BobbyC81

It seems, just like with JP, they feel Rivers is ready to be the starting QB. They have AJ Feeley from Miami as theire backup plus rookie Charlie Whitehurst. For a team that had a winning record but didn't make the playoffs after winning the AFC West the year before, it sems like a risk to have let Brees go as a free agent and give Rivers the starting QB position.

Is Bruce Smith on the Wall of Fame??!!

True but what I meant there was that I believe a "character guy" doesn't whine and complain all the time in the media they way Travis Henry did after McGahee was drafted and what Bruce used to do about his contract.

I wonder what Marv Levy's definiton of "character guy" is?? My definition would be: " a solid person, player and teammate who does what is asked of him, keeps his mouth shut and leads by example. " I would also expect a "character guy" not to get in trouble with the law or violate team rules. He would also not do stupid things on the field resulting in 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalties at inopportune times. So, per my definition, "character guys" currently or recently on the Bills roster would be: Troy Vincent- as NFLPA union prez, he is highly regarded around the NFL. He was signed by the Bills to be a cornerback which is where he started. After an injury, and with McGee playing so well, he was moved to FS, a position he never played. I don't recall hearing him say one negative word (at least publicly) about the move. He just did what was asked and performed admirably. He is a leader by example. Kelly Holcomb- he was brought in to possibly compete for the QB position but then it was given to Losman. I never heard about any negative comments from him about this. He then was put in as starter, pulled back out again for Losman and then put back in at the end of the year. He just did what was asked. Justin Bannan- he was moved around from D-line to O-line and back again and his quotes were like: "I'll do whatever the coaches want." Non-character guys: Travis Henry- arrested on suspicion of rape as a rookie. Whined and complained when McGahee was drafted and then when be was benched in favor of Willis. Suspended for violation of league drug policy. Peerless Price- was always trash talking, which a few times resulted in altercations and unsportsmanlike penalties. I recallone time where he made a good play for a reception late in the game for a first down but then started trash-talking and threw the ball at the DB and got 15 yards. I'm sure the next ones will get some responses- Cornelius Bennett- seen on national TV, in a game where the Bills are being humiliated, laughing it up on the sidelines. Was one of the ring-leaders when the Bills went to the Super Bowl the 1st time and partied all week which most believe affected their preparation and play for that 1st Super Bowl. Bruce Smith- had numerous excuses for showing late to training camp and not practicing. Didn't get a flu shot and was too sick to play for a playoff game. Whined about his contract all the time. Was found sitting in his car at a traffic light asleep from being drunk.

I think it's very unlikely TH would return. The GM and coaching staff may have changed but McGahee is still here He was upset because they brought McGahee in and considered it a slap in the face. Why would he want to return to the same situation?? And, how can you call TH a charcter guy??

Well, they sort of do with Damien Shelton, who is now 33 and an 8-year veteran.

That's true. Remember Bruce always found excuses to not practice in training camp but he was one helluva defensive end. He also played for Marv. Now, I wonder what Marv's definition is for "character guy"?? I don't know that Bruce would fit my definition.

Reading the article on TBD from The Sports Xchange mentioned the Bills' signing of 4-year veteran DE Mark "My" Word. This didn't sound familiar to me so I wondered if it was a recent move. Bills Daily shows it as a 1/19/06 signing. Either I missed this one or forgot it. I looked up info on him and found that he had 8 sacks for Cleveland in 2002 and also played for them in 2003 with 4 sacks. That's only 2 years. What's he been doing since?? Seems like he was forgotten also by other posters who mentioned the Bills had only the 3 returning DEs in Schobel, Kelsay and Denney plus the undrafted free agent signings. Anybody know more about Word??

Also, if this team of "character guys" doesn't win many games.

I know this was voluntary for veteran players but I hope the five who didn't attend (Fletcher, McGahee, Price, B.Anderson & Vincent) had good excuses. You have a new head coach, new defensive coordinators plus a few new assistant coaches. The schemes, etc. have changed and these five don't bother to attend?? Fletcher is supposed to be a vocal leader of this team so what does his absence say?? He will have new things to learn with the new defense. Vincent is supposed to be a leader also, and he was re-elected as the NFLPA union president. He's a safety with a big responsibility in the new defense and he stays away?? Bennie Anderson got a nice contract as a free agent last year and then he stunk. He's getting a second chance to prove himself to a new head coach and he doesn't attend?? McGahee obviously still thinks he's the best RB in the NFL and doesn't need to spend time with his teammates learning a new offense. Working out with other ex-U of Miami players is all well and good but why couldn't he show to get started on learning the new offense and support his teammates?? I saved the best for last with Price. Sure his best days were as a Buffalo Bill. He got what most considered a ridiculous contract after playing lousy with Atlanta and Dallas. He has to learn a new offense, new QBs, new teammates and he decides to stay away?? He has a lot to prove, especially in justifying his contract. Word was he had matured. We shall see!!

So, did he give a reason why he wasn't at the recent mini-camp?? Sure it was voluntary but he was one of only 4 players not to show.

I was just thinking about this. I agree with the other posters. With what McGee has done as a KR, especially in 2004, unless someone like Parrish shows they can be a similar threat (in pre-season??), you have to leave McGee there. Of course we have to consider that Jauron is the head coach and will make that decision. I looked at the stats for the Bears when he was coach. In 2000, the leading kick returner was Glyn Milburn, who did little else. In 2001, their top kickoff returners were backup running backs Autry Denson (23 returns) and Leon Johnson (14 returns). That was the season where the Bears defense was very good (16 pts given up per game) so they didn't have a lot of kick returns. Jerry Azumah was on that team but had only 4 returns. In 2002, the top kick returner was a Ahmad Merritt, a backup receiver. Azumah had no returns. In 2003, the top kick returner was Azumah, and he was amongst the league leaders, plus had 2 KR TDs. So, for 3 of those years, non-starters were used. In 2003 it was Azumah, a starter at cornerback, so that doesn't give a definitive tendency by Jauron in the use of starters on kick returns. Next I took a look at the last 5 games of last season for Detroit, when Jauron was head coach. Eddie Drummond was the top kick returner for Detroit but he was injured and missed the games in Weeks 14 and 15. Starting cornerback RW McQuarters filled in for those 2 games. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what the approach will be regarding the use of McGee..

Just based on film clips I've seen, I like that the Bills ended up with Whitner instead of Huff. A highlight clip was posted here a couple weeks before the draft and it showed him making mostly high tackles, most where he grabbed the player's pads to bring him down. Many comments followed on this board doubting Huff could continue to be successful with that style of tackling. During the draft, after Huff was selected, ESPN showed another clip which included the same type of tackles. A clip of Whitner showed some Lott-type hits that knocked the players on their arrses. I like the thought of Whitner patrolling the backfield with the potentital for those jarring hits. Huff may turn out to be a star player but right now I like the selection of Whitner for the Bills.

They just need something to complain about.

So much for his changed attitude. I for one was glad when he was traded. I got sick of his trash talking, which resulted in scuffles and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties too often.

Well, considering that the Titans still have Chris Brown plus they drafted LenDale White, Travis may be available soon.

Of course, why will the Bills' opponents be throwing the ball anyways??? It should be easy again to run the ball. And the Bills' offense won't do anything so the opponents will be ahead, running to use up the clock. But we'll have good DBs just in case they do decide to throw.

Interesting that he went to a small school like Morehouse College.

Marv was quoted in Bills Digest as saying he wouldn't draft a QB high in the first round because then the guy would be thought of as a "savior" putting too much pressure on him and just setting him up for failure.

More than likely it'll be the case that five years from now Leinart is a Pro Bowl QB for Arizona in a potent offense, Holcomb is out of the league, Losman and Nall are backup QBs on other teams, and the Bills' offense is still struggling.

Oh well, too much draft info for one day. I looked at the wrong list. I thought a list on Yahoo showed who had been drafted by position. I see he was taken by Cincy in the 3rd. Merry Lousy draft day to all And to all a freakin' goodnight!!

Time for the lyric writer's to do their stuff: Frostee the sackman.....

They need a better pass-rushing DE. They have just been getting by with a "solid playmaker" like Schobel. They need somebody that demands attention. Most of the better than average OTs neutralize Schobel.

Why do people keep saying this?? Remember they took Mike Williams with the 4th pick 4 years ago!! He may have turned out to be a bust so far but he was rated that high by all the mock drafts back then!!! The O-lin e was addressed but the p[latyer didn't pan out. How longhas it been since Jonas Jennings and Marcus Sullivan were taken. Jennings was good and they let him get away. He was injured again for SF this past year so maybe that was a good move?? I can keep going with more times "the offensive line was addressed" in the past 15 years. Remember the 1st round selection of John Fina??