Buffalo Bills 2006 Offseason (1 Viewer)

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Bills agree to keep Reed, Haggan

By ALLEN WILSON

News Sports Reporter

3/18/2006

The moves just keep on coming from the Buffalo Bills, who agreed to contract terms with wide receiver Josh Reed and linebacker Mario Haggan and tendered a huge contract offer to Arizona Cardinals offensive guard and restricted free agent Reggie Wells on Friday.

According to NFL sources, Reed got a four-year, $10 million contract that includes a $2 million signing bonus. That's a significant raise from what he received as a second-round draft pick in 2002.

This move could be an indication that the Bills are closer to deciding the fate of 10-year veteran Eric Moulds, who asked the team to release him after refusing to take a pay cut. He is scheduled to make $7.1 million next season.

The Bills have offered Wells a five-year contract worth $17.6 million, a league source said. The deal includes a $3 million signing bonus and a $2 million roster bonus.

The Cardinals have seven days to match the Bills' offer, or they will be compensated with a sixth round draft choice, which is where they selected Wells in 2003.

Rod Graves, Arizona's vice president of football operations, had said the Cardinals would match any offer unless Wells got more than expected from another team. The Bills' package may be more than Arizona is willing to pay.

Wells, 25, is a promising young talent who started all 16 games in 2004 and the first nine last season at left guard before suffering a season-ending broken left ankle. He also has experience at center. The 6-foot-4, 320-pounder combines good size with impressive mobility and strength.

Should the Bills get Wells, he'll likely take over the left guard spot held by Bennie Anderson, who was a disappointment in his first year with the team.

"You can see they have some talent in places, and they have some needs in places," Wells said during his visit. "I think I'd be a good fit."

Reed's return is a bit of a surprise. He was viewed by many team observers as a disappointment because his struggles with dropped passes and wavering confidence. After a promising rookie year, he started 16 games the following season and caught 58 passes for 588 yards. His production dropped considerably in 2004 with just 16 catches as the third receiver. But he rebounded nicely last season with 32 catches for 449 yards and two TDs.

Reed, who was considering the Carolina Panthers, gives the Bills a possession-type receiver to go with speedier wide outs Lee Evans, Roscoe Parrish and Andre' Davis. Reed also is the best blocker on the team at his position.

"He had a great visit with Carolina," said Reed's agent, Ben Dogra. "They're a first-class organization with great people and they were obviously very interested in getting him. I just think that based on the city and the team he has been with he certainly had a stronger comfort level there just being familiar with everything.

"Mr. (General Manager Marv) Levy, coach (****) Jauron and Josh's receivers coach Tyke Tolbert called and reassured him they were going to have a different offense, and with (offensive coordinator) Steve Fairchild coming over from the Rams, he would have a legit chance to step up and be far more productive."

Haggan, a restricted free agent, received a one-year tender offer of $712,000 from the Bills two weeks ago, thereby ensuring his return. Another team could have made an offer, but would have to give up a draft choice equal to the round in which Haggan was drafted if the Bills chose not to match it.

A 2003 seventh-round pick, Haggan has played in every game the past two seasons, mostly as a standout on special teams. He led Buffalo with 25 special-teams tackles in 2005.

A busy day at One Bills Drive included visits with five free agents - offensive guard Stephen Neal, running back Anthony Thomas, quarterback Craig Nall, linebacker Paris Lenon and defensive end Israel Idonije.

Neal is a four-year veteran who became a regular starter for New England in 2004. Thomas had two 1,000-yard seasons in Chicago when Jauron was the Bears' head coach. He split time in Dallas and New Orleans last season. Nall spent the last four years as Green Bay's No. 3 quarterback. Lenon recorded 65 tackles for the Packers last year. Idonije saw limited action in 11 games for the Bears in 2005.

Meanwhile, another former Bill found a new home Friday as strong safety Lawyer Milloy agreed to terms with the Atlanta Falcons on a three-year, $6.01 million contract, which includes a $2.5 million signing bonus. Milloy was released two weeks ago.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060318/1064548.asp

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Bills want Idonije

3/19/2006

The Buffalo Bills are trying to swipe another promising young prospect from another roster. The Bills signed restricted free agent Israel Idonije of the Chicago Bears to an offer sheet Saturday.

Idonije, 25, is a 6-foot-6, 275-pound defensive end with two years experience. Idonije played about 15 percent of the snaps for the Bears last season, and is highly regarded in Chicago, where Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell previously coached.

The deal is believed to be worth about $1.6 million a year. Chicago has the right to match the offer and retain Idonije. It has a week to decide. The Bills on Friday tendered a contract offer worth $17.6 million over five years to another restricted free agent, guard Reggie Wells of Arizona, but Cardinals executive Rod Graves said the team is expected to match it. A final decision will be made this week.

-Mark Gaughan

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060319/1063573.asp

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

COMMENTARY

Bills haven't addressed key deficiencies

By LARRY FELSER

3/19/2006 

Most of the desirable fruit has been plucked from the NFL's free agent tree and so far the Bills have been able to make just a marginal improvement on the team that finished 6-10 last season.

Only defensive tackle Larry Triplett and blocking tight end Robert Royal would be among anyone's top 50 free agents with the big disappointment being the bidding-war loss of defensive tackle Ryan Pickett to Green Bay.

If Pickett had found the Bills more to his liking than the Packers, it would have gone far in repairing the gaping hole in the middle of their defensive line when confronted by an opponent with a strong running attack. Making Pickett the partner of Triplett would also have allowed Buffalo to use the eighth selection in the draft to strengthen another weakness, safety, by presenting a possible chance to pick Michael Huff, the Texas star.

Now it seems vital that the Bills draft a monster in the middle, namely Oregon defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, in order to keep blockers off undersized middle linebacker London Fletcher and surgically repaired Takeo Spikes. It's been years since the Bills have been in position to acquire a defender of Ngata's size and ability. In fact the only super-big man who came to the team during Tom Donahoe's reign as general manager was Mike Williams, now an unhappy memory.

The thorniest problems on offense have not been confronted so far. Those are to acquire an upgrade on the line to allow the quarterback, whether it be a developing J.P. Losman or journeyman Kelly Holcomb, to receive the time and protection to run a productive passing game as well as to control the line of scrimmage well enough to make Willis McGahee a weekly weapon.

If they are successful in signing Reggie Wells away from Arizona, that should solve the left guard problem. No one in the re-assembled offensive line would be mistaken for Kent Hull, Will Wolford, Jim Ritcher or John Fina, but neither this year's free-agent market nor the draft offered the answers to all of the Bills' problems.

The idea of moving Jason Peters to left tackle would be a major risk. Peters came here as a free agent college tight end, successfully made the switch to right tackle and now deserves to settle rather than be pushed into another position switch that might mess up his head.

Buffalo still has a chance to put a difference-maker in its offensive lineup. His name is Eric Moulds.

The Bills' failure to sign a big-ticket free agent could turn out to be a mixed blessing if they keep their wits about them. They now have the money to pay the $7.1 million to Moulds to keep him a Bill.

Consider where this team now stands. New England and now Miami are firmly above them. The only player the Bills have who consistently moves the chains is Moulds. Without him they line up with two speed receivers, Lee Evans and young Roscoe Parrish, plus Sam Aiken, who has distinguished himself as a special teams player but not as a receiver. Andre' Davis was signed but he is not much better than a fourth receiver.

Add to that the unhappy prospect that just about all the top draft prospects are in the smurf category. There is no free agent left who compares to Moulds, even at age 33.

The Bills' financial strategists feel strongly about not paying Moulds that big bonus, but how strongly would they feel if the Bills slipped from a 6-10 team to 5-11, or 4-12? It might be a good idea for them to weigh a $7 million bonus against a sure slippage in their season-ticket base.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060319/1020746.asp

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Bills add quarterback

3/20/2006

The Buffalo Bills have added a young free-agent quarterback who likely will compete for playing time behind whoever winds up starting at the position.

Joining J.P. Losman and Kelly Holcomb in the Bills' QB mix is Craig Nall, who spent the past four seasons as a backup to Brett Favre in Green Bay. Nall agreed on Sunday to a three-year contract with the Bills, an NFL source told The News.

Nall, who will be 27 next month, is 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds. He was a fifth-round draft choice out of Northwestern (La.) State in 2002. Nall has thrown only 33 passes in six game appearances over the past four years. He was the No. 3 QB for the Pack in 2002, 2003 and 2005. He spent most of 2004 as the No. 2.

He's a drop-back, pocket passer with good size, and he has been tutoring in a superb offensive system in Green Bay. Because the Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers in the first round last year, there was not much future for Nall with them.

Nall was a relative unknown coming out of college because he spent his first three years on the bench at Louisiana State. He transferred to Northwestern State for his senior season.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060320/2033603.asp

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

NFL NOTEBOOK

Morris, Fowler visit Bills

News Staff and Wire Reports

3/21/2006

Maurice Morris, a fourth-year free-agent running back from Seattle, came to Buffalo Monday to make a visit with the Bills.

Morris is a 5-foot-10, 202-pound back who was a second-round draft choice in 2002 out of the University of Oregon. He rushed for 288 yards on 71 carries, a 4.1-yard average, for Seattle in 2005. He has seen limited spot duty as a backup to Shaun Alexander, the NFL's most valuable player, the past four years.

Also visiting was Melvin Fowler, a fourth-year veteran center who saw considerable action as a starter last season for Minnesota. Fowler was a third-round pick of Cleveland's in 2002.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060321/3001491.asp

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

It's open season at QB

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nall will get chance to start for Bills

By MARK GAUGHAN

News Sports Reporter

3/22/2006

The Craig Nall file

Position: Quarterback

Height: 6-3 Weight: 230

Age: 26 Born: 4/21/1979

College: Northwestern (La.) State

Draft: Second pick in fifth round by Green Bay Packers in 2002

FAST FACTS

• Name is pronounced NAHL

• Was 10th QB taken in '02 draft

• Was All-NFL Europe in '03

• Became Brett Favre's primary backup in Week Five of 2004

• In six NFL games, completed 23 of 33 passes for 314 yards

The Buffalo Bills' quarterback position is wide, wide open.

It's so wide open that a guy with no NFL starts in four years has a shot to win it.

The Bills introduced new free-agent quarterback Craig Nall on Tuesday and made it clear he will get a chance to compete for the starting position.

"He's very much ready to emerge in my opinion," said Bills General Manager Marv Levy. "I like his ability to throw the ball. What I've studied, he's been extremely compelling when he has played."

Nall, who turns 27 on April 21, hasn't played much. He started only one season in his college career, then sat on the bench for the past four years behind Brett Favre in Green Bay. Nall did get to play in NFL Europe in 2003 and was the top-rated passer in the developmental league that season.

Nevertheless, Levy claimed Nall is as much a contender for the job as incumbents J.P. Losman and Kelly Holcomb.

"**** [Jauron] and I have both talked about this, that it is a wide-open thing," Levy said, referring to the Bills' head coach. "And Craig is in the picture just as much as the others."

The fact the Bills would make the QB derby a three-way race is another sign the team's new regime is not banking its future on Losman. In fact, it doesn't seem they even are banking the spring practices on Losman. Levy and Jauron have refrained from making any bold statements about the potential of the Bills' 2004 first-round pick.

Asked what the signing says about Losman, Levy said, "It doesn't say anything detrimental at all about him. We're going to have three quarterbacks here. We said it before we even had Craig on our radar screen, that it's going to be a competitive situation at quarterback. I think this is a better competitive situation for J.P. . . . not to have the new savior, the new first-round savior draft choice [label] to come in. I think it tends to lead us to a more level-headed quarterback competition. It's open for all three of them."

All eyes clearly will be on the quarterbacks in spring practices.

Nall signed a three-year deal, with a signing bonus believed to be worth $1.3 million.

He has thrown just 33 passes in six regular-season appearances the past four years. He completed 23 of them for 314 yards and four TDs. His passer rating in that spot duty is 139.4.

While Nall is hardly a high-profile challenger to Losman and Holcomb, Levy rattled off a long list of reasons why Nall is more than No. 3 QB material.

Said Levy: "He has been in the league now for three or four years. This isn't a rookie. He's been in a program that has developed previously unknown quarterbacks - or relatively unknowns. Kurt Warner. Matt Hasselbeck. [Mark] Brunell was known, but none of them really blossomed [until leaving Green Bay]. He was there in a great quarterback program behind a Hall-of-Fame-destined quarterback in Brett Favre. He's been in the NFL. He's young. He's been to training camp. He's comfortable with it. He's not the nervous rookie quarterback who's trying to adapt, who's trying to learn, who you're waiting for to develop."

"In the regular season he has a 139 quarterback rating with no interceptions and four touchdowns. I like his composure. I know Green Bay likes him, they wanted to retain him. Minnesota was hungering to bring him in with the departure of Daunte Culpepper. I think he's got a level head. He's an intelligent young man, good size, good arm, good composure."

Nall, who was stuck behind both Favre and 2005 first-round pick Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, said he's thrilled to get a chance.

"With everybody telling me it's an open job, I'm going in thinking I'm fighting for the starting job," Nall said.

Asked the most important thing he learned from Favre, Nall said: "I think just watching the guy come to work every day. I think it's pretty much public knowledge what tragedies he's had to deal with the last few years. He's the type of guy every time he steps on that field he gives you everything he's got. So I think one of the things I've learned from him is professionalism and how he approaches his job, which I think is important for everybody in this league. We should all model ourselves after [No.] 4."

Levy stressed, "We're not bringing anybody in to elbow somebody else out of the way."

Still, it would be difficult if not impossible to give three quarterbacks equal repetitions in training camp while all the players are trying to learn the new offensive system of coordinator Steve Fairchild.

Asked if he could see the Bills' QB battle at some point becoming a two-man race, Levy said, "I can see a point where the thing begins to take shape."

Losman still has three years remaining on his contract and recently received another option bonus from the Bills. Should he falter in spring practices, it's hard to see the Bills having much of a trade option with him. Patrick Ramsey just was acquired by the Jets for a sixth-round pick.

Meanwhile, the Bills added to their offensive line by signing Melvin Fowler, a free agent from Minnesota. Fowler, a former third-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns, got a three-year deal worth a total of about $7.2 million.

That's a $2.4 million average, which is starter money. The signing probably pencils Fowler in at the top of the depth chart at center, ahead of second-year man Duke Preston, who also can play guard.

Fowler, a 6-3, 295-pounder, started 10 games for Cleveland in 2003 but lost his starting spot to top pick Jeff Faine in 2004. The Vikings acquired him last year after their starting center, Matt Birk, got hurt. Fowler started nine games for Minnesota and received fairly good reviews.

On the Eric Moulds front, the representative for the Bills receiver acknowledged that he has been allowed to seek a trade and reiterated he has no desire to take a pay cut.

"We are talking to teams about some trade possibilities, and there is interest, obviously. Who wouldn't be?" Moulds' representative, Greg Johnson, told The News.

However, Levy said the Bills still would like to keep Moulds at a reduced salary.

"It may take time," Levy said. "I'd like to retain him. . . . But he will have to make some type of contract concession. I think they might examine the field and find that maybe that is the thing to do."

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060322/1026196.asp

 

[Joe T]

got a starting RB yet?

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

got a starting RB yet?

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

RB McGahee ready to make good impression with new Bills coaches

By JOHN WAWROW, AP Sports Writer

March 24, 2006

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Willis McGahee walked into the Buffalo Bills' interview room, carrying a miniature action figure of himself that's available in the team's gift shop.

"I'm here to promote myself a little bit," the star running back said Thursday with a laugh after he was asked what he was carrying.

Holding the palm-sized figure up to his face for the cameras, he added: "Go out and buy one of these Willis McGahee action figures in a store near you."

McGahee was kidding, playfully toying with reporters as he's done many times since the Bills selected him in the first round of the 2003 draft. But he is, in some ways, serious about promoting himself when it comes to making a good first impression with the Bills' new **** Jauron-led coaching staff.

Jauron took over in January after Mike Mularkey's abrupt resignation and has since hired Steve Fairchild as his offensive coordinator.

Unlike a year ago, when McGahee spent most of last spring working out on his own in his native Miami, he was among the first group of Bills veterans to report for the team's voluntary offseason conditioning program in Orchard Park.

"It's a fresh start," McGahee said. "Just trying to do things differently."

Different is expected to be the catch-phrase for the Bills' offense under Fairchild, who is being asked to transform a unit that was among the NFL's worst last year.

Buffalo (5-11) finished 28th in the league last season, its 4,122 yards gained a franchise-low for a 16-game season.

Although McGahee finished with a career-high 1,247 yards rushing, he managed just five 100-yard games and five touchdowns in 15 starts. That's a significant drop from his previous year when he had seven 100-yard games and 13 TDs in 11 starts after missing his entire rookie season recovering from a knee injury.

McGahee complained that he was underutilized, taken off the field in numerous third-down and goal-line situations, and rarely used as a receiver.

He hopes that will change under Fairchild, who spent the past three seasons as the St. Louis Rams' offensive coordinator. In St. Louis, Fairchild was tutored by former head coach Mike Martz in running an offense that was among the NFL's most explosive and featured two solid running backs in Marshall Faulk and Steven Jackson.

"Right now, I'm just ready and waiting," McGahee said. "It's going to be a totally different show. I can bet on it."

Receiver Lee Evans also was among the players working out in Orchard Park.

Evans said he's closely monitoring the status of Eric Moulds, the Bills veteran receiver who has asked to be released and has the team's permission to seek a trade. Moulds' departure would lead to Evans -- the first of Buffalo's two 2004 draft picks -- taking over the No. 1 job.

"Everybody wants to see what's going to happen," said Evans, who led the team last year with seven receiving touchdowns and finished second to Moulds with 48 catches for 743 yards.

"I'm preparing myself for whatever happens," Evans said. "If they put me into that role, I've got to do what I have to do to fulfill it."

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

McGahee hits the ground running

By MARK GAUGHAN

News Sports Reporter

3/24/2006

Willis McGahee is starting the NFL offseason on the right foot with the Buffalo Bills' new coaching staff.

The Bills' star running back showed up Monday with many teammates for the start of the team's voluntary, 12-week offseason conditioning program.

Last year, McGahee did his offseason training in his hometown of Miami, along with a number of other University of Miami products in the NFL. He also did not attend the first two weeks of voluntary organized practices held in late May.

"It's a fresh start," McGahee explained on Thursday. "Just trying to do things differently. I know it makes a big difference if everybody's here. We still have a couple people out, but they're out doing things with their family. I'm pretty sure everybody will be in next week. I just want to have fun and get off to a better start."

He said his presence is a sign he's excited about the new regime of coach **** Jauron.

"Of course, it's a new coaching staff, a fresh start, new season coming up," he said. "The Super Bowl is in Miami. I want to be like Jerome Bettis. I want to go to the Super Bowl in my home city."

McGahee said he's looking forward to seeing what he can do in the offense coordinated by Steve Fairchild, who came to Buffalo from St. Louis.

"I know he came from a great system with the Rams," he said. "He had a lot of great people achieve great things, like Marshall Faulk and Steven Jackson and the receivers. . . . I'm pretty sure I'm going to touch the ball. I'm just here to play football and make things happen."

There's almost nowhere to go but up for the Bills' attack, which ranked 28th last year.

"The offense [stunk]," McGahee said. "Say it, it [stunk]. But we've got new coaches. Everything is different. It's going to be a totally different show."

Jackson caught 43 passes for St. Louis last year in addition to running for 1,046 yards. McGahee said he would be very happy to be used more on third downs. He came off the field on most third downs last year, even in game-deciding situations, and finished with 28 catches.

"I'd love to be a part of the passing game, that would be good to show another side of my football skills," he said. "But you also have to be a team player. You can't overstep your boundaries."

Asked if he planned to play at lighter than the 235 pounds he carried last year, McGahee, who commonly jokes around with reporters, replied, "Who wants to know? I can't tell you. You know I'm not going to tell you. It's kind of a surprise."

A surprise, like the fact he was in Buffalo on Day One of conditioning work?

"Yeah, that's one surprise. I've got a surprise as far as my playing weight," he said with a laugh. "I might come in at 250."

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060324/2059317.asp

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Denney back

3/24/2006

Ryan Denney had four sacks last season as a reserve.

The Buffalo Bills reached an agreement in principle Thursday on a contract with defensive end Ryan Denney.

The deal will keep the Bills' No. 3 defensive end under contract for what is believed to be four more years. Denney had 26 tackles and four sacks last season as the first end off the bench, playing behind Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay.

A 6-foot-7, 275-pounder with good upper-body strength, Denney has not been able to play his way into regular pass-rushing duty but has given the Bills a reliable option in reserve on the defensive front. Denney had three sacks in 2004 and 3.5 sacks in 2003. He was a second-round draft choice in 2002.

The agreement comes a day after the Chicago Bears opted to match the offer sheet the Bills had made to young defensive end Israel Idonije, a restricted free agent. Idonije got a four-year deal worth about $1.8 million a year.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060324/1049370.asp

 

[GroveDiesel]

Denney back

3/24/2006

Ryan Denney had four sacks last season as a reserve.

The Buffalo Bills reached an agreement in principle Thursday on a contract with defensive end Ryan Denney.

The deal will keep the Bills' No. 3 defensive end under contract for what is believed to be four more years. Denney had 26 tackles and four sacks last season as the first end off the bench, playing behind Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay.

A 6-foot-7, 275-pounder with good upper-body strength, Denney has not been able to play his way into regular pass-rushing duty but has given the Bills a reliable option in reserve on the defensive front. Denney had three sacks in 2004 and 3.5 sacks in 2003. He was a second-round draft choice in 2002.

The agreement comes a day after the Chicago Bears opted to match the offer sheet the Bills had made to young defensive end Israel Idonije, a restricted free agent. Idonije got a four-year deal worth about $1.8 million a year.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060324/1049370.asp

Well, another depth signing. Not anything to get excited about but I don't think it was a bad signing either. There was some speculation on the Buffalo forums that they could use him at DT some. Might not be a bad idea really. I don't think he has the wheels or moves to be a DE starter but with his strength he might be a decent DT. Either way, not a bad depth signing IMO.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Evans close to getting his No. 1 wish

3/27/2006

By ALLEN WILSON

Lee Evans says he's ready to be the Buffalo Bills' No. 1 wide receiver.

He better be.

With the impending departure of Eric Moulds, Evans is about to inherit the job.

Like all of us, Evans is monitoring the Moulds situation. Evans would love to have Moulds back. He sees Moulds as more than a teammate. The 10-year veteran has been a mentor and one of the biggest influences on Evans' young NFL career.

But even Evans seems resigned to the likelihood of Moulds leaving. That's why Evans is getting ready to go into his third season as the primary receiver in the Bills' passing game.

"Right now I'm preparing myself for whatever happens," Evans said during a recent session with the media. "And if they put me into that role, then I've got to do what I have to do to fulfill it."

The Bills had plans to make Evans the No. 1 receiver next season even if Moulds was still on the team. It comes down to a pair of numbers: 13 and 33.

One is the position Evans was taken in the first round of the 2004 draft. The other is Moulds' age when the team heads to training camp in July.

Undoubtedly Moulds can still be the go-to receiver. He proved as much with a strong finish in 2005.

But when you draft a player 13th overall he can't play a supporting role forever. At some point he has to become the star.

Evans insists it would take the collective efforts of all the receivers to replace Moulds. Good point. Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish, Andre' Davis and Sam Aiken will have to elevate their games to take some pressure off Evans.

But somebody has to assume the featured role. That has to be Evans. Is he ready for the job? I don't know, but it's time to find out.

Evans' newfound status reminds me of a conversation Moulds and I had about Peerless Price four years ago. Frustrated with being the Bills' No. 2 receiver, Price clamored to be the top guy.

Price got his chance after being traded to Atlanta after the 2002 season. His response? Two mostly unproductive years with the Falcons, who released him last offseason. He also was let go by Dallas and spent most of last year out of the league.

By no means am I comparing Evans and Price. Evans is clearly the superior player, in terms of talent, toughness and attitude.

But as Moulds once said it's a big difference between wanting to be a No. 1 receiver and actually being one. Being THE MAN comes with its share of challenges.

Moulds had to fight through a lot of double teams. That freed Evans to work against a single defender and he took advantage, using his great speed and route-running skills to record 13 catches of 40 yards or more - eight of them 50 yards or more - in his career. He averaged 25 yards on six touchdowns last season.

If Moulds is out, Evans will draw far more attention from opposing defenses. He will see teams rolling additional coverage to his side of the field more often.

Evans will find ways to get open. He's too good to be completely shut down. But how effective he'll be depends on the play-calling of new offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild, who worked under offensive mad scientist Mike Martz in St. Louis and is bringing some of the Rams' wide-open system to Buffalo.

It depends on his supporting cast and it especially depends on how quickly the team resolves an unsettled quarterback position.

Evans has spoken to Rams All-Pro Torry Holt, and is excited about what his role will be in the new offense. But we already know what Holt can do as a No. 1 receiver. Evans is still an unknown.

Is he ready to be the Bills' top receiver? He says yes. The Bills sure hope he's right.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060327/1002445.asp

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Ngata may not fit Bills' defensive needs

By MARK GAUGHAN

News Sports Reporter

3/28/2006

ORLANDO, Fla. - It's starting to look like the Buffalo Bills will not be able to address their needs on either the offensive or defensive line with the eighth overall pick in the NFL draft.

Conventional wisdom among draft experts since the end of the season has been the Bills would select the No. 1-rated defensive tackle, Oregon's Haloti Ngata, with their top choice.

However, Ngata does not look like a good fit for the new defensive system being adopted by Bills coach **** Jauron. The Bills want all four of their defensive linemen to penetrate gaps in the offensive line. That's how the linemen play in Tampa, Indianapolis and Chicago, and the Bills' new system is going to be similar to the style employed by those teams.

Several scouts and personnel directors from around the league say Ngata is not a fit for the "Tampa Cover 2" style, because he is a 345-pound lineman whose strength is occupying two gaps on the line.

There is not another defensive tackle who merits a top-10 pick in the draft, according to most scouts.

On the offensive line, the top tackle is expected to be taken in the first four picks. He is Virginia's D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Several NFL scouts say the eighth pick is "way too rich" to invest on the next best tackle, Southern California's Winston Justice. He's likely to be taken around the middle of the first round.

The good news for the Bills is the draft is considered fairly deep at offensive tackle. They may well be able to find a competent tackle in the second, third or fourth rounds.

"There will be a number of guys taken after the first round who five years from now are going to be making about $5 million a year," said one NFC personnel director.

So who does that leave as a good fit for the Bills at No. 8?

One prospect is University of Texas safety Michael Huff, the top defensive back in the nation last year. He is 5-foot-11 and 198 pounds and has the toughness to play safety. But he also ran a time of 4.36 seconds in the 40-yard dash (which is comparable to the time by Bills receiver Lee Evans) and could play cornerback in the NFL, too.

Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk would fit the Bills' defense but he is expected to be taken in the first seven picks. Florida State defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley is a 305-pound defensive tackle with better quickness and attacking ability than Ngata. His stock is rising but it remains to be seen if it will rise enough to make him a top-10 pick.

The Bills signed defensive tackle Larry Tripplett from Indianapolis in free agency. He's a 285-pounder who will play opposite the outside shoulder of an offensive guard. The other defensive tackle in the Bills' new defense plays opposite the offensive center. Ideally, he will be a little heavier than Tripplett. But he still needs to penetrate the line.

Bills General Manager Marv Levy would not comment specifically on Ngata or other defensive-line prospects. But he acknowledged the "nose" tackle can't be solely a hole-plugger.

Levy noted that middle and later rounds have produced starting-caliber defensive tackles.

"Historically, more defensive tackles have flourished late or even in [rookie] free agency than at any other position," Levy said. "Pat Williams is an example. A study on this was presented to me [recently].

"We continue to have needs at defensive tackle, there's no doubt about it. To say we've zeroed in on anybody, the answer is no."

The NFL on Monday awarded the Bills an extra draft pick - a seventh-rounder - as a compensatory selection. Each year the league gives out compensatory picks to teams that lost more or better free agents than it acquired the previous offseason.

The pick the Bills will get is No. 248, the eighth from the bottom in the entire draft. It isn't necessarily meaningless. The Bills had the 248th pick once before in their history and used it to select defensive end Bryce Fisher in 1999. Fisher was cut by the Bills in 2001 but has gone on to NFL success. He had nine sacks for Seattle last season.

The Bills lost three free agents last offseason - tackle Jonas Jennings, defensive tackle Pat Williams, and safety Pierson Prioleau. They signed three free agents, quarterback Kelly Holcomb, tackle Mike Gandy and guard Bennie Anderson. The Bills got a pick because the NFL determined that the players lost outweighed the players signed.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060328/1038197.asp

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

QBs can use sessions as springboard

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bills to begin evaluating candidates next week

By MARK GAUGHAN

News Sports Reporter

3/29/2006

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Buffalo Bills will open their most fascinating spring practices ever next week.

Spring practice? Fascinating? Not for most teams. But the Bills have the most unsettled quarterback situation in the NFL. Starting candidates Kelly Holcomb, J.P. Losman and Craig Nall begin the process of sorting it out when the Bills convene for training sessions April 7-9.

Bills coach **** Jauron has no doubt about the biggest challenge he faces in his new job.

"The one that confronts us right away and almost on a daily basis is the quarterback issue," Jauron said Tuesday during a coaches breakfast at the NFL owners meetings. "To be successful, we've got to solve that. We've got to find a quarterback who will perform at a high level, make plays and lead the team. I'm pretty certain that without that guy, you don't win a lot of games in our league. That's the No. 1 challenge for us. With the three guys we have, we're hoping that competition elevates all their play and somebody takes off, somebody in those three."

Jauron will get plenty of looks at his quarterbacks the next three months. All three got to Buffalo last week for offseason conditioning work. Next week's session is a voluntary minicamp for veterans. There will be another voluntary three-day session after the April 29-30 draft. Then there are 14 days of organized team activities scheduled from late May into mid-June. (Attendance will be mandatory three of those days.)

Since it's hard to give three quarterbacks equal work in training camp, spring ball will be an important part of the evaluation process.

"It's not like training camp and it's not like playing the game," Jauron said. "But we get to see them. We get to see them think, we get to see them in the huddle, get the feel for the team around them. It's still not the game. But it is important."

Jauron said he and offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild might try to keep the practice repetitions for the QBs equal even when they get to training camp. He's not certain there will be a clear pecking order by June.

"Maybe not going in [at training camp], but soon thereafter," Jauron said. "At some time, the reps will have to shift. We'll have it figured out obviously before we even start our on-field work in the offseason. We'll see if we're going to change anything that any of us have ever done to give three guys a chance to compete."

Just like Bills General Manager Marv Levy, Jauron gave every indication the unheralded Nall is viewed at least every bit as highly by the team as Losman, the Bills' first-round draft pick in 2004. Nall, the free agent from Green Bay, was the top-rated QB in NFL Europe in 2003 and sat on the bench behind Brett Favre the past four years.

What does Jauron see in Nall?

"Experience for one thing," Jauron said. "He obviously doesn't have a lot of playing time. But when he's played, he's performed well. He has been accurate with the football. He's a good decision-maker. He's got experience. We're not teaching the guy how to play. All he has to do is transfer information. He should be able to step up and compete. He's got good size. I like his size, his height in the pocket. I like his demeanor. I like the way he handled himself in interviews. He's a very competitive guy. He believes he can be a starter and should be a starter."

Just as with Nall, spring practices start a pivotal offseason for Losman.

"We recognize his great ability," Jauron said. "Now we have to try to help him fit those abilities onto the field in the NFL and succeed and be consistent. He has to slow himself down a little and be accurate. We recognize that talent."

"He had to play a lot last year, and it was thrown on him early," Jauron said. "It was a difficult situation to be in for a young guy. So he's got a real chance. . . . He's got all that physical talent. He can run. He's got a strong arm. He's a smart guy. He's not afraid to work. He's got a lot of upside to him. We've got to give him a chance to get it out. Hopefully those other guys competing will force the hand a little bit and make them all better."

Meanwhile, Jauron said he's waiting to see how trade discussions between Eric Moulds' agents and other NFL teams develop.

"We're not necessarily in any big hurry," Jauron said. "We'd like it to get done in the right way, whether it's having Eric back with us or however it works out. . . . We understand Eric's unhappy and wants to move on. So his people are out working on that actively. We're trying to facilitate that if we can and if it's in our best interest."

Elsewhere, the Bills re-signed special teams standout and reserve receiver Sam Aiken. He was a restricted free agent, and the Bills had retained his rights earlier this month by making him a one-year qualifying contract offer.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060329/1012563.asp

 

[Big Score]

We've got to find a quarterback who will perform at a high level, make plays and lead the team. I'm pretty certain that without that guy, you don't win a lot of games in our league.

#1 **** Jauron = Master of stating the obvious.#2 I hope Jauron is more than just pretty certain about his statement.

 

[FrostBite]

This is what it's like being a Bills fan...

 

[Thorpe]

Bills looking to deal Losman

Pretty much backs up what I said about Losman a month ago in another thread. I won't miss Losman much, even if only brings in a day 2 draft pick.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Moulds may head to Texans

By MARK GAUGHAN

News Sports Reporter

3/31/2006

Eric Moulds got one foot out the door of the Buffalo Bills' organization Friday but his departure is not likely to be finalized until early next week.

Moulds reached an agreement Thursday on the framework of a contract with the Houston Texans, sources in Houston told The News. That's only half of the process, however. Houston still must get the Bills to agree on the compensation they will pay to finalize the trade.

No completion of the deal was expected until Monday at the earliest. The Texans have the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, and their top football executives all are heading to Los Angeles this weekend for the pro-day workout at the University of Southern California on Sunday. Southern Cal running back Reggie Bush is the favorite to be Houston's No. 1 pick.

The trade could fall through if the Bills and Texans can't agree on payment. It's believed the Bills are seeking a fourth-round draft pick, and the Texans are offering a fifth. The Bills currently have nine picks in the draft. They have an extra third-rounder from last year's Travis Henry trade and an extra seventh-rounder, which is a compensatory pick for last year's free-agent losses.

The parameters of Moulds' deal with Houston are four years and roughly $14 million, with a signing bonus of $5 million, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Moulds' New Orleans-based representative, Greg Johnson, declined to comment on the terms and said the contract was not finalized. However, he said, "I feel like we're close enough to where I'd be shocked if there was a deal-breaker (on the contract)."

Moulds is taking up $10.8 million in cap space on the Bills' books. He is due to receive $7.1 million in cash from the Bills this year. The Bills offered him a contract that included a pay cut that would have allowed him to finish his career in Buffalo. However, after 10 seasons that saw him play under four head coaches, six offensive coordinators and nine starting quarterbacks, Moulds is eager for a fresh start somewhere else.

Philadelphia also was interested in Moulds, but the Eagles apparently were not willing to come close to Houston's contract terms.

The Texans were 2-14 last season. The Bills' pass offense ranked 29th, 27th and 28th the past three years. Houston's ranked 30th, 18th and 29th.

However, Johnson said he sees a lot of upside in the Texans.

"That offense has the potential to explode," Johnson said. "The No. 1 thing Eric truly believes is he can go there and help them win. He would play opposite a Pro Bowl receiver in Andre Johnson. The geographic thing doesn't hurt. He will be close to home (in Mississippi) and more friends and family can watch. And we think they will pay fair-market value."

The Bills would save $5.5 million against the cap by getting rid of Moulds. He still would count $5.3 million on this year's books. The Bills are about $9 million under the cap, not counting the Moulds savings, according to News estimates.

Moulds ranks second in Bills history in both catches (675) and yards (9,096).

The seeds for Moulds' contract impasse were set last March, when he restructured his contract and extended it a year, through 2007. Both Moulds and the Bills knew at the time that his cap number would be too high this year and they would have to go back to the bargaining table this offseason if he was going to remain a Bill.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060331/1025338.asp

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Losman in limbo while Bills ponder QB dilemma

By MARK GAUGHAN

4/2/2006

The signals out of One Bills Drive don't look promising for quarterback J.P. Losman.

There are whispers around the league that don't sound promising for Losman, either.

Two scouts - one a national West Coast scout and one an AFC South scout - say they have heard the Bills are interested in making Losman available in a trade.

Both requested anonymity, and neither talked directly to the Bills. So these reports still have to be filed under the chit-chat category. However, there is a perception around the league that the Bills' commitment to Losman is shaky at best because the new regime has no investment in him and the Bills seem so enthused about the addition of free-agent Craig Nall.

There are several good reasons why a trade of Losman makes no sense at all.

One is the Bills would have to take a salary cap hit of about $3.6 million to move him off the roster. He has three years remaining on his contract. While the Bills have plenty of cap space, that kind of hit is unnecessary.

More importantly, the Bills aren't about to get anything of value in return for Losman at this point in the offseason.

Minnesota quarterback Daunte Culpepper, a three-time Pro Bowler, fetched only a second-round pick from Miami. Washington's Patrick Ramsey, who like Losman was drafted late in the first round, fetched only a sixth-round pick from the New York Jets. Ramsey was drafted in 2002. What does that make Losman, a fifth-rounder?

Plus there are three quarterback prospects who are expected to be taken in the first round of the draft.

So taking a big cap hit on a player who came at an exorbitant price in return for a second-day draft choice - and a late second-day choice at that - would be a stunning move by the Bills.

Nevertheless, it's obvious Losman has been taken off whatever pedestal he had been on as a former first-round choice.

The Bills have presented Nall as a serious candidate to win what is a three-way race for the position with Losman and Kelly Holcomb. That's a statement on Losman in itself, since Nall has started zero games over his four seasons. Bills General Manager Marv Levy has suggested that taking the "savior" label off Losman will be the best thing for the 25-year-old. That makes perfect sense. Coach **** Jauron says he wants to see Losman, Nall and Holcomb fight it out in the hope that the competition will bring out the best in each. That makes sense.

If Jauron said, "We're convinced Losman is our man," it wouldn't inspire a lot of confidence among ticket buyers or within the locker room.

Losman had better be sharp in spring practices, which begin next week. Jauron said last week he could keep a three-way competition going early in training camp. But the Bills will have to demote someone to the clear-cut third spot fairly soon after they get to St. John Fisher because there simply are not enough plays run in camp to get three QBs ready to start.

Losman completed just 49 percent of his passes last year and was the lowest-rated QB in the AFC with an efficiency rating of 64.9. However, his statistics were similar to those of many first-year NFL starters. He had eight TD passes and eight interceptions.

Peters is right tackle

The Bills do not intend to experiment with Jason Peters at left tackle. Their plan is to keep him on the right side, where he started 10 games last season after Mike Williams was benched.

"He's our right tackle right now," Jauron said. "He played outstanding football the latter half of 2005. We are counting on that to continue. Not only that, we are counting on that to improve. He has a chance to be a special player."

Crowell's future

If Takeo Spikes comes back to full health as he expects, the Bills will have to decide what to do with Angelo Crowell, who made a good impression filling in for Spikes at weak-side linebacker last season. In the Bills' old defensive system, the 6-foot-1, 230-pound Crowell was too small to play the strong side. Jeff Posey has played the "Sam" 'backer spot, positioned closer to the line than the weak-side 'backer and taking on a blocker on running plays. In the Tampa Bay defense the Bills are adopting, however, size on the strong side is not as key.

Chicago coach Lovie Smith, who mentored Bills defensive chief Perry Fewell, said a 6-1, 230-pounder with speed fits fine in the Tampa scheme.

"That's perfect," Smith said. "He could play all three positions, matter of fact. Look at Tampa, Shelton Quarles is 220-something. You're looking for the same type of guy, 6-1, 230, somewhere in there, with speed and agility."

Bills consultant

The Bills once again are enlisting the help of Mike Giddings in evaluating their players and NFL free agents. Giddings is a former 49ers assistant coach who for the past 29 years has run an independent scouting service called Pro Scout Inc., which is used by numerous NFL teams. Late Bills GM John Butler used Giddings as a consultant, and Levy has resumed the connection.

"I think it's an outstanding service," Levy said. "We met with him for a couple of hours [last week]. He's a pro scout personnel service that I think does a superb job."

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060402/12054035.asp

 

[Gargoylez]

What a waste of a first round pick... actually two of them. Has any team botched a first round QB so badly? Giving him eight starts in between benching's, and starting noodle arm Holcombe over him.

Bills brass should hang there head in shame... oh wait, they are gone now. Guess there is a reason for that. Losman has a shot at being pretty good IMO. But he needs off the bills QUICKLY. They are just clueless... it's somewhat pathetic.

 

[Tommy Collins]

Ngata may not fit Bills' defensive needs

By MARK GAUGHAN

News Sports Reporter

3/28/2006

ORLANDO, Fla. - It's starting to look like the Buffalo Bills will not be able to address their needs on either the offensive or defensive line with the eighth overall pick in the NFL draft.

Conventional wisdom among draft experts since the end of the season has been the Bills would select the No. 1-rated defensive tackle, Oregon's Haloti Ngata, with their top choice.

However, Ngata does not look like a good fit for the new defensive system being adopted by Bills coach **** Jauron. The Bills want all four of their defensive linemen to penetrate gaps in the offensive line. That's how the linemen play in Tampa, Indianapolis and Chicago, and the Bills' new system is going to be similar to the style employed by those teams.

Several scouts and personnel directors from around the league say Ngata is not a fit for the "Tampa Cover 2" style, because he is a 345-pound lineman whose strength is occupying two gaps on the line.

There is not another defensive tackle who merits a top-10 pick in the draft, according to most scouts.

On the offensive line, the top tackle is expected to be taken in the first four picks. He is Virginia's D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Several NFL scouts say the eighth pick is "way too rich" to invest on the next best tackle, Southern California's Winston Justice. He's likely to be taken around the middle of the first round.

The good news for the Bills is the draft is considered fairly deep at offensive tackle. They may well be able to find a competent tackle in the second, third or fourth rounds.

"There will be a number of guys taken after the first round who five years from now are going to be making about $5 million a year," said one NFC personnel director.

So who does that leave as a good fit for the Bills at No. 8?

One prospect is University of Texas safety Michael Huff, the top defensive back in the nation last year. He is 5-foot-11 and 198 pounds and has the toughness to play safety. But he also ran a time of 4.36 seconds in the 40-yard dash (which is comparable to the time by Bills receiver Lee Evans) and could play cornerback in the NFL, too.

Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk would fit the Bills' defense but he is expected to be taken in the first seven picks. Florida State defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley is a 305-pound defensive tackle with better quickness and attacking ability than Ngata. His stock is rising but it remains to be seen if it will rise enough to make him a top-10 pick.

The Bills signed defensive tackle Larry Tripplett from Indianapolis in free agency. He's a 285-pounder who will play opposite the outside shoulder of an offensive guard. The other defensive tackle in the Bills' new defense plays opposite the offensive center. Ideally, he will be a little heavier than Tripplett. But he still needs to penetrate the line.

Bills General Manager Marv Levy would not comment specifically on Ngata or other defensive-line prospects. But he acknowledged the "nose" tackle can't be solely a hole-plugger.

Levy noted that middle and later rounds have produced starting-caliber defensive tackles.

"Historically, more defensive tackles have flourished late or even in [rookie] free agency than at any other position," Levy said. "Pat Williams is an example. A study on this was presented to me [recently].

"We continue to have needs at defensive tackle, there's no doubt about it. To say we've zeroed in on anybody, the answer is no."

The NFL on Monday awarded the Bills an extra draft pick - a seventh-rounder - as a compensatory selection. Each year the league gives out compensatory picks to teams that lost more or better free agents than it acquired the previous offseason.

The pick the Bills will get is No. 248, the eighth from the bottom in the entire draft. It isn't necessarily meaningless. The Bills had the 248th pick once before in their history and used it to select defensive end Bryce Fisher in 1999. Fisher was cut by the Bills in 2001 but has gone on to NFL success. He had nine sacks for Seattle last season.

The Bills lost three free agents last offseason - tackle Jonas Jennings, defensive tackle Pat Williams, and safety Pierson Prioleau. They signed three free agents, quarterback Kelly Holcomb, tackle Mike Gandy and guard Bennie Anderson. The Bills got a pick because the NFL determined that the players lost outweighed the players signed.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060328/1038197.asp

I'd rather see them trade down and take Justice than take a DB. I think the Bills have to take a lineman in the 1st round. How couldn't they, it's their biggest need. for Justice. Or trade up and grab Ferguson which is very unlikely. The Bills didn't have the biggest offseason but they did grab some small upgrades here and there. The trading down a few spots in the 1st would certainly help them out a little more with the extra pick(s) they get.

 

[Portis 26]

Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish, Andre' Davis and Sam Aiken will have to elevate their games to take some pressure off Evans.

Any word on who the favorite is to be no.2 WR? They wouldn't have given Josh Reed a big contract unless they believed in him?

 

[thayman]

Go with God Bills fans.......

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish, Andre' Davis and Sam Aiken will have to elevate their games to take some pressure off Evans.

Any word on who the favorite is to be no.2 WR? They wouldn't have given Josh Reed a big contract unless they believed in him?

I think Andre Davis should be the early favorite. Reed already flopped as a starter. Aiken is a sleeper to keep an eye on. But, I still would also like to see them add a decent WR in the draft.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Moulds starts new chapter with trade to Texans

By ALLEN WILSON

News Sports Reporter

4/5/2006 

Eric Moulds gets a 4-year, $14 million contract.

Former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Eric Moulds hopes his trade to the Houston Texans will give his career a fresh start, and offer more stability than he has experienced during most of his 10 years in the NFL.

"I'm very excited," Moulds said Tuesday from Houston, where he agreed in principle to a four-year, $14 million contract after the Texans and Bills worked out a trade for the veteran wideout. "I'm looking forward to this new challenge."

Moulds' agent, Harry Henderson, said the deal would likely be finalized in the next couple of days. An official announcement will be made on Monday, Henderson said.

According to a source in Houston, the Bills will receive the Texans' fifth-round pick (134th overall) in this month's draft in exchange for Moulds. It is believed Buffalo was seeking a fourth-round selection.

This move had been expected since Moulds refused the Bills' request to take a pay cut. He was due $7.1 million next season and would have counted $10.8 million against the salary cap. Moulds got permission to seek a trade, and his representatives spoke to several teams. He ultimately chose the Texans instead of the Philadelphia Eagles, who weren't willing to match Houston's contract offer, which includes a $5 million signing bonus.

"We're tremendously happy for him, and extremely relieved, too, because it looked like this would drag on too long," said Greg Johnson, Moulds' personal adviser. "We're just looking forward to the new chapter not only in his personal life, but his football life."

Moulds said the opportunity to play closer to his home in Mississippi was a factor, as was the strong appeals by Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson and quarterback David Carr. Moulds added that his decision to leave Buffalo wasn't about money, it was about wanting a change of scenery. He had grown weary of the constant changes, which included four head coaches, six offensive coordinators and nine starting quarterbacks during his 10 seasons.

"After playing with so many different quarterbacks and having different coaches, you need a little stability," Moulds said. "Coming here, I know David Carr is going to be the guy at quarterback and I know the coaching situation is solid. With the Bills bringing in new management and new people at the coaching positions, I just felt it was time for me to go in another direction and get an opportunity to play somewhere else."

Still, Moulds leaves Buffalo with mixed emotions. He is second only to Andre Reed in career catches (675) and receiving yards (9,096) in team history.

"It was very, very tough because you spend 10 years in a place and you get familiar with the area and the fans, and you've built a lot of relationships with the media and people in general," he said. "You have to respect an organization for giving you an opportunity by drafting you. So it was tough to leave. But I felt that in my heart it was time to move on. The team is going in a different direction, and I don't want to stand in the way of that."

Moulds said he expects some people to look at his move to Houston with some skepticism. Joining a Texans team coming off a 2-14 season might seem a curious choice for someone who has been clamoring to play for a winner. Moulds played in just three playoff games and none since 1999.

But Moulds sees a lot of promise in the Texans. He likes new head coach Gary Kubiak, a former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator. Moulds got great reviews on Kubiak from Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith.

Moulds also is excited about the Texans' young talent on offense, especially Johnson, a one-time Pro Bowler, and Carr, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 draft. Houston also is expected to take Southern California running back Reggie Bush with the top pick this year.

"This is a young team on the rise," Moulds said. "That's one of the things that appealed to me. . . . They are a better team than their record last year. They were competitive in most games and had a chance to win more [Houston was 1-6 in games decided by a touchdown or less). But in this league, teams can turn it around in hurry. You just need the players in to get it done."

Moulds led the Bills with 81 catches for 816 yards and four touchdowns last season. He also served a one-game suspension for a sideline confrontation with an assistant coach and criticizing the play calling after a 24-23 loss at Miami.

Some people in the Bills organization thought his skills were in decline. But Moulds, who will be 33 in July, is confident he'll have a major impact for the Texans.

"I feel my career is far from over and I still have a lot to give and a lot to offer a team," he said.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060405/1040720.aspIf the Bills would have given Moulds this same offer when they asked him to take a paycut, I wonder if he would have stuck around. If so, I think it was a mistake to deal him and would have liked to see him retire as a Bill.

 

[msommer]

Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish, Andre' Davis and Sam Aiken will have to elevate their games to take some pressure off Evans.

Any word on who the favorite is to be no.2 WR? They wouldn't have given Josh Reed a big contract unless they believed in him?

I think Andre Davis should be the early favorite. Reed already flopped as a starter. Aiken is a sleeper to keep an eye on. But, I still would also like to see them add a decent WR in the draft.

I agree that Davis should be the guy but you could argue that he (due to health) also is a failed starter. Could Reed be a late bloomer?

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish, Andre' Davis and Sam Aiken will have to elevate their games to take some pressure off Evans.

Any word on who the favorite is to be no.2 WR? They wouldn't have given Josh Reed a big contract unless they believed in him?

I think Andre Davis should be the early favorite. Reed already flopped as a starter. Aiken is a sleeper to keep an eye on. But, I still would also like to see them add a decent WR in the draft.

I agree that Davis should be the guy but you could argue that he (due to health) also is a failed starter. Could Reed be a late bloomer?

the difference, IMO, is that Davis has the size and speed to be a quality starter. Reed is small and slow. Like you said, Davis had some health problems (toe?) in Cleveland but looked very good early on...not sure if he ever really got a true shot in New England last year. I just like his upside much more than Reed's at this point. I honestly don't know where Reed fits in, although he is the best blocking WR on the team and provides solid depth. He's just been too inconsistent to get very excited about, but I'd love to see him turn things around.

 

[berndog]

If the Bills would have given Moulds this same offer when they asked him to take a paycut, I wonder if he would have stuck around. If so, I think it was a mistake to deal him and would have liked to see him retire as a Bill.

I would have liked to see Bruce and Thurman retire as Bills also.... with that said I think Levy did well to get something in return for Moulds once it was apparent they couldn't renegotiate.

 

[OldMilwaukee]

Bills spend Moulds savings on training camp foder!

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=3698

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Bills spend Moulds savings on training camp foder!

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=3698

Bills Announce Four Signings

Buffalobills.com

04/05/2006 4:46 PM

Orchard Park, NY – The Bills Wednesday announced that the team has signed free agent DB James Bethea, free agent OL Aaron Gibson, free agent OL Matt Morgan, and unrestricted free agent DB Kiwaukee Thomas.

Bethea was originally signed by Oakland as an undrafted free agent out of the University of California. Most recently he was a member of the Redskins practice squad in 2004 and the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe in 2005.

The 27th overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, Aaron Gibson has played in 38 games and started 34 over his six-year career. He played in and started all 16 games for the Chicago Bears in 2003 and played in four games for the Bears in 2004 before spending last season out of football.

Matt Morgan was signed by the Rams as an undrafted free agent out of Pittsburgh in 2004 and spent most of the 2004 season on the Rams practice squad. In 2005, Morgan was active for three games and saw action in one at the offensive tackle position.

Kiwaukee Thomas, a six-year veteran out of Georgia Southern, has played in 85 games over the course of his career. A fifth-round draft choice by Jacksonville in 2000, Thomas spent five years with the Jaguars where he played in 75 games and started 11. Last season, Thomas was a member of the Dolphins and saw action in 10 games.

@ the Aaron Gibson signing.

 

[Thorpe]

If the Bills would have given Moulds this same offer when they asked him to take a paycut, I wonder if he would have stuck around. If so, I think it was a mistake to deal him and would have liked to see him retire as a Bill.

I would have liked to see Bruce and Thurman retire as Bills also.... with that said I think Levy did well to get something in return for Moulds once it was apparent they couldn't renegotiate.

Moulds signed his own ticket out of town last year, when he divided the lockerroom. Veterans need to be team leaders not team cancers.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Bills open at division leaders

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Season starts on road versus Patriots, Dolphins

By ALLEN WILSON

News Sports Reporter

4/7/2006

It won't take long for the Buffalo Bills to know where they stand in the AFC East in 2006.

The Bills' open the season against their three division rivals, including back-to-back road games against defending AFC East champion New England on Sept. 10 and runner-up Miami on Sept 17. Bills coach **** Jauron makes his home debut against the New York Jets the following week.

This is the first time since 1990 that the Bills begin the season against three division opponents and the first time since 1998 they open with two road games. Buffalo's last six openers were at home.

The NFL schedule makers couldn't have picked a tougher venue for the Bills to kick off the season. The Bills have lost five straight in New England and 10 of their last 11 meetings overall. The positive in visiting Miami early is new quarterback Daunte Culpepper is still recovering from major knee surgery and may not be ready to play.

The Dolphins game is significant for another reason, for it will be their first meeting with former head coach Mike Mularkey, Miami's offensive coordinator. The Jets have a rookie head coach in former Patriots assistant Eric Mangini.

"We are excited about this year's schedule and the opportunity it gives us to make an impact in our division early in the season," Jauron said. "Our team is looking forward to opening our home schedule in Week Three against the Jets in front of our supportive fans."

The Bills have no prime-time games for the first time since 2002 and only the second time since 1987. This will be the sixth straight year the Bills won't appear on Monday Night Football.

The Bills' absence from prime time is a result of their lack of success and limited national appeal. However, they could get some national exposure if they are playing well and in playoff contention late in the season. The NFL has adopted flexible scheduling that allows Sunday afternoon games from Week 10-15 and Week 17 to be moved to NBC's 8:15 Sunday night broadcast.

"We are disappointed that we are not initially scheduled to play a prime-time game this season, and that is something that we will work towards in the future," Jauron said.

Based on last season's records, the Bills and San Francisco are tied for the ninth easiest schedule. Bills opponents were a combined 122-134 in 2005, though nine teams had at least nine wins. They also play just two playoff teams in the first eight games and four overall (New England twice, Chicago, Indianapolis and Jacksonville).

Of course, what happened last year isn't a true indication of a schedule's strength or weakness because teams rise and fall annually in the parity-driven NFL.

The challenge for the Bills will be winning away from Ralph Wilson Stadium, which they did only once last season. For the first time in the franchise's 47-year history, the Bills play four of their first six games on the road and will have back-to-back road contests three times. Conversely, they have four of their last six games at home for the first time ever.

Under the NFL's rotating schedule plan, Bills and the other AFC East teams will meet each team in the AFC South and NFC North. The Bills also draw San Diego and Baltimore, which also finished third in their divisions.

Some other highlights:

The schedule is a coach's dream as it contains no West Coast games. Long trips mean a change of routine, which coaches hate. The Bills had two West Coast games last season.

The Bills will see some familiar faces when they host Minnesota on Oct. 1. The Vikings have several former Bills, including defensive tackle Pat Williams and cornerback Antoine Winfield. Mularkey returns to Buffalo with the Dolphins on Dec. 17. Tennessee and ex-Bills running back Travis Henry come to Ralph Wilson Stadium for Buffalo's first Christmas Eve home game since 1995. The Bills visit Houston and former wide receiver Eric Moulds on Nov. 19.

The Bills' Oct. 8 trip to Chicago will be a homecoming for Jauron, defensive coordinator Perry Fewell and General Manager Marv Levy. Jauron was the Bears' head coach from 1999-03, while Fewell coached defensive backs last season. Levy is a Chicago native. The next week, the Bills visit Detroit, where owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. resides and Jauron was defensive coordinator for two years and served as interim head coach in the final five games last season.

The Nov. 5 game against Green Bay could be quarterback Brett Favre's final Buffalo appearance, assuming he doesn't retire. Revenge will be on the Bills' minds on Dec. 3 when they host San Diego, which handed Buffalo its worst loss in a non-strike game in 20 years (48-10).

• • •

The Bills will hold a three-day minicamp beginning today. There will be four workouts in all, including morning and afternoon sessions on Saturday. The minicamp is closed to the public.

With free agency ongoing and the draft coming up, the Bills' roster is far from set. But Jauron and his staff will use this weekend to introduce the players to the new offensive and defensive systems.

"It's not our first on-field work, but it's our first on-field work as a team," Jauron said. "We are very excited about seeing our team together, seeing them get into and out of a huddle. It won't be intense competition because it is only the third week of our program, and we have to recognize that they are not in top shape conditioning-wise. We will be careful with what we do."

The camp is voluntary, but Jauron expects most of the players under contract to attend. Cornerback Nate Clements may not be here because he hasn't signed his one-year franchise tender.

• • •

Moulds officially became a Texan as the Bills formally announced they received the first pick in the fifth round in exchange for the second-leading receiver in team history. The teams agreed to the deal earlier this week. The trade gives the Bills 10 picks in the upcoming draft.

Moulds is scheduled to be introduced in Houston on Monday after signing a four-year, $14 million contract that includes a $5 million signing bonus.

"We had hoped to keep Eric," Levy said in a statement released by the team's media relations department. "There was an unwillingness on his part to renegotiate his contract, and we really had no alternative but to make this trade. We wish him well."

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060407/1004202.asp

 

[OldMilwaukee]

From Chris Brown at Buffalobills.com

Heading out to day two of practice shortly. Double session today. Day one was pretty crisp in terms of pace. There wasn't air tight execution by any means, but guys knew where they were going for the most part on offense and defense.

*Terrence McGee almost picked off Craig Nall on a pass to the sideline intended for Sam Aiken.

*Andre Davis pulled in a nice ball over the middle that was thrown a little high. It was one of those snare-it-out-of-the-air type catches.

*Willis wasn't here on day one due to a prior commitment according to Coach Jauron. He said they're trying to get him in here for workouts the rest of the weekend. Lionel Gates took his first team reps.

*Josh Reed got the reps as the number two receiver opposite Evans. Sam Aiken and Andre Davis were the third and fourth wideouts as the offense ran almost exclusively pro set on day one (two receivers). Jonathan Smith and Roscoe Parrish got reps after them along with George Wilson.

*D-line had Tim Anderson at the nose and Larry Tripplett next to him. Tripplett with wear number 98.

One funny number story. Aaron Gibson was to wear jersey number 60, but the jersey didn't fit him so he's now wearing 74. Getting a helmet to fit Gibson's head was also an issue. Asst. Equipment manager Woody Ribbeck had to pull out the pads on the inside of the helmet and shave them down so his head could fit. They've probably ordered him a larger helmet.

Robert Royal was the no. 1 tight end. Kevin Everett did not participate, so Tim Euhus went with the twos and Brad Cieslak the threes.

Catch up with you later today

link

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Wilson sounds alarm on Bills' future

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Owner pleads for help to change new NFL deal on revenue sharing that threatens team's viability.

By GENE WARNER

News Staff Reporter

4/8/2006

Buffalo Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. isn't asking for a penny of government help from New York State or Erie County.

He also has no interest in having a new stadium built for the Bills. And he has no plans to sell or move the Bills in his lifetime.

But Wilson pleaded for help Friday in changing how National Football League teams will share their local revenue. Without such a change, he sounded a huge warning about the team's long-term viability in Buffalo.

"As I sit here today, this is not a matter of making money for the Buffalo Bills," he told reporters. "It's a matter of survival. We just want to survive. And I think a lot of other clubs are in the same fix."

Wilson, in a 38-minute solo news conference, issued a public plea.

He wants lobbying help - from everyone from Gov. George E. Pataki on down - in creating a new NFL formula for sharing local revenue that would help the Bills and other smaller-market teams survive.

Wilson, one of two NFL owners to vote against the new Collective Bargaining Agreement hammered out last month, is keenly interested in how league owners negotiate the fine details of sharing local revenue. Under that local revenue-sharing agreement, large-market teams with higher ticket, suite and sponsorship revenue have to share some of that extra revenue with smaller-market teams.

But the "qualifiers" that have been proposed for that revenue-sharing plan could doom the Bills, club officials suggested after Friday's news conference. If these proposed qualifiers all go through, we would get little or no [local] revenue sharing," team treasurer Jeffrey C. Littmann said. "Then it would be very difficult for us to spend to the cap and be economically viable. That's why we're asking the public sector to be aware of this and convey their concerns."

Eight NFL owners are expected to be named soon to a committee that will work out the exact language and numbers of those qualifiers. It's believed that Wilson's public plea is an attempt to make sure smaller-market teams such as the Bills are well-represented on that committee.

After Wilson dies

One of those proposed qualifiers could be of special importance to the Bills' long-term chances of remaining in Buffalo. "If Mr. Wilson passes away and this club is sold, whoever buys it won't be subject to any revenue-sharing," one Bills official said.

In the past, Wilson has stated repeatedly that he has no plans to leave the team to family members; instead, he would sell the team. But in Friday's question-and-answer session, Wilson seemed to move away from that position and open the door to other possibilities. "I don't know about my family," Wilson said. "I haven't decided on that." Observers say inheritance taxes still would make it impossible for Wilson to leave the team to his three daughters. Wilson, though, never has commented on the possibility of leaving it to his wife, Mary.

Another proposed qualifier that could hurt the Bills would penalize teams whose annual ticket revenue falls short of 80 percent of the league average. Although the Bills sold out all eight games last season, their relatively low ticket prices would put them under that 80 percent threshold, team officials said Friday.

Another proposal, which also would hinder the Bills, would count the $6.6 million the team receives from the county and state governments as revenue, thus cutting into the amount the Bills would receive under the league revenue sharing.

So what can Bills fans and Western New York do about this?

"Today we appeal to the customer . . . Buffalo Bills fans," Erie County Executive Joel A. Giambra said at a news conference. "We need your help right now. We need to convince the NFL these rules are going to hurt us here.

"The fans are the people that allow the owners to make money," added Giambra, who met with Wilson earlier in the day. "The small-market fans have to speak and shout louder. I know if we do nothing . . . then football in Buffalo is going to be extinct." Ted Fay, a sports management professor at Cortland State College, explained that the new labor deal drives up costs to the Bills by expanding the pool of revenue used to calculate the salary cap. As teams bring in more money through sponsorships and sales of expensive suites at costly new stadiums, the salary cap rises for all teams, including the Bills.

"There's cap creep, if you will," Fay said. "They're forced to carry higher costs."

Salary cap creep

Littmann, the Bills treasurer, provided an example. If a team received $20 million a year for a sponsorship, roughly 60 percent of that figure, or $12 million, would go into players' salaries and raise the salary cap. That $12 million, divided by the 32 teams, would cost each team $375,000.

Wilson made it clear he doesn't appreciate the way the new Collective Bargaining Agreement was passed in such a rush, without the proper time to study and evaluate the numbers.

"I'm disappointed that this extension of the bargaining agreement was proposed quickly and went through," he said. "The high-revenue clubs have a lot of influence with the commissioner."

Wilson didn't mince words, when asked how he feels about some of the younger owners in huge markets who have replaced many of the old-guard owners.

"They, to me, and it's just my opinion, don't have the same values about the league that the old guard did," he told reporters. "I just don't think they're as interested in the game as the old owners. I really don't. It's just a feeling I have. When we get to the meetings, we don't talk football; we just talk money."

Wilson also was blunt in scotching any rumors that his meeting earlier this week with Pataki was an attempt to lobby for a new stadium.

"We could build a $600 million stadium across the street, and it wouldn't make any difference, because Western New York - you all know it - is a poor area," he said. "We have no pricing power, and we wouldn't have [any more] pricing power in a new stadium."

Wilson drew the biggest laugh when he recounted what he told Pataki earlier this week.

"When I went in to see Gov. Pataki, I wanted to put him at ease. I said, "Governor, just quiet down a little. I'm not going to ask you for any money.' "

Pataki's response: He let out a huge sigh of relief.

Before taking questions, Wilson vowed to do all he could to keep the Bills in Buffalo.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060408/1028886.asp

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

QB battle opens with minicamp

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Losman no longer labeled as starter

By MARK GAUGHAN

News Sports Reporter

4/8/2006

The Buffalo Bills have taken the starter label off J.P. Losman, and the young quarterback says he has taken some of the self-imposed pressure off himself.

Losman opened the Bills' first minicamp Friday determined to keep his battle for the No. 1 QB job in perspective.

"The main thing I learned last year was just thinking about so many unnecessary things - little things," Losman said. "I was worried about this and that, trying to be perfect, trying to be perfect here [in interviews], do the right thing off the field, on the field. There were so many unnecessary distractions. I was able to cut that down [when the season ended] and focus on exactly what I want to do and what I want to get accomplished. And it's helped me out so far."

The Bills are hoping less pressure and a year of seasoning produces better play. Losman had a thoroughly typical first season as a starter, getting yanked from the starting lineup once and knocked out of it a second time due to injury. He threw eight touchdown passes and eight interceptions, and the Bills went 2-7 with him at the helm.

Now Losman finds himself in a three-way battle for the Bills' job with incumbent Kelly Holcomb and free-agent acquisition Craig Nall from Green Bay.

Holcomb took the first QB repetitions in practice in both seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills Friday. Losman was second in the rotation and Nall third. But the quarterbacks took an equal number of snaps, and coach **** Jauron says it might be a three-way race into early August.

Losman is not one to shy away from a fight.

"Coach called it a competition, and let's start competing," he said.

At the same time, Losman struck a modest tone in his first interview since last season ended. Asked if he was ready to blossom in his third year in the league, it was apparent Losman wants to do his talking on the field.

"We'll see," he said. "Somebody told me - a veteran quarterback, and I don't want to mention his name - but he said, "J.P., you don't even know what you don't know yet. So in . . . January and February, those are the things I got to think about."

Asked if the acquisition of Nall sent a message to him, Losman said, "You've got to bring somebody in, whether they're a veteran or a young guy or a mid-range guy. It's got to be somebody. . . . I was talking to Jim Kelly about that. He said Frank Reich was always there pushing him every day. That's the way it was. He always felt that if he wasn't taking care of business, somebody else would be there."

Losman clearly is the most physically gifted of the Bills' three passers. To win the starting job he must prove he can be a good decision-maker in the new offense of coordinator Steve Fairchild, who came to Buffalo from St. Louis. Losman is eager to see the new attack in action.

"It brings excitement," Losman said. "It brings an attitude where the competition helps from the standpoint of now you're the guy pulling the trigger all the time. You're starting this offense. With the throwing, with the accuracy, with the arm strength, mobility . . . as opposed to run, run, run, and then we'll pass on short downs."

Jauron said the competition will continue indefinitely.

"We believe that the three of them will compete and make each other better, keep pushing and pushing," he said. "We hope one of them rises quicker and takes the job. It will be interesting to watch."

Meanwhile,Bills General Manager Marv Levy dismissed rumors that have circulated that the Bills' commitment to Losman has wavered or that they have sent feelers out about his trade value.

"We've made no overtures to anyone," Levy said. "No one has approached us, and even if they did, we have a regard for J.P. He's a young quarterback who has put in that learning time. I can name countless others who have gone through this process. There are many things about him that we like, such as his work ethic. His personal motivation and his skills are all pluses. Part of the good news is that he has yet to reach what he is capable of reaching. So, as we said before, it's an open competition at quarterback, and J.P. is very much a part of it."

• • •

The Bills have practices scheduled today and Sunday, and all are closed to the public.

Jauron said attendance has been excellent at the team's voluntary offseason conditioning program, which started three weeks ago.

"Most of our guys are here," Jauron said.

The only players on the 67-man veteran roster not at Friday's workout were cornerback Nate Clements, injured linebacker Takeo Spikes and running back Willis McGahee. Clements is an unsigned free agent on whom the Bills have placed a franchise tag. Jauron said McGahee had a commitment but was planning on getting to town Friday night.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060408/1057638.asp

 

[cscmtp]

have the Bills addressed the o-line woes from last year? What do you guys think McGahee will do this year?? Is it a bounce back to his first season, or more similar to last year?

 

[msommer]

I did not realize that Fairchild was from STL - wonder if it was Fairchild that caled the more balanced version of the STL attack when Martz got sick. If on the other hand he is a true Martz disciple woe be onto Willis and whoever is the qb will have to be able to run for his life...

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

I did not realize that Fairchild was from STL - wonder if it was Fairchild that caled the more balanced version of the STL attack when Martz got sick. If on the other hand he is a true Martz disciple woe be onto Willis and whoever is the qb will have to be able to run for his life...

Fairchild was a RBs coach who went to St Louis to learn more about the passing game under Martz. He was only there for a few years and I don't think he could really be considered a "Martz disciple". He called the plays in 2005 after Martz left the team.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

have the Bills addressed the o-line woes from last year? What do you guys think McGahee will do this year?? Is it a bounce back to his first season, or more similar to last year?

they will likely replace 2 or 3 starters from last year's line. Mike Williams was released. Trey Teague is a free agent who has yet to sign anywhere but I don't think the Bills have any interest in bringing him back.Jason Peters should get better at RT, as he showed great promise last year after converting from TE. Chris Villarial is solid at RG. At Center, they will likely go with Melvin Fowler, who was a solid free agent signing. At LG, they will hopefully go with last year's 4th round pick Duke Preston over Bennie Anderson, who was a flop as a free agent signing a year ago. LT is still being held by Mike Gandy, but the Bills will almost certainly try to upgrade that position on draft day.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Bills Minicamp Preview

Chris Brown, Lead Journalist – buffalobills.com

04/06/2006 11:30 AM

Bills head coach **** Jauron gets his first opportunity to work with the roster he inherits on Friday as he oversees his first minicamp from April 7-9. While the roster is by no means complete with the free agency period still open and the NFL draft a few weeks away, Jauron and his staff are eager to evaluate their personnel up close and personal instead of on tape.

The coaching staff will begin to plug the new faces into some of the holes left vacant by free agent departures and releases.

It should be emphasized that none of these preliminary starting roles are set in stone.

Certainly the commencement of the three-man quarterback competition will be of major interest, but not far behind will be the developments on the offensive line. Buffalo has addressed the line to some degree in free agency and figures to address it further in the draft.

As far as the starting unit up front is concerned Mike Gandy and Jason Peters will remain at the tackle positions and stay on the same side they each manned last season.

"Gandy will stay on the left and Peters on the right… for now," said offensive line coach Jim McNally.

Gandy had a solid season that went unnoticed for the most part in 2005, while Peters with no game experience at tackle stepped in and played well in five starts last year.

At left guard will be Bennie Anderson at the outset, but he figures to get strong competition from second-year man Duke Preston.

"He's capable of playing both guard spots, so we'll see how things pan out," McNally said of Preston.

In the pivot free agent pickup Melvin Fowler has been penciled in as the starter. Preston is still a consideration there as well, but figures to see more work at guard for the interim.

"Fowler is a mobile center with starting experience," said McNally. "We've got a good read on him because assistant offensive line coach Larry Zierlein coached him in Cleveland."

Behind Fowler on the early depth chart is second-year lineman Justin Geisinger. He played tackle at Vanderbilt, projected to guard in the NFL and now is being worked at center.

"He's done a good job with the transition," said McNally. "He's working at it."

At right guard will be veteran Chris Villarrial.

Greg Jerman is a consideration at guard and tackle, but is coming off shoulder surgery and may not do much this weekend. Also in the mix will be Jason Thomas (6'4" 325), recently signed veteran Aaron Gibson (6'7" 371) and free agent Matt Morgan (6'6" 304).

On the defensive line Tim Anderson is expected to fill the nose tackle role left vacant by Sam Adams, though defensive tackle also figures to be addressed further in free agency and the draft. Larry Tripplett should hold down the spot next to him on the interior. Chris Kelsay and Aaron Schobel will be the ends.

At linebacker with Takeo Spikes not participating, Angelo Crowell will step in as he did last season on the weak side. London Fletcher and Jeff Posey will remain in their usual middle and strong side backer spots. Mario Haggan however, will be a guy to keep an eye on as a legitimate challenger for a more prominent role this spring and summer.

The strong safety spot is wide open after the release of veteran Lawyer Milloy. But defensive coordinator Perry Fewell has a preliminary starter penciled in.

"Matt Bowen will be at the strong safety spot in this camp," said Fewell.

Troy Vincent is not expected to participate in this camp. He was playing with a shoulder problem late last season. As a result Rashad Baker will be in the starting lineup at free safety Friday.

On the corners it will be Terrence McGee and Eric King, provided Nate Clements is not in attendance. He could be here this weekend, but is not a lock to attend as he has not signed his one-year franchise tender. If Clements reports for the minicamp King will assume the nickel corner role.

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=3699

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Davis moves up in no time

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Bills receiver taking advantage of opening

By ALLEN WILSON

News Sports Reporter

4/9/2006

On the field, a wide receiver's success depends on being in the right place at the right time.

In free agency, the same thing applies.

Andre' Davis joined the Buffalo Bills hoping to earn a backup spot behind fellow receivers Eric Moulds and Lee Evans. But with Moulds being traded to Houston, Davis suddenly has a shot to win a starting job.

"I guess timing is everything," Davis said Saturday after the second day of the Bills' minicamp. "I landed in a great situation here, and I'm looking forward to going out and showing that I can help this team."

Davis will likely have to beat out Josh Reed to earn a starting role, though players such as Sam Aiken and Roscoe Parrish are also in the mix.

Davis and Reed are rotating at the "Z" or flanker position in minicamp. Evans was moved to the "X" receiver or split end, where Moulds used to play.

"[Davis and Reed] are going to battle it out this spring and especially in training camp, when the bullets start flying in live situations, live scrimmages and preseason games," receivers coach Tyke Tolbert said. "But the competition starts now. It will build up in training camp, and when that's over we'll decide who is on the team, who is starting and who the backups are. But the competition is wide open."

Davis said he'll leave the roster decisions to the coaches, but he knows his on-field performance will have some influence.

"I just need to focus on working hard, knowing what I'm doing on the field and making plays," he said. "Everything will fall into place if I'm being productive and making plays."

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Davis has the size and speed (he ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash coming out of Virginia Tech) to be a playmaker.

He averaged 15.7 yards on 102 catches in three years with Cleveland and tied the NFL record with a 99-yard touchdown reception in 2004. He also averaged 21.1 yards on nine receptions in New England last season, including a 60-yard score.

"Watching him on film I saw how he would run by guys in New England," Tolbert said. "They didn't always get him the ball, but he was always behind the defensive backs. In the run game, we saw that he's very tough. He would go in there and crack the safeties and work hard finishing blocks. I like fast guys that are tough, and he's that kind of player."

Davis, a 2002 second-round draft pick who was taken 11 spots after Reed, arrived in Cleveland with high expectations. A starter in 19 of 39 games, he showed early promise by catching 37 passes for 420 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie, and he added 40 receptions for 576 yards and five scores in his second year. He also impressed as a kickoff returner.

But his career took a frustrating turn in 2004 when he spent the last eight games on the injured reserve list with a bad toe. He was traded last August to the Patriots, who released him one month later when he was unable to come back fast enough from a broken foot.

He got a bit of redemption after re-signing with the Patriots in October and playing well at receiver and on special teams in the final nine games. Besides catching the 60-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady, Davis had a 51-yard grab in the playoffs in addition to a 13-yard run on a reverse, a 20-yard average on three kickoff returns and solid work on the punt and kickoff coverage units.

"The injuries have been real frustrating," Davis said. "I seem to be one of those guys who have that stigma of getting hurt. But I know it's a part of the game, and I know that when I'm healthy I'm a good player. I just need to continue to do everything possible to make sure I'm out there on the field and not in the training room."

If Davis' injury problems are finally behind him, he could be one of the steals of free agency. The timing is certainly right.

"Anytime you get an opportunity to come to a team that sees your skill and wants you on the team, you have to be excited about it," he said. "Having a chance to play in the NFL is something we can't take for granted because not everyone can be as fortunate. I'm grateful for this opportunity, and I just hope I do well."

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060409/1019286.asp

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

COMMENTARY

It's time to sift all the clues before draft day

4/9/2006

By LARRY FELSER

Yes, the baseball season has opened, the green jacket is at stake in the Masters and the Kentucky Derby and NHL playoffs are coming up. But in Buffalo, it's always Bills time.

Besides, this is draft month - a time that could knit the raveled sleeve of six losses in the seven weeks that closed the dreary 2005 season.

The Bills have the eighth pick unless they make a trade before the April 29-30 selections. Trading down for additional picks would be more likely than trading up since this team has multiple needs.

The organization itself, like any superfan, keeps track of the predictions made for them by the draftnik groups. So far there are 31 predictors weighing in and 21 of them pick the same player, Haloti Ngata, the enormous defensive tackle from Oregon.

Ngata was my personal choice until a few weeks ago. What changed my mind was the presence of Perry Fewell at One Bills Drive. Fewell is the new defensive coordinator, a seasoned coach who used to work for Lovie Smith with the Chicago Bears and before that with Tony Dungy, Indianapolis' coach.

Fewell will use the defense Dungy pioneered and Smith brought to Chicago. It emphasizes penetration and attack, not a big guy closing a couple of gaps in the line. That pretty much leaves Ngata out of the picture here.

A defensive tackle more in tune with Newell's scheme is Brodrick Bunkley of Florida State, who weighs 290 pounds, about 40 less than Ngata. The difference is that Bunkley is an attacker who had nine sacks for the Seminoles last season. The scouts think he's capable of double-digit sacks as a pro, rare for an interior lineman.

None of the draftniks picked Bunkley for the Bills, and the team itself may not think of him as the eighth pick overall, but they might get him by trading down a few notches and picking up another draft pick in the process.

Other than Ngata, the most popular Buffalo pick for the mock drafters is Jimmy Williams of Virginia Tech, a big, fast guy who might start at safety as a rookie and move into a corner job if Nate Clements leaves after this season. Even more admired by the scouts is Michael Huff, Texas' big-play safety who has the speed to start at corner. Huff is expected to be gone in the first six or seven picks, but if he seems to be sliding toward No. 8, the Bills would have to think seriously about him.

The draftnik list includes a couple of pipe dreams - Virginia offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk.

Ferguson would have been the top offensive lineman in the draft if he had come out of college last year. He's that good. After North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams, Hawk is the best defensive player on the board. Ferguson and Hawk will be gone by the time Buffalo's number comes up.

Receiving one vote each from the mock drafters were South Carolina cornerback Johnathan Joseph, Southern California offensive tackle Winston Justice and Maryland tight end Vernon Davis. Joseph doesn't rank with Huff or Williams, but if Buffalo's number was coming up and Davis was still available, the Bills would have to rethink their offensive plans.

Davis is a fantastic athlete in the Tony Gonzalez-Antonio Gates mold of tight ends. He is 6-foot-3, weighs 251 pounds and is as fast as most wide receivers. Consider the Bills' situation: They already have two tight ends who can play, but they are nowhere near the elite class of Davis. Their quarterbacks are either inexperienced or, in Kelly Holcomb's case, don't have a great passing arm.

Davis is capable of doing what Eric Moulds did here - move the chains - and is a generation younger.

A dozen of the draftniks went beyond the first round into the second. Five of them gave Buffalo offensive linemen. They may be on to something. Since the Bills have two selections in the third round, their obvious needs in the line might be eased with California tackle Ryan O'Callaghan, Boise State offensive tackle Daryn Colledge or Southern Cal guard Taitusi Lutui.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060409/1061378.asp

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

BILLS NOTEBOOK

Injury delays Everett's return

By ALLEN WILSON

News Sports Reporter

4/10/2006

Nearly one year after suffering a serious knee injury, tight end Kevin Everett is still waiting for his NFL career to begin.

The 2005 draftee watched from the sidelines as the Buffalo Bills went through three days of minicamp. He was supposed to return to the field this weekend, but aggravated his groin muscle during an on-field workout prior to the camp.

"He was disappointed, we were disappointed," Bills coach **** Jauron said Sunday. "As soon as he heals he'll be back out working."

That can't come soon enough for Everett, who was robbed of his rookie season when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a minicamp one week after the draft.

After months of rehabilitation and anticipation, he was ready to go, only to suffer this latest setback.

"It feels weird sitting back watching because I've never been out like this before," said Everett, a third-round pick out of Miami. "It's hard because you're so used to being out there and being the guy everybody expects to make a play. I'm just working right now and hopefully God will bless me to get out here and be injury free. If I don't get another injury, I'll be out there and hopefully soon."

The sooner, the better. Although the Bills signed veteran and projected starter Robert Royal, they still have high hopes for Everett, whose size, speed and athleticism could be an asset on offense.

Everett's goal is to be ready by the next minicamp, which coincidentally is scheduled for the week after the draft.

"I'm just anxious to get out there," Everett said. "I want to be out there doing everything. But I also have to try not to do too much too soon. I've been out a long time, so I have to be patient and make sure I stay on the field this time."

• • •

Jauron was pleased with his first minicamp, praising the players' effort and commitment throughout the initial three weeks of the offseason conditioning program.

He did not like the two mini-brawls that occurred Saturday and let the players know about it. Jauron said he understands when the players are in a highly competitive situation it's hard for them to back off. Sometimes players cross the line and tempers get a little heated.

Jauron said he told the players that they must avoid confrontations in practices and games because they could be a detriment to the team's success.

"In order to have the best chance to win, you've got to be disciplined. If we lose a player in a brawl or fight on a game day, that's not giving us the best chance," Jauron said. "If we lose a player in practice, that's certainly not giving us the best chance. We talked about it, and they're aware of it."

• • •

With linebacker Takeo Spikes and cornerback Nate Clements not expected to attend, running back Willis McGahee was the most notable absentee. McGahee missed the first day because of a prior commitment, but Jauron anticipated McGahee's arrival on Saturday.

Instead, McGahee remained home in Miami.

"We love Willis. We'd just love him a little more if he had been here," Jauron said. "We know this, he is down there working. We'd just like to get him with our team and working with the guys on those occasions when he can make it."

Jauron did point out that McGahee participated in the first week and a half of the offseason program, and expects the player to attend the next minicamp.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060410/2056303.asp

 

[Gargoylez]

Rumor has it that Bills signed Peerless Price.

LOL!

If his vision could improve not a bad 4th WR.

 

[Kleck.]

Rumor has it that Bills signed Peerless Price.

LOL!

If his vision could improve not a bad 4th WR.

I just heard it on ESPN Radio.

 

[OldMilwaukee]

I still have his old #81 jersey!!

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Price Returns: In a surprising move the Bills have reached back to the past for some help at wide receiver. The team announced this afternoon that they have signed free agent Peerless Price. Both sides are hoping that they can rekindle some of that magic. Price was developing into a star as the Bills number two receiver before being traded to Atlanta when he was franchised as an unrestricted free agent back in 2003. He never became that star and is career has been reeling ever since. He most recently was with the Cowboys before being released by Dallas last season. Offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild was here when Price shined in his first stint in Buffalo and said he's really glad to have him back and knows he will add something to the group. Price said he had other options but visited Buffalo last week because he knew he wouldn't mind coming back to the place where he had the most success of his career. He said knowing the area and the great fans were all positives in returning.

http://www.billsdaily.com/news/

 

[Weiner Dog]

I've always respected the Bills organization, but has any team had a worst offseason??

** Overpaid for Josh Reed

** Overpaid for Peerless Price

** Overpaid for Robert Royal

** McGahee has not shown for camp

** No chance of offensive chemistry with three below-average QB's (Holcolmb, Losman, Nall) sharing 1st-team reps with four below-average WR's (Reed, Davis, Parrish, Price). Evans gets a free pass since he's a legit NFL player.

** The OL is going backwards by losing Trey Teague (even though Melvin Fowler was a quality value signing).

** Lawyer Milloy is expected to be replaced by the either Wire and/or Bowen.

The best move by the Bills were their franchising of Nate Clements. With the average salary of top CB's much lower this year, they locked down a Top-3 CB for under market value.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

** The OL is going backwards by losing Trey Teague (even though Melvin Fowler was a quality value signing).

:X Teague was terrible. If he was any good, I'm sure he would have been signed by another team already.Otherwise, I can't really disagree too much with the rest of your post. I'd also add:hiring Marv Levy to be GMhiring **** Jauronreleasing Jerry Graytrading Eric Mouldsas a few of the bad or at least questionable decisions made by the organization this offseason.