Bleacher Report - Articles by Gabe Erlichman

Will the Buffalo Bills Lose Cornerback Jabari Greer?

Gabe Erlichman — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:14:54 -0500

The Buffalo Bills have one big decision to make this offseason. Playmaker cornerback Jabari Greer is coming off one of his best seasons yet in his career. He has made it known that he wants to get paid with the normally used, "I've got to do what's best for my family" line.

Bottom line is Greer should get his payday considering the work he's put in and the results that we have all seen. The kid can play, and he's in the prime of his career.

A lot of analysts think he could receive a contract close to Corey Webster of the Giants. That deal was a five-year, $43.5 million deal with a $5 million signing bonus.

If the Bills are smart, they should do one of two things. 1. Not resign Angelo Crowell and use that money to cushion the deal that they could offer to Greer, or 2. Hit Greer with the franchise tag and keep him one more year until Leodis McKelvin really has soaken up the NFL game.

McKelvin did play pretty well toward the end of the season, but still—there is no problem with having three good corners rather than two.

Whatever the Bills decide to do, I hope Greer has a successful career whether it is in Buffalo or any other team lucky enough to sign him...unless that team is the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, or the New York—J-E-T-S SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS.

NFL Free Agency: Buffalo Bills Looking for Help at DE

Gabe Erlichman — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:49:51 -0400

Aaron Schobel's and Chris Kelsay's contracts are huge, so are expectations.

Last year, the two defensive ends had to play nearly every down with Al Wallace going down in the preseason, Ryan Denny's foot injury, and Anthony Hargrove's suspension.

The Bills are looking at some free agents to lighten the load that Schobel and Kelsay will carry in 2008.

St. Louis Rams' defensive end James Hall is one of the top options for a Bills team looking to bolster its defensive line. The 31-year-old still has very unique pass rushing skills and could push Kelsay into becoming a better player. Most likely if signed, he would serve as a rotational player with the two incumbent defensive ends.

I think the recently released Kalimba Edwards from Detroit should be looked at, as well. The kid is a pretty good finesse rusher who would also serve as a great rotational player/backup.

The Bills also might look to the draft for young depth at the DE position.

Buffalo Bills: Hoping and Wishing for a Hardy Draft

Gabe Erlichman — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:54:43 -0500

Pleeeeeeeeeeaaaaasssssssssssse! For the love of the Buffalo Bills! Draft the absolute stud WR out of Indiana! Ladies and Gentlemen, James Hardy is one hell of a good football player.

Hardy's size makes me think of Plexico Burress. At 6'7" and 220 lbs, Hardy is too much to be ignored. He has great, soft hands, is physical, and will go up and get the ball with his outstanding length. Hardy is a very dangerous target—especially in the red zone.

In Hardy's senior year he found the paydirt 11 out of 12 games. The kid had five two-TD games and caught 79 balls! His average yards-per-catch over his college career is 14.4, and he has great speed for his size.

10 TDs in 2005, 10 TDs in 2006—and last season, he caught a whopping 16 TDs! In one of his most memorable games against Michigan State in 2006, he caught six balls for 84 yards and with six touchdowns! In his senior season he had 79 receptions for 1,125 yards with 16 scores. This kid is a FREAK.

Often overlooked for bigger-hyped players like Malcolm Kelly, Limas Sweed, and DeSean Jackson Hardy could last until possibly the end of round one beginning of round two.

The Bills have a need for a CB, and they could obviously take that route and draft one of the many CBs available at the 11th spot—or they could go my way.

The could could probably trade down from the 11th spot in return for an additional pick, probably a second- or third-rounder. With this extra pick from trading down, I would acquire TE Dustin Keller from Purdue. He had a great combine and is a recieving threat the Bills are looking for at TE.

Hardy will definitely make an immediate impact on an offense that has struggled this past season, especially over the opponent's 20-yard line.

Now, here's the question: Do you want to see Lindell kicking for three, or should the Bills draft James Hardy? Ha ha—it rhymes, baby!

Buffalo Bills: Was J.P. Losman Really Given the Fair Chance?

Gabe Erlichman — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:10:00 -0500

Was J.P. Losman ever given a fair chance as the starting quarterback for the Buffalo Bills?

The answer is NO.

Many fans wanted Losman to start, while others just wanted him gone.

But Losman, drafted in the first round of 2004, was never given the chance he deserved, or the chance that any QB deserves in the competitive NFL for that matter.

Although he was deemed the starter by then-coach Mularkey when Drew Bledsoe was released from the team after the 2004 season, that was the wrong decision in the competitive learning process. Losman had no one to push him at his young age.

During that season, Losman was thrown in and out as a starter, which is never good when learning the QB position. Experience, GOOD OR BAD, is all GOOD for an upcoming QB, and Mularkey simply set Losmans' learning process off track.

Losman and Kelly Holcomb battled in camp for the 2006 season. Losman ended up earning the starting role. He performed admirably, throwing for 3,051 passing yards and 19 touchdowns, with a pass rating of 84.9. He did this with a terrible offensive system and coordinator, Steve Fairchild, and also only had one legit target in wide receiver Lee Evans.

Losman had a great season, and people were looking for him to build upon that. Buffalo fans were overly excited, as they were shouting for Losman’s contract to be extended with the team.

This past season came around as one of complete disarray at the QB position. Losman was the starter in the beginning of the season, and rightfully so—he earned it.

In Week 3 against the Patriots, Vince Wolfork—the dirtiest player in the game—threw his elbow into Losman’s knee, putting him on the sidelines where he watched Trent Edwards lead only one successful drive on the Patsies.

Buffalo fans jumped the gun and began raving about this kid Edwards. Don’t get me wrong, I like Edwards. Losman watched him have a couple decent games, but when it was time for the starter to come back, the coaches decided to keep Edwards in because the team was winning. It was not because Edwards' play was outstanding...because it wasn’t.

It wasn’t until Edwards was injured that Losman came back in as a starter. The starter should never have to worry about losing his job because of injury. It is incredibly unfair.

Losman is credited for the loss against the Pats even though he only played two plays, while Edwards is credited with the win over the Jets, when Losman came in and won for the team. That is wrong. Losman's win-loss statistic is completely messed up because of it. Plus, Losman lost his job after difficult games against New England—a team Buffalo hasn’t beaten since 2004—and the Jags who were a powerhouse this year.

On top of this, what really bothers me is that we are looking for receiving threats now, but not before when Losman was playing. Why did we only leave Losman to throw to Lee Evans? Wide out has been a problem position for the Bills since Moulds left. Why only now, when Losman isn’t playing anymore, are we actively looking for receiving threats?

Losman put good numbers up last season with a bad offensive system and only one legit wide out, yet the moment he struggles Losman is on the chopping block

What I'm trying to say is that Losman was given the chance to PLAY, but not a chance to SUCCEED.

I wish the best for Losman.

Now Bills fans get ready for the Edwards Era and hope he’s not handled the same way as our last starting quarterback.

LET'S GO BUFFALO!

What TE Will the Buffalo Bills Showcase?

Gabe Erlichman — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:19:15 -0500

The Bills are looking to bolster or upgrade the TE position either through free agency or the upcoming draft.

The only TE's under contract at this time are Robert Royal, Teyo Johnson, and Matt Murphy; although he is transitioning to Offensive Tackle.

The Bills were entertaining themselves with the names like Crumpler in free agency although the TE market is slim this year. Crumpler ended up signing a two year deal with the Titans, so the Bills were left with some slim pickings in the free agent pool.

We signed Teyo Johnson an unproven journeyman who was a converted WR for the possibility he blossoms into a good recieving threat. We have brought in Ben Troupe from the Tennessee Titans, a young TE who never really got into a groove with Vince Young. (Although he had a great season; catching 55 passes for 500 plus yards with Volek under center.)

Since then, he hasn't really shown much, but that could be for many reasons. Recently we have also brought in Courtney Anderson, another journeyman with good receiving ability most well known for his stint with the Raiders.

The loss of Gaines came to a surprise to me. I thought (minus some dropped passes) he worked great in our offense. Royal has been nothing exciting, but is a nice run blocker and good in the red zone.

The upcoming draft has a lot of depth at the TE position, with USC's Fred Davis as the front runner. Davis is supposed to be gone by the end of the first or beginning of the second.

But, there are a lot of fast, athletic TE's waiting to make their impact on the league. My favorite is Dustin Keller from Purdue. He upped his stock with a great bench and 40 time.

I think Royal should be a piece to the offense. The other spot should be taken up by a receiving threat, and someone who Trent Edwards can rely on. The question is WHO will it be?