Inside The Bills

Report: 3 teams talk to Eagles

According to the Philadelphia Daily News and multiple ESPN reports, there have been three NFL teams that have already made it known to the Philadelphia Eagles that if they’re looking to move a QB, they would be interested.

According to ESPN’s Sal Palaontonio is reporting that the Browns, Broncos and Bills have all had multiple conversations with the Eagles about Donovan McNabb.

The point the Philadelphia Daily News makes very clear is that nothing is close to happening. All of these discussions are preliminary in nature, with the NFL teams reportedly in contact with the Eagles simply informing Philadelphia that if they’re going to in fact move a QB off their roster via trade, to make sure and call them (Buf, Clev, Den).

The Bills and Browns have ties to the Eagles organization. Cleveland obviously has Mike Holmgren, who had Andy Reid as an assistant on his Green Bay staff, and Tom Heckert, now GM of the Browns, just left the Eagles where he was VP of Personnel.

Buffalo’s tie to the Eagles is VP of College Scouting Tom Modrak. Modrak was the team’s Director of Football Operations and was the person who drafted McNabb in 1999 when the entire city of Philadelphia wanted Ricky Williams.

More mocks have QB to Bills

I’m very quickly detecting a theme here with the mock drafts. The majority of them are picking a signal caller for Buffalo with the ninth pick.

More often than not it’s Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen as most think Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford will be taken earlier either to Washington at #4 or Cleveland at #7.

CBSSports.com’s two resident college football analysts submitted their most recent mock drafts and both have Clausen to the Bills at 9.

It’s hard to argue that Buffalo needs to shuffle the deck at QB. I’m just not convinced that QB will be the pick at 9. With a new regime in place the Bills can’t afford to miss there, and may elect to go with a more secure pick be it an OT or a DT.

Tennessee DT Dan Williams could be a worthy pick that high and would be a good fit as a 3-4 NT in Buffalo’s new defensive scheme.

Watch all the Super Bowl ads again

CBS Sports, which broadcast Super Bowl XLIV is giving fans the opportunity to watch all of their favorite Super Bowl ads again online.

With the CBS broadcast of Super Bowl XLIV complete, all of the advertisements from the game are available to be viewed on demand on CBSSports.com.

At the site you’re also able to easily share your favorite ads with friends and family by email, instant message, Facebook and twitter. Enjoy!

Rams sound interested in Vick

Though the Rams can’t come out and say they’d like to trade for Vick or acquire him because he’s still under contract to the Eagles, it’s clear that Vick is in their thinking after head coach Steve Spagnuolo and GM Billy Devaney spoke to select St. Louis media this weekend.

With the Rams’ QB situation about as undetermined as that of the Bills, and with Spagnuolo’s prior coaching ties to Philadelphia, it’s been widely speculated that St. Louis would be prime players for Vick’s services via trade. Spagnuolo however, would only address Vick in generalities, but did make it clear he thinks a lot of him as a player.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Michael as a player,” Spagnuolo told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “Everything I’ve heard out of Philadelphia is kind of good. We haven’t gone down that road in our process yet. I think he’s a terrific player.”

Spagnuolo told the Post-Dispatch that he really didn’t have a timetable for addressing the quarterback situation, but added, “That may direct itself depending on things that happen. And we know what we’re all talking about.”

He’s talking about trades or the draft, which apparently the Rams haven’t ruled out either when it comes to addressing their QB position even though they have the first pick in the draft. But GM Billy Devaney told the Post-Dispatch he believes there are a pair of first-round worthy QBs.

“Oh yeah, absolutely there are first-round guys,” Devaney said. “I think there’s a couple of them.”

Presumably those are Sam Bradford and Jimmy Clausen, but most would be shocked if one of them were taken first overall.

Encouraging sign for Reed

Even though Andre Reed did not make the final cut for enshrinement as a member of the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, there is some encouraging news regarding the outcome of the voting.

In the previous three years in which Reed was a finalist he was eliminated in the first round of cuts from 15 to 10. This year however, Reed cleared the first cut making it the second round or the final 10 candidates. For Reed to do that with Cris Carter and Tim Brown also in the field of finalists is a very promising sign that Reed’s enshrinement is likely to happen sooner rather than later.

Carter and Brown were both eliminated in the first round of cuts (15 to 10). So it appears that the Hall of Fame voting committee sees Reed as more worthy of induction than Carter or Brown. And I believe it’s because there’s one key area where Reed is superior to Carter and Brown with respect to his career and that’s winning and performing in the playoffs.

Reed has an edge over Carter and Brown in one key area. The postseason.

Some might see this as a slanted playing field, knowing Reed played in 21 career playoff games as he was part of a Bills team that won four straight AFC Championships. But Carter played in a respectable 14 playoff games himself and Brown played in a dozen. Both of them reached a conference championship game and Brown played in a Super Bowl.

Even though Reed expectedly has superior numbers in terms of receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns in the postseason, he also bests Carter in average yards per reception, speaking to Reed’s yards after the catch prowess.

Reed stands third all-time in playoff receptions (though that could change today with a big day from Reggie Wayne), fourth in receiving yards and is tied for sixth in postseason touchdowns. Carter is behind him in all of those categories, ranked 11th, 14th and 10th respectively. Tim Brown meanwhile, who played in 12 playoff games isn’t even in the top 25 all-time in any of those categories. One other stat to add, Carter had two 100-yard receiving games in his playoff career. Reed had five.

It seems as though the Hall of Fame voting committee recognizes that Reed was productive even though there were other offensive weapons on his team and the best case in point would be his performance when the other offensive stars were not available, namely the Comeback Game. With no Jim Kelly, and an injured Thurman Thomas, Reed and Frank Reich hooked up for three second-half touchdowns to help propel Buffalo to a third straight Super Bowl.

Finally the voting committee looks as though they’re coming around to seeing that Reed is deserving and based on this year’s voting you could make the argument that he’ll be the next receiver to gain enshrinement.

Reed caught in numbers game

Once again Andre Reed was considered worthy as he was a HOF finalist, but 2010 is not going to be his year.

When the owner of just about every receiving record out there is also a finalist (Jerry Rice) its an uphill battle to gain enshrinement in the same year aT the same position.

Reed and fellow finalist receivers Cris Carter and Tim Brown were clearly overshadowed by Rice.

Two receivers haven’t been part of one enshrinement class since 1983. With the league’s all-time leading receiver a finalist it was almost impossible for the other receiver finalist, including Reed, to gain entry this year.

Pulling for Andre

Andre Reed’s former Bills teammates aren’t being shy about pulling for the Hall of Fame finalist.

Here was HOF RB Thurman Thomas’ show of support on his twitter account.

thurmanthomas RT @pthomas3434: Let’s go Andre, let’s go, CLAP CLAP, Let’s go Andre, let’s go, CLAP CLAP

The 2010 HOF induction class will be announced at 5:30 pm on NFL Network this afternoon. Reed has an uphill battle with Jerry Rice and Cris Carter also among the finalists.

OT format unlikely to change

With all the brouhaha raised following the outcome of the overtime playoff clashes between the Packers and Cardinals and the Vikings and Saints, don’t look for the league to be changing the sudden death overtime format.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was asked about the possibility of the rules being changed in any way, which currently is first team that scores wins, and in the minds of some favors the team that wins the coin toss.

“I wouldn’t hold your breath,” said Goodell, who also stated that to this point the league has not found a better solution or format for overtime.

That obviously means that the college format where each team gets possession is not being considered.

Fan Friday 2-5

Plenty of speculation out there about how the roster will be re-shaped this offseason at some key positions like QB and OT. Remember you can email me at AskChris@bills.nfl.net. Let’s get to this week’s edition.

1. Hey Chris,
 
Who are some players you think the bills should look at in free agency and the draft that you yourself are pretty high on?  Also are there any trade possibilites you can think of ?  And any chance some of the current bills players under contract get traded this offseason?  I think we need more picks in the draft do you?
 
Thank you.
Showtime 1239

CB: First, I don’t think the Bills are hurting for draft picks. They have nine total with an extra six and seven. I would not be surprised however, if they trade out of the ninth pick to move down in round one and scoop up an extra three.

I do think free agency in this uncapped year is going to restrict player movement to a certain degree, but there are still some big names out there like Karlos Dansby, Julius Peppers and Vince Wilfork, though I do see Wilfork getting franchised. Players I wouldn’t mind the Bills targeting would be New England DE Jarvis Green, San Fran NT Aubrayo Franklin or Baltimore DE Dwan Edwards.

Signing restricted free agents away from other teams will prove difficult. Poison pill offer sheets really won’t exist anymore for restricted free agents because there’s no cap.

I think trading for a QB might prove to be the best means of getting someone in here to either take hold of the starting job or compete for it. It’s going to depend a lot on who is made available by what teams and what they’re looking for in return.

As for players on this roster that could be traded, I believe with a new defensive system and a new coaching staff that almost any player is fair game.

2. Hi Chris,
 
Can you please give us an update on Keith Ellison’s recovery?  Do you think he will be back with the team next year?  Even with missing 1/2 the season he is 8th in tackles on the team? 
 
Thanks,
Scott

CB: To my knowledge Keith’s injury wasn’t one that was going to require a major offseason of rehabilitation. As to whether he’ll be back with the team next season, I believe it’s more in doubt now with the 3-4 defensive scheme being implemented by defensive coordinator George Edwards. I don’t see him as a fit in that scheme.
3. Hey Chris, 

Do you actually think that the Bills will take McClain at 9? I think it would be the best option for them, but as of right now they are projected to be taking a tackle in that spot.

I know we are in desperate need of a tackle, but is it worth taking the 4th best tackle at 9, when you can get the top LB, or one of them at that spot to help improve our run defense.
Tim

CB: I think a lot of fans believe it makes more sense now that the Bills are moving to a 3-4 defensive scheme. There’s no question that certain positions like RB or LB are spots where talented college prospects can make an instant impact for an NFL team as a rookie.

But I still stick to the philosophy of getting your big people early in the draft. The left tackle spot needs to be addressed with a player that is NFL ready. The players at the top of the draft have the best skill set and in many cases the greatest chance to succeed sooner rather than later (see: Michael Oher).

With the 3-4 being implemented NT is a bigger need now as well. I do like McClain, but I’m having a hard time overlooking the OT need of the Bills after last season’s struggles up front for Buffalo’s offense.

4. Hey Chris
 
 Who do you think the bills would draft if they moved up 1 or 2 or more picks in the draft?  Also do you think that they could trade aaron schobel to another team for maybe another draft pick and have two 1st round picks or two 2nd round picks?
Rollerbladz2009

CB: I don’t see the Bills moving up in round one. If anything I see them moving back a bit into the mid-teens. If they could find a willing trade partner close to Schobel’s Texas home like New Orleans or Houston I don’t see a 32-year old defensive end fetching a 1st or 2nd round pick. Believe a 3rd is more like it.
5. Hi Chris,

George Edwards seems like a good hire, but I’m curious about the 3-4 scheme. By my count, we don’t have a true nose tackle for a 3-4 defence and we’re already short on linebackers before adding another to the field.

Moving Maybin to LB means we have to get two new DEs to replace Schobel and Kelsay in a year or two, plus a true nose tackle, plus we still need another linebacker like we would have in a 4-3 — meanwhile it turns Stroud and Williams from playmakers into role players since neither of them really fits the nose tackle position.

That means instead of needing one DE and one LB to shore up the front seven in a 4-3 scheme, now we need two DEs, a NT and a LB for a 3-4 scheme.

Seems like we’re making life tough on ourselves from a personnel standpoint in the rebuilding process (I’m scared to think how we can rebuild the offence with all this to focus on already). Am I off base?
Thanks a lot,
Malcolm

CB: I’d agree that there will be more of a personnel focus on defense now with the new 3-4 alignment as I had suspected. I agree that Stroud is not a true nose, but could play it in a pinch. He’s better suited as a five-technique DE like a Richard Seymour.

I believe Chris Kelsay could bulk up to play end and I think Spencer Johnson is a perfect end in a 3-4 as well. Kyle Williams is athletic enough to play end in a 3-4 and on passing downs he can kick inside to the nose.

At LB I’d see Mitchell going inside alongside Poz, with Maybin at one OLB and depending on what they think of Nic Harris, maybe draft a 3-4 LB.

The biggest need though as you point out is a true NT, and they’re not easy to find. Fortunately it is a deep class of DTs this year. How many are capable of playing two gap in the NFL remains to be seen. OT and NT are the two biggest positional needs right now. Without an elite QB prospect I think OT and NT must be addressed early in the draft.

Crowder says Bills ‘D’ will be better

A Miami Dolphin promising good things for Buffalo’s defense?!! Unheard of! But in an interview with ESPN blogger Tim Graham, Channing Crowder, who was coached by Bills defensive coordinator George Edwards, says Buffalo’s defense will be better in 2010.

Crowder heaped praise on Edwards for transforming him from a lifelong 4-3 LB into a more than capable 3-4 ILB.

“I didn’t know anything about a 3-4,” Crowder told ESPN. “He taught me everything. I didn’t know about taking on linemen. For me, it was always ‘See ball, get ball’ my whole career. That’s basically what a 4-3 is. He got me to the level where I can be a starting 3-4 inside linebacker in the NFL.”

Crowder also says he sees Marcus Stroud as a five-technique DE in Buffalo’s 3-4, which leaves a gaping hole at nose tackle. Addressing that position is far from easy. But Crowder’s faith in Edwards is clear.

“It’s a learning curve,” Crowder told ESPN. ”But I believe with the talent they have at linebacker, they’ll be OK. I can guarantee their defense will be better.”

OchoCinco still lobbying T.O.

Earlier this week Bengals WR Chad OchoCinco stated that he was sure that free agent to be Terrell Owens would be playing for Cincinnati next season. Now he’s taken to lobbying his good friend publicly.

In one of his recent twitter posts OchoCinco tells Owens he might as well move to the other Queen City right now.

OGOchoCinco    @terrellowens bruh pack yo bags and head to Cincy damit, see you in training camp, one goal in mind #superbowl.

To this point there has not been a tweet response from Owens. Free agency is still a month away, but the Bengals will be looking to fill the void left by the late Chris Henry.

Thigpen rumors underway

Various online sites are simply speculating, but ESPN’s Rumor site among others are already guessing that Dolphins 3rd QB Tyler Thigpen could be a fit for the Bills.

They’re going on background information primarily. First, Thigpen played under Gailey in Kansas City in 2008, employing a spread attack with five-wide, an empty backfield and Thigpen in the shotgun.

The rumor reports are also saying that with Chad Pennington expressing a desire to return to the Dolphins in 2010 that Miami may be more ready to move Thigpen. The Dolphins, however, would have to re-sign Pennington, who is an unrestricted free agent.

Personally I think that’s a big ‘if,’ but I will say this, Thigpen is a quarterback that plays well on the move and can improvise when things break down. And we saw that happen a lot with Buffalo’s offense in 2009.

Gailey is very familiar with Thigpen’s skill set having coached him and called plays for him two years ago. So there are some dots that can be connected with respect to the speculation.

At this point I think all options are still being considered.

Maybin ready to roll

Sounds like Aaron Maybin is ready to get started in Buffalo’s 3-4 defensive front.

After hearing the news that George Edwards was hired as Buffalo’s new defensive coordinator with intentions to initially implement a 3-4 scheme, Maybin tweeted the following.

AaronMaybin58    Congrats to My New DC Coach George Edwards. Time to Get This 3-4 Poppin! LETS GO!!!

Maybin clearly realizes he’s likely to line up as an OLB, and said at the close of last season that he’d be willing to do whatever is asked of him by the coaches. He has since followed up with the following.

 
AaronMaybin58    If U look at the most Dynamic playmaking defenses in the NFL today, Most of them are 3-4 schemes (Ravens, Steelers, Cowboys,etc) with Coach Edwards Building ours into the Same mold the Bills Defense has the potential to be Just as Imposing. Im FIRED UP! LETS GO!

Kawika thumbs up for Edwards

Bills LB Kawika Mitchell is pleased with the team’s hire of George Edwards as defensive coordinator.

Mitchell responded to the news on his twitter account where he commented on the intent to install the 3-4 and on Edwards himself.

@Ka_Mitchell55: 3-4 it is then. Lets ride out. I know Coach Edwards from my time at UGA. Quality guy and coach.

Mitchell began his college career at Georgia before transferring to South Florida after his redshirt freshman season in 1999.

Harvin is Pepsi Rookie of Yr

Bills safety Jairus Byrd was one of five finalists for the Pepsi Rookie of the Year award, but Minnesota WR Percy Harvin was announced as the winner of the award in Miami at the site of the Super Bowl Thursday.

The NFL does not publicize the voting results, though they did report that over 1.5 million votes were cast by fans on NFL.com.

Harvin did have a heck of a season with 2,081 all-purpose yards for the Vikings, which was good for 2nd best in the NFC.

Byrd finished second in the AP NFL Defensive rookie of the year voting last month.

What defensive change means

With Bills defensive coordinator George Edwards initially planning to change Buffalo’s defensive scheme to more of a 3-4 front, it means some roles on Buffalo’s defense will be changing also.

First and foremost it likely turns Aaron Maybin from a pass rushing defensive end to a pass rushing linebacker. Aaron Schobel, who is still contemplating retirement may also be a linebacker. Schobel went on record last month saying he might be a better fit for a 3-4 than a 4-3.

It also means Buffalo now has a greater need for a two-gap nose tackle. Marcus Stroud, who was coached as a freshman at Georgia by Edwards, believes he’d be able to handle the nose if called upon.

“I feel like as long as I can be healthy, I feel like I can do well in either system,” said Stroud. “If that’s the case and I have to move to nosetackle, then I’ll do it.”

But set to turn 32 in June, Stroud is going to need some reinforcements behind him. Right now there are no other capable two-gap nose tackles players on the roster. Kyle Williams and Spencer Johnson appear to be better fits as five-technique defensive ends in a 3-4.

Fortunately for the Bills the 2010 draft class is extremely deep at DT, so Buffalo should have an opportunity in round one or two to get a quality prospect that could help right away.

Another likely move is Kawika Mitchell moving inside to line up alongside Paul Posluszny as ILBs.

Hybrid defense possible

Bills new defensive coordinator George Edwards is changing Buffalo’s defensive look, but it’s not necessarily a wholesale or permanent shift.

Upon being named defensive coordinator Thursday, Edwards said in a statement that “initially” their alignment will be a 3-4 front and they “will adjust from there.”

Changing over from a 4-3, which the Bills have played and drafted players for over the last nine years, to a 3-4 won’t happen overnight. The two schemes require different personnel.

I believe Edwards recognizes this, which is why he’s left the door open to what I believe could ultimately be a hybrid 3-4 defense that has the ability to flex to a 4-3 at times.

“We will do what we feel is best for our players to do,” said Edwards. “Personnel will dictate what you can and what you can’t do.”

Coach Gailey in our one-on-one interview with him on Buffalbills.com referenced the possibility of a hybrid 3-4 as well when I asked him if the defensive scheme will be up for discussion.

“There are some 4-3 coordinators that can adjust it to where it looks like a 3-4 at times and is more of a hybrid type deal that you can use,” Gailey told Buffalobills.com. ”I feel like there is some discussion out there where we’d like to explore all avenues.”

That’s probably why Gailey hired Edwards. He has experience in both defensive schemes so morphing the two should not present a great challenge to Buffalo’s defensive play caller.

It’s clear this staff knows they can’t build Rome in a day. You can only turn a roster over so much to fit your scheme. They likely realize that while they may have some players under contract that aren’t ideal fits for the 3-4 scheme, they still have to find ways to maximize their strengths and if that means developing a system that employs both 3-4 and 4-3 principles they’re going to do it.

As the years go by and they can shape their roster to fit their scheme more, it’s likely that they move to a more stringent 3-4 defensive system.

T.O. to be a Bengal?

FoxSports.com’s Jay Glazer was hosting Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco on his pre-party show and the Pro Bowl receiver believes he knows where Terrell Owens will wind up playing football in 2010.

Ochocinco told Glazer that Owens will be a Cincinnati Bengal next season and stated that he’s “sure of it.”

How he’s so sure is anyone’s guess. But Ochocinco and Owens have been pal-ing around together at Super Bowl festivities the past few days. At this point I’d call it lobbying more than anything else.

Rams frontrunner for Vick?

According to NFL Network analyst Jason LaCanfora, the St. Louis Rams are the frontrunners to acquire Michael Vick via trade this offseason.

LaCanfora cites the many connections between Vick, the Eagles and the Rams organization.

Rams GM Billy DeVaney was with the Falcons organization when Vick was playing in Atlanta. So there’s a familiarity there. Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo is a former Eagles assistant and knows Andy Reid.

So based on connections it would appear that St. Louis would have the inside track, but somehow I think the best trade offer is what gets the deal done.

Report: Bills offer asst. GM job to Whaley

According to NFL.com’s Jason LaCanfora, the Buffalo Bills have offered their Assistant GM position to Doug Whaley.

Whaley has spent the last 10 seasons as Pittsburgh’s pro personnel coordinator. Though he would be assistant GM of the Bills if he takes the position it’s believed he would fill the role left vacant after the release of former VP of Pro Personnel John Guy.

Per LaCanfora, Pittsburgh officials would not be surprised if Whaley took the job.