Schobel appears through with Bills
By Allen Wilson and Mark Gaughan
NEWS SPORTS REPORTERS
Updated: June 10, 2010, 11:40 pm
Aaron Schobel hasn't officially announced his retirement, but the Buffalo Bills defensive end is leaning strongly in that direction.
Although Schobel left the door open for a possible return, he sounds as if he has played his last game as a Bill.
"At this point, I don't think that I'm going to play," Schobel told The Buffalo News on Thursday from his home in Columbus, Texas. "I'm not ready to say that I'm retiring, but it's in the Bills' hands. If they were to come to me at some point and need me to come back later on, I would consider it. If they want to move on, I'm fine with that."
The nine-year veteran does not intend to show up for any of the Bills' remaining offseason practices, including the mandatory three-day minicamp that begins June 23. He also won't report to training camp, which opens July 29.
Bills General Manager Buddy Nix said Thursday that the team's position regarding Schobel has not changed since Nix commented in March that "The ball is in [schobel's] court. If he wants to play, we certainly want him back. If he wants to retire, we wish him the best."
Schobel, who will be 33 Sept. 1, began hinting at retirement prior to last offseason. He was growing weary of putting his body through the rigors of a long season, which often ended in frustration.
Since coming to Buffalo as a second-round draft pick out of Texas Christian in 2001, Schobel has been a part of just one winning season (9-7 in 2004) and has never participated in the playoffs. He also was facing another rebuilding effort and coaching change. Chan Gailey is the Bills' fourth head coach since Schobel's rookie year.
But Schobel's primary reason for thinking about leaving the game is his desire to spend more time with his three young children. He sold his Orchard Park home in May and permanently relocated the family to Columbus, a small town outside of Houston. His children are attending school there this fall. If Schobel played, he wanted to have certain days off during the season to go home.
At one point, the Bills considered letting Schobel pull a Brett Favre and show up shortly before the start of the regular season. But the team decided that wasn't what it wanted to do.
Schobel said he was relieved they came to that conclusion. Even if the Bills changed their mind about letting him show up late, he sounded like a man who is prepared to move on. He said the Bills should do the same.
"I think I'm just going to stay home," said Schobel, who was facing a move to outside linebacker in the Bills' new 3-4 defense. "If they have to say, "We have to release you,' I'd say, "I understand. I'm fine with that.' "
Would Schobel be open to playing in Houston if the Bills traded him there?
"There is only one place that I would even consider going to and that's Houston because it's so close to home and I know the defense and I know Bill [Kollar, the Texans' defensive line coach who held the same job in Buffalo]," Schobel said. "But I don't even know if I'd play in Houston at this point. I really wanted to finish my career in Buffalo."
If this is the end for Schobel, he can look back on a solid career. His 78 sacks rank second in Bills history behind Hall of Famer Bruce Smith (171 of his NFL-record 200 sacks came in Buffalo). Schobel made the Pro Bowl twice after posting a career-high 14 sacks in 2006 and 12 in 2007. He and Smith are the only Bills players with double-digit sacks in back-to-back seasons.
Schobel was remarkably durable, appearing in 116 consecutive games (111 straight starts) before a foot injury sidelined him for 11 games in 2008. He made a strong return last season with 10 sacks, the fourth time he had 10 or more.
Schobel shared the title of the longest-tenured Bills player with punter Brian Moorman, who also joined the team in 2001.
"I'm happy with what my career was as an individual," Schobel said. "I don't have any regrets. I gave you what I had for nine years. [but] there are other things I want to do now."
Schobel is leaving a lot of money on the table if he doesn't play again. He has four years left on a $50.5 million contract extension, the richest deal in franchise history, he signed before the 2007 season. He was due a $2 million roster bonus in March, which was contingent upon him reporting to the team and passing a physical because of his post-season elbow surgery.
Since Schobel is still under contract, the Bills could fine him for missing the mandatory minicamp and training camp. But that won't impact his decision one way or another.
Bills outside linebacker Chris Kelsay is Schobel's closest friend on the team. Based on their conversations, Kelsay wouldn't be surprised if his long-time teammate calls it a career.
"He never came out to me and flat out told me that he's done or he's definitely coming back. But when you're around a guy for as long as I've been you do kind of get a sense what way he is leaning," Kelsay said. "There are times where you listen to the way he speaks and he has that passion inside of him. But there are other times where he's just ready to be with his family and stop putting his body through that type of season.
"I knew that in due time he'd have to make a decision. I'm sure it's hard for him. He's still undecided, but he realizes too that for the Bills' sake he needs to make a decision pretty quick."
Kelsay added it would be strange not seeing Schobel in the locker room. More than his presence, Kelsay said Schobel's production and professionalism will be missed.
"Despite what he did out on the practice field, a lot of people say, "Well, he never practices,' but I tell you what, you turn the game film on Monday mornings and he's a guy that plays his heart out on the field," Kelsay said. "As a teammate, if you're ready to play on Sundays that's all the matters."
. . .
The Bills now have more than half of their 2010 draft class under contract after signing linebacker Arthur Moats and quarterback Levi Brown on Thursday.
Moats, the first of two sixth-round picks, is working at inside linebacker after playing defensive end at James Madison. Brown, who played at Troy, is the first of two seventh-round picks.
Offensive tackle Ed Wang, a fifth-round pick, linebacker Danny Batten, a sixth-round choice, and offensive tackle Kyle Calloway, a seventh-rounder, signed last week.
Running back C.J. Spiller (first round), nose tackle Torell Troup (second round), defensive end Alex Carrington (third round) and wide receiver Marcus Easley (fourth round) are the last remaining unsigned rookies.
To make room for Moats and Brown, the Bills released defensive lineman Will Croner and guard Jorge Guerra, both undrafted rookie free agents.
Croner had been absent from offseason practice the past two weeks.
