Inside The Bills

No Chandler again

The chances of TE Scott Chandler playing against the team that drafted him this Sunday are getting extremely slim.

Chandler is not practicing for a third straight day and at best would be considered doubtful with his badly sprained ankle.

Aaron Williams is also not practicing and considered a long shot for Sunday.

Chandler unlikely to play

Bills TE Scott Chandler might miss his first game of the season this week.

Chandler did not practice for a second straight day along with CB Aaron Williams.

“Scott didn’t practice,” said head coach Chan Gailey. “Aaron probably has a better chance than Scott right now.”

If Chandler can’t go the offensive staff is expected to make use of both Lee Smith and Mike Caussin to spell Chandler.

“What you would do is you would use Lee (Smith) and Mike Caussin to do some of the things that you would do with Scott,” said Gailey. ”Lee is more of a blocker and Mike is more of a pass catcher so you would try to keep that combination doing what they do best. I know that can’t always take place. Mike has got to block some and Lee has got to go out some we know that, but you try to be smart about how you do that.”

No practice for Chandler

Bills head coach Chan Gailey confirmed that TE Scott Chandler will not practice with the team here today (Wednesday).

“He will not practice today,” said Gailey. ”He’s going to try to continue to get treatment and maybe be on the field for a little bit (Thursday). It was a lot more encouraging than it was two days ago.”

Chandler, who suffered an ankle injury last Sunday, is undoubtedly eager to play this week against the team that drafted him in the Chargers back in 2007. If he can’t go rookies Lee Smith and Mike Caussin would team up to spell Chandler in the lineup.

“What you would do is you would use Lee (Smith) and Mike Caussin to do some of the things that you would do with Scott,” said Gailey. ”Lee is more of a blocker and Mike is more of a pass catcher so you would try to keep that combination doing what they do best. I know that can’t always take place. Mike has got to block some and Lee has got to go out some we know that, but you try to be smart about how you do that.”

Chandler update

Bills TE Scott Chandler was injured on the play when he fumbled early in the third quarter. He limped noticeably off the field with what appeared to be a left ankle injury. Chandler confirmed it in the locker room after the game.

“I did it on the fumble,” he said. ”Just got x-rays, I think it’s probably just sprained, but we’ll see.”

Chandler will be re-evaluated Monday.

Fan Friday 11-4

Big division game this week Bills fans. Got to be loud at the Ralph to make it tough on the Jets. On to your questions, which you can submit to askchris@bills.nfl.net.

1 - Hi Chris,

How is Alex Carrington coming along? I thought he did well at the OLB position in preseason but now with Kelsey and Merriman being out I haven’t heard him mentioned as an option there. I know Kelsey’s almost back, but I thought he would’ve been perfect to fill in on that side, but it seemed like Batten was getting the majority of the reps. Thanks for hard work on the website. 

Dan
Chicopee, MA

CB: Carrington did initially get some work at OLB, but I think they came to the conclusion that he’s better as a defensive end in the 3-4 system. Now with Marcell Dareus manning the nose, Carrington is starting at left end in Dareus’ old position. Spencer Johnson is the defensive line seeing the most time at outside linebacker and has fared well. He’s rarely fooled on plays despite the fact that it’s a new position and requires more reads. Carrington has turned in some solid if not spectacular performances. I think the defensive staff is confident that his play will get more consistent and he’ll turn in more game-changing plays as the second half of the season moves along.

2 - Hi chris

The Bills considered Aaron Maybin a bust after two years, however he has been a productive player for the Jets this season. How and why did the Bills staff so seriously misjudge this player??

Go Bills
Richard, Boca Raton, FL 

CB: I think it’s difficult for you to say the Bills misjudged Maybin. You fault the Bills for cutting him loose after two years, but you’ve decided he’s a playmaker after a few games? What has happened is Maybin is a pass rush specialist. He comes in on passing downs only and usually pursues from the back side. With other more respect pass rushing talent on the field with him (Calvin Pace) along with a strong inside linebacking duo, less attention is paid to Maybin allowing him to run plays down from behind.

Personally I don’t think he’ll ever be more than a specialty player because he lacks football instincts. If he’s asked to read run-pass he struggles. In coverage he’s a liability. He tries hard and he hustles, but I still don’t think he’ll amount to much.

3 - Chris,

I enjoy your videos, blogs, and news items. Please keep up the good work!

Now that Shawne is on I/R I have two questions. I’m sure he has a lot of special wordage in his contract but:

Will the coaching staff require him to be on the sidelines at games to motivate and lead the entire team especially the “D” and the young linebackers and give the youngsters tips during the game or would the coaching consider him a distraction and let him hang out elsewhere?

During the work week will the coaching staff also ask him to be at practice to mentor the young LBs and to sit in the film sessions to again help the LBs or might Shawne say “ Hey, I can’t play so I’m going to the beach “. 

Thanks for your insight.

Bob – 45 years of being a Bills Fan

CB: To my knowledge Merriman has not been at One Bills Drive since he had surgery on his Achilles. From what I have heard he will be on crutches for two weeks and beyond that is anybody’s guess. Typically injured players are nowhere near the sideline during games. Mentoring young players takes place with veterans that are usually playing alongside them. Merriman is out of that mix. Players that are out for the year typically go home and rehab and come back to Buffalo to get checkups from the team physicians so they can accurately track his progress. That’s what Roscoe Parrish has done and I’d anticipate Merriman doing the same.

Thanks for the kind words.

4 - Hi Chris,

Great win this past week! Good to see the defense stepping up, even if Washington isn’t known as an offensive juggernaut it’s good to get some confidence on the back end before the Jets roll into town. Question about one of the plays against Washington. I noticed on one of the sack plays, Marcell Dareus was working against one of the offensive linemen one on one and it looked like both of them got their hands high into each other`s chin area and then Marcell reaches up and rips his own helmet off and keeps playing. What`s the NFL`s policy on purposefully removing your helmet during a live play? I would think that with all the concussion concerns something like that would be an automatic 15 yard flag. Obviously not complaining since the Bills got a sack on the play, but who knows what could have happened had Dareus ended up on the ground with his helmet off.

Thanks,
Ruben Jongstra
Toronto

CB: I think that’s a difficult one to call because it’s pure judgment by the officials on a play when a helmet comes off. Most players by nature do not want their helmet off during live action. I didn’t notice that myself. I think an official would have to be completely convinced there was intent to remove it. Even then however, I’m not sure they could invoke the same unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that’s assessed when a player removes their helmet while still on the field. Usually those circumstances involve a player that’s upset about a call or something else and throws his helmet off in frustration.

5 - Hi, Chris.

As an upstate New Yorker now living in California, I love being able to access your coverage of the Bills. I haven’t seen the Bills play this year (except for their win against the Raiders), but I get the sense that few passes get thrown to the TEs–except in red zone situations. Is that because, outside the red zone, Buffalo is keeping the TE in to block? Are the offensive schemes designed to emphasize passing opportunities to Fred Jackson and the wide receivers and maximize pass protection?

Thanks,
Dennis

 
CB: No, tight ends are not kept in to block a whole lot. Buffalo will go to a 3 WR 2 back look at times in which they have an H-back or TE positioned somewhere off the line and motion him. Most of the time the Bills are in a 4-by-1 set or 5 wide and Scott Chandler is often one of the four or five split wide. As Fitz said last week he just goes where the coverage takes him. He’s not afraid to throw it to any of his guys and that keeps the opponent from keying on specific wideouts in the Bills passing game.

Chandler close to team record

Bills TE Scott Chandler is closing in on a single-season team record and it’s only Week 4.

Chandler with 4 TD catches is just two away from the single-season record for tight ends in Bills history. Pete Metzelaars (1992) and Jay Riemersma (1998) share the Bills single-season record with 6 TDs in a season.

TE Smith to have bigger role

With veteran TE David Martin released to make room for CB Terrence Wheatley on the active roster, rookie TE Lee Smith will step into a bigger role on game days.

Martin had been serving as the team’s primary blocking tight end, but now that he’s no longer on the roster that duty will fall to Smith. Smith (6’5″ 270) was picked up off waivers from New England at the start of the regular season.

Now that he’s been around a month, he’s likely comfortable enough to execute a game plan on a Sunday. With Scott Chandler the only other tight end on the roster, it’s likely that Smith will be active on Sunday. Smith has been inactive each of the first three games.

Pats could be without TE

The New England Patriots have made heavy use of their two young tight ends in the passing game the first two weeks of the season in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. But there’s a good chance they’re down one of those players for their Week 3 matchup with the Bills.

According to Boston Herald reporter Ian Rapoport, Hernandez has a sprained MCL, with a prognosis of 1-2 weeks, meaning he wouldn’t be available for Sunday’s game at Ralph Wilson Stadium. While that would certainly help Buffalo to have one less tight end to worry about, Gronkowski has been a beast the first two weeks.

He’s got 10 catches for 172 yards and three touchdowns in New England’s first two ball games, and is the team’s leading scorer. Of course Buffalo’s Scott Chandler isn’t far off with seven catches for 79 yards and three touchdowns.

OL Young lines up on both sides

Newly signed OL Sam Young lined up at both right and left tackle during the course of practice Wednesday as he tries to get acclimated to his new surroundings and more importantly his new playbook here in Buffalo.

“I am going to ask as many questions as I can right now,” said Young, who has been projected by GM Buddy Nix as a right tackle. ”Whether it is from the guys or the coaches, I showed up five minutes ago so I am just trying to soak it all in right now. And like I said get in the book tonight and tomorrow and get rolling in order to be as sharp as I can.”

Young, who was claimed off waivers from Dallas by the Bills, has had the benefit of facing the likes of DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer in practice every day the past year or so and believes it has only made him a better player.

“I went up against him all the time,” said Young of Ware. ”That was the best thing that ever happened to me was being able to go up against him and Anthony Spencer day in and day out. He would bull rush me and then he would tell me exactly what he saw, so I was learning from him and bouncing ideas off of him. The guy is as good as it gets so it was a great opportunity for me to learn from him and really to improve.”

Young also said it was nice to see a familiar face in Buffalo’s locker room in TE Scott Chandler, who played in Dallas with Young last season.

“I had him as a roommate for a couple of road trips in Dallas so it was nice seeing him when I walked in the locker room,” he said.

Fan Friday 9-2

I can smell the season opener!  Can’t wait for the Bills to try to exact some revenge on the Chiefs after that horrible overtime game last year. Final cuts are coming on Saturday. Let’s get to your questions from AskChris@bills.nfl.net.

1 - I was wondering how you see the defensive rotation going forward.  I think both Dareus and Kyle Williams are going to get heavy exposure, but who will be manning the other side? Will that spot still be open comeptition? Where do you see Alex Carington fitting in, and do the coaches think he is ready for a more full-time role?

Thanks again,
Ryan V, Rochester
CB: Carrington will have a bigger role this year, but it will be as more of a pass rushing linebacker in their nickel package, where he’s made some plays this preseason. He will also factor in on some subpackage duty at his more traditional defensive end role.

As far as that starting DE position on the right side, it’s Dwan Edwards’ spot to lose and fellow veteran Spencer Johnson has been pushing him with a strong preseason in his own right. I think Edwards and Johnson both did well this summer and it’ll be up to the coaches to decide who they feel should be the starter.

2 - Chris,
How are we in terms of offensive line depth? I’ve read that after the starters it’s a bit thin & even at least one of our tackles might be average at best. What’s your take?
John H.

CB: I can tell you that even Chan Gailey has said they have no depth, and that they need to develop it in the youth they have on their roster. I think the odds on favorite to be Buffalo’s swing tackle is fourth-round pick Chris Hairston.

He played both left and right tackle in the last preseason game against Jacksonville and did okay for his first game action, having missed the first two preseason games. He’s still got some work to do with his technique, but he’s got experience at left tackle having played there a couple of years in college and is a smart, heady player. The coaching staff clearly likes his potential, so it’ll be down to guys like him, Ed Wang and Cordaro Howard to represent the tackle depth on this roster.

3 - Assuming Byrd is starting at one safety spot, who is the front runner for the other spot? George Wilson? Also, what was the main reason the Bills did not re-sign Whitner? It seems that Searcy is a similar player to Whitner, does that explain his drafting and the letting go of Whit?

Seems as if Naaman is playing well in camp so far, does he have any chance of sneaking into a top 4 receiver spot? 

Thanks,
Dave
Buffalo, NY

CB: Lot of questions there. Yes, George Wilson is the starting SS and I don’t see that changing between now and the opener at KC. With Whitner it was a case of him asking for the moon in terms of money and secondly burning some bridges here with the organization. Cleaning out everything from his locker right after exit meetings did not go over well. He wasn’t even on hand for reporters for locker clean out day. I think the Bills already made their decision on him, which in part likely prompted the drafting of Da’Norris Searcy. Searcy however, is a much stouter player than Whitner as he goes about 223 pounds. Whitner was 206.

Roosevelt did have a solid camp before his ankle injury in the Denver game. I’m pretty confident he makes the roster.

4 – Hey Chris,

I am curious about Brad Smith and where he is lining up when he’s not at QB. Is he going to push for the 3rd or 4th Reciever role? or is he mainly a kick returner/ wildcat QB? 

Frank from Jupiter, Florida

CB: I don’t believe that Brad Smith will be full time in any one position. I think he’ll be a slash role player just like Kordell Stewart was. He’ll line up at QB in short yardage situations and Wildcat formations and he’ll split out at WR on occasion and also take part in kickoffs, though this new kickoff rule might render that moot with all the touchbacks we’ve seen. Where do I see him lining up the most? At QB this season.

5 - Chris, 

Thanks for the updates in camp. Who do you think will make the roster of the TE’s in camp? Chandler seems to be the favorite and has caught a lot of balls with the 1st team. Nelson is hurt again. The player that has looked good is Mike Caussin. He seems to maybe be a downfield TE. How many TE’s will make the roster? Will they keep a practice squad player or maybe have 4 TE on the roster. 

Thanks 
Sophie

CB: Glad you enjoyed our camp coverage. I see the Bills keeping three tight ends. Scott Chandler and veteran David Martin I think are safe bets, but after that it’s the coach’s call in terms of who they like better. Shawn Nelson’s injury hasn’t helped him and yes, Mike Caussin has performed well. Rookie Zack Pianalto has also turned in some nice play at times. Caussin and Pianalto are both practice squad eligible, but I think it’s going to be very close for that third spot.

TE Chandler back

Bills TE Scott Chandler has returned to the team.

Chandler was absent yesterday due to the birth of his child. He’s back practicing here at camp Thursday afternoon.

Non-participants

Here is the rundown of non-participants at practice tonight.

Justin Rogers
Antonio Coleman
Scott Chandler
Torell Troup

Shawn Nelson still not ready

TE Shawn Nelson has been a spectator for most of the week after sustaining an injury Monday at the tail end of a run play, and head coach Chan Gailey doesn’t expect him back before mid-week at best.

“He pulled a muscle and he’s probably going to be a couple or three more days at least,” said Gailey.

Nelson will have missed a week of camp by the time he comes back, possibly more, and Scott Chandler and Mike Caussin are turning in plays in the passing game each day. With veteran David Martin also in the fold, Nelson is going to have some ground to make up when he returns.

Fan Friday running Q&A

Good evening Bills fans. Glad you could join me. As promised I’m going to be answering your training camp questions here tonight. So you know you can still submit your questions to my email account at AskChris@bills.nfl.net. I’ll be submitting as many of those questions with answers as possible below, so keep refreshing this page as I’ll be adding answers as I move through them. Hopefully your question or one very similar to your question gets answered tonight, otherwise I’ll get to your question in a future Fan Friday post or answer it personally. Just understand training camp is my busiest time of year, so I’ll get back to you as best I can. Thanks for your participation. Let’s get to your questions.

1 - Chris, 

CB: I do know the Bills contract with St. John Fisher is in its last year, but the decisions that are made beyond that are way above my pay grade. I, like you, do not know what the future holds with respect to training camp here. As for giving back to the fans I do know that the next night practice on Saturday (8/6) will include a bunch of contests and giveaways as well as a fireworks show following practice. With respect to a full team autograph session I have not heard anything, but if there is news on that front I’ll pass it along.

7 – Chris,

CB: Joe, I think we’ve heard Buddy address this question before. The Bills plan for building this team into a consistent winner will be done primarily through the draft and any remaining holes will be filled by free agents that aren’t going to break the bank. Yes, they have a lot of cap room, but the amount of cap room the team has isn’t going to change Buddy’s approach.

I know a lot of fans complain to me all the time about why we’re not more aggressive in free agency. What you need to realize is there are teams in the league that have been very successful with the formula that Buddy is adhering to. Indy, Pittsburgh and San Diego draft well, re-sign their own and fill holes with affordable free agents. Two of those teams have won Super Bowls and all three are perennial playoff teams. It’s a proven way to build a perennial winner, the catch is that it takes time and Buddy said as much when he took the job.

8 – Chris,
 
How has Aaron Maybin looked in training camp thus far?  I read something saying that he weighed in under 230.  I also read something saying that Daryl Talley was giving him a lot of individual attention and answering his questions.  Is Maybin big enough to be seriously considered as an OLB?  Has Talley’s tutoring helped him make any plays in camp?  Based on some of the comments Gailey has made about Maybin in the past, and the fact that he wasn’t allowed to dress for so many games last year, I have to assume that Maybin needs to show something during the preseason this year if he hopes to stay on the team.  I really had high hopes for him when he got drafted.  Does he seem to be making any progress? 
-Brendan, Las Vegas

CB: Well Brendan you’re right about Maybin’s weight. His reporting weight at the start of camp was 228 pounds. It does make it harder for him to stand in and hold his ground on run plays or maintain leverage on an outside rush. As for what he needs to show in this camp I’ll leave it to coach Gailey who addressed that subject today after practice.

“Aaron (Maybin) tries hard every time he walks on the field,” said Gailey. “The key for him is being productive on the field. He has to become a consistent player against the run and a consistent pass rusher. He has work to do, he’s not there yet. So we will see how he continues to develop but he has a long way to go.”

9 – I’ve noticed that their appears to be an amazing family atmosphere among the players and coaches of the Bills. Guys really appear to want to work hard for the guy next to them and not necessarily for the big pay day that could ensue. What would you say the impetus behind that has been?
Josh D.

CB: I’d give coach Gailey the credit for that. I said last year that his toughest task in his first year as head coach was to eradicate the losing culture that had enveloped this team over the past decade. It took him more than half the season, but he vanquished it and got the players to rally around each other and pull for one another.

There’s a sign in the Bills team meeting room that coach Gailey put up on the front wall it reads, ‘The STAR of the team is the TEAM.’ Hopefully that explains the approach Gailey has demanded from these players.

10 – Chris – Greetings from Arizona – we survived the wildfires and looking forward to Bills football!!.

Offense is looking good. What do you think of the offensive line ( I am mostly concerned about left tackle) and any chance the Bills make a run at a TE (Bo Scaife was still there this morning).

Larry Kordosky, Hereford, AZ

CB: Glad you folks out west are alright. I think there are some real concerns about the offensive line particularly with respect to pass protection outside the organization on the part of fans and it’s hard to blame you. The line still has an awful lot to prove. I think Demetrius Bell and Erik Pears are certainly capable, but we’ll know a lot more about what they can do as a group when we get to the preseason games especially with some pass rushing talents like Julius Peppers and Elvis Dumervil in the first two preseason contests.

Update – Bo Scaife signed today with Cincinnati.

11 -Chris,

I would like to know who the ‘1’s are currently in practice. I know the depth chart is a fluid thing but reports are that the starting DL at least once was Dareus, Troup and Williams.  Would like to know if that was true?

Steve in Corning

CB: The defensive starters in the team’s base defense are as follows.

DL – Dareus, Williams, Edwards
LBs – Kelsay, Davis, Barnett, Merriman
DBs - McGee, Wilson, Byrd, Florence

Now there are several different subpackages where the personnel groupings are very different and the Bills run a lot of these during the practices, particularly nickel lineups with the offense going 3 wide so often. So that is where some of the misinformation is coming from. Even I made a mistake last week when I thought rookie Da’Norris Searcy was running with the second team defense for a few reps here and there. Actually he’s running with the second team nickel package. I’ll try to come up with an easy way to view the lineups. Maybe I’ll put that together tomorrow here on the blog.

Well folks, that’s all the time I’ve got. I’ve got to still put the Practice Notes together for tonight. Some good performances turned in by Chandler, Donald Jones, Terrence McGee and others. I’ll have it all to you in about an hour. Thanks for participating and hope to do it again real soon.

Flo keeping up with workouts

Bills players with new contracts signed after the lockout cannot practice until the new CBA is ratified by the NFLPA. As Bills GM Buddy Nix said however, those players can work out on their own, and that’s just what Drayton Florence is doing.

Bills free agent list

Here is the list of Bills free agents including unrestricted and restricted.

Unrestricted free agents
ILB Akin Ayodele
OLB Keith Ellison              
CB Drayton Florence
DL John McCargo
ILB Paul Posluszny
SS Donte Whitner
CB Ashton Youboty

Restricted free agents
QB Brian Brohm                not tendered
TE Scott Chandler            tendered
RB Quinton Ganther       not tendered

Exclusive rights free agents
LS Garrison Sanborn       tendered
TE Jonathan Stupar         not tendered

Restricted free agent TE Scott Chandler was tendered a qualifying offer by the Bills as was exclusive rights free agent LS Garrison Sanborn prior to the lockout.

4 wide makes TEs traditional

The Bills made heavy use of their four wide sets on offense in the second half of last season with the emergence of players like David Nelson, Donald Jones and Naaman Roosevelt, following the season-ending injury to Roscoe Parrish. What that also did was limit the number of opportunities for Buffalo’s tight ends in the passing game, since they weren’t on the field. But Bills tight ends coach Bob Bicknell effectively explains what can be done to combat that challenge.

“It’s always a challenge,” said Bicknell of getting everyone involved in an offense. ”It’s a challenge for (the tight ends) and I try to help them with that challenge where they can get on the field and have production. We’ve found some good receivers and we use the tight end a lot of different ways so it’s not always going to be about them catching the ball, and sometimes when they’re called on to make the big play they’ve got to make it.”

Last season the tight ends fit more of a traditional tight end role, on the line next to the tackle. The only tight end with game breaking route running ability that cold be split wide in a four wide set, Shawn Nelson, missed most of the season last year due to suspension and a bout with migraines.

Bicknell, who provides insight on the outlook for late season pickup Scott Chandler heading into 2011 in our home page feature today (Thursday) is confident that if his group of tight ends does what they’re called upon to do from coach Gailey and the offensive  staff that opportunities will develop down the line. 

“It’s a challenge, but we’ve got good kids in here that only ask what their job is and what they have to do,” he said. ”All of the other stuff will come if they continue to do their job on the field.”

Why no tight end picked

A lot of Bills fans saw tight end as a need position for Buffalo in this year’s draft, but a tight end wasn’t taken with any of the nine picks. Bills head coach Chan Gailey explained why.

“We talked several times about a tight end and it didn’t work out that when our pick came that the guys were sitting there that we had ended up talking about,” said Gailey. ”We weren’t going to try to force a round peg in square hole. We took the best player up there that fit some kind of need for us.”

Bills GM Buddy Nix has said they do like what they believe they have in Scott Chandler, who was picked up in the middle of the season last year and is a former fourth-round pick of the Chargers when Nix was running the personnel department in San Diego.

Buffalo only used two of their nine draft choices on offensive players.

TE role more prominent?

Buffalo’s tight ends have taken a bit of back seat in terms of a role in the team’s passing game. Head coach Chan Gailey has favored more three and four wide looks with receivers on offense. Jonathan Stupar factored in a bit more and successfully so last week. Gailey left it open as to what the immediate future holds for his tight ends with respect to their passing game.

“I think it’s different week in and week out,” Gailey said. ”We have different packages in for the tight ends each week. Obviously Stupar made a couple of big plays for us last week, one in particular right before half. The guys have played their role pretty well. We just haven’t asked a lot of them. We haven’t done a lot with them.

“We had them do a little more last week and we’ll see how the season plays out, whether or not they continue to be a little bit more involved. I think (Scott) Chandler has a chance to be a help for us as well.”

Chandler was picked up by the Bills off waivers two weeks ago from Dallas. GM Buddy Nix has a firm working knowledge of Chandler’s abilities having drafted him for San Diego in 2007. He’s seen primarily as a solid blocker, with some receiving ability that can be further developed.

Chandler ready to learn quick

Having bounced from team to team the past couple of seasons, Bills TE Scott Chandler sees the last five weeks of the 2010 regular season with the Bills as a lot of time to make an impression.

Chandler has been promoted to active rosters from practice squads before and has been asked to get things down pat quickly.

“I got to Dallas and my second week active they wanted me to play fullback,” Chandler told Buffalobills.com. ”I kind of learned that a little bit. It’s kind of the nature of the business. If you’re not one of the star guys you have to be able to pick stuff up quick.”

Chandler (6’7″ 272) is seen as a good receiver that runs crisp routes and can be a weapon down the seam in the passing game. He’s also a capable wall off type blocker. And he didn’t mind seeing Buffalo claim him, knowing the guy responsible for drafting him in 2007 was running the show for the Bills.

“When I heard Buffalo claimed me I remember that right away saying to myself, ‘Hey Buddy is the GM there,’” said Chandler. ”He knows what I can do so it was good to get to talk to him. He just told me to be ready to go and learn as much as I can as quick as I can.”

As he looks to make a good impression on the offensive staff and Chan Gailey, it’s clear that the coaches are interested in seeing what both he and fellow TE Mike Caussin can offer.

“You try to evaluate anybody that you think might eventually be able to help your football team,” said Gailey. ”That’s one thing Buddy and I are on the same page about. We brought in two tight ends and we’ve got five on the roster now, and to some people that might not make a lot of sense. But if those are the best people available out there, go take a chance and look at those guys and evaluate them.

“Even if you watch them for three or four weeks in practice you’ll get a better feel for them than if you evaluate them on tape from somewhere else. These are guys that we think have a chance to help us, maybe not as much short term as long term, but we have an opportunity to evaluate them ourselves, and not based on what somebody else does with them.”