September

Sept. 5, 2008   

Bills, Schonert putting ultimate faith in QB Edwards

Trent Edwards

When head coach Dick Jauron appointed Turk Schonert as offensive coordinator following the departure of Steve Fairchild in January, the theory was that Schonert’s ingenuity in play-calling would be what would take the Bills’ offense to new heights. And while he certainly is responsible for designing and calling the plays, word out of Buffalo is that job descriptions aside, this is ultimately QB Trent Edwards’ offense.

Not in the sense that Edwards has the power — or the desire — to override Schonert, but in the sense that Schonert has tailored his offense specifically to the strengths of his emerging second-year quarterback. What that means is less emphasis on downfield passing, entrusting Edwards to make multiple reads on any given play, and locating the right receiver in the multitude of formations Schonert has instituted.

“The expectations (for the offense) are soaring,” Edwards said. “The only reason there’s more pressure on me is because the offense goes where I go.”

Although it may seem like a cliché, the Bills’ belief that Edwards can handle the pressure is the major reason they drafted him in the third round two seasons ago. His scouting report coming out of college was that he was a good, but not great, physical specimen, and that he was easily the most headstrong and intelligent quarterback in his class. So heady, in fact, that the Bills ranked him 30th overall on their draft board and thus far have been even more pleased with his poise than they imagined they’d be.

Still, Schonert recognizes that Edwards is just in his second season, and to help aid the maturation process of the quarterback who’s inextricably linked to his own success as a coordinator, Schonert has decided to be on the sideline instead of in the booth. “We just have to get on the sideline and talk about some things and correct him if he makes a mistake,” Schonert said. “He is determined. The players see it in his eyes, and the coaches see it in his eyes.”

Edwards has similar trust in Schonert, a fellow Stanford alum. “Turk’s not going to call plays we’re not comfortable in,” Edwards said. “If we keep taking seven-step drops and getting sacked, he’ll call for more boots and nakeds and screens. He’s going to put us in the right position.”

August

Aug. 30, 2008   

Bills in tight bind at tight end

One of the areas that new Bills offensive coordinator Turk Schonert wants to improve is the tight end’s role in the passing game after the tight ends were, at best, peripheral contributors under former coordinator Steve Fairchild. Additionally, QB Trent Edwards has proved more willing to locate the tight end than the quarterback he’s replacing, J.P. Losman. But injuries have put a kink in the Bills’ plans. Rookie Derek Fine is anything but fine after undergoing thumb surgery, and is out indefinitely. Also, No. 2 TE Derek Schouman should be out for as many as three weeks with a bum knee. With rosters needing to be trimmed to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET Saturday, head coach Dick Jauron implied Wednesday that the TE injuries will play a part in determining who makes the team.

Aug. 20, 2008   

Schonert's offense offers glimpse of what's to come

New Bills offensive coordinator Turk Schonert was blasted by the local media following the preseason opener. After promising to breathe new life into the stagnant attack, Schonert’s unit fell flat, and many wondered if there really was anything to be excited about. But the way we hear it, Schonert took those criticisms to heart, and the crisp execution showcased in the second game proved that the Bills are indeed committed to expanding their offensive horizons. “It wasn’t just that they played better; it was a completely different philosophy,” one team source said. “They involved Lee (WR Lee Evans) right away. They threw to the tight ends. Even the running plays seemed more creative.” As for the much anticipated no-huddle, up-tempo attack, Schonert has mostly kept that under wraps. But then again, it’s still the preseason, and the new offensive boss doesn’t want to show too many cards — just enough to whet the appetite of what’s to come.

Aug. 16, 2008   

Solid play of Bills' O-line leaves Peters with few options

OLT Jason Peters’ leverage is shrinking every day. The Bills' All-Pro blind-side protector of QB Trent Edwards has yet to report for training camp in search of a new contract. However, the way we hear it, it’s soon coming to the point where he’ll need to show up because he’ll realize there’s no way a deal will be struck with him missing in action. The latest evidence came in Thursday night’s preseason victory over the Steelers, where the first-team offensive line performed well enough to convince the Bills that they’re not destined for failure without Peters. Langston Walker, their starting right tackle who has been playing on the left side during Peters' holdout, performed admirably, but a particularly inspiring effort came from Kirk Chambers at right tackle. Chambers was especially strong in the running game, paving the way for a few nice runs by RB Marshawn Lynch.

Aug. 1, 2008   

Stroud, DTs enjoying strong start to Bills camp

The Bills knew they were taking a risk when they traded for talented but troubled Jaguars DT Marcus Stroud this offseason. Thus far, the gamble looks to be paying off in a big way. Stroud has been a force and the consummate professional in Bills camp, showing no ill effects from the ankle injury that prematurely ended his 2007 campaign in Jacksonville, and routinely has been collapsing the pocket from his interior DL spot. Then again, as one team insider reminded PFW, “it’s still very much the honeymoon period,” so it remains to be seen if he’ll keep up his energy level through camp and into the season. If he can, the Bills look to be strong at the DT position, as Kyle Williams, fresh off his contract extension, and third-year pro John McCargo have been playing particularly well, too.

July

July 18, 2008   

Evans, Peters expected to report on time for Bills' camp

Despite the fact that Bills WR Lee Evans’ contract is up after the season and OLT Jason Peters was a no-show in the team’s offseason program, we hear that a holdout from either one in training camp is unlikely. Although Evans and the team would like to finalize a long-term deal, we hear that it’s perhaps even more important for the team to do something quickly, as Evans realizes he’ll be paid handsomely by somebody — be it the Bills or another team — if he somehow reaches the open market in 2009. But the Bills won’t allow that to happen, as a deal will be struck, even if it doesn’t happen until during or even after the upcoming season. Peters, whose deal is up after 2010, realizes that he has no leverage in his bid for a new deal, and there’s talk around Buffalo that his push for a new contract is being orchestrated by his agent, Vincent Taylor. Peters is a team-first, quiet guy who is not the type to be raising a stink about his deal, especially three years before it’s due to expire.

June

June 27, 2008   

Bills' OL conundrum similar to Jets' 2007 situation

For all the outside heat the Bills are taking regarding the off-field conduct of some of their players, it would appear as though the last thing the team would want to do is create additional tension in the locker room. Yet, that’s what the Bills did this week, albeit unwittingly. With star OLT Jason Peters holding out in search of a new contract, the Bills pulled the trigger on an extension for their lineman — only it was OG Brad Butler, not Peters. The scenario plays out eerily similar to what happened with the AFC East rival Jets last season, when they opted to extend OG Brandon Moore instead of the more outspoken and highly publicized Pete Kendall. However, unlike the situation with the Jets — who ended up cutting Kendall — Peters is a cornerstone for the future of the Bills’ offense. It’s just that he’ll likely have to wait another year before getting his desired raise.

June 20, 2008   

A tale of two units

Paul Posluszny

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Little did Charles Dickens know when he penned “A Tale of Two Cities” that his opening line also would be applicable to describe the polarity of the Bills’ offensive and defensive units this offseason. On the offensive side, little has gone according to script. RB Marshawn Lynch is entangled in an alleged hit-and-run incident, promising rookie WR James Hardy has been believed to be involved in a pair of off-field issues, Pro Bowl OLT Jason Peters has been MIA in demanding a new contract, and the implementation of new coordinator Turk Schonert’s offense is progressing at a slower pace than expected. The defense, meanwhile, has been a pillar of strength. The play of CB Leodis McKelvin and second-year MLB Paul Posluszny — who missed all but three games a season ago with a broken arm — has been particularly strong on a defense that looks substantially improved.

June 6, 2008   

Legal issues piling up for the Bills

Just because no charges have been filed against RB Marshawn Lynch doesn’t mean the Bills aren’t worried about the image that he’s unwittingly helping to propagate. It’s an image that says Buffalo’s not quite the bastion of wholesome football players that many have seen it as over the past couple of years. Lynch has been part of a recent police investigation after a Porsche SUV registered in his name reportedly injured a pedestrian in a hit-and-run last weekend. It’s unclear whether Lynch was driving the vehicle at the time, but regardless, it’s yet another black mark for an organization still smarting from rookie WR James Hardy’s recent tussle with his father, during which he allegedly flashed a gun, and fellow WR Roscoe Parrish’s DUI arrest. Additionally, DE Anthony Hargrove has been suspended for the upcoming season for repeated violations of the league’s substance-abuse policy. Nevertheless, only the Hargrove situation is expected to carry on-field implications.

May

May 29, 2008   

Extension for Evans all but inevitable

It was no surprise that the Bills recently offered WR Lee Evans a contract extension. It was also no surprise that he declined what is assumed to be a lowball offer. As a source close to the club told us, “It’s just the first step in a process that both Lee and the team really want to get done.” Evans’ contract expires at the end of next season, and the Bills are placing a premium on inking him to a long-term extension before training camp commences. Truly happy in small-market Buffalo, Evans will be willing to oblige, eventually. Because of his value as the team’s only legitimate threat at wide receiver — at least until rookie James Hardy proves himself — and as one of the most respected leaders in the locker room, Evans holds the upper hand in the negotiations and can afford to wait for the Bills to come through with an offer that will place him among the league’s highest-paid receivers. It’s simply a question of “when,” not “if.”

May 21, 2008   

Bills hesitant to use rookie CB McKelvin as returner

Leodis McKelvin

There was little contention entering April’s draft that whatever team landed Troy’s Leodis McKelvin would not only be gaining the services of one of the top cover corners in the rookie class, but also a player who would add some sizzle returning kickoffs and punts. Although more accomplished as a punt returner, McKelvin was effective at both, scoring seven touchdowns on returns throughout his collegiate career. But the way we hear it, his special-teams ability will be shelved in Buffalo, at least early on. With an already brilliant special-teams unit — arguably the best in the NFL — and a shoddy secondary, coach Dick Jauron wants McKelvin to learn the ropes of the defense first and foremost. McKelvin isn’t a particularly astute student of the game, and the feeling among the coaches is that throwing both the defensive and special-teams playbooks at him at once will stunt his development. Even if the team felt McKelvin could handle dual responsibilities, there’s no guarantee he’d improve the special-teams play, considering KR Terrence McGee and PR Roscoe Parrish are two of the best in the business.

May 16, 2008   

Bills said to be 'mortified' over Hardy's alleged gun incident

Despite rookie WR James Hardy’s recent brush with the law, the Bills don’t have buyer’s remorse over investing their second-round pick in him. “But they sure have buyer’s embarrassment,” one team insider told PFW. The former Indiana star allegedly pulled a gun on his father in the backyard of a woman’s house in Hardy’s hometown of Fort Wayne, Ind., last weekend, and the homeowner who witnessed the incident immediately called the police. Because Hardy’s father, who shares his son’s first and last name, didn’t have any bodily harm — not to mention the fact that both father and son have dismissed the issue as an insignificant confrontation that was misinterpreted by the witness — the police have reportedly ended the investigation. But that’s not to say the Bills aren’t “mortified” about the allegation. Hardy was red-flagged by many teams as a having character issues during the pre-draft evaluation process, largely stemming from a May 2006 arrest of domestic battery for allegedly attacking his girlfriend and their infant son. But the Bills saw enough contrition in his owning up to the incident to go ahead and select him with the 41st overall pick. “When this latest incident happened, it was like a slap in the face,” the insider said. Already this offseason, the Bills have seen WR-PR Roscoe Parrish get arrested for drunken driving and DE Anthony Hargrove get suspended for the upcoming season for repeated violations of the league’s personal conduct policies.

May 9, 2008   

Increase in season-ticket sales only Band-Aid for Bills' financial woes

With the Bills having already surpassed last year’s season-ticket sales of 48,236, many have seen the spike as a unified voice indicating that the Bills’ fans are “protesting” the relocation of eight games over a five-year span from Buffalo to Toronto. But according to a source close to the team, the increase in season-ticket sales is rooted in something far more obvious: The team is looking good. Coming off a 7-9 season while not losing any key players and bringing aboard a host of quality newcomers, the Bills are seen by many around Buffalo and the NFL as a legitimate playoff contender, rather than the also-ran they’ve been for so many years. According to the source, it’s purely coincidental that the ticket spike is coinciding with Year One of the move to Toronto, and that there’s no realistic chance that a groundswell of Buffalo support for the franchise to stay in its longtime home will have any tangible results. It’s seen as only a matter of time before the poor Buffalo economy will eventually prove too much of a liability for the team, and it’ll be forced to relocate permanently to Toronto.

April

April 25, 2008   

Bills looking to ride starting DT tandem hard

Given the physical toll that D-line play takes on players, most good defensive fronts have a healthy rotation of players coming in and out of the lineup. The way we hear it, the Bills will be looking to buck the theory that a steady rotation is the most effective method, particularly on the interior. According to a team insider, Buffalo envisions DTs John McCargo and ex-Jaguar Marcus Stroud assuming the heavy majority of minutes in 2008. Although technically a reserve in ’07 , McCargo showed enough glimpses of greatness to make coach Dick Jauron confident he’ll be the force the team believed he’d become when they plucked him in the first round of the 2006 draft. Stroud’s lack of consistency and health have some wondering whether he’s best-suited for a part-time role, but evidently that concern isn’t shared by Jauron. McCargo and Stroud are easily the best run-supporting and pass-rushing tackles the Bills boast, so there’s no need to give them any more rest than is needed to keep them operating at a high level.

April 18, 2008   

Don't buy the talk; Buffalo wants to trade Losman

Contrary to a report out of Buffalo this week that quoted Bills chief operating officer Russ Brandon as saying, “We anticipate (J.P. Losman) being on this team,” we hear that the Bills’ quarterback is very much on the trading block. Losman asked to be traded after last season following his demotion behind Trent Edwards, but thus far, the Bills haven’t received many inquiries from other teams. Still, the Bills hold out hope that they can work out a deal for him either over draft weekend or shortly thereafter. “Russ was simply giving the party-line answer,” said a source close to Brandon. “He’s just covering his bases in the event they don’t get a reasonable offer.” The general feeling is that a third- or fourth-round draft pick — either in next week’s draft if they get the deal done soon, or in the ’09 draft if it’s worked out later — is the least amount of compensation the Bills would be willing to accept. In the event Buffalo fails to see that kind of offer, Losman would remain with the club as the second-string passer rather than being cut. The Bills don’t have any other legitimate QB option behind Edwards and Losman, and the pickings for veteran quarterbacks still on the market are slim. With Losman’s contract set to expire after the season, there’s virtually no chance he’ll be on the team in ’09.

April 2, 2008   

Wilson's absence from the league meetings is no shock

Bills owner Ralph Wilson Jr. decided to stay home from the league meetings in Florida this week, although that didn’t come as any surprise to those who know him well. The 89-year-old Wilson has missed a number of the meetings over the last several years, in large part due to his age. But part of the reason is also due to Wilson’s belief that the NFL is only now starting to address issues that he tried to bring to the forefront of the league’s consciousness years ago. Most prominently, the league’s increasing debt — reportedly now at $9 billion — is expected to be a hot-button issue, and Wilson has been peeved that his voice on the matter has largely been ignored up until now. As one team source put it, Wilson’s absence from Florida is “like an ‘I told you so’ to the league.”

March

March 26, 2008   

Trade for Losman not expected to be completed before draft

So far, there’s a serious lack of suitors that have come knocking on the Bills' door inquiring about acquiring disgruntled QB J.P. Losman. Losman has asked for a trade following his demotion behind starter Trent Edwards, a request that the Bills would be happy to oblige should a reasonable offer come their way. Not surprisingly, Losman has been a no-show at “voluntary” workouts in Orchard Park, and it’s unlikely he’ll show up considering that he can’t be fined for not attending the sessions. That being said, the Bills continue to harbor the belief that they’ll work out an deal for the quarterback. We hear that it’s highly unlikely there will be any action until after the draft. Whichever teams come out of the late April selection meeting without a quality passer will go a long way in determining who will have interest in the former first-round pick.

March 21, 2008   

Bills looking forward to regaining Posluszny's services

The most eagerly anticipated new face in the Bills' defense isn’t massive DT Marcus Stroud. Nor is it free-agent acquisition WLB Kawika Mitchell. Rather, it’s MLB Paul Posluszny. Technically, he’s entering his second season in Buffalo, but after suffering a season-ending broken forearm in Week Three, he’s essentially a new addition. According to a Bills source, Posluszny was an active presence around the team facilities throughout the season, unlike many injured players who slink into the background. His hardnosed style fits in well with the Bills' mantra, and his heady play provides the team with what it believes will be the consummate defensive centerpiece. That being said, don’t expect him to alter, or provide flexibility, to the game plan. He won’t be asked to do much blitzing, and his primary importance is providing a physical, run-stuffing body to a unit that was undermanned in ’07. Mitchell, active coming off the edge on blitzes, is the addition that allows for the most defensive options.

March 14, 2008   

Bills upgrading TE corps

The competition is on to become the Bills’ starting tight end. In addition to incumbent starter Robert Royal, whose pedestrian numbers from 2007 included 25 receptions for 248 yards and three touchdowns, the team has brought on board a pair of massive targets to compete with him in 6-6, 270-pound Courtney Anderson and 6-6, 260-pound Teyo Johnson. Anderson and Johnson both got their NFL careers off the ground in Oakland but have struggled to make consistent contributions. Yet Johnson, in particular, is an intriguing prospect. A former wide receiver at Stanford, he boasts uncommon athleticism for a player his size, though there’s still much to be seen from him after he last suited up in the NFL in 2005 with Arizona. But don’t expect the TE additions to stop. It’s a good bet the team plucks one within the first three rounds of April’s draft, and it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see a rookie trot out with the starters in Week One.

March 5, 2008   

Stroud to significantly upgrade Bills D-line … if healthy

The Bills believe their acquisition of DT Marcus Stroud from the Jaguars in return for third- and fifth-round draft picks is quite a coup. When operating at 100 percent, Stroud is regarded as one of the premier interior defensive linemen in the league, a commanding combination of power and quickness who can knife into the backfield as well as clog running lanes. But a Jaguars source told us that there were serious concerns about his ankle, a problem which required microfracture surgery last offseason and eventually landed him on injured reserve. The Bills don’t share Jacksonville's doubts. Buffalo has a highly respected medical team that believes Stroud will make a full recovery. Following the release of Larry Tripplett, Stroud will combine with hardworking Kyle Williams and 2006 first-rounder John McCargo to form a DT rotation that will be vastly improved if Stroud is able to go full steam ahead.

February

Feb. 29, 2008   

OLB Colvin would be welcome addition to sack-starved Bills

After their defense finished the season 30th in the league in sack percentage, the Bills are placing a premium this offseason on obtaining players who can pressure the quarterback. One of the names that appears to make a lot of sense is OLB Rosevelt Colvin. Due to count $7.6 million against the cap next season, Colvin was recently released by the Patriots and is subsequently free to test the waters throughout the league. Bills coach Dick Jauron has seen firsthand the type of impact Colvin can have on a defensive game plan. Jauron coached Colvin from 1999-2002 in Chicago, and arguably the two best seasons of Colvin's career came in 2001 and '02, when he registered 21 sacks. Colvin doesn't come with as steep a price tag as the headlining linebackers in this free-agent class and should be affordable, seeing as how the Bills have ample salary-cap maneuverability. On the other hand, don't expect the Bills to make a play for Lance Briggs, another former Jauron disciple from Chicago. Briggs will cost considerably more money than Colvin, and while he's a finer all-around linebacker, he's a less proficient pass rusher.

Feb. 20, 2008   

Jauron not likely to punish Parrish following arrest

Although his wide receiver was arrested for driving under the influence, don’t expect Bills coach Dick Jauron to take disciplinary action against Roscoe Parrish. At 4:30 a.m. last Saturday in his native Miami, Parrish was pulled over in his 2005 Bentley by Miami Beach police, although it’s unclear as to what substance he was allegedly under the influence of. But a confluence of factors should enable Parrish to escape punishment from his coach. For starters, he’s the most explosive player the Bills have at their neediest position. Unless serious fortifications are provided at the position, the already stagnant passing game would be that much more flat without Parrish. More on point is the fact that Jauron demonstrated last year that he’s willing to allow criminal behavior to go unpunished on the football field if the player serves a valuable role. When DE Anthony Hargrove was arrested for assaulting a police officer outside a Rochester, N.Y., nightclub on an evening away from training camp, Jauron made a statement with his inaction. As it turns out, Hargrove would miss the first four games of the season for a second violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy, and last month he was suspended for the entire 2008 season following a third violation, but Jauron's silence after that incident set a precedent that bodes well for Parrish. Still, Parrish could face sanctions from commissioner Roger Goodell under the player conduct policy.

Feb. 13, 2008   

Bills can't afford to stay in Buffalo

Buffalo Sabres owner Tom Golisano quelled a lot of fears in Buffalo recently when he insinuated he would buy the Bills franchise and keep it in Buffalo whenever owner Ralph Wilson, 89, dies. For years there has been speculation that the Bills will be moved from small-market Buffalo upon Wilson's death, and the recent announcement that the team will be playing eight games in Toronto over the next five years has only added to the fire. But the way we hear it, Golisano's words carry little substance. “It's a bunch of hot air,” one Bills insider told PFW. “He's an owner who's been MIA with his own team (the Sabres). He just said that to score points in western New York.” According to the source, it's a foregone conclusion the Bills will move out of Buffalo upon Wilson's death, and Toronto is the overwhelming favorite to be their new home. It's not difficult to see why Buffalo is not a suitable home for an NFL franchise. Despite one of the league's most passionate fan bases — the Bills have sold out every game in three of the past five seasons, despite failing to make a single postseason appearance during that span — Buffalo's sagging economy has mandated the average ticket price rest at a reported $51.24, even following a recently announced price increase for 2008. The leaguewide average ticket price is $67. Only the Jaguars rival the Bills for such a low ticket cost. By comparison, tickets to see the Bills in Toronto's Rogers Centre are being sold at an average of $250 (Canadian).

Feb. 1, 2008   

Bills looking for more size in WR corps

While the Bills see new offensive coordinator Turk Schonert as an important step in getting more out of the passing attack, a receiver upgrade is sorely needed. With Lee Evans entrenched as the No. 1 receiver, the lack of a legitimate No. 2 option has kept the aerial attack shackled. The Bills love Roscoe Parrish, but at just 5-9, 171 pounds, he’s strictly a change-of-pace, deep-threat type who can’t handle the physical rigors of being an every-down receiver. Peerless Price has been a colossal disappointment and is a good candidate to be cut. Team insiders tell us that the need for a big receiver is of paramount importance. The Bills didn’t have the type of receiver to go up and grab the key third-down reception this past season, and they’re adamant about filling that void. They took the first step earlier in the week by signing 6-foot-7 TE-WR hybrid Teyo Johnson — a Stanford product, like Schonert and QB Trent Edwards — but he has yet to prove to be a capable receiver at the pro level. If either Texas’ Limas Sweed or Oklahoma’s Malcolm Kelly — the consensus top two big wide receivers in this year’s draft — are available when the Bills select at No. 11, expect Buffalo to choose one of them.