Two Bills Drive

The Bills today announced that the team has agreed to terms with free agent linebacker Eddie Robinson. Robinson started 15 of 16 games at right outside linebacker for the Titans last year. He was second on the team with 101 tackles and added two interceptions, a sack, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.

The veteran LB postponed a decision last week because of the birth of his child. The Titans released Robinson March 1 because he wanted to seek a situation with more playing time. The Titans wanted Robinson back but as a situational and special teams player.

@ Jay Foreman doesn’t have to worry about Eddie Robinson wanting his number – it is no longer his – he has been traded to the expansion Houston Texans for former Seahawk kick-return specialist Charlie Rogers.

The funny part of the story is that a year ago, Williams wanted to move Sam Cowart to the weakside OLB job. It was Robinson who convinced Cowart that he may not like playing that position because it did not offer as many tackles and big plays as the ILB job.

‘He brings both field leadership and an intimate knowledge of Bills coach Gregg Williams’ defensive system.’

‘Smith is caught in the middle of a controversy that forced him to end a charity golf tournament that bore his name for more than a decade.’

‘For a decade, the Bruce Smith Charity Golf Classic raised money on behalf of some 20 big-name worthy causes, like the Children’s Hospital of The Kings Daughters, Operation Smile and the Multiple Sclerosis Society. It claims to have raised $150,000 for those charities, but its own records put the figure at $50,000. And the charities show $65,000. So, where did the rest of the money go?’

‘Agent Kennard McGuire said Robinson chose Buffalo because of his close ties with coach Gregg Williams and defensive coordinator Jerry Gray, his former coaches in Tennessee. Also, the Titans could not guarantee the playing time on third down that Buffalo could.’

‘"To be honest, when you get involved in a draft, it’s never been a question here with Mr. Wilson of ‘Hey, we can’t afford this player,’ " general manager Tom Donahoe said Tuesday. "Mr. Wilson wants to win as much any of us and he knows that in order to win, you need good players and good players are going to be paid. So that’s not an issue."’

‘Robinson, 32, was the Titans’ second-leading tackler with 101 stops last season, giving him more than 100 tackles in a season for the fifth time in his career. He also had two interceptions, one sack, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.’

‘My story, and I’m sticking with it, is the Bills take one of four outstanding defensive tackles, depending on which one they liked most from their personal interviews in Orchard Park, along with what they’ve seen on film and from other sources on the players. Without knowing those intimate details, the front runner would appear to be Ryan Sims of North Carolina.’

‘"Obviously, we have to go to camp with more than two quarterbacks," Donahoe said. "Will that be another veteran? Will it be a draft pick? I don’t know the answer to that at this point."’

Miami’s OL was banged up last year but that’s just an excuse for a line that needs to get better, especially blocking for Ricky Williams now. The Jets need at least one more solid tackle to put in front of a great group of linebackers but the top four tackles won’t be around when they pick.

30. Buffalo Bills.

Exhausted and emotionally spent from trading down so many times, the Bills miss their 15 minutes on the clock as all personnel are out at Starbucks ordering double Rapazapafrapachinos. On the plus side, Buffalo has cornered the market on future sixth-round picks.

‘So the Bills need Bledsoe, and New England needs to get rid of him. Donahoe is considered conservative in his personnel decisions, but given the uncertainty of any rookie’s eventual success in the NFL, is there a safer pick than a proven quarterback who, at 30, should spend at least five more years in his prime?’

‘Over the years, though, he developed into an unquestioned leader among the Bills and something of a media spokesman for the players. By the time he signed a one-day contract so that he could retire in the city where he spent most of his career, Thomas had become one of football’s elder statesmen.’