Inside The Bills

Denver signs Leonhard

After paying the Bills a free agent visit Thursday into Friday, free agent safety Jim Leonhard traveled to Denver for another free agent visit and was signed Saturday.

It’s reportedly a one-year deal for the veteran safety.

Leonhard tweeted the news saying, ‘It’s never a bad day to sign an NFL contract. I’m proud to be a Denver Bronco. Time for work.”

Leonhard is coming off a torn patellar tendon that required surgery last December. The Bills worked him out Friday and seemed to be of the opinion that he was not ready to be on the practice field.

Leonhard update

The Jim Leonhard free agent visit ended Friday without any movement by way of a contract. Here are some other details.

He worked out for the Bills this morning and indications are Leonhard’s surgically repaired knee is not yet ready for a return to the field in a training camp practice setting. As mentioned in our report on Leonhard’s visit Thursday, he had the same knee surgery as Terrence McGee with McGee’s procedure a month earlier than Leonhard’s.

McGee has labored through practices and has been limited throughout camp.

Bills GM Buddy Nix also told Buffalobills.com that Leonhard wants to explore all his options and has another visit scheduled with another NFL club. 

In all likelihood this was an exploratory venture by both the Bills and Leonhard with the Bills now fully aware of his physical status and rehab progress.

Fan Friday 8-3

One week in the books for training camp. Two weeks to go, but first preseason game is six days away! We’re almost there Bills fans! Keep sending your questions in to AskChris@bills.nfl.net or on twitter @ChrisBrownBills. Today we’ve got an update on Jim Leonhard in here along with how things might shake out at receiver in terms of alignment and formation assignments.

1 - Chris,
I was wondering if you could help me with a question I’ve had regarding the 3 or 4 WR sets that Bills have run a lot in the past.  Previously, we’ve had a lot of guys that worked primarily out of the slot, with Stevie and Donald Jones as the outside receivers.  However, this year it appears that Donald Jones has started to win the 2nd receiver spot, but also works out of the slot a lot.  I’ve assumed that David Nelson would be the 3rd receiver.  However, if Donald Jones moves into the slot, the 3rd receiver would then be an outside WR, instead of the primary slot receiver you normally see on other teams.  David Nelson has done a great job out of the slot, but he and Donald can’t both work out of the slot.  Do one of those two get pushed to the outside spot?  Do you see someone else winning that outside spot and relegating David to the 4th WR or lower, and only comes on for 4 and 5 WR formations?
-Chris, Penn State

CB: This is what I envision happening. I believe if Donald Jones wins the #2 WR job he will line up outside and David Nelson will fill the primary slot role in 3-wide sets. When the team goes 4-wide however, I believe Nelson and Jones will both line up inside with a fourth receiver coming on in the form of Derek Hagan, Marcus Easley, T.J. Graham or someone else to line up outside opposite Stevie.

If Donald Jones doesn’t win the #2 WR job then he’ll in essence be the team’s 4th wideout. So when the team again goes to 4-wide, he’ll come on the field and work out of the slot as well.

2 - If Stephon Gilmore locks in a one the two spots at corner is it safe to believe that either McGee or McKelvin are going to be released. I would say with the drafting of Brooks and the improvement of 2nd year player Rogers that it is kind of pointless wasting another year on either one. This could be a roster spot used on another MLB or one of the developmental TE’s we have. Thanks for all your great reporting on BuffaloBills.com!

PS. Have Buddy thought of adding another Pass rushing DT if Troup can’t get healthy?
CB: With respect to the secondary I think with the proliferation of spread formations across the league you need at least five corners on your active roster and one or two on your practice squad or six on the roster and one on the practice squad.

You may as well mark Gilmore down in pen at the right cornerback spot unless he struggles in the preseason games, but I don’t see it happening. Terrence McGee is a player that is not 100 percent back yet. It’s going to take some time, but barring a major setback I think he’ll remain on the roster. McKelvin has been worked as the primary slot corner so he’ll be on board.

The truth is you only have Gilmore, A. Williams, McGee, McKelvin, Rogers and Brooks and that’s six right there. Prince Miller, who was on the practice squad last year and still has eligibility, has had a nice camp too.

I don’t see McGee or McKelvin getting clipped unless McGee can’t recover from patellar tendon surgery.

Concerning the DT position, the Bills have plenty of depth there with the depth chart shaking out like this right now – Dareus, Williams – Sp. Johnson, Edwards – Carrington, Heard (recovering from injuries) – Gilbert, Ross. There already is respectable depth there so even if Troup can’t recover they have enough capable players.

3 - SutterDrew Aug 2,  via Twitter

@ChrisBrownBills hey Chris how long before Leonhard can go full out if he was to sign.

CB: The feedback I was able to get concerning his workout with the Bills Friday morning is that he’s not all the way back yet from his surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon. The situation is much the same with Terrence McGee, who if you’ve been out to practice have seen him laboring through drills at times.

Leonhard is about three to four weeks behind McGee in recovery. So signing him really isn’t an option right now.

I myself was wondering if the Bills doctors felt his knee would be ready in a month, could the Bills sign him now and place him on Active/PUP. That unfortunately is not allowed under league rules. Only a player that was already on the roster, but did not report to camp on time could be placed on Active/PUP once training camp has already begun.

4 – DennisBoyev Aug 2, via Twitter

@ChrisBrownBills – How is Kevin Brock doing so far?

CB: Unfortunately the young tight end is not getting many reps in the team portions of the practice setting. There’s no debating he’s athletic, but there’s another prospect that the coaching staff might be more interested in. Fendi Onobun, who much like Brock came in late last season, is every bit as athletic. He has seen more reps than Brock thus far and has made some plays.

It’s early and they haven’t played a preseason game, so I believe there are still many turns in the road at that position behind the top two TEs on the roster in Scott Chandler and Lee Smith.

5 - Chris,

We don’t hear much about him in the cornerback role? Has he slipped that far down the depth chart?

CB: Leodis has been the primary slot cornerback in camp. They’ve put him there in part because it reduces the risk of him getting beat deep, which was a problem in his game last season. He had a decent day Thursday registering a couple of pass breakups. He’s a fantastic athlete, but there are more things one has to be ready for covering the slot where receivers have two-ways gos, so it’ll bear watching in the preseason to see how he fares.

George spoke with Leonhard

Bills safety George Wilson took the time to speak with free agent visitor Jim Leonhard at Bills camp. Wilson and Leonhard are old friends as Wilson and Leonhard played three years together in Buffalo. Wilson also might not be a safety today had it not been for Leonhard’s tutelage.

“I spoke with Jimmy,” Wilson told Buffalobills.com. ”He mentioned to me that they’d be working him out this morning. I have a deep debt to Jimmy. When I first made the transition to safety Jimmy was that one guy who took time out of his own schedule to help me grasp the defense, to learn the playbook from a defensive standpoint. He helped to smooth that transition out for me. It’s always good to run into Jimmy. I’m not sure how the workout went this morning, but I hope he’s doing better recovering from the knee injury.”

Leonhard is coming off surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon last December, the same injury from which Terrence McGee is trying to recover. Leonhard is about three to four weeks behind McGee in his recovery and might not be ready to get out on the field and compete just yet.

Wilson and Leonhard kept in touch as both were player union reps for their respective teams in Buffalo and New York the past few years.

“We had that special time together during those rep meetings and we would always talk about the old times when we played together and I would always express the gratitude that I have for him for what he did for me,” said Wilson. ”At the end of the day I just try to go out there and make my coaches proud and make my teammates proud and show Jimmy that I’m doing the best that I can to apply the lessons and the knowledge that he helped me to acquire back in 2007.”

In his conversation with Leonhard, Wilson asked him if he ever thought he’d be back in Buffalo.

“Jimmy said, ‘Not until last week,’” said Wilson. ”But Jimmy is a great guy off the field and a ball hawk on the field and over his career he’s proven that he’s a playmaker.”

Leonhard visit to stretch to Friday

Free agent safety Jim Leonhard began a free agent visit with the Bills on Thursday. That visit won’t be an in and out stop.

Buffalobills.com has learned that Leonhard’s free agent visit will stretch into Friday. It’s hard to know just what the Bills plans are at this point, knowing Buddy Nix made specific mention of the waiver wire as well with regard to other possible safety talent that could be out there.

Whether this is exploratory to see just how far along Leonhard is in his rehabilitation or something more remains to be seen.

S Leonhard looking for work

Bills GM Buddy Nix indicated Tuesday that the team is in the market for an experienced fourth safety for their roster, with just rookies and first-year players behind George Wilson, Jairus Byrd and Da’Norris Searcy. A former Bills safety could be an option if healthy.

Jim Leonhard, a former undrafted rookie signee of the Bills, was not re-signed by the Jets, due mainly to a torn patellar tendon suffered last Dec. 11. While the injury is serious, the rehab is supposed to be 4-6 months. Obviously if Leonhard were the picture of health or moving as effectively as he did when he played for the Jets the past few seasons, he’d be in demand, so you wonder just where he’s at physically.

But here’s what he told a Wisconsin TV station a couple of weeks ago.

“Hopefully, in the next few weeks, I get some workouts and get a contract,” Leonhard told WEAU-TV. “The knee is feeling great and I’m ready to go. I’m getting antsy. Football is around the corner and I don’t have a team … I know I’m going to be playing football somewhere this season. I just have to figure out where.”

Fan Friday 9-9

Hey Bills fans, we’re finally here! The 2011 opener. Hard to believe after the wacky offseason we had. Let’s get to your questions from AskChris@bills.nfl.net.

1 – Chris, Coach Gailey admitted the Bills lack of depth on the offensive line. Bell isn’t even a top half of the league LT and if he gets injured, we are really sunk. Is there any chance Buddy picks up a veteran tackle like a Flozell Adams or Max Starks as insurance? I just don’t see us being very successful right now due to lack of experience on the depth chart.

Bryan Grosse Ile, MI

CB: Adding a veteran tackle does not appear to be in the cards. Max Starks is coming off neck surgery and is not on any roster. Adams is still out there, but on his last legs. Buffalo added Sam Young off waivers to back up right tackle with Hairston on the left. Not experienced depth mind you, but depth with potential for sure. I understand your concern because even coach Gailey said they don’t have any experienced depth and that it must be developed. Let’s just hope injury doesn’t require the Bills to call on that green depth any time soon.

2 - Hi Chris,
My question is about the Bills quarterbacks. I think that the Bills are in a great situation. I really like Fitz for now because we know he can play but also because he can be a mentor to the younger guys. I think Thigpen and become good, but I am really interested in Levi Brown. I think he has the skills and just needs more reps. Do you think the Bills see him as the potential quarterback of the future? Go bills!! Michael

CB: I think it’s hard to say that they see him as the Bills quarterback of the future. He’s on the practice squad here for 2011 and the Bills made long term investments in both Tyler Thigpen and Brad Smith. Now Brad Smith is not a full-time quarterback, but he and Thigpen are ahead of him in the pecking order. That makes it difficult to see Brown suddenly ascending and surpassing both of them come next season.

3 - Jim Leonhard has been a starter ever since he left the Bills. Could you please explain to me why he was ever released by the Bills. The decision to let him go made no sense. Please advise.
Go Bills
Richard

CB: Jim Leonhard was unfortunately in a bad spot when he was released by the Bills in 2008. He had been a contributor at free safety appearing in 38 games and making 7 starts at free safety in 2006 and 2007. He split time as the starter at free safety with George Wilson in 2007, a player he largely taught how to play the position after George flipped over from receiver.

Come 2008 however, the Bills had added Bryan Scott in free agency, still had Whitner and wanted to give Ko Simpson a chance to develop at free safety after he missed almost the entire 2007 season with a leg injury. Dick Jauron believed in Simpson’s abilities and chose to make him the starter in 2008. Wilson was his backup and Scott and Whitner were the strong safeties. It left Leonhard as the odd man out.

Of all the safeties Leonhard was the best return man with respect to special teams, but the team already had Roscoe Parrish for punt return duties and the other safeties could help more on coverage teams, so he became expendable in Jauron’s eyes.

4 - Hi Chris,
Now that Lee Evans is a Baltimore Raven, who will be the Buffalo Bills deep threat? Roscoe Parrish is a slot receiver, who has very good speed, but beyond him, who else is there? Stevie Johnson had a great year last year, but he is not a burner. What is your take on this?

Tony,
Daytona Beach, FL

CB: I think for this season Stevie Johnson will be making the highest number of plays down the field. The offensive staff is hoping Jones develops into more of a downfield threat. Come 2012 I think Easley will emerge into more of the team’s downfield threat. It’s possible if he comes on strong that Easley could provide that for the offense as early as the second half of the season. But being that this is essentially his rookie year I’m not sure the staff or fans can count on that taking place.

5 - Chris thanks again for keeping us so well informed. My question is, could Michael Jasper not make a heck of an offensive tackle, similar to the way Jason Peters was converted after his first year as a tight end/defensive lineman ? Also as I seem to recall Howard Ballard was pretty much a project when he was a rookie. As you’ve reported Jasper has a lot of athletic talent for such a big guy.

Ron from Greensboro,NC

CB: You must’ve read the mind of Buddy Nix and the personnel staff. All along they felt that Jasper was a better offensive line prospect than defensive line prospect. According to Nix, Jasper felt the same way. So the question is why line him up at nose tackle all summer? My feeling is they wanted to develop him on the practice squad this year and groom him without the risk of having him catch the eye of another team. This past week he’s lined up at tackle and guard. He played guard his last two seasons at Bethel.

Ryan raves about Jim Leonhard

Former Bills safety Jim Leonhard was a guy Jets head coach Rex Ryan had his eye on for a long time.

Ryan actually wanted to sign him out of college after he went undrafted, but Buffalo obviously landed him. But when Leonhard was out there and available after Buffalo released him in 2008, Ryan, then Baltimore’s defensive coordinator did a lot to get him on his roster.

“He’s smart, he’s tough, he’s durable and just a heck of a football player,” said Ryan. “When he came to our place in Baltimore it was actually on a two-day tryout. And then when I told Ozzie [Newsome, the Ravens GM] I really liked him and how much we really needed him and I wanted him to go through training camp, we had actually just drafted two safeties.

“Of course, we had Ed Reed and Duwan Landry, so we were set at our starters when we drafted two safeties, yet I still wanted Jim Leonhard because I knew he was a heck of a  football player, a special football player. Ozzie said ‘You can have him, but you’ve got to cut three players (laughing).’ So we cut those three guys and Jim’s now playing with me and the Jets and doing a great job.”

Leonhard to return punts against Bills

Well it will certainly be an interesting special teams reunion when Jim Leonhard is returning punts for the Jets against the Bills this fall. Head coach Rex Ryan said in the press conference to announce the signing of Leonhard that the former Bill will be returning punts for the Jets.

That takes the punt return duties out of the hands of Leon Washington, who also returned kickoffs for New York last season. According to the Newark Star-Ledger, Ryan wants to take some of the return load off Washington next season so he can use him more in the run game.

Leonhard also has a punt return average (11.6) that was double what Washington had last season (5.8).

Leonhard just about a Jet

Looks like the Bills will be seeing their former teammate twice a year for the next little while as safety Jim Leonhard has agreed to terms with the Jets. That according to FOXSports.com.

No word on terms, but the signing is anything but surprising as Jets head coach Rex Ryan loved the play he got out of Leonhard last season and in the playoffs when Dawan Landry was lost for the season due to injury.

It’ll be interesting to see where he fits at safety with Kerry Rhodes the entrenched starter at SS. In all likelihood it’ll be free safety. I also wonder if he’ll takes punt return duties away from Leon Washington, who returned both kicks and punts for the Jets last year.

Royal and Leonhard visiting Jets

Bills cast off Robert Royal is reportedly visiting with the Jets and arriving Saturday night according to the NY Daily News. They need a replacement for Chris Baker, but Baker is a much better blocker than Royal.

Royal is coming off a career best season in terms of receptions and yards, so that could help convince a team he’s worth investing in long term. Jim Leonhard is also visiting with the Jets tonight.

Jets after Ravens FAs Scott and Leonhard

With Rex Ryan hired as head coach last month it’s no surprise to see the former Ravens head coach interested in some of his former players. With a crying need at inside linebacker there is much speculation that the Jets will go after Ravens FA Bart Scott.

The question is can the Jets fit Scott under their cap as they are currently about $10M over. Factoring in a draft class you have to wonder if New York can pull it off.

The Newark Star-Ledger is also reporting that Jim Leonhard is a free agent interest of the Jets too.

Leonhard to follow Ryan to Jets?

Former Bills safety Jim Leonhard made an awful lot of plays in Baltimore’s playoff run. Now that he’s set to become a free agent there’s a chance the Bills will be facing Leonhard twice a year.

Leonhard loves playing for Rex Ryan, now the new head coach of the Jets, and for Ryan the feeling is mutual as he tried to have the Ravens sign Leonhard as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Wisconsin.

With LBs Bart Scott and Ray Lewis as well as top pass rusher Terrell Suggs all free agents as well it’s unlikely the Ravens would have the cap room to re-sign Leonhard.

Ryan would likely want to sign Leonhard pretty quickly if he hit the free agent market, and Leonhard has stated more than once that he loves playing in Ryan’s defensive system.

Hard not to be happy for Bannan and Leonhard

Have to say it was easy to root for former Bills Justin Bannan and Jim Leonhard yesterday in their playoff win over the Dolphins.

Bannan has been starting alongside Haloti Ngata at DT since Kelly Gregg was lost to a season-ending injury, while Leonhard has become a fixture on defense and actually calls plays in the huddle for the Ravens.

Leonhard of course had a big INT in Sunday’s game at Miami along with seven tackles to finish third on the team, a half sack and a quarterback hit from his strong safety position.

Most of you that watched the game probably heard Phil Simms and Jim Nantz mention that Leonhard upon signing with the Ravens, learned Rex Ryan’s defense in one day. Leonhard was always mentally sharp, which is what made him such a good anticipator.

He’s been very productive for Baltimore. Bannan added two tackles, but does a lot of the dirty work up front. Buffalo’s current staff wanted Bannan to re-sign with the Bills as they arrived in 2006, but the Ravens gave him a fat free agent deal which was more than Buffalo wanted to spend.

We’ll see how far the two can go with the Ravens as they have a tough road game at Tennessee this week in the Division round.

Catching up with Jim Leonhard

Every now and then I get an e-mail from a fan wondering how former Bills safety Jim Leonhard is doing. The answer is quite well. He’s currently starting at SS for the Ravens with starter Dawan Landry out.

Here’s a recent Q&A with him that appeared in the Baltimore Sun.