are expected back onto the field sooner rather than later.

With the Bills set to cut at least 20 players to get down to the league-mandated maximum of 53 this Saturday, however, a few nagging injuries could affect how the Bills make decisions on the back end of their roster, where numbers and special teams play are at a premium. As it stands today, five such situations could have a ripple effect on the rest of the roster.

RB Fred Jackson (wrist). Marshawn Lynch is suspended for the first three games of the season, so Jackson will assume first-team rushing duties in his stead. Jackson has a wrist injury that is expected to linger at least for the early portion of the regular season.

Many Bills fans, constantly looking for ways to keep this player or that player on the roster, have suggested that the Bills could keep two running backs early in the season in an effort to keep another worthy player over "third" RB Xavier Omon. That isn't likely to happen, however, if the coaching staff believes that Jackson could re-aggravate his wrist injury. Three running backs was a strong bet before Jackson's injury; depending on how the staff feels about it heading into the weekend, that bet could turn into a virtual certainty.

TE Derek Fine (hamstring). Fine missed last weekend's pre-season game in Pittsburgh, and has missed several practices to date as well. Tuesday's signing of TE Tyson DeVree could be an indication that Fine's injury is more serious than originally believed. With the pre-season emergence of Jonathan Stupar in mind, Fine could be in trouble as far as a roster spot goes. There's a chance the team could keep four tight ends - they've certainly got four worthy candidates at the position. That seems unlikely at this point, but between Fine and Stupar, there's a battle brewing. Fine's injury could be his downfall.

OT Demetrius Bell (back). Dick Jauron this week labeled Bell as questionable for tomorrow night's pre-season finale, but Bell missed yet another day of practice on Wednesday. Back injuries are difficult for any human being, but when a football player relies on his back to anchor in pass protection... well, you see the problem. It is expected that Bell will be fine for the regular season, but in the case of injuries, you never can tell. Eight offensive linemen are virtual locks to make the roster, but if the staff isn't comfortable with Bell's back heading into New England, keeping a ninth isn't out of the question.

LB Pat Thomas (ankle). As the only reserve linebacker on the roster with significant NFL experience as a linebacker, many considered Thomas a lock to make the roster as training camp opened. Thomas has now missed three consecutive pre-season games, however, and his understudies have performed well. This is just my opinion, but I can't see the Bills relying on a dinged Thomas, nor his inexperienced understudies, as their depth at this position. Considering their depth and numbers at DE and CB, they'll probably only carry six linebackers into the season - but don't be shocked if the Bills swap a young end or corner for some veteran linebacker depth, either.

CB Drayton Florence (knee). All along, the expectation has been that Florence would be ready for the regular season after spraining his knee in the Bills' pre-season victory over Chicago. Knee injuries can be tricky, though. This particular injury will not have much of an effect on the number of corners the Bills keep - they have six roster-worthy cornerbacks. Ashton Youboty, however, is a young, semi-experienced cornerback with some trade value, and as previously mentioned, the team might consider moving him to another team if they can get a veteran linebacker in return. That won't happen if they're not comfortable with Florence's knee; if Florence has had any sort of regression, Youboty will be valuable depth.

Bills looking to go light at linebacker

Brian Galliford — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:15:09 -0000

by Keith Srakocic - AP

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Heading into training camp and the pre-season, the Buffalo Bills were seriously concerned about their youthful depth at the linebacker position. When the team lost backup MLB John DiGiorgio for the season, their most experienced depth player was no longer available to them. The Bills, after entertaining several veteran free agents in free agency without signing them, forged ahead towards the regular season with Pat Thomas - he of a mere 29 NFL games in four seasons - as their "veteran" depth.

Though the depth at linebacker remains a serious concern given the group's vast inexperience, there has been some surprisingly solid play out of the group.

Prior to the 2008 season, the Bills made the decision to enter the year with just six linebackers on their roster. Considering the team's depth along the defensive line, in the defensive backfield and at the skill positions offensively, the team will very likely sacrifice numbers at linebacker to keep more talented players at other positions. Six, once again, seems likely at this position. The good news: the Bills have some really solid young talent to be choosing from.

Starters set
Though many Bills fans hoped that an open competition might exist for the starting role on the strong side, Keith Ellison nailed down the starting role very early in the off-season, and has enjoyed a solid pre-season. Though he's still the linebacker that comes off the field in nickel situations - as he should be - Ellison has been stellar defending the run, filling lanes and making big hits. Once again, he is proving how underrated he is, even if he's simultaneously underwhelming.

Kawika Mitchell and Paul Posluszny were always going to be starters. These two players are the unquestioned leaders of this young, inexperienced linebacker corps; Mitchell has a Super Bowl ring to his name, and although his play has once again been streaky this pre-season, it's clear that he will once again be an asset for defensive coordinator Perry Fewell as a blitzer. Posluszny, meanwhile, has picked up right where he left off in 2008 and then some - he's still a hair late in pass coverage, but looks far more comfortable in that role. His run defense has been nothing short of impressive - more than any other player, Posluszny has found himself in opposing backfields this pre-season. He still has some ground to gain in his development, but Poz brings a physical presence to the team's run defense.

Who nabs the backup spots?
We already knew all of that about the starters, though. The intriguing question at this position is not who would start, but who would win positions as depth players. Right now, it's becoming pretty clear that Marcus Buggs, Jon Corto and rookie Nic Harris are the front-runners.

Buggs is perhaps the biggest surprise of the group; though he started the 2008 season on the active roster, he only found himself there after the Bills were forced to place Angelo Crowell on Injured Reserve. Buggs himself would end up on IR a few short weeks later, and most had written him off as a likely roster cut with the return of DiGiorgio and the signing of Thomas. But Buggs was given an opportunity to compete right away, and spent much of camp splitting second-team MLB reps with Thomas after DiGiorgio was lost. With Thomas missing three consecutive pre-season games with an ankle injury, Buggs has taken advantage of his opportunity to secure himself a job - and he had his best pre-season game to date last Saturday in Pittsburgh, finishing with 5 tackles and playing fast and physical in run support.

Jon Corto, too, started the '08 season on the active roster as a special teams ace. Corto was another Bills linebacker that eventually ended the season on IR, but he caught the eye of the coaching staff when he reported to camp this year at a svelte 220 pounds - 15 more than he weighed as a converted linebacker last season - while retaining all of the speed that made him an NFL safety prospect. Corto has not played a ton of defense this pre-season, but special teams coordinator Bobby April has used him in many different ways on special teams, including as a starting punt gunner in Pittsburgh. When a player has special teams versatility and play-making ability, and is in favor with the coaching staff, it's not likely he's going anywhere.

We have already discussed Harris' solid pre-season. As a rookie fifth-round pick, he's been a virtual lock to make the roster ever since he showed his potential in the camp setting. Though his most recent pre-season performance was his worst yet, Harris has shown solid instincts and a nose for the football - but he, too, is making the switch to linebacker from college safety, and he's got a ways to go before he challenges for a starting spot.

Bottom line at LB
The only scary part of the Bills' linebacker depth is, as we've mentioned, inexperience. It's not likely that talented players such as Thomas, second-year man Alvin Bowen and undrafted rookie free agent Ashlee Palmer will make the roster, even though all three have made their share of plays throughout camp. That says a little something about, at a minimum, the raw talent that this group possesses.

Those worried about the inexperience should be calmed a bit by the fact that the Bills will spend the majority of their time defensively in sub-packages utilizing their depth and experience in the defensive backfield. Ellison, a starter by name, may not see the field for 50 percent of the team's snaps this season. Considering that fact alone, if Posluszny and Mitchell can stay healthy (each played a full 16 games in 2008), the Bills should be in business.

Keeping Buggs, Corto and Harris (or, in reality, whatever trio ends up sticking in reserve roles) gives the team three young, active players that can contribute to the team even if they never see the field defensively. Ideally, that would be the role of each of these players, as most would be defensive liabilities this year. Young depth is a scary proposition, but talent isn't. I'm actually quite comfortable with this group heading into the regular season.

Seven Bills in need of strong pre-season finishes

Brian Galliford — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:00:24 -0000

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The Buffalo Bills will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers Saturday evening in their fourth pre-season game of the year. That contest will be the last time that the Bills' current 80-man roster plays together in a live setting; next week, NFL teams are required to begin trimming their rosters down to the 53-man limit. Rosters must be trimmed to 75 on Tuesday of next week, and all the way down to 53 next Saturday.

Needless to say, several players have a lot to prove over the next week or so - even those who aren't necessarily on the roster bubble. We've got seven such names for y'all to ponder.

DE Aaron Maybin. Yeah, we know - he's obviously not going anywhere. But Maybin will be making his pre-season debut on Saturday - yes, it's official, barring a practice injury over the next couple of days - and how he looks will factor into final roster decisions. If he looks like a first-round pick should - talented and ready to make an impact - the Bills might be willing to shed a veteran at his position. If Maybin looks ill-prepared to make an impact as a rookie, the mindset changes in finalizing the roster.

(On a side note, I shudder to think what this blog, other Bills discussion locales, and my e-mail inbox would look like if Maybin struggles on Saturday. Please don't suck, kid.)

DE Copeland Bryan. His fate is tied in part to Maybin's, as outlined above, but Bryan has done his fair share of proving to this point in the pre-season. In each of the past two games, he has recorded a sack and a forced fumble. If he keeps up his impressive play, he'll make Buffalo's decisions at defensive end much more difficult, regardless of how Maybin performs. Then again, despite his impressive play, Bryan is still decidedly sixth on the depth chart, even if he's taking practice reps ahead of 2008 third-round pick Chris Ellis.

CB Ashton Youboty. After sitting out the Hall of Fame Game with a groin injury, Youboty has turned in solid (if unspectacular) performances over the past two weeks. The performances have not been enough to quell speculation that Youboty might be on his way out of Buffalo, however. With nickel corner Drayton Florence still shelved with a knee sprain, Youboty's roster spot seems assured if Florence's health is still iffy in the days leading up to the final cut-down. That injury, however, does not guarantee him playing time.

TE Derek Fine. Let's face it - all the skepticism in the world in regards to the quality of second- and third-team opposition doesn't take away from the fact that TE Jonathan Stupar is the team's leading receiver this pre-season (15 receptions, 155 yards, TD). Fine, meanwhile, has been merely passable, flashing his occasionally excellent run blocking and his abilities as a short-area receiver. If Buffalo's coaches decide to take the best players, an argument could be made that Stupar edges out Fine.

Fine will likely miss the Steelers game with a hamstring injury - so the door is now wide open for Stupar, as the third tight end this weekend, to steal a roster spot. A lackluster pre-season finale could end Fine's Bills career before it really gets started. We're not saying it's likely. We're just saying it's possible.

LB Pat Thomas. The veteran linebacker returned to practice this week after missing two-plus weeks of games and practices with an ankle injury. Buffalo's depth at linebacker is highly unsettled, and nobody outside of rookie Nic Harris is a lock to make the roster. Thomas has an advantage because of his NFL experience, but his roster spot will need to be earned as the pre-season wraps up.

SS John Wendling. How many defensive backs can the Bills keep? 6 corners and 4 safeties? How about 5 corners and 5 safeties? 6 corners and 5 safeties seems like a stretch, but it might be the only way a guy like Wendling can crack the roster, despite his being in Bobby April's good graces as a core special teams player. A few big hits and/or plays defensively could help Wendling's case.

WR Justin Jenkins. No single player is in a more unique position on the team. Will the team find a trade partner and adequate compensation for Roscoe Parrish? How soon will James Hardy be able to take the field? Exactly how concerned should we be about Terrell Owens' toe injury? If any one of these players isn't available, Jenkins probably makes the roster. Then again, if all three of them can take the field, Jenkins is a goner. His fate is tied almost totally to what happens with other players, despite the fact that he's a dependable special teams player and a reliable pre-season receiver. If he makes some plays in the final two pre-season games, the Bills might pick up the pace with some players (Parrish) and decide to wait on others (Hardy) - Jenkins has some cards left in his hand to play.

Any other players you'd add to the list, Rumblers?

Eight Bills position battles that will dictate roster decisions

Brian Galliford — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:15:08 -0000

In the spirit of the topic of the day - roster projections - I thought it might be a useful little exercise to break down some of the more ferocious battles going on at the moment for Buffalo Bills roster spots. Obviously, with the initial roster cut-downs taking place a week from today, the intensity in some of these battles should be cranked up to another level.

This is only my opinion, but I believe that there are eight battles taking place right now in the eyes of the coaching staff that could have large ramifications on how the final roster ultimately takes shape. My views on those eight battles appear after the jump.

Ryan Denney vs. Chris Ellis vs. Copeland Bryan
May the best two men make the roster!
- I know that the idea of the Bills keeping six defensive ends has swept Bills nation and captured the imaginations of the masses, but I sincerely doubt that the coaching staff would be willing to sacrifice a player at another position for depth at the position that might not dress on Sundays. The good news is that the play has been solid enough to this point in the pre-season that the likelihood of the team keeping five ends is high. Aaron Schobel, Chris Kelsay and Aaron Maybin aren't going anywhere. That means that two of the three players listed above could stay. The smart money says Denney and Ellis will stay, but don't sleep on Bryan - the coaches really like him. If Ellis and Bryan continue to impress the way they have in the past two pre-season games, the coaches could get gutsy and take the youth route at a position that needs it.

Projected winners: Denney, Ellis

Derek Fine vs. Jonathan Stupar
May the best man make the roster!
- It might surprise you to see Fine's name in any sort of competition not involving the starting tight end role after the hype this off-season. Derek Schouman is a near-lock to start, and rookie Shawn Nelson will see playing time in specific offensive packages to make use of his athleticism and length. Meanwhile, Jonathan Stupar is the team's leading receiver in the pre-season with 15 grabs for 155 yards and a touchdown. Fine has been solid enough, but nowhere near as impressive as Stupar. Is it possible that Stupar could supplant the 2008 fourth-round pick on the roster? Again, the smart money says no, but you shouldn't scoff at the notion. Stupar has been that impressive.

Projected winner: Fine

Ashton Youboty vs. Ellis Lankster
May the best man... well, this one's tricky!
- Unlike the first two battles outlined above, this one isn't so black-and-white. The simplest way to put it is this: Ellis Lankster is a lock to make this team. He will not be cut. Case closed. Where the wrinkle comes in is if the coaches feel that he can adequately be bumped ahead of Youboty on the depth chart. With the top four corners pretty much set in stone at this point, Youboty and Lankster are duking it out for the fifth corner role. If Lankster is perceived as ahead of Youboty on cut-down day, Youboty could be released or traded. The coaches aren't thrilled with his injury history, which, despite his solid play when healthy, makes him a liability on the roster. Smart money says both will make the team, but if the Bills want numbers at another position, Youboty could get the axe. It all depends on how close Youboty and Lankster compare in the coaches' eyes.

Projected order of finish: Youboty, then Lankster. Six corners seems likely at this point.

Pat Thomas vs. Marcus Buggs
May the best man make the roster!
- Paul Posluszny needs a backup, and unfortunately, it's not going to be John DiGiorgio, who'll spend a second straight season on IR. Thomas and Buggs spent much of training camp flip-flopping Mike roles with the second and third defensive units. Though Thomas has been considered the slight leader in this race all along thanks to his NFL experience, he's currently dealing with an ankle injury. That ankle injury was once considered minor - yet it's kept him out of two weeks' worth of practices and pre-season games. Perhaps that ankle injury isn't as minor as once thought. Meanwhile, Buggs hasn't been spectacular, but he's a good athlete and can help on special teams. Please stay healthy, Poz.

Projected winner: Buggs

Alvin Bowen vs. Jon Corto vs. Ashlee Palmer
May the best man make the roster!
- Just like at middle linebacker, Kawika Mitchell and Keith Ellison need backups. The good news is that rookie fifth-round pick Nic Harris has cemented himself as Ellison's chief understudy. That leaves one spot open - working under the very likely assumption that the Bills will open the season with six linebackers on the active roster, as they did in 2008 - for one of these three young outside linebackers. Palmer is a ghost participant here - he was very impressive early in camp, but an ankle injury has caused him to miss two pre-season games, and could keep him out for the foreseeable future. He seems destined for the practice squad. Meanwhile, Bowen and Corto are essentially the same player - undersized, speedy athletes that will see most of their time on special teams. I'll tell you this: the coaches like Bowen, but they love Corto.

Projected winner: Corto

Ko Simpson vs. George Wilson
May the best man make the roster!
- At a bare minimum, the Bills will keep four safeties. Donte Whitner, Bryan Scott and Jairus Byrd are locks to make the roster. Simpson and Wilson are currently duking it out for the final spot. Neither has been particularly impressive in coverage, but Wilson has looked a bit better in run support. The deciding factor here may be the fact that Wilson was a special teams captain in 2008, while Simpson... was not. Meanwhile, John Wendling will have to wait to see what happens at other critical positions before finding out if he'll make the team as a pretend safety and a full-time special teams ace.

Projected winner: Wilson

Xavier Omon vs. Corey McIntyre
May the best man moonlight on the roster for a month!
- I know, right? This battle is keeping you up at nights, so epic is the role to be won and the contestants for the job. Long story short, the Bills will need an emergency third running back to start the season while Marshawn Lynch serves his three-game suspension. Both Omon and McIntyre have seen extensive special teams action, and both have gotten their fair share of touches at running back. McIntyre has been serviceable, but Omon has made plays. Still, this competition is not over.

Projected winner: Omon

Jonathan Scott vs. Brandon Rodd
May the best man hope that 9 offensive linemen are needed!
- It's not a lock that the Bills will keep nine offensive linemen, and as it sits right now, the top eight is very much set in stone. Then again, the line has been incredibly inconsistent this pre-season, and a few players have had issues with minor back injuries. It's possible the coaches might want to keep a ninth lineman around simply to have the player on the practice field and still familiar with the system in the event more depth is needed. If that's the case, one of these players would stick.

Projected winner: Scott, if and only if a ninth lineman is needed

Bills getting closer to fielding their full roster

Brian Galliford — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:00:21 -0000

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The Buffalo Bills are getting healthier - and, more importantly, they're getting closer to fielding their full roster for the first time this season. Not only have several players returned to practice - with perhaps a few more to follow shortly - but the Bills are rapidly moving towards signing first-round pick DE Aaron Maybin as well.

Maybin update: signing should happen any time now
We already knew that ESPN's John Clayton on Wednesday night reported his belief that the Bills and Maybin would reach a deal "within 24-48 hours." Last night, Sal Capaccio echoed those sentiments, noting that significant progress had been made in negotiations. Capaccio also reports that when the dust settles, Maybin is expected to sign for a deal that puts him in the ballpark of $26 million with $14-15 million guaranteed over five years.

Meanwhile, ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted last night that, after the Packers signed DT B.J. Raji, he anticipated that Jaguars OT Eugene Monroe would be the next to sign, followed closely by Maybin. That tweet was supplemented by another tweet this morning, where Schefter lets us know that a Monroe signing should take place today (Friday). We're at the point now where a Maybin signing could literally happen any moment. Stay tuned.

Owens to return Monday
WR Terrell Owens, who has missed all of this week's practices as he receives treatment on a sprained toe, will not play in this Saturday's pre-season home contest against the Chicago Bears - thus rendering a boring pre-season game all the less exciting. But there is good news - Owens is expected to return to the practice field on Monday. Concerns that Owens' body was getting frail or that the toe injury could really be a turf toe seem, at least for now, to be premature.

PUP players making progress
To this point, WR James Hardy and rookie FS Jairus Byrd have not participated in a single pre-season practice, as each recovers from off-season surgeries. However, both appear close to ready to return to the practice field.

BuffaloBills.com reports this morning that Hardy has been going full-speed in individual drills. There is still no timetable for his return, but his knee is fully healed and Bills trainers are working on getting him ready for the rigors of a season.

Meanwhile, while I was at camp last Thursday and Friday (August 6-7), I was informed that Byrd, at that point in time, was in great shape working out between practices, but was still around 10 days away from returning to the field. By my count, unless there has been a setback - and given that Byrd continues to work out with Hardy between practices, that seems unlikely - Byrd should be on the field by the middle of next week. If our speculation is correct - and I believe it is - Maybin and Byrd may make their pro debuts in the same pre-season game, likely the August 29 tilt in Pittsburgh.

Players returning to practice
Ashton Youboty missed practices late last week and early this week, but returned to the practice field on Thursday night. He'll re-commence his mission for playing time in a crowded Bills defensive backfield. DE Copeland Bryan, who at this point only has a few practices under his belt, returned from a hamstring injury last night as well and was immediately inserted into the second-team defense at left end (bumping Chris Ellis down the depth chart). Xavier Omon also returned to the field.

LB Pat Thomas and FS Ko Simpson did not practice Thursday, but both players' respective injuries are considered minor. WR Steve Johnson continues to deal with a rib issue, but he, too, is expected to return next week along with another injured WR, Felton Huggins.

As it stands right now, the Bills stand to close camp (which is approaching quickly, by the way) with only one semi-serious injury situation. LB Ashlee Palmer sprained his ankle in the Hall of Fame Game, and though Dick Jauron labeled him "week to week," Palmer might be hunkering down to miss a significant chunk of time. Still, considering the seemingly imminent Maybin signing, the return to health of Owens and the PUP players, and the fact that there is only one truly serious injury right now, things are looking a bit brighter in Buffalo this morning.

Back seven battles wide open in Buffalo

Brian Galliford — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:45:15 -0000

Unless an NFL coaching staff is in the first year (or two) of its current regime with their team, most NFL coaching staffs enter training camp and the pre-season with a pretty good idea of which 53 players will be on their team. Entering his fourth season at the helm of the Buffalo Bills, it's very likely that Dick Jauron and his coaching staff - most of whom have been here as long as he has - have a firm grasp on what their opening day roster will look like.

Injuries and unexpected performances obviously can change the game, but the general idea remains valid. These guys know who they'd like to go into battle with.

It's therefore unsurprising, then, that the Bills are essentially defined depth-wise at most offensive positions, as well as along the defensive line. The picture becomes much fuzzier, however, when talking about linebackers and defensive backs. The Bills have 24 players currently on their roster playing in their defensive back seven. 21 of them have very legitimate shots to make the roster.

Even breaking this down into general positions (outside linebacker, inside linebacker, cornerback, strong safety, free safety), the competition is fierce and the flexibility is envious. We've broken this down by position, and then placed every player into three categories: roster locks, in the hunt, or on the bubble.

Outside Linebacker
Locks: Kawika Mitchell, Keith Ellison, Nic Harris
- Mitchell and Ellison are locked in as starters. Harris, a fifth-round pick out of Oklahoma, has had a strong camp, looked very active in the Hall of Fame Game, and is a certainty to make the team. He might be the first linebacker off the bench if either starter goes down as well.

In the Hunt: Jon Corto, Ashlee Palmer, Alvin Bowen
- Corto has made a strong impression on the coaching staff - strong enough, in fact, to make him one of a very few players that the staff might try to force onto the roster. Palmer has opened some eyes with his raw athleticism as well, but no one is sure at this point how soon he'll be available after spraining his ankle against Tennessee. Jauron confirmed Tuesday night that he'd miss at least a week. Bowen had a strong pre-season performance as well; though he had fallen behind Palmer a bit in the pecking order, Palmer's injury gives Bowen another shot to make an impact now that he'll get more reps.

Inside Linebacker
Locks: Paul Posluszny
- Not a ton to add here. Pretty obvious, really.

In the Hunt: Pat Thomas, Marcus Buggs
- The beauty to these two players is that, while they've been taking middle linebacker reps pretty much exclusively throughout camp, both can play outside as well. Right now, we'd be inclined to say that Thomas is closer to making the roster than is Buggs - but Buggs has a bit more than a fighter's chance. The coaches like him, and he (as well as Thomas) give the team a boost on special teams.

So, yeah. Literally every linebacker on the roster - right now, there are nine of them - has a chance to end up on the final roster. Every single one of them. That clearly won't happen, but your guess as to which one (or two, or three) gets cut is as good as ours. Palmer's injury is very unfortunate.

Cornerback
Locks: Terrence McGee, Leodis McKelvin, Drayton Florence, Reggie Corner
- McGee and McKelvin are entrenched as the starters. The coaches have been very pleased with Florence; barring an injury to the veteran, the competition for the starting nickel role is all but over. Corner has had a very productive off-season to date (including a pick-six in the Hall of Fame Game), and he provides great depth and special teams ability.

In the Hunt: Ashton Youboty, Ellis Lankster
- At least one of these players will still be with the team. There's a chance both could stick. But each player is out of "lock" territory for different reasons; for Youboty, it's his injury history, and for Lankster it's his status as a vastly unproven seventh-round draft pick. Both players are obviously talented. They have some work to do, however, if they want to secure roster spots.

On the Bubble: Cary Harris, Lydell Sargeant
- Both of these rookies are listed here simply because the Bills are deep at this position. Both have talent, and the coaches obviously like both of them as well. One or both could wind up on the practice squad.

Free Safety
Locks: Donte Whitner, Jairus Byrd
- The safety position is wide open, folks. Whitner is the jack-of-all-trades defensive back of this team and a defensive co-captain; obviously, he stays. Byrd is a lock as well as a second-round draft pick, though as he's still recovering from sports hernia surgery and on the PUP list, questions remain as to how quickly he'll be able to contribute.

In the Hunt: Ko Simpson
- Byrd's injury has given Simpson an opportunity to take a lot of reps this pre-season, and he's been the second-team free safety throughout camp. He played well against the Titans. Depending on how the numbers game shakes out, Simpson is an experienced option with an excellent chance of making the roster - even though he's been a popular "cut" throughout the off-season.

On the Bubble: Antwain Spann
- The most Spann has done in his very short time with the team is get Dustin Fox waived. He's known for his special teams prowess, but how much of an 'in' does that give him when every safety on the roster can contribute in that area?

Strong Safety
Locks: Bryan Scott, George Wilson
- Some may be surprised to see Wilson's name here, but you shouldn't be - Wilson was a special teams captain last year, has outstanding leadership qualities, and can contribute defensively. I wouldn't be overly shocked to see him released, mind you - that's a testament to how closely contested the safety position is right now - but Wilson has things going for him that others just don't right now. Scott continues to impress as a run defender. He can play.

In the Hunt: John Wendling
- If there's one safety that has an 'in' as a specialist, it's Wendling, who for two years has been a key centerpiece to Bobby April's coverage units. The guy simply isn't going to contribute defensively, though, which takes him out of "lock" range. The coaches love him, though. The chances that he makes the team again as a pure specialist are quite good.

We just discussed 24 football players. Only three of them have less than a fighter's chance at making the final roster. At a bare minimum, the Bills are likely going to keep 16 of these players (a minimum of six linebackers, and a minimum of ten defensive backs). Y'all can try, if you like, to pick out five names to cut. Every player here can contribute in some way. The competition is wide open. This is a good problem for the Bills' coaching staff, but they've clearly got some difficult decisions to make.

Owens highlights growing Bills injury list

Brian Galliford — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:00:14 -0000

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The big news out of Buffalo this morning is, of course, the toe injury of Buffalo Bills WR Terrell Owens. After spraining his toe at an undisclosed point in the Bills' 21-18 loss to the Tennessee Titans in the Hall of Fame Game, Owens missed the Bills' Tuesday walk-through as well as their evening practice. Head Coach Dick Jauron described Owens as "day to day," and would not speculate on whether or not the star receiver will play in this Saturday's pre-season contest against the Chicago Bears.

Unfortunately for Buffalo, Owens isn't the only player injured. Fellow WR Steve Johnson, who returned to practice late last week after a rib injury sidelined him, re-injured the rib when he got tangled up with rookie CB Cary Harris in a drill on Tuesday. Harris landed on Johnson to re-aggravate the injury; from what Johnson told BuffaloBills.com last night, he will likely miss practices for the rest of this week as well as his second straight pre-season game.

Injuries seem to be a constant issue in Buffalo, and it's for that reason that the Bills have had to sign six street free agents over the past few weeks. C Christian Gaddis is the latest, joining WR Shaine Smith, DE Ataefiok Etukeren, DT Derrick Jones, DT Corey Mace and S Antwain Spann as players that have joined the Bills since training camp opened on July 25. However, one injured player did return to the field last night - and as he's a key figure on a revamped offensive line, Brad Butler's return is an important one.

Keeping track of the O-Line
Butler participated fully for the first time since injuring his back early last week, and looked good as he re-assumed his spot as the starting right tackle. It's still unclear if he'll play this Saturday - the coaches and trainers will likely wait to see how his back responds to a full practice load - but for now, the return is good news. Meanwhile, Butler's understudy, Demetrius Bell - who has impressed this pre-season - took reps with the second unit at left tackle.

With Butler back in the fold, Buffalo's entire offensive line is once again healthy. The more they play together this pre-season, the better.

Linebacker dinged, too
Arguably the most impressive Bills linebacker in the Hall of Fame Game was undrafted rookie free agent Ashlee Palmer. It would figure, therefore, that Palmer suffered a severe ankle sprain in the game and could be looking at missing a significant chunk of practice time. Alvin Bowen took his reps with the second unit on the weak side (as well as a few reps on the strong side with the third unit).

Meanwhile, BuffaloBills.com reports that Pat Thomas and Marcus Buggs continue to flip-flop with the second and third units at middle linebacker. Buggs started with the second unit against the Titans; it's therefore logical that Thomas is gearing up to get those reps against the Bears. This is one of the more unique battles going on at the moment; no matter the winner, both of these guys have excellent opportunities to make the final roster.

More lineup changes to note
Aaron Schobel continues to get a lighter work load, but rather than Ryan Denney taking his first-team reps last night - as usually happens - Chris Ellis took those reps, and took advantage of the opportunity by registering two would-be sacks on Trent Edwards, cleanly beating Langston Walker on both plays. That's what we like to hear. Now we just need to see it in a game.

RB Xavier Omon, who impressed against the Titans, was injured in practice and missed some reps. The injury is not considered serious, but Bruce Hall gladly took his reps.

With Owens and Johnson missing time, Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish and Justin Jenkins shot up the depth chart. Jenkins has had a strong camp and pre-season, and other than an ugly pass interference call against Tennessee, has impressed. Ponder for a moment, however, the prospect of the Bills playing any meaningful games without Owens. Who wouldn't mind if T.O. sat out the rest of the pre-season? We're not advocating it. It's just a thought.

CB Ashton Youboty continues to sit with a lingering groin injury. Three cornerbacks with whom Youboty is jockeying for time - Drayton Florence, Reggie Corner and Ellis Lankster - continue to reap the benefits of his sitting out.

Wednesday
Buffalo has a practice scheduled for the early afternoon on Wednesday. It is doubtful that players such as Owens, Johnson and Palmer will practice. Butler should continue to work; it will also be interesting to see if Youboty returns to action.