SB Nation - Reggie Corner

Reggie Corner To IR, Jaguars Sign Trumaine McBride

Alfie Crow — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 19:17:45 -0000

Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Reggie Corner was signed during the offseason as a late addition and didn't last very long in practice. On Saturday afternoon during one-on-one drills Corner went down after breaking up a pass and had to leave the football field. Today, the Jaguars have placed Corner on injured reserve with an ACL injury.

#Jaguars sign 4th-year CB Trumaine McBride and place veteran CB Reggie Corner on injured reserve.
— jaguarsinsider (@jaguarsinsider) July 30, 2012

To replace Corner on the roster, the Jaguars have signed four-year veteran Trumaine McBride. McBride was originally drafted by the Chicago Bears in the seventh-round of the 2007 NFL Draft. McBride started nine games for the Bears in 2007 when the team was ravaged with cornerback injuries but started just one game after that season, ending up in IR during the 2009 season. After 2009, McBride spent some time with the Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, and now with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jaguars Roster Moves: Cut 3, Sign 3

Alfie Crow — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:44:30 -0000

The Jacksonville Jaguars announced a few roster moves on Wednesday afternoon. The club released three players, wide receiver Chris Forcier, cornerback Dontrell Johnson, and linebacker Donovan Richard the team announced. All three players had been signed as undrafted rookie free agents.

The team has signed three players to fill these roster sports, one being a veteran and two being rookies. As for the veteran, the Jaguars signed former Buffalo Bills cornerback and fourth-round pick Reggie Corner. Corner played in 55 games for the Bills, starting 13 of them and has two interceptions in his career.

The two rookies the Jaguars signed are wide receiver Charles Gilbert and offensive lineman Dan Hoch. Hoch played at Missouri with Jaguars starting quarterback Blaine Gabbert, starting three seasons at right tackle. Gilbert played college football at Concordia-St. Paul and was with the Jaguars during their three-day rookie minicamp. Gilbert is also a Jacksonville native, attending Ridgeview high school.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills News, 3/25

MattRichWarren — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 12:54:39 -0000

RB Choice to re-sign with Bills - BuffaloBills.com
"Choice, who was signed off waivers on Nov. 23rd last season following the season-ending injury to Fred Jackson, tallied 70 rushing yards on 23 carries with a touchdown and added seven catches for 51 yards in six games with Buffalo in 2011."

Inside The Bills | Fan Friday 3-23
Chris Brown answers questions on the offseason training schedule, explaining the league and team salary floors, missing on Rob Gronkowski and picking a tight end this year, the tenth overall pick, and spending more than $6.5 million on a second wide receiver.

Moving On From Bell? - WGR 550
"My simple answer to all those queries... I'm not at all that optimistic about [Bell re-signing]. Just based on things I've been hearing -- unless Bell's market dries up (which I don't think it will) -- I think the chances are greater he is wearing a different team's uniform in 2012."

Bills Season Ticket Holders win Stevie Johnson jerseys - BuffaloBills.com
"The Buffalo Bills announced that 13 lucky Season Ticket Holders have won an autographed #13 Stevie Johnson replica jersey. Season Ticket Holders who renewed their season tickets prior to March 9th were automatically entered into the drawing to win an autographed Stevie Johnson jersey."

Modkins to assist amateur coaches - BuffaloBills.com
"In the middle of the offseason there is no game scheduled for Sunday, but Bills offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins will still be talking football. A lot of it in fact as he will be delivering a presentation at the Football Canada Coaches Association Convention in Burlington, Ontario Saturday and Sunday."

Mock Draft Watch 6.0 - BuffaloBills.com
A round-up of some mock drafts showing who Buffalo's taking.

Inside The Bills | Choice to add to competition
"Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller are the two primary backs and that’s very unlikely to change. However, Choice will be part of a third back competition that also includes former fifth-round pick Johnny White."

Inside The Bills | Sleeper WR
"South Dakota St. WR Dale Moss only has one year of college tape on the football field for scouts, but he’s definitely shown he’s got the physical talent after his pro day workout Thursday. The Bills already have a South Dakota State product on their roster in Danny Batten, who was a sixth-round pick in 2010. Moss is forecast as a late round selection as well."

RB Choice re-signs with Bills - The Buffalo News
"The 5-10, 210-pound Georgia Tech product has 1,216 career rushing yards on 279 carries with nine touchdowns and 72 receptions for 550 yards in 61 games with four starts. He entered the NFL as a fourth-round draft choice of Dallas in 2008 before spending a portion of the 2011 season with Dallas and Washington."

Bills Re-sign HB Choice - WGR 550
"Glad Bills re-signed @tchoice23 (Tashard Choice) He's got a Great Attitude during practice, games, locker room, and throughout the season last year," said Stevie Johnson.

Bills continue to make the right moves on the D-Line | National Football Post
"I like what the Bills are doing through free agency. Upgrade the D-Line and give your defense the ability to play some coverage when you can generate pressure up front."

Walker's weekend mailbag: More Tebow! - AFC East Blog - ESPN
James Walker wants to wait and see before calling this the best offseason in Bills history and he thinks Buffalo should go OT in the first round of the draft. The Homer of the Week is a Bills fan who predicts "14-2, 13-3 next year. Instant Super Bowl Contenders."

Chan, Buddy, Russ, and the Buffalo Culture Change - Buffalo Rumblings
If you haven't read this FanPost yet, give it a look. It's well worth your time.

Reggie Corner puts in the work to keep his job - CantonRep.com
Free Agent Reggie Corner is preparing for the next phone call. Read about his workout here.

Lookin' for Love: Defensive Backs

Alec Shane — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:01:03 -0000

There are a lot of amusing nicknames out there that we use to describe our significant others. Warden. The Ol' Ball and Chain. Pookie. Muffin.The Old Man/Lady. Sweetcheeks. I once had a girlfriend who called me butthead.

But perhaps no nickname is more fitting, at least in my case, than the term "my better half." Because that's really what love is all about, isn't it? Finding someone that makes you a better person, someone you want to make some positive changes for. Of course, wanting to make a change for someone you love doesn't mean that you completely alter who you are altogether. After all, when you love someone, you love all of them fully. You take the good with the bad, the pretty with the ugly, and you stand behind your mate no matter what. It's important, in a relationship, to know that you will always have someone who will defend you, even if there are times when you may not deserve it.

And when it comes to the 2011 New England Patriots defense, we've all had to do a lot of standing by our man this past season. While experts, analysts, and opposing fans everywhere were laying into this 31st ranked defense, we were busy making the case that the numbers weren't important. Our best argument was probably that yards allowed doesn't really matter so much, and it's points against that are the real indicator. We also made the case that when you have a big lead and are scoring a lot of points, which the offense certainly did, teams have to throw more against you and thus are going to rack up the numbers. There was talk about how the corners struggled because the pass rush wasn't solid and there wasn't much safety help over the top. These are all good arguments, and valid points, to be honest.

But you know what? I, for one, am sick of making them. I don't want to sit at a bar on Monday and try to say that the reason Dan Orlovsky absolutely shredded New England's secondary because it was garbage time and the Pats were in Prevent. I don't want to give Buffalo Bills fans hope by allowing their quarterback to pass the ball at will. I don't want Vince Young to think he ever has a shot at playing in the NFL ever again. I'm sick of giving up yards and big plays.

I love you, Patriots...but I'd like you to change. Will you change, please? For me??

To say New England's cornerbacks underachieved this year is a bit of an understatement. I don't even want to think about all the times during the regular season when they would give up 18 yards on a 3rd and 17 or leave slot receivers all alone over the middle of the field. We've had to endure 500 yard passing days from no-name quarterbacks, wide receivers forced into nickel packages, and other teams' practice squad rejects as our starters. Our All-Pro Rookie of the Year candidate in 2010 looked more like an All-Schmo Snookie on the Pier in 2011. Our 2nd round draft pick went on IR before he ever really got a chance to show off his skills. All in all, I'd say the Patriots' corners were largely responsible for the large green cloud of profanity still floating over Central Brooklyn.

Whether the DB position is addressed via the draft, free agency, or more effective coaching of the players currently on the team, something needs to be done to avoid a repeat of last season. And since this is a series on free agency, let's take a look at the available cornerbacks, and which ones would be the best fit for the Patriots.

OUT OF MY LEAGUE

Brent Grimes used to be on this list...but he's been franchised. Corner is an area of need for New England, so there's really only one player I see them having no real shot of getting.

Carlos Rogers. There is definitely a chance that Rogers becomes a free agent, but I think it's a small one. Now that Goldson has been franchised, I imagine the next step in San Francisco is figuring out a way to work out a multi-year deal for Rogers. On the chance that he does hit the market, I'd love to see the Patriots aggressively pursue the All-Pro corner, but I think it's highly doubtful. There's also the issue of how much money he'll want, and if push comes to shove, I'd rather shell out the big bucks on a pass rusher.

SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THERE'S A CHANCE...

I'm honestly not sure how much of a priority Bill Belichick is going to place on pursuing a cornerback via free agency versus drafting one/working to improve the current DBs on the roster. Thus, I'm not overly confident that any of the below corners will be on his immediate radar.

Cortland Finnegan

Why he will play for the Patriots in 2012: Finnegan is a top 10 corner, plain and simple. He's great against the run and strong in coverage, making up what he lacks in size with extreme toughness. Finnegan and the Titans seem pretty much resigned to parting ways; while there is still a chance that they could work something out, at this stage in the game, I don't see it. If he hits the open market, he would be an immediate upgrade at cornerback and would bring some of that hard hitting and toughness that Rodney Harrison brought to this secondary early in the 2000s.

Why he won't play for the Patriots in 2012: Finnegan has never been the kind of player that strikes me as a good Patriot. He is somewhat infamous for dirty play and has been known to fly off the handle on occasion. While Bill Belichick is definitely the kind of coach to keep that kind of behavior in check, Finngean still comes with some risk. He also comes with a price tag, and will be looking for a hefty contract as one of the premier cornerbacks on the market.

Overall: I've always liked Finnegan, and don't really think he's all that dirty, to be honest. But for whatever reason, I just don't see him coming here; I can't even picture what he would look like in a Patriots jersey. Belichick likes character guys, and that just isn't Finnegan. I fully expect the Patriots to be in the conversation in regards to potential landing spots, but when the dust settles, I don't see Finnegan in New England. I wouldn't be at all upset if I turned out to be wrong, though.

Brandon Carr

Why he will play for the Patriots in 2012: Carr is one of the best corners available this year, as he isn't likely to be back with the Chiefs now that they have signed Routt and franchised Bowe. He is only 25 years old and stands at 6'0 tall, which would bring some much-needed size to New England's secondary. He can play on the outside or in the slot, and the combination of Carr, Dowling, McCourty, and Arrington could make for a sturdy secondary.

Why he won't play for the Patriots in 2012: As one of the most highly sought FAs in this class, Carr is going to command a fairly strong salary for his services, and it is likely that several teams will come knocking. I just don't see New England as one of the teams that makes a big-money signing in the secondary this offseason, which means they are likely to bow out of the Carr sweepstakes fairly early and work on developing the talent they already have/will have through the draft.

Overall: I'd love to be wrong here, and I don't think Brandon Carr to New England is by any means out of the question. I just think that there will be other big spender teams out there willing to pay more for him that the Patriots are, and see him ending up somewhere like Dallas or Tampa Bay.

Terrell Thomas

Why he will play for the Patriots in 2012: When he was healthy, Thomas was fierce against the run with the size to handle some of the bigger receivers in the league. While he isn't a shutdown corner, he is a very good corner, and one who will have a lot to prove coming off his season-ending injury.

Why he won't play for the Patriots in 2012: Thomas has now torn his ACL two times, which raises question marks about his durability. The last thing New England needs is another injury prone cornerback. Plus, the Giants are on record saying they would like to keep him, and reportedly contract talks are already underway, which leads me to believe that he'll stay with the team. It makes the most sense for Thomas to sign a one or two year deal with New York in order to allow him to prove that he is still the reliable, run-stuffing corner that he has been in the past.

Overall: If he's healthy, and he's a free agent, I'd definitely work him out. Those are two big ifs, though, and I'd feel much more comfortable if the Patriots went after more of a sure thing than a corner who has been out of football for a year. Regardless, I think it's a moot point, because Thomas is likely going to be a Giant.

Richard Marshall

Why he will play for the Patriots in 2012: Marshall can't be considered an elite or shutdown corner, but he is still one of the better defensive backs about to hit the market, and this is clearly an area where the Patriots could use some veteran help. Marshall is a physical corner who is particularly solid in run support and is also able to transition between playing corner and safety. New England could certainly use that skillset as they continue to figure out who starts opposite Pat Chung.

Why he won't play for the Patriots in 2012: After locking down Calais Campbell, Arizona's second priority should be to re-sign Marshall. Interest seems mutual between Marshall and the Cardinals, and he isn't the kind of corner that is going to break the bank. I expect him to stay where he is - but even if he doesn't, there is bound to be some competition for his services. What competition usually means is that one team pays more for a player than he's actually worth, and that team is never the Pats.

Overall: If he doesn't re-up in Arizona, expect to hear "sources" saying that New England is in the mix for him. However, I'd be very surprised if he isn't a Cardinal in 2012.

MOM, DAD...THERE'S SOMEONE I WANT YOU TO MEET.

If the Patriots do pursue a corner free agent, these are the guys I see them as most likely to bring in.

Rashean Mathis

Why he will play for the Patriots in 2012: Before his injury, Mathis was enjoying somewhat of a career revival and reminded us all that he used to be an elite corner in this league. Even though he has lost a step, he is still a strong, big DB with the ability to step in right away and become a playmaker for this team. I definitely think Jacksonville will allow him to test the waters, and he may very well sign in New England for less money in exchange for the shot at a championship.

Why he won't play for the Patriots in 2012: A 31 year-old corner coming off a torn ACL has to be seen as somewhat of a liability, particularly considering the injury happened mid-season and Mathis's return date is still up in the air. He might simply not be worth the risk. Plus, his age makes him little more than a band aid at this point, as cornerback is one of the positions that sees players fall of quickly.

Overall: This is another "wait and see" kind of player. I don't see Mathis getting scooped up the second free agency opens, so New England will likely have some time to evaluate his injury status and gauge the temperature of the cornerback market. All the pieces may very well be in place for Mathis to come into mini-camp to prove to the coaching staff that he can still contribute.

Jason Allen

Why he will play for the Patriots in 2012: Allen has great instincts, solid ball skills, and a decent amount of size. He also isn't the kind of corner who will command a massive contract and would work very well as part of a rotation. He's coming off a fairly solid 2011 season and might fly under the radar just enough for the Patriots to make him one of their patented sneaky good signings.

Why he won't play for the Patriots in 2012: On paper, at least, Allen isn't exactly a massive step up from the defensive backs already on the roster. New England's secondary underperformed last season, be it due to injuries, sophomore slumps, or lack of pass rush up front. While Allen is undoubtedly a talent, I'm not sure if the Patriots are going to look for another corner or stick with developing what they already have.

Overall: Like many free agents, I'd definitely bring him in for the right price. Once Carr and Finnegan are off the market, there is a drop-off in DB talent, which means there may not be a mad dash to acquire a player with Allen's skills. I'm hoping New England goes after a pass rush, then a safety, and if Allen is still around once those two positions have been shored up, then it makes a whole lot of sense.

Tracy Porter

Why he will play for the Patriots in 2012: Porter is just 26 years old and has shown that he can play at a high level. He isn't an elite corner by any means, but he has been a reliable member of a Saints secondary that has been very vulnerable as of late. He's likely to walk with New Orleans needing to focus their money keeping some bigger names on the team, and Porter can provide some much-needed depth to the Patriots secondary.

Why he won't play for the Patriots in 2012: Porter's play has fallen off since his Super Bowl sealing interception in 2009. He hasn't played poorly by any means, but his projection has definitely been trending the wrong direction as of late. His unreliability doesn't make him an instant fix, and it's very possible that the Pats will be looking for more of a playmaker this offseason.

Overall: Porter seems like the kind of player who would benefit from a change of scenery and would do well under coach Belichick. He isn't going to cost a lot of money to bring in, and he is another veteran presence to supplement New England's young secondary. I see no harm in signing him and giving him the chance to prove he can return to his 2009 form.

IF NEITHER OF US ARE MARRIED BY THE TIME WE'RE 40...

As long as it isn't Pacman Jones, I don't really care which of these free agent defensive backs sign with the team. Just as long as you can cover.

Kelvin Hayden
Reggie Corner
Corey Graham
Tim Jennings
Kelly Jennings
Pacman Jones
Dmitri Patterson
Alan Ball
Frank Walker
Brandon McDonald
Eric Wright
Jarrett Bush
Pat Lee
David Jones
Dwight Lowery
Travis Daniels
Will Allen
Benny Sapp
Leigh Torrence
Will Blackmon
Michael Coe
Aaron Ross
Justin Tryon
Lito Sheppard
William Gay
Anthony Madison
Marcus Trufant
Roderick Hood
Justin King
Ronde Barber
Elbert Mack
Philip Buchanon

2012 NFL Free Agency: Previewing the Buffalo Bills

WesHanson — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:30:05 -0000

The Buffalo Bills are one of those teams that, on paper, I think should be successful. Maybe I'm just blinded by their hot 5-2 start to the last season, but I feel like if you got a good DM, a Monster Manual, four nerds, and a well-drawn map you could D&D the crap out of this team and come up with a playoff berth.

In actuality, they have some problems. Is Ryan Fitzpatrick the man, for example? Will they actually go a whole season without sacking an opposing QB once? How old is Stevie Johnson, actually, because the dude acts like he is twelve.

Save the Fitzpatrick question, I think these other two questions will be answered in FA - or at least addressed.

In regards to the pass rush, the Bills may not be super aggressive in FA since they have a top ten draft pick this year and some good pass rushers abound. That being said, if they target a guy on draft day at, say, OLB then it is plausible that they may try to find a DE through FA. Regardless of their overall approach, they really need to make some move on this front.

What to do about Johnson? He is an unrestricted FA this year and will probably test the waters. While not a top tier guy (at least in my humble opinion), he could field some pretty nice offers from some team who won't care about his antics.

If they want to keep him around (probably with a Franchise Tag), do the Bills go look for more WRs? They are pretty monetarily committed to Fitzpatrick, so getting another target might not hurt. Like half of their FAs are WRs too, so it might be smart to start signing somebody.

When all is said and done, though, the Bills have like Scrooge McDuck amounts of money in cap space, somewhere around $30-35 Million (source). Whether or not they will fill the space is up to them (duh), but should they want to make some serious moves, the totally can.

And for the record, I think that Bills WR Roscoe Parrish and Giants TE Bear Pascoe are the same person. The names, man, the names... This is some sort of Illuminati crap.

Exclusive Rights Free Agents: RB Bruce Hall, K Brandon Coutu.

Restricted Free Agents: OL Chad Rinehart, OL Kraig Urbik.

Unrestricted Free Agents: RB Tashard Choice, WR Derek Hagan, WR Steve Johnson, WR Ruvell Martin, WR Roscoe Parrish, TE Scott Chandler, OT Demetrius Bell, LB Andra Davis, LB Kirk Morrison, LB Reggie Torbor, CB Reggie Corner, S Bryan Scott, K Dave Rayner.

2011 Worst Ten Bang For The Dollar Bills

MattRichWarren — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:30:08 -0000

The 2011 season saw huge contract extensions, big trades of high-priced veterans, and lots of street free agent signings for the Buffalo Bills. For small-market teams, overpaying for an under-performing player is crippling to their bottom line. As such, this list particularly hurts the Bills.

For a refresher, this is the fourth incarnation of this list. In 2010, Shawne Merriman topped the list, as his $3.2M total salary for last season allowed the pass rusher to grace the practice field for less than fifteen minutes. For consistency, we'll use the salary cap hit of each player, as opposed to yearly salary. It gives a true figure of what the Bills paid for him that season. All figures courtesy of Spotrac.com. Before the Top 10, here are a few (dis)honorable mentions.

HM: Torell Troup ($856k), Marcus Easley ($535k), Drayton Florence ($3.92M) When you're making under $1M, it's hard to include you on this type of list. Much was expected from Troup and Easley in their second season, but injuries hampered both. Hopefully they can add their names to the best values on the roster in 2012. Florence's performance didn't meet the value of his big free agent contract this year. He gave up several big plays and was flagged for multiple pass interference calls in 2011. Still, he also made some big plays during the season which earns his exclusion from the list.

10. Leodis McKelvin ($2.17M) The former first-round pick started six games for the Bills in 2011, but saw his starting spot and playing time dwindle as ineffectiveness plagued his game. After injuries hit the cornerback position, he saw his playing time increase and contributed well on special teams. He had an interception, defended eight passes, and made 27 tackles while adding an 80-yard punt return touchdown.

9. Reggie Corner ($1.32M) The coaching staff thought so highly of Corner's skills that they cut him before the regular season. When he was re-signed after injuries hit Aaron Williams and Terrence McGee, Corner was a steady yet unspectacular veteran presence in the cornerback ranks. He accumulated four tackles, an interception, and three passes defended in 10 games, with one start.

8. Kirk Morrison ($1.1M) Morrison was a veteran inside linebacker added during training camp to replace the injured Reggie Torbor. Like fellow vets Torbor and Andra Davis, Morrison failed to make an impact, registering just six tackles in limited playing time. He did manage a sack and defended one pass, which is more than the people ahead of him on the list.

7. Andra Davis ($1.75M) Davis started the first three games of 2011, but was supplanted by rookie Kelvin Sheppard for Week 4 and beyond. He made just six tackles in limited work. He was released by the Denver Broncos two years ago when his replacement came of age. It looks like deja vu for the veteran.

6. Roscoe Parrish ($1.89M) Parrish has been a regular on this list since its inception. Most fans blamed his poor value on the inability of the various playcallers to get him the ball. That hasn't been the case the last two seasons, as Parrish has been targeted frequently. The issue has been his health. Parrish played in just two games in 2011, catching just one pass. His contract is up, and we shouldn't expect him back in a Bills uniform next season.

5. Reggie Torbor ($1.95M) After injuring his shoulder during training camp, Torbor was placed on injured reserve. The Bills were still on the hook for his $950k salary and his $1M bonus.

4. Tyler Thigpen ($2.5M) The highlight of Thigpen's season was being hit in the side of his helmet by a ball while he was warming up. He appeared in three games and threw just eight passes, completing only three to go with one interception. At least he wasn't sacked, I guess.

3. Kyle Williams ($3.95M) Normally, Buffalo's steady defensive line presence is on the Best Bang For The Dollar Bills list. In 2011, Williams had surgery on a lingering ankle problem that cost him all but four games. He made just four tackles and batted down a pass before going under the knife.

2. Terrence McGee ($5.9M) McGee's age has caught up to him, and the injuries he was once able to play through have decimated his last two seasons. The cornerback played just six games for Buffalo in 2011, with 26 tackles and two passes defended. The writing may be on the wall for this career Bill.

1. Shawne Merriman ($4.25M) Merriman was once again limited by an injury during the 2011 season. After playing at less than full strength, he was put on the shelf after just five games. He had one sack (on a play he didn't even hit the quarterback) and seven tackles. Despite his history, both GM Buddy Nix and coach Chan Gailey expect the once-dynamic pass rusher back in 2012. Merriman earns this dubious distinction for the second year in a row.

For those of you expecting to see Ryan Fitzpatrick's name on this list, you're probably disappointed. He had the second highest cap hit on the team at $5.59M, but among NFL starting quarterbacks, his financial numbers and statistics were right in the middle. In other words, he's the rare NFL player that plays almost exactly to his contract.

State Of The Buffalo Bills Roster: Cornerback

Brian Galliford — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:30:12 -0000

Buffalo Rumblings is in the process of breaking down the Buffalo Bills' roster position by position. Installments you may have missed: QB, RB, WR, TE, OT, G/C, S, ST.

The Buffalo Bills currently only have six cornerbacks under contract for the 2012 season (we'll be reviewing a seventh about to hit unrestricted free agency), and have far more questions than answers at the position. In large, that's not good news, as the Bills have important decisions to make regarding three shaky veterans, and have placed a lot of faith on the plates of two green prospects.

There will be movement at this position, with new bodies and potentially even bigger personnel shakeups. For now, this is a position with talent, question marks, a shaky depth chart and some lack of direction.

DRAYTON FLORENCE
Age: 31 (32 in December 2012)
Contract: UFA in 2014. Entering second year of a three-year, $15 million contract.

Of the three veteran cornerbacks the team employs that have been at the top of the depth chart for a while, Florence appears to be the safest with ease. He signed a three-year free agent deal to remain with the club last off-season, has the right size and physicality that the team is looking for, and is clearly the most durable of the bunch. Florence is still good for a few big plays per season - this is a man that graced the cover of Sports Illustrated in September, after all - but also took his lumps in the form of penalties and allowing big plays last season. He's going to get playing time, but would be best served not having to defend a team's top receiver down in and down out.

TERRENCE McGEE
Age: 31 (32 in October 2012)
Contract: UFA in 2014. Owed $8.2M in base salary over final two years of his current deal.

When he was healthy in 2011, McGee was Buffalo's best corner. That's the problem, though - McGee was only healthy enough to appear in six games, and has missed more than half of the Bills' games (17 of 32) over the past two seasons. No longer the playmaker he was in his heyday, it's fair to assume that McGee's unreliable health could make him a cap casualty, given his high salaries and the young players in need of playing time. Still, there's one more veteran on this list whose status could keep McGee around for another year. Maybe.

AARON WILLIAMS
Age: 21 (22 in April 2012)
Contract: UFA in 2015. Entering the second year of a four-year, $5.2M rookie contract.

Williams, too, is concerning in that he suffered two separate injuries (collarbone, knee) last season. He came back from both of them, but on a team with durability questions everywhere, it'd be nice if one of their youngest, most talented players nipped that problem in the bud. When he played, Williams showed the physical prowess and athletic chops to line up with most types of wide receivers, but also took his lumps, giving up more than his fair share of catches. For now, those bouts of inconsistency are acceptable. With improved health and more consistent play, Williams should emerge as a high-quality starting corner for the Bills.

JUSTIN ROGERS
Age: 24
Contract: Undisclosed. Under contract for the 2012 season.

One of the more pleasant surprises of the season, the seventh-round pick out of Richmond first made waves as a kick returner, where he averaged 28.7 yards per kick return - a full 10-yard improvement on Brad Smith's average. Then he became a nickel back, and while he gave some things up, he was also very competitive and made a few plays on the football. He'll be the top kick returner entering 2012, and he'll likely be given an opportunity to lock down - at minimum - the nickel job, as well.

LEODIS McKELVIN
Age: 26 (27 in September 2012)
Contract: UFA in 2013. Owed $1.32M in base salary in the final year of his rookie deal.

Things do not look particularly great for McKelvin, either. He began the year as a starter, and reached a low point when two rookies (Williams and Rogers) passed him on the depth chart, relegating him to occasional dime work. He redeemed himself slightly with some good special teams work, but was still a target for opposing offenses when forced back onto the field defensively later in the season. Buffalo's coaching staff has not been comfortable with McKelvin on the field for two years now, and even if he's back in 2012, it's tough to imagine him having a large role immediately.

REGGIE CORNER
Age: 28 (29 in November 2012)
Contract: UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT

Corner did not make the team when the Bills cut down to 53 players in September, and was only re-signed when McGee was injured on the first defensive snap of the regular season. By year's end, Corner was fighting to be active each week, and was solely a special teams player when he did get to suit up. He's not likely to be re-signed, unless the team makes a bold decision with someone higher up on this list.

PRINCE MILLER
Age: 24
Contract: Under contract for 2012 (reserve/future deal, January 2012).

Miller, who spent the season on the practice squad, was given a reserve/future deal and looks to have an inside track for a spot on the training camp roster. You'll see him next summer.

POSITIONAL OUTLOOK: In Florence, McGee and McKelvin, the Bills have a trio of veterans that will make it difficult to determine the direction of this position until there's movement with one or more of them. Florence should be back, but it shouldn't surprise anyone if McGee or McKelvin is released to make room for guys like Williams and Rogers to rise up the depth chart. In fact, it would only be mildly surprising if both were released, although McKelvin's contract is pretty reasonable to at least keep him around competing for a roster spot. Williams and Rogers have been fast-tracked for playing time, but both players are still green. The team has no true pecking order at this position, which works in their favor solely from a game-planning perspective. All of these players can be beaten, and there's no true No. 1 guy on the roster.

FREE AGENCY: Again, don't be surprised if McGee, McKelvin or both find themselves part of the unrestricted free agent pool come mid-March. It would be surprising if Florence was, but that's not out of the realm of possibility, either. The Bills will be looking for fresh blood at this position, but I wouldn't expect the team to target big-name players at this position, instead focusing their big-name efforts - if there are to be any - on other, slightly more critical positions.

2012 NFL DRAFT: This is where the Bills will likely focus most of their attention on player acquisition at cornerback. Last year, the team drafted Williams and Rogers, and both of those players have potential. Despite larger perceived needs elsewhere, Bills fans would be wise to accept the fact that cornerback is very much in play with the team's No. 10 overall pick. Multiple picks will likely be invested in this position, as the team needs more than just bodies here.

PFF: Michael Vick Is Playing At A Pro Bowl Level

JasonB — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:00:31 -0000

With the Eagles at 2-4 and Michael Vick tossing 8 picks already this season, it may seem controversial to claim that Michael Vick has been one of the three best QBs in the NFC so far this season. But Pro Football Focus says that going by the numbers, it's pretty clear how good Vick has been.

Now, I'd strongly encourage you to check out the full article, but the part I wanted to highlight here was their breakdown of each of Vick's picks this season. I've been saying every week that's he's been the victim of the worst luck as far as INTs go that I've ever seen.

Pick No. 1, vs ATL - Vick faces an unblocked rusher and makes an ill-advised decision to throw over the middle. The pass was actually dropped by Kelvin Hayden but Reid failed to challenge.

Pick No. 2, vs NYG - Vick buys time and throws to an open Steve Smith across the middle who drops the ball ... into the arms of Aaron Ross.

Pick No. 3, vs SF - Vick throws deep where a battle for the ball between Desean Jackson and Carlos Rogers results in a win for the defense.

Pick No. 4, vs BUF - Vick fakes a wide receiver screen right then throws back on a RB screen, the ball is tipped in the air and intercepted by Reggie Corner.

Pick No. 5, vs BUF - The Bills get a great rush and hit Vick as he throws, the ball spirals into the air and is caught by George Wilson.

Pick No. 6, vs BUF - Vick has pressure from his blindside but forces a ball over the middle which is picked by Nick Barnett and returned for a touchdown.

Pick No. 7, vs BUF - Vick rolls left and throws a strike on third down to Avant who can't catch it cleanly, the ball hits his receiver twice before it is intercepted by Barnett again.

Pick No. 8, vs WAS - Vick throws quickly over the middle against an all-out blitz, the pass is tipped high into the air and caught by OJ Atogwe.

As you can see, the INT he threw that he was most at fault for was the one against Atlanta, which actually wasn't even caught. Really, just three of these picks you can say Vick is fully at fault for.

So if we're looking for positives out of this, it's simply that eventually things will even out. Not every tipped pass will get picked this year like it has so far. Jason Avant isn't going to get balls ripped out of his hands often. They feel typical and normal this year, but in reality these things are pretty rare so we should less going forward.

Buffalo Bills Week 8 Injury Report: Five Contributors Down

Brian Galliford — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 16:01:12 -0000

Heading into their Week 8 matchup with the Washington Redskins tomorrow afternoon, the Buffalo Bills have five players that they've listed as out for the game. All five are key performers and, at one point or another, saw significant playing time this season. Here's how the Bills will replace them on Sunday.

WR Donald Jones. The way in which the Bills have chosen to replace Jones in the lineup has been highly publicized. Naaman Roosevelt has seen his snap count rise, and the team is using C.J. Spiller and Brad Smith more in that role as well. Still, the bulk of the team's receiving chores will fall to Stevie Johnson, David Nelson and Fred Jackson.

LTs Demetrius Bell and Chris Hairston. With their top two left tackles out, Buffalo will shift left guard Andy Levitre out to the edge, replacing him with Chad Rinehart inside. If Levitre goes down, right tackle Erik Pears will flip over to the left side, and Sam Young will play on the right. If any of the three interior linemen go down - including center Eric Wood - they'd be replaced by reserve guard Colin Brown.

DT Kyle Williams. Lining up exclusively inside, whether it be as a nose tackle or defensive tackle in four-man looks, Williams will be replaced by a supposedly rejuvenated Torell Troup and, perhaps more frequently, Kellen Heard. In terms of meaning to the overall performance of the defense, however, the player that really needs to step up in Williams' absence is rookie Marcell Dareus.

CB Aaron Williams. Williams started the season as the dime back, and now that Terrence McGee is healthy again, that's the role Williams is vacating this week. Reggie Corner will take his dime reps, and the team will roll with a veteran group of McGee, Drayton Florence and Leodis McKelvin in the vast majority of their defensive packages.

Veteran outside linebacker Chris Kelsay also shows up on the injury report, but he's listed as probable, practiced fully all week, and will play for the first time since Week 4.

Buffalo must de-activate seven players per week, as they can only dress 46 of their 53 players on game days. With five players already declared out, they'll scratch two more. One of those players will likely be Antonio Coleman, signed off of the Giants' practice squad to take Shawne Merriman's roster spot; Merriman was placed on IR earlier this week. Chan Gailey told reporters that Coleman wouldn't be ready to play right away. The other player likely to sit is cornerback Terrence Wheatley, as the Bills will probably roll with just five corners in Week 8.

Bills vs. Giants: Terrence McGee Ready To Play

Brian Galliford — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:00:57 -0000

The Buffalo Bills lost starting cornerback Terrence McGee to a hamstring injury on the first defensive play of the team's blowout 41-7 win over Kansas City in Week 1. Since then, McGee has been inactive for three games and an also-ran in another; last week against Philadelphia, McGee was active after practicing all week, but didn't play a single down on defense or special teams.

After a month off, however, it appears that the Bills are finally ready to ease McGee back into the lineup. That according to Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com, who reports that McGee is anticipating being the team's nickel back in Week 6 against the New York Giants.

The Bills have been set at corner with Drayton Florence and Leodis McKelvin taking reps, but as well as Reggie Corner has played in nickel duty since Aaron Williams' injury, McGee is a clear upgrade there when healthy, particularly defending the run. Brown believes McGee may eventually reclaim a starting role; it'll be interesting to see if he can stay healthy long enough in a sub-package role to merit that consideration.