Bleacher Report - Articles by Timothy Young

Brett Favre: Inductee to The Hall Of Shame

Timothy Young — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:16:09 -0400

When I look at the picture above, I think to myself, "Yeah Brett, what the Hell are you doing to the NFL and it's fans?" The answer is simple: Ticking them off.

As I searched for pictures of Brett Favre in a Packers jersey, it reminded me much of what he actually has become in Green Bay: An afterthought. Aaron Rodgers is the present and future, and although Brett brought a Lombardi trophy back to Wisconsin, I believe he'll never get his respect back.

Recent ESPN fetishes for Favre have showed that he wants to play again in 2009, not for the Jets, nor the Pack, but for the Vikings? Any Kraft cheese helmet wearing fan's jaw dropped at this abomination of a report. Sure it was in the works last year, and it has been a possibility this entire offseason, but for it to manifest in to truth would be unfathomable, like Phil Mickelson actually sinking a meaningful putt or Dane Cook actually telling a joke he wrote.

Fans are telling Brett to do what Rosie O'Donnell should've done years ago, which would be to let it go and quit already. Where's Donald Trump when you need him?

As a general fan of football, I would be OK with Barry Sanders, Daryle Lamonica, or Jack Kemp making a comeback and coming out of retirement, but Brett, we've seen it before, and you're done. Going to the enemy will further sully your career and make you more hated than the $5.00 footlong commercials.

Sure, Brett still loves the game. At soon to be 40-years-old, who wouldn't love playing America's favorite game? It's been done before, Brett, so please, ride off into the sunset rather than add to your career interception records.

If he comes back, expect another mediocre season and pure hatred in Lambeau, and an induction in to the, "Hall of Shame".

The Top 16 NFL Fan Bases: A Recipe for Controversy (Humor)

Timothy Young — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:07:48 -0400

The Top Anything List. For years, the media and bloggers such as I have made top 20's, 15's, 50's, 27's, whatever, and it's always a great way to stir up controversy. When you're a Bills, Chiefs, or Browns fan, these lists may be the only thing you can look forward to. On the other hand, if you're a Colts fan in Lucas Oil Stadium, sipping champagne and watching the game on a television in your box, you couldn't care less about what some blogger on Bleacherreport.com thinks. Enough chatter, here's the 100%, foolproof, statistically accurate top 16 fans in the NFL.

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Buffalo Bills Defense: Surprising Young Talent Could Mean Surprise Cuts

Timothy Young — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:05:21 -0400

Many names have been frequenting Buffalo Bills lead writer Chris Brown's blogs of organized team activities (OTA's). Trent Edwards, Terrell Owens, Lee Evans, Kawika Mitchell, Fred Jackson, Ellis Lankster, Ashlee Palmer...

Wait.

Defensive back Ellis Lankster and linebacker Ashlee Palmer?

The Bills' seventh round pick out of WVU in 2009 and an undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss, respectively, have been making some plays and turning coaches' heads these past few weeks, but coaches aren't the only ones noticing.

Bills fans aren't too shocked that late round and undrafted players make noise for the organization. Names like Derek Schouman, Stevie Johnson, Demetrius Bell, John DiGiorgio, and Jon Corto are some late round to undrafted names that still find comfort at One Bills Drive.

Although OTAs are usually too early to gauge how well a player can play in pads or at full speed, it's still an indication of mental stability and awareness.

Many Bills fans remember Martin Nance, a wide receiver UDFA for the Bills in '06, flashed his go-to brilliance from college that netted Ben Roethlisberger a first round selection (both played for Miami of Ohio), but when the pads were on, he couldn't keep up the pace.

On an opposite note, a name from last year that is participating in what is hoping to be his "true" rookie season is linebacker Alvin Bowen, who tore his ACL last year prior to full camp.

Defensive Coordinator Perry Fewell has kept a sharp eye on the tackling machine out of Iowa State this year, even going so far as to state that when now Tampa Bay Bucaneer Angelo Crowell went down with an injury last year, he could've seen Bowen step quickly into the spot, rather than former sixth round pick Keith Ellison.

Alongside Bowen in most of the drills has been middle linebacker John DiGiorgio, the undrafted player in 2006 out of Saginaw Valley State who started 13 games for the Bills in '07 after then starting middle linebacker Paul Posluszny went down with an injury. He proved why he deserved to be in the NFL, notching 113 tackles, two sacks, and an interception in the 13 starts.

Could Ashlee Palmer be this years John DiGiorgio for Buffalo? With so many question marks within the linebacking corp, he could make it, but has to beat out Bowen, Corto, Ellison, free agent pick up Pat Thomas, second year player Marcus Buggs, and rookie project Nic Harris in no sure order.

Ellis Lankster, on the other hand, has a bit of a longer leash to work with.

With Terrence McGee and Leodis McKelvin seeming locks to man the starting corner jobs, it's a list of maybes beyond that.

A healthy Ashton Youboty proves to be a capable threat, as he showed early on last year before getting placed on the IR. Second year surprise pick Reggie Corner compliments his last name admirably, and did so when called upon in '08, as he has also done in OTAs this year.

Journeyman Drayton Florence seemed to be a steal last year in free agency for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but has done little of what was expected of him since. The other corners on the roster are fifth year man Dustin Fox and fellow rookies Lydell Sargeant and Cary Harris.

If Florence can't convert to his San Diego playing days and Youboty can't stay healthy, Ellis Lankster may be the fifth or sixth corner on the depth chart day one.

Lydell Sargeant is another name that should be kept close to a Bills followers ears, since he has also been an impressive physical specimen and ball hawk in OTAs.

It will be no easy task, but if these players can show Perry Fewell and the rest of the coaches in pads what they did in organized activities, the 53-man roster may be within their grasp.

7-9: The Make-or-Break Numbers for Bills Coach Dick Jauron

Timothy Young — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:35:38 -0400

Buffalo Bills head coach Dick Jauron is known as a "player's coach." His players love to play for him. If he says jump, they jump, if he says run, they run, if he says win...

Well they haven't figured that part out yet.

He certainly seemed to have things working on all cylinders at the beginning of last season, starting off with an impressive 5-1 record. The Bills annihilated the Seattle Seahawks on opening day, beat the AFC West Champion San Diego Chargers, and only lost to the Super Bowl runner-up Arizona Cardinals in Arizona during the first six games.

Then the AFC East bared it's fangs.

Any NFL follower knows that losing division games is costly, especially when you lose all six, and that's what Jauron and the Bills did in 2008. Accompany that with a nail-biting loss to the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football, the aforementioned Arizona loss, and an embarrassing loss to San Fransisco at home in a must-win game, and you end up with Dick Jauron's familiar .438 win percentage.

Another 7-9 season won't cut it for Jauron, and he of all people should know it. After ten years out of the playoffs, the Bills hope that their head coach will at least make it to his second playoff appearance.

The Bills seem to have all the right puzzle pieces, both personnel-wise and player-wise, but those pieces have yet to fall in to place. Assistant head coach and Special Teams Coach of the Year Bobby April always seems to have a top-five special teams unit. Perry Fewell is an exceptional defensive coordinator, and Turk Schonert has plenty of weapons at his disposal in his second year as the offensive coordinator.

So where is the finger to be pointed for the past three years?

The itchy trigger finger of many Bills fans throw it straight in Jauron's direction, due to his four straight 7-9 seasons as a teams full time head coach (one with the Chicago Bears). Add his 1-4 record as interim coach of the Detroit Lions, and there hasn't been much winning in a Jauron regime as of late. In fact, in his nine years as a head coach, he's only had one winning season, but the blame can't be solely placed on him.

When Ralph Wilson Jr. cleaned house prior to the 2006 season, there was a mess to be cleaned up. With the firing of general manager Tom Donahoe and the departure of head coach Mike Mularkey, Marv Levy and Jauron seemed to be the correct janitors for the job. Under Donahoe, the Mike Williams experiment ended with a shoddy offensive line, the defense was aging and hit or miss, and there seemed to be no legitimate starter at quarterback.

While Tom Donahoe's regime netted starters for many other teams throughout the league, the Levy, Jauron and Russ Brandon-led Buffalo Bills have produced ten starters through the draft—12 if rookies Eric Wood and Andy Levitre maintain their spots atop the guard depth charts. Of the 13, three franchise players in Marshawn Lynch, Trent Edwards, and Paul Posluszny look to be cornerstones and contributors for many years to come.

They've also added solid nickel and dime corners Ashton Youboty and Reggie Corner, slot receivers in Stevie Johnson and James Hardy, and depth at tight end in Derek Fine and Shawn Nelson, something the Bills haven't seen for years.

Through free agency, the front office grabbed mainstay tackle Langston Walker, superstar wide receiver Terrell Owens, and recently added Geoff Hangartner from the Carolina Panthers to man the center position on offense.

Defensively, they traded for massive defensive tackle and 2008 Pro Bowl alternate Marcus Stroud, and picked up the Bills' most productive linebacker in recent memory, Kawika Mitchell, through free agency, along with rotational defensive lineman Spencer Johnson and veteran corner Drayton Florence.

The right players were picked up, the holes appear filled, and there's an experienced coaching staff in Buffalo. So what's next?

Three years of rebuilding after a seven-year debacle in Buffalo seems enough to turn a franchise around, and that is what Jauron and company hope to do in the 2009 season. In a tough division with a strong schedule, there is no sure thing for the Buffalo Bills, but Ralph Wilson Jr., the Bills players, and the fans have put their faith in Dick Jauron.

Under Jauron, if the puzzle pieces fall in to place, it may not turn out to be the Mona Lisa, but if the Bills can make the playoffs, at least the Bills faithful will be smiling.

Buffalo Bills: The Five Most Effective Plays for the 2009 Season

Timothy Young — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:55:58 -0400

OTA's are underway, most pieces are in place, and the Buffalo Bills are preparing for the 2009 season. Trent Edwards is still under center, Lee Evans is still one of the best deep threats in the game, Marshawn Lynch is still "Beastmode", and newcomer Terrell Owens is still T.O. The Bills only have one glaring question mark on offense, and that's the offensive line. Behind a newly aligned offensive front, if Trent has time, we may see these plays develop.

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No Pisa, No Problem in Buffalo: Defensive Preview

Timothy Young — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:56:48 -0400

Very soon after being released by the St. Louis Rams, Pisa Tinoisamoa took a trip to One Bills Drive in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Fans were excited to hear that the tackling machine was in town, hopefully filling the void Angelo Crowell left when he signed in Tampa Bay and that backup Keith Ellison currently held.

With no signs of a contract in place, a photo was soon leaked of Tinoisamoa wearing a Bears T-shirt. He soon signed a one-year deal with the Bears.

Bills message boards erupted, calling Ralph Wilson cheap, saying Ellison isn't even worthy of a Bills uniform let alone to start, and an array of "the sky is falling" type messages.

It's not even training camp yet.

Although Bills fans are anxious for the upcoming season after three straight 7-9 finishes under Dick Jauron and a 10 year drought from the playoffs, the defense should be a bright spot.

With returning playmakers Terrence McGee, Kawika Mitchell, Marcus Stroud, and a potentially healthy Aaron Schobel, things can only look up for the Bills D.

As the cliché goes, it all starts in the trenches, and that's where Buffalo looks to shine. Being the only team in the AFC East to not implement the 3-4 scheme, the Bills have a beefy middle and quick defenders on the outside line.

Marcus Stroud, the trade pickup last season, didn't disappoint. With injury concerns, he played in all 16 games for the Bills, notching 45 tackles, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a much overlooked stat, 7 deflected passes.

Alongside him comes the surprising upstart Kyle Williams, who was thought of as merely depth when drafted in the fifth round in 2006, but broke in to the starting role and has been a great run stuffer.

Spencer Johnson provides rotational depth all along the line, and John McCargo has shown flashes but has yet to fill his first round potential.

On the outside, Aaron Schobel hopes to make a healthy return, across from playmaker/question mark Chris Kelsay. Until last year, Schobel hadn't had less than 6.5 sacks in a given year.

He only played in five games last year, notching one sack, but says he's ready to come back healthy.

Chris Kelsay has never been the pass rusher Bills fans want him to be, but he has an instinct to know where the ball is at all times.

It could be a three-way battle for the starting left end spot, since the Bills drafted pass rusher Aaron Maybin 11th overall in the draft, and Ryan Denney has always been a rotational player at the position.

Chris Ellis could step in on the right side when Schobel is resting and might live up to his third round pick last year.

The focal point of the Bills defense is the linebacking corp. After being placed on the IR most of his rookie campaign, middle linebacker Paul Posluszny came back to anchor the group with a team leading 110 tackles.

He's instinctive and doesn't get fooled too easily, and if he can stay healthy, he could put up better numbers this year.

John DiGiorgio provides solid depth in the middle, as he showed two years ago when Posluszny went down.

Kawika Mitchell was a great pick up for the defense last year, as he filled in admirably, with 82 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions.

His game-saving interception against the Chargers was a thing of beauty, and he has a fierce mentality on the field.

The major question is, who will play opposite him outside?

Incumbent starter Keith Ellison has filled in adequately, but the Bills need a better defender on the outside.

There are still options in free agency, but defensive coordinator Perry Fewell and linebacker coach Matt Sheldon have their eyes set on someone else already in the organization.

Alvin Bowen was placed on the IR early in the offseason last year after showing impressive speed and ability in OTAs.

This year he's done the same, and Fewell stated that if Bowen was healthy last year, he most likely would've filled in for the injured Angelo Crowell, who is now in Tampa Bay.

In a three-way battle for the position, rookie Nic Harris could be a darkhorse.

Coach Dick Jauron, when asked why he drafted so many defensive backs in this year's draft, said that in their division you can't have too many DBs.

Corners Terrence McGee and Leodis McKelvin look to man the starting spots, as both are terrific ball hawks.

The loss of Jabari Greer is a bit of a sting, but with such depth as Ashton Youboty, Reggie Corner, and veteran free agent Drayton Florence, the Bills should be OK at the position.

Rookies fighting for a spot on the roster are Ellis Lankster and Cary Harris.

Safety is a strong spot on the team, too. Donte Whitner, although not an Ed Reed-type player yet, knows how to find the ball in the ground game but needs to improve his ball coverage skills.

As a more rotational spot, free safety is manned by Ko Simpson, Bryan Scott, George Wilson, and rookie Jairus Byrd.

Byrd was the Bills' second round pick this year and a ballhawk at Oregon, which is something needed by the teams defense who faces Tom Brady twice, along with Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Jake Delhomme this year.

Bryan Scott took most of the snaps at free safety towards the end of last year, while Simpson and Wilson came in on primarily passing downs. John Wendling and George Wilson are best suited as special teams players but can fill in when called upon.

The playbook can't be mapped until you can take a look at the team during training camp but expect some hybrid defenses under Perry Fewell.

With speed on the outside, a 3-4 with Kyle Williams, Marcus Stroud, and Spencer Johnson as the front three with Aaron Maybin, John DiGiorgio, Paul Posluszny, and Kawika Mitchell manning the back four could be a possibility.

With the Bills finishing last in defense for the AFC East last year, the team has to cause more havoc in opposing backfields and cause more turnovers.

With the addition of a healthy Schobel and Aaron Maybin to hunt down quarterbacks and Jairus Byrd to find the errant throws, both of those problems could be fixed.

For any promising unit that has improved over its past year, things can only look up for the Buffalo Bills' defense.

How to Move Mountains: An Interview With The Bills' Langston Walker

Timothy Young — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:53:06 -0400

Professional football players aren't easily intimidated. With the media coverage, constantly giving their all on the ball field and the general intensity that comes with the sport, it's hard to be intimidated.

When defenses see "Big Blue" in 68 for the Bills, it might be a bit hard not to sweat a little more.

When Langston Walker came to Buffalo with a five-year, $25 million deal, he seemed to be the best bet to fix the Mike Williams debacle from years past. If I had the opportunity to speak with him, here are some questions I'd throw his way.

Thanks for the time Langston. First thing's first, anyone who follows offensive lines know it's all about chemistry. How is the reshuffled offensive line gelling in OTA's?

How do you feel having a young center in Geoff Hangartner and two rookies in Andy Levitre and Eric Wood projected to start beside you?

You did well mentoring Brad Butler when he lined up next to you on the right side. Being that you're the most experienced lineman, how do you think you can help Wood and Levitre progress?

With the departure of disgruntled former teammate Jason Peters and you projected to move to man the LT spot, how much of a difference is it from the right side?

You face some tough match ups this year: Jason Taylor, Joey Porter, Richard Seymour, Shaun Ellis, Dwight Freeney, Tyson Jackson, and Julius Peppers could all line up against you this year. Having faced some before, who do you think poses the biggest challenge for you this year?

Being drafted out of California in the second round in 2002 and spending four years in Oakland, how did it feel when you heard you had to go to a completely different setting and climate in Buffalo?

Your offensive line coach Sean Kugler implements the zone blocking scheme, and you're a pretty dominant run blocker. Has the scheme been the key to your success, or is it that you feel more comfortable leading the way?

What is your favorite aspect of your job?

I'm sure you've been asked before, but I have to know too. What are your thoughts on Terrell Owens coming to Buffalo?

The Bills have had three straight 7-9 seasons and a long playoff drought. With a revamped offense and a strong defense, what can you tell Bills fans for the upcoming year?

Of course, without hearing the answers to these questions, Bills fans still know one thing they want Langston to be associated with.

The playoffs.

AFC East Wide Receivers Preview

Timothy Young — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:26:52 -0400

On March 3, I received a text message from the Buffalo Bills via V-text saying they'd be holding a press conference later that afternoon. Being busy at the time, I put my phone on silent and in my pocket. While finishing a paper online, I opened my phone to two new texts. One was from my father saying to call him as soon as possible, the other from a good friend. My friend, a die-hard Dolphin fan, simply sent, "Have fun with that cancer on your team."

Speechless and motionless, I knew one thing: There was a new 81 in the AFC East.

With the egos of T.O. and Randy Moss in the same division, things could get interesting in the flanks. Here's a look at what's to come.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills finally have a second veteran receiver in Terrell Owens. In quite possibly the most surprising move of the offseason, the Bills brought in ex-Cowboy Owens to add a threat opposite Lee Evans, who's needed one for quite some time. The speedy Evans, who finished his 2008 stint barely surpassing the 1,000 yard mark, has been a threat for the Bills ever since he was drafted out of Wisconsin in 2004. His problem, though, is that he has been 'Badgered' (pun intended) by double and even triple teams from opposing defenses.

Things should change for Evans with T.O. opposite him on the field. The many question marks that surround Owens in Buffalo don't seem to affect how Trent Edwards and the fans feel about his presence. The Owens' acquisition brings something to the Bills that they haven't had since James Lofton: a tall, proven veteran who can still stretch the field. Owens, who showed a few signs of aging last season with the Cowboys, still found the endzone 10 times and caught 69 passes for 1,052 yards.

With those two vying for most of the passes, it leaves Roscoe Parrish, Josh Reed, and second year players James Hardy and Stevie Johnson for the slot and depth. Reed has filled in admirably when called upon as a No. 2, but he most certainly belongs in the slot. Roscoe can cause some havoc in space and on deep balls, but is more suited for the return game.

Stevie Johnson, a seventh rounder last year, played very well at the end of the season when James Hardy went on the IR. Hardy, the Bills second round pick in '08, had trouble pulling some balls in but showed flashes of athleticism. With T.O. helping the young guys out, it should be interesting how they develop in the years to come.

As with all positions, no spot is safe. Two interesting bubble receivers are third year veteran Justin Jenkins and Feltin Huggins, Huggins being a practice squad player and Jenkins a solid special teamer.

Interesting Play to Watch For: With Lee Evans being one of the best deep threats in the NFL, and T.O. lined up across from him, the Bills could send them both on streaks and set Parrish on a short curl. It'd give Parrish a lot of time and space to wreak some havoc after the catch if the opposition doubles up on Evans and Owens

Miami Dolphins

The talk of the Miami Dolphins last season was the Wildcat. The main reason the Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams wide formation was talked about so much was due to their weakness in the receiving department. Last year, after the departure of Chris Chambers to the Chargers, the Dolphins felt they had a new No. 2 guy when they picked up Ernest Wilford in free agency.

Wilford ended the season with three catches for 25 yards.

Ted Ginn was the No. 1 man for the fish last year, grabbing 56 catches for 790 yards. Although not bad for a run-heavy team, he only crossed the goal line twice. Still young, expect Ginn to develop more chemistry with QB Chad Pennington

With a glaring hole in the receiving corp in the offseason, the Dolphins went young again and drafted Patrick Turner and Brian Hartline in the draft. Turner, a USC product, has the size and ball control capabilities to be a threat over the middle. The 6'5" Turner is the closest bet to be the flanker on day one, but Hartline, Greg Camarillo, and second year standout Davone Bess will be vying for the same spot.

Davone Bess and Greg Camarillo put up solid numbers as the teams second and third receivers. Bess, a first year standout, caught 54 passes for 554 yards in mostly a reserve role, but broke the starting lineup in week 12 against the Patriots, where he posted a career high 87 yards on 5 catches. Camarillo was supposed to be the Wes Welker replacement, and performed admirably. A steal from the Chargers, Camarillo helped Chad Pennington with 613 yards through the air.

Endzone threat Anthony Fasano became Pennington's safety valve, scoring seven touchdowns in his first year with the Dolphins. Expect the tight end's role to expand this year, with a more comfortable QB behind center.

With Ginn, Bess, Camarillo, Turner, and Hartline the probable receivers, it leaves a hole at six.

If the Dolphins decide to keep six, second round player Brandon London or Ernest Wilford could make the squad. The safest bet would be London, unless Wilford can turn his act around and proves to be the weapon Bill Parcells and company wanted last year.

Interesting Play to Watch For: Ted Ginn has the speed, Patrick Turner has the height, and the Dolphins love the Wildcat. With Pat White being projected as a wide receiver in the draft but keeping his QB title, sending him in motion inside from the flank to take a direct snap would cause fits for defenses with all of the options that are possible with the ball in his hands.

New England Patriots

A healthy Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Joey Galloway. Do I even need to write an article about this group? Every secondary in the league gets a chill down their spine when No. 12 lines up with Moss and Welker wide.

Randy Moss, after coming off a record setting 23 touchdown season, saw his numbers drop slightly with Matt Cassel at the helm, but still posted 11 touchdowns and broke the 1,000 yard mark by eight yards. Moss is still feared for his quick feet, exceptional leaping ability and 6'4" frame. He will still be the top threat on the team.

Wes Welker stayed incredibly consistent, once again being his QB's best friend, putting up another 100+ reception season and matching his 10.5 yards per catch average from the '07 season. Whether it's over the middle, deep, or on the curl, Welker always seems to be open. He'll most likely line up in the slot, giving Joey Galloway the nod at No. 2.

On a team that has Tom Brady, there is no true depth chart number, but with the signing of probable future Hall of Fame inductee Joey Galloway, he assumes the No. 2 spot. Bringing a career total 10,710 receiving yards and 77 touchdowns, things can only get better for the veteran receiver. Bill Belichek didn't hesitate to bring Galloway in, and he should break the 11,000 yard mark as a Patriot.

With the departure of Jabar Gaffney, the Patriots drafted talented ex-Tar Heel Brandon Tate in the third round. He could fill in well as a No. 4 receiver, and provides just another receiving threat. Special teams ace Sam Aiken should make the roster for his tackling ability, but doesn't provide much as a fifth receiver. Ex-Eagle Greg Lewis could fill that role, but Matt Slater is a dark horse.

Interesting Play to Watch For: Any. If Tom Brady is behind the line and Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Brandon Tate and Joey Galloway are on the field with Kevin Faulk in the backfield, anything can happen.

New York Jets

Their old quarterback is gone (as a writer, I refuse to say his name), and it's either the future face of the franchise in Mark Sanchez, future bust Mark Sanchez, or Kellen Clemens throwing to a depleted receiving corp. Laverneus Coles is gone, leaving Jericho Cotchery, Chansi Stuckey, and a whole lot of question marks.

Cotchery has been Coles' partner in the flat for years, and now has his time to shine as the probable No. 1. In his three years as the No. 2 guy, he's caught 245 passes for 2,949 yards and 13 touchdowns. With strong corners in the AFC East and Cotchery probably being the primary target, those numbers could be dampened a bit this year.

Chansi Stuckey, who started two games last year, provided three touchdowns and an 11.3 yards per catch average last year. The three touchdowns were a great addition but the problem was they occurred in the first three games of the year. With no clear cut No. 2, expect Stuckey to get thrown in to the mix.

The savior and safety valve of any young quarterback is his tight end, and second year man Dustin Keller could fill that role to Sanchez or Clemens. Starting in six games last year, Keller had 48 catches for 535 yards and three touchdowns. A healthy Bubba Franks, who missed most of last season, could give the quarterback two midfield and endzone threats.

The rest of the receivers on the roster are hit or miss. Brad Smith, David Clowney and special teams player Wallace Wright are the only unmentioned players returning. All three will most likely make the roster, but expect more formations consisting of Leon Washington and Thomas Jones in the backfield, Keller in the slot and Cotchery and Stuckey split wide.

Interesting Play to Watch For: This should be changed to interesting player to watch, since that's what most Jets fans are wondering. Does Mark Sanchez take snap one of the season, or do they give Clemens the go and let Sanchez develop? Expect a stronger running game out of the Jets rather than a strong passing game.

It Truly Is the T.O. Show In Buffalo

Timothy Young — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:33:13 -0400

On a Sunday night in Buffalo, you'd expect the airport to be a bit quiet.

That wasn't the case last night, when once wearer of the star and still super star Terrell Owens made his appearance in Buffalo for OTA's. Late last night at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, T.O. was greeted by hundreds of chanting fans, all wanting to catch a glimpse of the new 81 in town.

"It was a dream come true," Owens told the media. Camera crews in tow, Buffalo's blockbuster signing was greeted by fans and Buffalo Jills alike, who held up a "Welcome to Buffalo T.O." sign for all to see.

The camera crew for his reality TV show that will appear on VH1 will be taping later on in the day. What was supposed to be insight in to his goings-on with the Cowboys for the show took a quick change of pace when the receiver was viewed expendable in Dallas. two days after his release he signed a one year, $6.5 Million contract with the Buffalo Bills.

When Terrell came to "North America's Team" from America's Team, he brought the much overlooked Buffalo sports scene in to the limelight once again. Does he come as a savior or a sinful mistake?

A very non-Ralph Wilson Jr. like move, he brought in the receiver as a need to pull double teams off of Lee Evans, but many questioned the signing. With his track record of being a locker room cancer and vocal, :all about me" player, is he a good fit for the Bills and, quite frankly, some of the most vicious fans in the NFL?

Only time will tell, but things seem to be on the upside in PR terms for the 14 year veteran, who participated in non-voluntary team workouts for the first time in that span.

With the fans packing the airport, T.O. was excited. "It was priceless. I really didn't expect it. It was the biggest welcome I ever had. Going down the escalator seeing that big crowd of people, it really got me pumped for this year."

The Buffalo community seemingly enjoys it, and may prove the infatuation even more so Monday afternoon when Terrell will be handed the key to the city. Although it may be a publicity stunt for his new television show, it's quite a privilege to get off of a plane, do nothing for a new team, and receive such an honor, but maybe T.O. is what the downtrodden city needs.

I promised I wouldn't end the article with the popcorn cliche, but in a city that has so little to look forward to, don't they deserve to get their popcorn ready?

AFC East Running Backs Preview

Timothy Young — Sun, 17 May 2009 21:29:50 -0400

Running back tandems have become nearly a necessity around the league. With hard hitting defenses, injuries abundant, and fast action play, there are never too many backs on the depth chart.

The AFC is chock full of great backs, and there is no lack in the AFC East. Here's a look at what's to come in the backfields this year.

Buffalo Bills

Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson, and Dominic Rhodes. The word, "stacked," comes to mind.

With the signing of Rhodes to a two year deal, and the four year extension of backup Jackson, Lynch and the Bills seem set for quite some time.

Jackson set career marks last year backing up Lynch, with 571 yards on 130 carries. His forte is his versatility, though, as he is adept at lining up outside, going in motion, and he even mans the quarterback spot in the Wildcat.

Catching 37 passes for 317 yards outdid Marshawn's 300 in 2008. He gave the division rival Patriots fits in the last game of the season, racking up 136 yards on 27 carries.

Marshawn Lynch is appealing his three game suspension for having federal gun charges filed against him in February. Beast Mode has lived up to his name in his two year career, compiling two 1,000 yard rushing seasons and 16 total touchdowns (15 rushing, 1 receiving).

As any defensive player in the NFL who's faced him can tell you, he's hard to bring down. I can't emphasize that enough. I would say that next to Marion Barber of the Cowboys, Marshawn Lynch is the toughest person in recent years to bring down.

Dominic Rhodes is a solid veteran pick up, and shares similarities with both running backs. Rhodes, like Jackson, was an undrafted free-agent coming in to the league. He shares legal troubles in California with Marshawn, which paired with the drafting of Darren McFadden made Rhodes dispensable in Oakland.

Much like Lynch and Jackson he's had to split time throughout his entire career. Rhodes will compete with Jackson this offseason to see who starts on opening night, and when Marshawn comes back, expect a healthy, ready backfield.

Miami Dolphins

In 2005, a chill went down every AFC East fans back, when with the second overall pick, the Miami Dolphins selected Auburn running back Ronnie Brown. Brown, already part of a stacked backfield in Auburn next to Cadillac Williams, went into yet another running back tandem with Ricky Williams.

Ronnie Brown's ego got the best of him that year, though, when he held out of training camp in a contract dispute. Ricky was suspended four games, and Ronnie's rust showed. When Williams came back, though, Brown sniffed a thousand yard season, finishing the year with 907 yards.

In '07, Ronnie started the season off great, leading the league in yards from scrimmage, but was injured and lost for the season.

Then came 2008.

Dan Henning and Tony Sparano wanted to utilize both running backs immediately. Ricky Williams was penciled in as the seasons starter, and did so for the first two games. Then, week three against the Patriots, the Wildcat was born.

Although not really "born" (it had been used numerous times in colleges and the early NFL), but the Dolphins made it look good. Ronnie Brown had great success out of it, and ended the season with 916 yards on 214 carries and 10 touchdowns.

Williams ended his season with 659 yard on 160 carries, and added another four touchdowns to the tandem force.

Pat White, while listed at quarterback, will most likely rush out of the Wildcat, forming a scary trio for the Wildcat.

New England Patriots

Crowded backfields are seemingly commonplace in New England. This year is no exception.

With the signing of Fred Taylor, the Patriots now have Laurence Maroney, Taylor, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Five interesting names (six if you can change Green-Ellis' name into two) with plenty of talent. Fresh talent is always welcome in Tom Brady's backfield.

Taylor knows a thing about crowded depth charts, as he's shared one with Maurice Jones-Drew the past few seasons in Jacksonville. Seemingly expendable, the Jags parted ways with the veteran.

Fred Taylor quickly signed with the Patriots. The 12 year veteran brings his 11,271 yards and 62 TD's to the Pats, and will provide strong run support for Brady.

Laurence Maroney was injured the final thirteen games of last season. He's dealt with injuries ever since being drafted in the first round, but has put up solid numbers in his career with the Patriots. If he comes back healthy, he could again be the incumbent starter on day one.

Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk have been around the league and did great last year when called upon. Morris has been an AFC East staple for years. An ex-Buffalo Bill and Miami Dolphin, Morris may have been the best Patriot running back last year with his 7 TD's and 4.7 yards per carry.

Faulk has been with the Patriots his entire career since 1999, and has always been a solid change of pace back. He's been a great out-of the backfield threat for Brady, and that role shouldn't change this year.

Green-Ellis is a darkhorse to make the squad, but filled in admirably in his three starts, finding the end zone five times.

New York Jets

Eric Allen wrote a great article for the Jets this past week. He said that the number one running back on the depth chart right now is Danny Woodhead. Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, and rookie Shonn Greene have all been missing from OTA's. Greene isn't allowed at the facility until next week, but Jones and Washington have skipped voluntarily.

Thomas Jones, the old Bears cast-off, has played admirably in his two years with the Jets, putting up thousand yard seasons and scoring 17 TD's (14 rushing, 3 receiving). He produced in '07 on the ground, but only put up two TD's.

Last year he did wonders for the Jets offense, putting up 13 rushing touchdowns. He is now apparently unhappy with his contract.

All around threat Leon Washington is also unhappy about his contract. He's proved he's worth being on the team, but at this point it's strange to see him not participate. Is his asking price too high?

Do the Jets want one more quality year out of him? His versatility in the passing game, running game, and special teams would make it hard to not pay the man.

A Jet's friend of mine said something that brought back memories:

"Curtis Martin, where are you now?"

Buffalo Bills' 50th Anniversary Team: Second String

Timothy Young — Sat, 16 May 2009 20:01:48 -0400

As part of their 50th Anniversary festivities, the Buffalo Bills let fans vote for who they thought should be on the all time team. Many sure names made the list, such as Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Billy Shaw, and Marv Levy, but some others were left off. Who would be the second string? What about third? To answer the burning question, here's the Buffalo Bills 50th Anniversary All Time Team: Second String. The third string will be for players who played admirably in backup roles.

Begin Slideshow

"Six-burgh" Still The Team to Beat in the AFC North

Timothy Young — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:42:43 -0400

Eight yards out, the Pittsburgh Steelers are down by three to the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals. It’s prime time, not only in the US, but all over the world. 43 seconds left, Ben Roethlisberger takes the snap.

With seemingly all the time in the world, four seconds later he fires a laser to the back edge of the end zone. In traffic, Santonio Holmes reaches up, and stiff as a board, falls out of bounds and drags his toes.

“After review, the receiver had control of the football, both feet were in bounds, touchdown.”

Wow.

“Sixburgh” put their stamp in the history books by winning Super Bowl XLIII in convincing fashion. That wasn’t the only story last year in the AFC North, though, as many other interesting stories came out.

Joe Flacco, the quarterback shuffle in Cleveland, and the bumbling Cincinnati Bengals, all were interesting happenings to follow throughout the year.

Here’s a look at the offseason moves that each team has made so far.

Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)

For the rest of the NFL, you could hear a pin drop through all the noise (if you can call it that at all) that the Steelers made in free agency.

Aside from letting Larry Foote, Bryant McFadden, and Nate Washington walk, the biggest splash they made in free agency was acquiring Shaun McDonald, who was cast off from the record setting Detroit Lions.

The move just added more wood to the fire, being that the Steelers already have Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Limas Sweed, and rookie Mike Wallace out of Mississippi manning the receiving corp.

The Steelers addressed the trenches with their first two picks in the draft, picking up beefy defensive lineman Evander Hood 32nd overall, and versatile offensive lineman Kraig Urbik in the second round.

Hood, playing behind solid veterans, has time to develop and learn from the vets above him, while Urbik adds quality young depth to a line that needs it.

With the loss of McFadden to the Arizona Cardinals, the Steelers spent two picks in a row on corners in Keenan Lewis and Joe Burnett, in the third and fifth rounds respectively.

The most intriguing pick of the draft came later than any draftnik expected. Former Rimington Award winner A.Q. Shipley could turn in to the steal of the draft after being drafted 226th overall.

Shipley was criticized for his short stature and short arms, but brings a tenacity and love of the game that is unmatched in this years offensive line class. Expect him to contribute strong depth for years to come.

Baltimore Ravens (11-5)

What's that old cliche? "Defense, defense, defense?" Oh, well the Ravens are the poster boys of strong defenses. The names Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, and, well, the name "Baltimore Ravens Defense" strike fear in to a lot of teams. Joe Flacco, with the help of his defense, led the Ravens to a strong playoff run.

The Ravens brought in recently released quarterback John Beck to make up for the loss of Kyle Boller, along with journeymen cornerbacks Dominique Foxworth and Chris Carr, center Matt Birk, and former Eagle tight end L.J. Smith through free agency, but cleaned house otherwise.

Bart Scott, Jim Leonhard, and Marques Douglas all packed their bags and followed Rex Ryan to the Big Apple, while the Ravens felt Corey Ivy, Samari Rolle, Chris McAllister, Lorenzo Neal, and Dawan Landry were expendable.

Feel-good story Michael Oher was the Ravens first pick at 23rd overall, and added quarterback-finding-missile Paul Kruger in the second.

One of the cornerback holes may have been filled in the third with the addition of Lardarius Webb, a ballhawk from Nicchols state who had 7 interceptions in his two year collegiate career.

One thing that may scare some Ravens fans is the lack of secondary help, overlooked in both the draft and free agency.

Having Ed Reed is always a plus, but when you let go of five key contributors in the secondary (McAllister, Rolle, Leonhard, Ivy, and Landry), you leave a wide open hole in a pass happy AFC North.

Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1)

Boy, that 1 is still hard to look at. How, as a professional athlete, do you not know that there are ties in the NFL? Marvin Lewis had to chuckle when he heard Donovan McNabb's press conference after the game. I know I did.

The Bengals had a year worthy of... Forgetting. The injury to Carson Palmer, having to play the Ravens and Steelers twice, and ranking 19th in the league in defense and dead last in offense made it hard to watch, especially when you have weapons named Chad and T.J. at your disposal.

Backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is gone to Buffalo, T.J. Houshmandzeadeh is in Seattle, and Glenn Holt is in Minnesota. These three holes were filled in free agency, with J.T. O'Sullivan coming from San Fransisco to back up Carson Palmer, and Laverneus Coles jetting (haha... ah well I thought it was funny) from New York to Cincinnati.

They also scooped up Roy Williams and Tank Johnson from the Cowboys to help on the defensive side.

The Bengals had a stellar, stellar draft. With the acquisition of Andre Smith to replace Stacy Andrews, the line seems a little more solidified. They stacked the defensive side of the ball with their next two picks, landing USC middle linebacker and Rey Maualuga and pass rushing machine Michael Johnson.

The rest of the draft filled in strong depth, and even replaced T.J. Houshmandzedah's position of hardest name to pronounce and spell in running back Fui Vakapuna in the 7th.

Cleveland Browns (4-12)

The Browns, with little firepower left on offense after the trade of Kellen Winslow Jr. and the possible jailing of Donte' Stallworth, why would you shop superstar Braylon Edwards? It's a general question I have to ask before delving in to the Browns...

As stated before, the biggest thing that happened this offseason for the Browns was the trade of Kellen Winslow Jr. to the Buccaneers. A close second would be the addition of Eric Mangini as head coach.

In free agency, the Browns took the Rex Ryan approach and brought in ex-Jets Eric Barton, David Bowens, Hank Poteat, and C.J. Mosely, all on the defensive side of the ball.

Veteran acquisition of Robert Royal from the Bills at least fills the tight end position for now, and castoffs David Patten and Mike Furrey could provide well to whoever wins the quarterback carousel.

The Browns were very effective in the draft. They traded back in the blockbuster trade the Jets made, which landed the Jets Mark Sanchez. The Browns received defensive end Kenyon Coleman, cornerback Abram Elam, quarterback Brett Ratliff, the Jets first round pick and the 52nd pick in the draft.

With their picks, they landed a stud center in Alex Mack out of Cal, and spent two of their second round picks on wide receivers. Brian Robiskie is a physical specimen who could immediately bring results day one, yet so could Mohamed Massaquoi.

They are listed at 6'3" and 6'2" respectively, and against the shorter corners in the AFC North, they could be very effective.

The rest of their drafted focused on defense. Kaluka Maiava slid to the fourth round as the "fourth" USC linebacker, and the Browns got a steal when Coye Francies out of San Jose State fell to them in the sixth round.

Although he has limited Division I experience, he's a fierce tackler with the mentality of a ballhawk.

What to look for in 2009

1) The defending Super Bowl Champs

Seven-peat? It will be tough with the strong conference, but it's the hard nosed, impressive Steelers who've only helped themselves through the draft. Expect another division title

2) Joe Flacco?

The sophomore year for a successful rookie can be tough, especially when you've been criticized saying that your defense carried the team. Although the 2nd ranked defense did do well, Flacco has few receiving threats but a strong run game to back him up.

3) Carson Palmer's return

With Chad Ocho Cinco and new toys in his receiving arsenal, can Carson turn his team around?

4) Braylon Edwards still in Brown-town?

The Browns are still seemingly shopping receiver Braylon Edwards around after their two picks. They must believe in Joshua Cribbs, Robert Royal, and two rookies. Yeah, I got a chill down my spine too Browns fans.

5) The turn around of the Browns

With such high expectations last year, they failed. Now they've brought in new weapons for the offense, strong free agent pick ups, and a new head coach.

Can they finally live up to the expectations? Who plays quarterback? They still have to play the Steelers and Ravens twice a year, but in the offseason, all you can be is optimistic.

The Ravens, Bengals, and Browns have a tough hill to climb to dismantle the defending Super Bowl champs, but it'll be worth a watch. Stay tuned to the AFC North.

Buffalo Bills: I Don't Believe; I Billieve

Timothy Young — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:53:24 -0400

On May 13th, 2004, the Buffalo Bills lost a great fan, and I lost my best friend. Jennifer Lynn Young, my sister, was killed in a car accident in Virginia Beach at the age of 18. Today is the anniversary, and the reason I write this article.

When I made the trek up to Orchard Park from Pittsburgh on Sept. 25 the next year, nothing felt right. When my father and I got to our usual seats near the endzone, I couldn't stop my heart from dropping when I looked to the seat to my left and saw that my cheering partner wasn't there.

I learned to cheer harder.

My sister and I received our passion for Buffalo sports through my grandfather, a strong, quiet man and Major in the 2nd Marine Division. He spoke little, but one thing he and my father have told me in life is that whatever I believe in, I should follow with all my heart.

I believe in the Buffalo Bills.

I've relived wide rights, witnessed Miracles in the Music City, and heard an entire stadium go daftly quiet when a player hit the turf. The question you may ask now is, why, through all the turmoil that Buffalo sports has put me through, why still follow?

The tattoo on my right shoulder—pictured above—is not just a tattoo. It's a symbol of pride. I'm proud of the Buffalo Bills. I'm proud of the city that has stuck by its team through years of endless criticism around the league. I'm proud of the fans that chanted "Scott," even after he missed wide right.

That pride will never be taken away from me, and that is why I still follow.

Some of my first memories as a child are of sitting on my grandfather's couch, watching Bruce Smith sack Dan Marino, having Kenneth Davis run one to the house in the Tecmo Bowl video game, and having my dad tell me of his times at the Rockpile.

My love for Buffalo sports has even led to my nickname in college being simply "Buffalo," due to the fact you won't see me without a Buffalo Bills or Sabres jersey, shirt, or hat on at any time. I once wore a Pittsburgh Pirates shirt to my friends house. My friend smirked and said, "So you finally gave up."

I lifted my right sleeve and silenced him for the rest of the night.

My friends call it an obsession. I call it a passion. I write for the Buffalo Bills so that I can spread the word to fellow diehards and fans, keep them up to date, or even share another writers opinion on situations involving the franchise. The first Web site I go to every day is the official Buffalo Bills home page, followed by fan forums on seperate sites.

I will continue to write and follow, and with the recent passing of my grandfather, will learn to cheer three times harder when I'm in Ralph Wilson Stadium this year.

As any true Bills fan will tell you and as I stated above, I don't believe in the Buffalo Bills, I Billieve.

Buffalo Bills Sign Two Free Agents, Release LB Hall

Timothy Young — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:30:22 -0400

The Bills signed free agent defensive end Jermaine McGhee and defensive back Kyle Ward. They also released linebacker Vince Hall.

McGhee, a street signing of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008, was let go by Kansas City. The Prairie View A&M alum may compete for a practice squad job for the Bills.

Ward was an undrafted free agent for the Green Bay Packers last year. Listed at 6'1" 198 pounds, Ward could provide a good training camp matchup for the taller receivers.

Last years practice squad linebacker Vince Hall was also released.

Buffalo Bills' Special Teams: Preview and Rule Changes

Timothy Young — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:02:01 -0400

It's preseason and rookie Leodis McKelvin is waiting to return a kickoff at the Rodger's Centre. The ball is in the air, and Duke Preston, Darian Barnes, and Courtney Anderson line up in the three-man wedge, with Justin Jenkins breaking off to create a hole for McKelvin to take it to the house.

Flag.

"Personal foul, forming a wedge. The ball will be spotted 15 yards from where the wedge was formed, first down."

Of course that flag was never thrown and that penalty was never called, but if the formation happens this year, you can guarantee you'll see yellow on the field.

The NFL passed a new rule that the wedge, a staple of any level of football since its earliest days, is now banned in the NFL. The bunch on onside kicks and peel-back blocks are also now penalized. This will most certainly change the way that special teams coach Bobby April sets up the return teams.

In an interview with Chris Brown, senior writer for the Buffalo Bills, April seemed a bit up in arms about the change.

"Any time you try to legislate hitting out of the game you’re going to run into problems because the essence of the game is hitting and contact. So when you legislate the essence of the game out of the game there is going to be a lot of compromising. There is going to have to be a lot of change involved.”

For an excellent special teams coach like April, this shouldn't be a problem, but from a referee's perspective, it puts far too much personal judgement into play. Special teams is probably the most violent aspect of the game. Physical specimens sprint as fast as they can at each other, and they expect them to ease up?

No one can be too sure how the rules will develop, but one thing you can be sure of is that the Bills will have another great special teams unit. April received the Special Teams Coach of the Year Award this past April (ironically), and has the right men at his disposal to do it.

With a record-setting and league-leading 16.3 yards per return, Roscoe Parrish is as electric a punt returner as you can get. His speed and athleticism made fans question why he was on the trade block before the draft. While many blew a sigh of relief when he wasn't traded, they may not have had to.

Running back Fred Jackson and cornerback Leodis McKelvin both did very well when called upon, with Jackson's highlight return coming on an impressive sprint down the sidelines for 34 yards in St. Louis last year.

Terrence McGee has always excelled in his kick return abilities, but when Leodis McKelvin was drafted, Terrence was ready to step in to purely a corner role. McKelvin did an amazing job in his role, helping the Bills to an incredible 24.2 yards per return. The Bills also led the league in returns over 40 yards, and tied the San Diego Chargers with 43 returns over 20.

Punter Brian Moorman put up big numbers as usual, with a net average of 39.1 yards per punt, and Rian Lindell still knows how to handle the pressure of long shots in windy and unrelenting weather.

All of these players come back as the major special teams contributors, while prime special teams tacklers George Wilson and John Wendling will also be back on the field.

With the rule changes, it will be interesting to see what happens around the league in the return game. Bills fans can count on one thing, though: It's bound to be exciting when Roscoe and Leodis are waiting deep.

AFC East Offseason Review: Wildcats, Minutemen, Planes and Bison

Timothy Young — Sun, 10 May 2009 18:10:55 -0400

It's 2:34 in the first quarter of Week Three. Chad Pennington runs off the field, but Chad Henne doesn't run on. The huddle breaks, and Ricky Williams lines up wide to the left, while Ronnie Brown sits in the shotgun. Ricky goes in motion toward Ronnie, Ronnie takes the snap to paydirt, thus stunning Bill Belichick and the Patriots.

But it didn't end there.

What seemed like a one time trick play turned in to the league-wide phenomenon known simply as "The Wildcat." Fred Jackson lined up with Trent Edwards at receiver for the Bills, the same in New York, where Thomas Jones stared down Brett Favre spread wide to the right.

The Wildcat, Brett Favre and the Jets, Tom Brady's injury, the collapse of the Bills—all of these things led to the AFC East becoming one of the most exciting and competitive divisions in the NFL.

Things can only get more exciting this year. The draft is over and each team is getting ready to start their OTA's and training camp. Here's a recap of what each team has done so far this offseason.

Miami Dolphins (11-5)

The Miami Dolphins shocked the NFL by turning the league's worst record in 2007 into an AFC East-leading 11-5 in 2008. That turn around was due mostly to the steady and strong play of new quarterback Chad Pennington. A healthy Ronnie Brown also worked wonders for an offense that finished 12th in total yards per game.

The Dolphins did little in free agency, picking up line help in Joe Berger and Jake Grove. They also replaced Andre' Goodman with ex-Cardinal Eric Green.

Where they truly shined, as all Bill Parcell-led teams do, was through the draft.

It was no surprise that the Dolphins would address two things early on: The secondary and a weapon worthy of the Wildcat. They did both, and they did both very well.

The ultimate weapon for the Wildcat was snatched up in the second round in former WVU star Pat White. With an accurate arm, quick moves and receiver speed, he can line up and do anything in the formation.

When you face Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Joey Galloway, Lee Evans, and newcomer Terrell Owens in four games a year, you can never have too many corners. The Dolphins effectively picked up the best in the draft in Vontae Davis, and matched the size of Owens and Moss by drafting physical specimen Sean Smith out of Utah.

The 6'4", 214-pound Smith has the leaping ability to negate the jump ball, and will probably be a staple in the red zone defense for years to come.

New England Patriots (11-5)

Tom Brady is healthy, and Bill Belichick is still the head coach. That's enough to be scared of if you have to play the Patriots.

They hit two lotteries in the NFL this offseason, in both free agency and the draft. You can never have too much depth, but when that depth is starting quality, things get scary.

The additions of Fred Taylor and Joey Galloway add great depth to the backfield and receiving corp, and Shawn Springs, Tank Johnson, and Tully Banta-Cain will fight for starting roles on the defensive side of the ball.

Anyone who's a fan of an AFC East team got chills on draft day when they saw the Patriots continuously trade back. Bill Belichick with so many picks is a dangerous thing, and he proved it when he drafted hard-hitting safety Patrick Chung, run-stuffer Ron Brace, and corner Darius Butler.

Chung will most likely get the nod to replace Rodney Harrison, and Brace looks to be the replacement for veteran Vince Wilfork down the road.

New York Jets (9-7)

The Promised Land never came when Brett Favre took the helm in New York. The sky was the limit to start the year, and it appeared that everything was going to go right. A weak end to the season (1-4 in their last five) cost the Jets a playoff spot, but so did interception machine Brett Favre.

The new regime under Rex Ryan wasted no time bringing in old faces from the Ravens. Jim Leonhard, Marques Douglas, and Bart Scott all did well in Baltimore, and Rex couldn't let the free agents test the market.

Although at the time it may not have been their main goal, it would seem in retrospect that they stocked up in free agency so they could make a big move in the draft.

The Jets traded far up the board to take former USC QB Mark Sanchez with the fifth overall pick in this year's draft. They had only two other selections for the entire draft, and spent them on areas of need in running back Shonn Greene and offensive lineman Matt Slauson. Expect Greene to be a factor in later years, with Thomas Jones aging.

One major question looms in the Big Apple, though: Who starts Day One? Sanchez is a one-year starter from USC with all the tools, but can he make the jump from one year of college ball to the NFL? Kellen Clemens is the incumbent as of now, but Mark Sanchez has made it public he plans to be taking the snaps on opening day.

With no clear receiving threat, it wouldn't be a big shocker if the Jets took a chance on veteran Marvin Harrison, who has been very quiet during the free agency period.

Buffalo Bills (7-9)

"I don't know what else we gotta do, we're playin' ball up here in the B'lo." Those were the words said by DT Marcus Stroud after a 23-14 victory over the San Diego Chargers in Week Seven.

Up to that point, they were.

The Bills started off hot, with a 4-0 record heading in to the desert, before getting beat up on by the Arizona Cardinals. Trent Edwards was injured in that game, and J.P. Losman took the helm. Since J.P.'s departure, Bills fans are excited about the addition of Ryan Fitzpatrick, who did well in taking over for the injured Carson Palmer last year.

New addition Terrell Owens was a head-scratcher for some, but a breath of fresh air for QB Trent Edwards and WR Lee Evans. Edwards now has proven red zone threat, and Evans doesn't have to constantly face double-teams anymore.

The Bills cleaned house on their offensive line, getting rid of centers Duke Preston and Melvin Fowler, cutting Derrick Dockery, and trading left tackle Jason Peters to the Eagles.

They addressed the center position and depth by bringing in offensive linemen Seth McKinney and Geoff Hangartner. In the draft, they addressed major needs in the line by drafting center Eric Wood and guard Andy Levitre.

The biggest addition through the draft should be Aaron Maybin, a pass-rushing machine out of Penn State.

Of all the teams in the AFC East, the Bills may have the most question marks heading into Day One. Can the offensive line gel and hold up against the strong defenses of the AFC East? How will Terrell do in cold weather and with a young quarterback? How will the loss of Marshawn Lynch affect the Bills for the first three games? Will they go 7-9 again?

Here are five things people should look for out of the AFC East this year.

1. Tom Brady's return.

After going down week one with a knee injury and very limited time to prepare for this year, will one of the games best quarterbacks be rusty, or will he return to his gunslinger mentality without missing a step?

2. The New York Jets' quarterback play.

Of the two fighting for the number one spot, either can be success stories or flop. Clemens gets the nod in my opinion, giving Sanchez time to get a feel for the game and learn the system. If Sanchez is to start, it's a heavy burden to be a rookie and step in to Brett Favre's shoes.

3. Pat White and the Dolphins.

Will the Dolphins have another division-leading year, and how will Pat White help the Wildcat? The offense will be an exciting thing to watch with Chad Pennington and the array of weapons at his disposal.

4. The T.O. show.

The receiving corp in Buffalo is scary on paper, along with Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson, and Dominic Rhodes in the backfield, but with an unpolished offensive line, can Trent get the ball to them without being rushed? If he can, it'll be an intriguing offense in Buffalo.

5. Who takes the cake?

Four solid teams, all vying for that top spot in the AFC East.

Expect an exciting finish to the season, some heated rivalries rekindled, and some nasty play on the field when these teams suit up against each other on Sundays.

Strongside a Weakness? Outside Linebacker and Other Positional Battles

Timothy Young — Sat, 09 May 2009 20:10:23 -0400

Through training camp last year, many Bills fans were excited about the defense. The defensive tackle position was solidified with Kyle Williams and Marcus Stroud, the secondary was looking strong with Jabari Greer and Terrance McGee, and the linebacking corp was solidified.

Or so they thought.

In a controversial move, the Bills put Angelo Crowell on injured reserve prior to the beginning of the regular season. This put Keith Ellison immediately in the starting role, since rookie Alvin Bowen tore a knee ligament and Keith had started at the other linebacking spot the year before, he seemed like the sure fill in.

In 2007 he did great in pass coverage, but struggled a bit in the run game. The Bills struck gold with the signing of Kawika Mitchell, and it sent Keith back to his reserve and special teams role. When thrown in to the mix again in 2008, he just didn't have "it."

One of the biggest training camp battles for the Buffalo Bills will be at outside linebacker. Paul Posluszny's leadership and signal calling ability solidifies him in the middle, and Kawika Mitchell's playmaking ability keeps him on the field, but the other side has a question mark next to it on paper.

Let's see the candidates...

Keith Ellison

Keith was drafted in the sixth round to be solid depth and a special teamer. In his two year tenure with the Bills he's started 23 of the 28 games he was eligible for. He's quick, instinctive, and has a nose for the ball when it's in the air. If you want a linebacker on the opposing tight end, you would feel comfortable with Keith guarding him.

The knock on Keith is his size and the problem he may be overly instinctive at times, especially in the run game. In third and long situations, he's optimal at linebacker. With little experience behind him, he seems to be the No. 1 option as of now.

Alvin Bowen

The darkhorse in the race, Alvin tore his ACL in early August last year. He never had a rookie season, but coming out of the draft, the former Cyclone was a tackling machine. He's got the speed for the position, and could really help in the run game. His rehabilitation has gone well, and he feels he's completely ready for the upcoming season.

Inexperience at the NFL level is certainly a concern, but having had plenty of time to read over the playbook and study the system could be a plus in his favor. He is also a bit undersized, listed at 6'1 222. If he performs well in the offseason, he could easily supplant Keith as the starter.

Nic Harris

Rookie Nic Harris is a converted safety from his days of being a Sooner, but has the size and skill to be a productive NFL linebacker. He can immediately produce on special teams, and his run stopping ability enticed the Bills to take him 147th overall. At 6'2" 232, he's physically bigger than Keith and Alvin.

The same can be said, though, about Nic Harris as above stated with Alvin. He doesn't have the experience at the NFL level, let alone the position. He was heralded as being smart and a quick learner at Oklahoma, though, so if he can catch on to the playbook and produce on the practice field, he may be at least a rotational player at the position.

Blake Costanzo, John DiGiorgio, Aaron Maybin

These three are grouped together because they would be huge darkhorses. Aaron Maybin is a pass rushing machine, and has the physical tools to be a good outside linebacker, but he's used to beating tackles out of the three point stance. His size and speed could put him in the position, and although listed as a defensive end, his number at the time being is 58, which is a linebacker number, not a lineman's.

John DiGiorgio, when Paul Posluszny fell to injury in 2007, filled in well and proved that he was the most competent of the backup linebackers on the team. He lacks the elite speed for the position, but with his instincts and run plugging ability, he may be a candidate.

Blake Costanzo did very well on special teams last year, making impressive tackles on kick offs, but saw little of the field on defense. Depending on his performance in training camp, he may at least be a rotational player at the position.

One of the more intriguing positional battles is at wide receiver.

Before the signing of Terrell Owens, it was simply Lee Evans, Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish, James Hardy, Stevie Johnson and Justin Jenkins. When James went on IR, Stevie stepped up in the red zone game and scored two touchdowns. His physical attributes are perfect for the position, but James could possibly bloom in to the second round pick he was worth last year.

James has the size at 6'5, but failed to produce on fade routes in the red zone. Stevie is the less experienced, but at 6'2 202 is the prototypical receiver. With Terrell and Lee catching the majority of passes, it will be interesting to see who gets put in the slot or as the fifth receiver in five receiver sets. It doesn't hurt to have a 14-year veteran as a mentor and teacher in Owens.

It all comes down to who can out perform who, and Bills fans will be enticed throughout the year to see what the final depth chart looks like.

What to Make of the Buffalo Bills Offseason

Timothy Young — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:10:50 -0400

When you trade Jason Peters, cut Derrick Dockery and Robert Royal, and let Melvin Fowler and Duke Preston move on through free agency, you open a glaring hole in the trenches.

The Bills felt last year that they solidified their defensive line through additions of Marcus Stroud and Spencer Johnson, and were content with a starting offensive front in Langston Walker, Brad Butler, Melvin Fowler, Derrick Dockery, and Jason Peters. Now, Buffalo fans are scratching their heads at an offensive line that is only two fifths of what it was last year.

Disgruntled Pro Bowler Jason Peters was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for three draft picks. Derrick Dockery ended up where he started in Washington, and Robert Royal appears to take Kellen Winslow Jr.'s spot in Cleveland.

But who came to the Bills?

The free agency period brought in two players: former Carolina Panther Geoff Hangartner, and journeyman Seth McKinney, both C/G players who've done well when called upon.

In the draft, the Bills selected 28th overall C/G Eric Wood, hoping for him to fill the hole that was opened when Dockery left. With Hangartner projected as the starting center and Wood being heralded as the new left guard, who would fill the left tackle responsibilities?

As of now, the projected line is, from right to left respectively, Brad Butler, rookie Andy Levitre, Geoff Hangartner, Eric Wood, and Langston Walker.

Langston would move back to the spot he played in Oakland, and Butler would move back to his natural college position of tackle. The Bills front office seems content with this line, but an interesting prospect just became available.

Levi Jones has come on the market, and could help protect Trent Edward's blind side while the rookies get used to the system. With the selection of Andre Smith, the Bengals felt that Jones was expendable, and the Bills could take a chance on the tackle who turns 30 prior to the 2009 NFL season.

He would help solidify an offensive line that needs to give Trent Edwards time to throw to a revamped receiving corp, including new additions in Terrell Owens, rookie Shawn Nelson, and Dominic Rhodes out of the backfield.

With the backfield and receiving corp seemingly solidified and an offensive line that is ready to work together, it's time to look at the Bills defense.

A healthy Aaron Schobel makes the Bills secondary look good, as well as help create some havoc in the oppositions back field. Hoping that he comes back healthy, Bills fans are also excited in rookie acquisition Aaron Maybin.

With probably the quickest first step of any defensive end in this years draft, the undersized but very quick Maybin brings hope to a pass rush that had a meager 24 sacks last season, good enough for 28th in the league.

With a very strong secondary, consisting of stand outs Leodis McKelvin, Terrance McGee, and Donte Whitner, the Bills have the tools to stop high powered passing offenses that make up the AFC East. With the addition of ball hawk Jairus Byrd, who had 17 interceptions in his career at Oregon, you should expect more turnovers in the pass defense.

The only real hole, if you can call it one, is at linebacker with a depth player Keith Ellison manning one of the OLB spots. With the recent release of Pisa Tinoisamoa, the Bills could take a look at the speedy tackle machine. There have been some injury concerns in the past, but he was healthy for the majority of each season.

Rookie Nic Harris, a converted safety, could fight for the role of outside linebacker, along with backup Alvin Bowen, who missed all of last year with a torn knee ligament. It should be the most interesting position battle this offseason in Buffalo.

Do the Bills feel they have a team that Donte Whitner guaranteed would get to the playoffs last year, or are they heading back to another 7-9 season?

As Terrell will tell you, Bills fans, just get your popcorn ready, it'll be an interesting year.