Bleacher Report - Articles by Jake Widlowski

Introducing the Bleacher Report Store

Jake Widlowski — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:41:04 -0400

On March 24, 2008, my article titled "Dear Bleacher Report" went live to the world.

The piece expressed my desire for a Bleacher Report t-shirt. The Bracket Breaker Challenge had given Bleacher Report writers a chance to win free shirts. However, I came up short—and this made me upset.

I wrote the article to let Bleacher Report know that I felt they should make the shirts available for sale to the public. But even though I addressed my plea to the site’s founders, I wasn’t expecting them to reply.

To my surprise, the article took off like a Sidd Finch fastball.

Within two hours of publication, one of Bleacher Report's Founding Fathers, Dave Nemetz, had told me the t-shirt plan could definitely be a possibility. Within 24 hours, I had received 29 comments and won the Pick of the Day Award.

The Bleacher Report T-Shirt Revolution had officially begun.

At first, most BR members were happy to settle for t-shirts—but it didn't take long until people's imaginations got the best of them. In the end, the Bleacher Bums suggested BR wife-beaters, hoodies, visors, and even an official Bleacher Report Lunchbox.

And above all else, everyone agreed that a Bleacher Report store would be a great idea.

Well, sometimes wishes really do come true.

I’m proud to have started the T-Shirt Revolution. BR writers are some of the best in the business, and need to be recognized for their efforts. As I see it, the whole world should know what a great network we’ve got going—and what better way to spread the word than with official BR t-shirts?

That’s why I’m honored I got the opportunity to write this article, and am VERY happy to announce...

The Bleacher Report Store is OFFICIALLY OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

Bleacher Report has taken my request seriously. Here we are, just over two weeks after the article was written, and the t-shirts are ready for sale.

We asked for it, in other words, and Bleacher Report came through in the clutch.

The t-shirts are available in a wide range of sizes, from women's small all the way up to men's XXL. The shirts are just $18, and even come with free shipping.

Thanks again to Bleacher Report for making these shirts available to everyone. Now it's up to us to return the favor to a great website, by wearing our new shirts with pride.

All we need to ask ourselves...

"Credit or debit?"

Visit the Official Bleacher Report Store

MLB: Chewing Tobacco Problem?

Jake Widlowski — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:05:02 -0400

Watch one entire game of Major League Baseball and you will most likely see at least one player with a “dip” in their mouth. Major leaguers either use dip tobacco, chewing tobacco, or just constantly spit all the time.

Baseball has a high usage of smokeless tobacco amongst their players. It has been estimated that 33 percent of the players in the MLB use chewing tobacco.

Tobacco has been synonymous with baseball for a very long time. Baseball is an outdoor sport that requires a lot of physical fitness. So many baseball players choose to chew tobacco rather than smoke it, in order to stay physically fit. Not to mention, there are plenty of open places to spit while outside.

In fact, Babe Ruth died from throat cancer possibly linked to chewing tobacco in 1948.

As children and young people watch these games, they most likely either ask their parents or friends what is in their mouth. Some may already know that it’s tobacco. These children will see their favorite players do it and think that chewing tobacco is cool.

Young people are especially impressionable during their pre-teen and teenage years. This is also the time of their lives that they are most likely to first try chewing tobacco.

There are even some myths about chewing tobacco among teenagers and young people. Some popular myths are that chewing tobacco makes someone play better, or that tobacco is cool because the professionals do it. So when these adolescents enter into high school, they will most likely try tobacco because they have seen their favorite professional athletes do it.

On Wednesday April 9, 2008, I went to the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins game. At this game, I saw a perfect example of the chewing problem in the MLB. It was the ninth inning and I was bored because the Sox were losing by seven runs, so I decided to walk around and stand by the White Sox bullpen. In the front row, behind the bullpen, were a group of high school boys that were yelling to the Sox closer Bobby Jenks.

“Hey Bobby, what are you dipping?” They yelled at the top of their lungs.

The young men didn’t mention anything about his pitching game; they were only interested in his favorite tobacco flavor. Jenks pulled his tin out of his back pocket and whipped it up to the front row. Three of the boys fought over it and finally one came away with the tin. He gave all of his friends high fives, and everyone was excited for him.

This is an example how much people look up to their favorite athletes, and even their bad habits.

So what do you think?

Should chewing tobacco be banned for MLB players in order to prevent young people from trying it?

Or is it not a big deal that they use smokeless tobacco?

NFL Technology: Helmet Headsets—How Much Is Too Much?

Jake Widlowski — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:51:17 -0400

The NFL owners approved headsets in the helmets of defensive players on Tuesday at the NFL Annual Meeting.

Just like the rule on offense, one defensive player on the field at a time is now allowed to wear a headset.

The new rule will likely reduce the confusion that defensive players face when looking to the sideline for the defensive play on every down. The play call will now be sent directly to the speakers within their helmets.

NFL coaches have already begun to develop strategies determining who will have the headsets. Coaches know they will have to select a player who will play the full three downs of a defensive set. This will most likely be the team’s premier linebacker, who tends to play most of the downs.

However, if the defensive player has to exit the field, another player will be allowed to enter the game with a headset on.

The new rule concerns Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

“The concept of it is fine, but the logistics of it are a little bit of a different story,” he said. “You don't always have a quarterback in the game on defense, like you do on offense. It's a little bit of a different setup.”

Belichick still voted in favor of the new rule.

Of the 32 NFL teams, 25 of them were in favor of the defensive headset. The rule passed by only one vote.

This is just the next step in the advancement of technology in the NFL. In a league that features instant replay, headsets for all coaches, and top of the line equipment for the players, football is becoming a game that depends too much on technology.

But many will wonder just how much technology is too much?

Having headsets for defensive players is fine, but the NFL should limit the amount of outside interference within a game and let the players play the game as it was meant to be played.

Before we know it, kickers will be allowed to wear a wristwatch that judges the speed of the wind, the weather variables, and even how their fantasy team is doing.

Don’t be surprised to see signs at all NFL stadiums next season that read, “Fans, please turn off all cell phones and mobile devices before entering the stadium to reduce the radio static among the offensive and defensive headsets. Thank You.”

Pacman Jones Should Quit Football

Jake Widlowski — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:26:01 -0400

Adam “Pacman” Jones has had a long history of off the field problems.

His most well-known run in with the law was the Las Vegas strip club fiasco. He was accused of “felony coercion of threat to life.” This essentially means that he knew of, and was most likely a part of the February 19, 2007 Las Vegas shooting. However, he wasn’t the one who pulled the trigger.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Pacman Jones for the entire 2007 NFL season.

Since the night club shooting, Jones has attempted to stay out of trouble and improve his image. He hasn’t had any major problems take place since the suspension. Except for a woman accusing Jones of hitting her while at another strip club in Atlanta.

If there is a problem at a night club, Pacman Jones usually isn’t far behind.

During his time off from football, Jones tried his hand at wrestling and music. He attempted to become a professional wrestler, but because of his NFL contract he was unable to do so. He is also in the process of making his own hip hop album.

Now after all his legal problems, Jones is expected to once again ask Goodell to be reinstated into the NFL. If reinstated, the Tennessee Titans have made it clear that they do not want him back on the team.

So now what for Pacman Jones? What can a player with a long history of legal trouble, a mediocre NFL career, and a team that doesn’t even want him back, expect from next season?

Pacman has tried to let the world know that he has put his problems behind him and will try to move on. Earlier this week he went on Michael Irvin’s radio show.

“Roger said he didn’t want me in the strip club. I didn’t think there’s anything wrong with going to the strip club. Well it was one of the dumbest decisions I’ve ever made. It ain’t gonna happen no more. The best thing for me was sitting out a year to get myself together as a person.” Said Jones.

Pacman Jones has also said that he wants to play for the Dallas Cowboys next season, and would be a good fit with the team.

However, what kind of team would want to sign him? The Titans don’t want him, and the Cowboys probably don’t want him either.

Why would they want him? He is nothing but trouble.

Pacman Jones should just quit the NFL and go back to wrestling and music, where former convicts seem to belong. He could even frequent his favorite night clubs again!

That is probably the best decision for Pacman Jones.

NCAA Tournament: Duke Lives to See Another Day

Jake Widlowski — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:16:02 -0400

The Duke University basketball team had their hands full in their first round game against Belmont on Thursday night.

Duke and Belmont fought tooth and nail to the very end. The Blue Devils escaped with a 71-70 victory.

Head coach Mike Krzyzewski was very impressed with Belmont’s tenacity. “You won’t hear any of our players say we overlooked them. They played really good defense against us,” Coach K. said after the win.

Gerald Henderson carried Duke for the majority of the game, and came up with a clutch layup that sealed the deal for his team. Henderson finished with 21 points.

Duke now looks ahead to their second round matchup with West Virginia.

West Virginia also had their hands full with a feisty Arizona team. The Mountaineers played solid a solid game and held off numerous runs by Arizona to win 75-65.

Duke will not be so lucky to come away with a win if they play poorly again against WVU.

West Virginia knows how to win big games. They are well coached by Bob Huggins, and they have solid players in Joe Alexander, Alex Ruoff, and Da’Sean Butler.

The bright side for the Blue Devils is that they match up well with WVU.

Duke is a running and shooting team that relies on the three-point shot. Duke lacks a dominant post threat, and has trouble defending big players. West Virginia lacks the height and athleticism that has given Duke problems in the past.

The Blue Devils now look to put their poor performance behind them and come out firing on all cylinders on Saturday afternoon.

The Duke vs. WVU game will be a heavyweight bout and it will likely take the full 40 minutes to decide a winner. There will be three-pointers, fast breaks, and tenacious defense throughout the game.

In addition, the game will feature two premier coaches in Duke’s Krzyzewski and West Virginia’s Huggins.

The NCAA Tournament is all about surviving. A win is a win, whether it’s by 50 points, or just one.

Whoever survives Saturday will have momentum on their side heading into the Sweet 16.

2008 NFL Draft: Buffalo Bills Face Tough Decision

Jake Widlowski — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:19:21 -0400

The Buffalo Bills have a spot at wide receiver that desperately needs filling this offseason. They failed to sign a quality free-agent wide out, so it now comes down to filling the need in the upcoming draft.

The Bills are in luck, because top-notch wide receivers will be easy to come by.

Buffalo will likely have their choice of receiver, considering the 10 teams ahead of them will most likely pick a different position player. Many experts believe that the Bills will be the first team to draft a wide receiver.

If the Bills select a wide receiver with their first round pick, they would most likely select Malcolm Kelly, Limas Sweed, Devin Thomas, or Mario Manningham. Kelly and Thomas have both told the media that they have a visit planned to meet with the Bills organization before draft day.

However, with such a deep wide receiving class entering the draft, the Bills could possibly skip taking a wide out in the first round all together.

Another position that Buffalo desperately needs to fill is cornerback. They lost free-agent cornerback Jason Webster to the Patriots earlier this month. He was a veteran player who added a lot to the team.

Buffalo also released CB Kiwaukee Thomas. The Bills currently only have four cornerbacks under contract: Dustin Fox, Jabari Greer, Terrence McGee, and Ashton Youboty.

The wisest move for the Bills would be to grab an elite cornerback with their first pick instead of a wide receiver. According to an ESPN.com mock draft, the Bills are projected to pick up Leodis McKelvin from Troy University.

McKelvin’s stats are pretty impressive. This past season he had 60 tackles, caused three fumbles, and intercepted two passes, leading the Troy Trojans to an 8-4 record. He also ran a 4.38 in his 40-yard dash in the NFL combine.

If the Bills pass on wide receiver in the first round, they could possibly land another receiver, such as Indiana’s James Hardy, in the second round.

The Buffalo Bills will have many options come draft day. Hopefully the organization will make the wise move and the Bills will benefit from this draft for years to come.

NCAA Tournament Sleeper: St. Joseph’s Hawks

Jake Widlowski — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:22:01 -0400

The St. Joseph’s Hawks are hoping to be this year’s Cinderella.

St. Joe’s comes from the Atlantic 10 conference, which placed three teams in this year’s tournament. Xavier, Temple, and St. Joseph’s all qualified for the field of 65.

St. Joe’s is coming off a very successful season. The Hawks went 21-12 overall, and 9-7 in A-10 play. Their key non-conference wins were over Penn St, Pennsylvania, and Villanova. After a mediocre non-conference season, the Hawks entered conference play with a chip on their shoulder.

St. Joe’s beat UMass and Xavier twice and Temple once to headline their conference victories. In early March, St. Joe’s defeated Xavier 71-66, and just eight days later they beat the Musketeers again 61-53.

Xavier ended up winning the Atlantic 10 conference and received a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament. Beating Xavier proved that St. Joe’s can knock off any team on a given day.

St. Joe’s went 5-3 this year against teams that made the field of 65.

The Hawks seem to be heading into the NCAA Tournament on a hot streak. Despite losing the conference championship game to Temple, St. Joe’s ended the season with a 4-2 record since March 6.

With a season record of 21-12, a No. 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament seems justified. Coach Phil Martelli was very happy to get in.

“The beauty of this tournament is the elation you feel getting selected is comparable to winning a game,” Martelli said. “The glow that you get, the vibe you get.”

Despite not making the NCAA Tournament since the 2003-2004 season, Martelli is no stranger to the Big Dance. This is his fourth time leading St. Joe’s into the tournament.

2003-2004 was his best season as head coach. He led the Hawks to a 30-2 overall record and went 16-0 in the Atlantic 10. His team received a No. 1 seed, and eventually lost to Oklahoma State in the Elite Eight. Coach Martelli was named the consensus National Coach of the Year for his efforts.

Four years ago it was the Hawks' guard play (Jameer Nelson and Delonte West) that led the way. This year it is a totally different team that is led by their powerful frontcourt.

Pat Calathes is a versatile 6'10" guard/forward who is averaging 17.8 points per game and shooting over 40 percent from three-point land. Ahmad Nivins is a 6'9" power forward who is the Hawks' dominant post threat. He averages 14.4 points a game and 5.9 rebounds.

Rob Ferguson (6'8") has also contributed greatly to the team.

The Hawks have what it takes to make a run. Led by an excellent coach and solid players, St. Joseph’s is poised and ready to do some damage in the Big Dance.

The team begins tournament play with a first round match-up against Oklahoma on Friday evening.

Selection Sunday: Play-In Games Beat Waiting Game for Georgia, Illinois

Jake Widlowski — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 05:39:40 -0400

Selection Sunday is filled with mixed emotions around the country.

As the NCAA selection committee sits over their computers and TVs, college basketball nation will watch its last games of the year and wait in anticipation. For some, today will be one of the happiest days of their lives. And for others, today will be oh so sad.

Some teams have seemingly played their way into the tournament with a strong showing this weekend. West Virginia wrapped up their bid, Miami and Virginia Tech helped their cause, and even Saint Joseph's expects to be dancing by the end of the day.

Other teams are anxiously awaiting tonight’s verdict with worries and doubts. Arizona and Arizona St. will be nervously awaiting tonight. Dayton, UMass, and Oregon are also going to be holding their breath as the brackets are released.

These teams have their destiny riding on the verdict of the selection committee. Their whole season depends on the opinions of nine old men and one old lady.

Georgia and Illinois have an opportunity that some bubble teams wish they had. These two teams have a play-in game today for the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs and Fighting Illini don’t have to worry about a committee determining if they are good enough to get in. Their future is in their own hands.

It has been a topsy-turvy weekend for the Bulldogs. On Thursday afternoon, Georgia defeated Ole Miss 97-95 in overtime to advance to the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. Friday their game was postponed due to the tornado in downtown Atlanta. And on Saturday the Bulldogs had to play two games in one day. Another successful overtime win over Kentucky in the morning, and semifinal thriller over Mississippi State at night.

Georgia plays Arkansas this afternoon for the SEC conference championship.

Illinois has also had an eventful weekend. The Fighting Illini have knocked off Penn St., Purdue, and Minnesota en route to this afternoon’s Big Ten championship game. The Illini don’t even have a .500 record at 16-18, but they still have a chance to make the Big Dance.

Georgia and Illinois will both be fighting off fatigue today; the two teams have played four games in as many days.

Clemson will battle North Carolina this afternoon for the ACC championship, and a No. 1 seed is essentially on the line in the Big 12 championship as Kansas takes on Texas.

The real college basketball season will start on Thursday with the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. All 65 teams will have a clean slate, and their goal will be the same, to win the National Championship. But who are the teams that will have that opportunity?

We will all know tonight.

The selection show starts at 6:00 Eastern.

WR Bryant Johnson Spurns Buffalo Bills, Signs with 49ers

Jake Widlowski — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 10:16:37 -0400

It is becoming clear that the Buffalo Bills will need to select a wide receiver with their first round pick in the draft.

It was confirmed by ESPN.com this morning that free agent wide receiver Bryant Johnson has agreed to a one year deal with the San Francisco 49ers.

On March 3^rd Bryant Johnson arrived in Buffalo to visit with the Bills organization. He spent the entire day at One Bills Drive and was impressed with what he saw.

“Buffalo is a young team that is definitely on the right track. I definitely would like to be a Buffalo Bill.” Johnson stated last week.

Just eleven short days later, Bryant Johnson seems to be sold on the 49ers. Johnson’s hopes were to sign with an organization that was willing to pay him about $5 million a year. His original plan was to come to terms with a team that would agree to a five or six year contract, and receive $30-$35 million.

The wide receiver market just isn’t willing to pay that kind of money. No one offered Johnson what he wanted so he was forced to sign a short term deal.

Johnson’s goal is to have an above average season with San Francisco, with the hope of picking up a multi-year deal next offseason.

Another possible reason Johnson signed with San Francisco is because they lack a No. 1 receiver. Johnson has played No. 3 receiver for the Cardinals the past few seasons. He might like the new challenge of stepping up, and trying to become the No. 1 receiver.

The Bills have been waiting patiently for a reply from Johnson since the first day he visited them. This may have hurt the Bill’s chances of pursuing other free agent wide receivers during this time.

The free agent market for wide receivers is slimming down. Bernard Berrian signed with the Vikings, Justin McCareins with the Titans, and Jerry Porter with the Jags, just to name a few.

The wide receiver position is hard to come by this offseason for NFL teams, and the Bills are no different. Luckily for Buffalo, they have the 11^th pick with all the top rookie wide outs likely still available for the taking.

The NFL draft is on April 26^th.

A Lot on the Line in 2008 ACC Tournament

Jake Widlowski — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:18:52 -0400

The Atlantic Coast Conference has traditionally been a power conference in men’s college basketball, and all the teams have long histories.

This year is no different. That’s why there is a lot on the line for teams competing in the 2008 ACC Tournament.

The North Carolina Tar Heels won the ACC regular season championship and are also ranked No. 1 in the nation. Last weekend, North Carolina beat long-established powerhouse Duke University to win.

However, there is still a lot at stake for the Tar Heels as they compete in the ACC Tournament. If North Carolina sweeps the field and takes the championship, they will inevitably receive a No. 1 seed in the East region of the NCAA Tournament.

The first four rounds of the East Regional take place in the state of North Carolina. So they would have essentially four home games en route to the Final Four in San Antonio.

The Duke Blue Devils also have a lot riding on this year’s conference tournament, too.

With a record of 26-4, Duke appears to have at least locked up a No. 2 seed in the Big Dance. However, if North Carolina loses early, and Duke wins the tournament, many people believe that Duke should receive the No. 1 seed in the East.

In return, if Duke loses early, expect a No. 3 or even a No. 4 seed in the NCAAs.

The Clemson Tigers received third place in ACC play this year. A 22-8 record definitely has the Tigers hoping for a high seed in the tournament. Clemson will play either Maryland or Boston College on Friday night to open their tournament play.

The next three teams have the most to prove in this year’s ACC Tournament.

Virginia Tech has an unimpressive 18-12 record. They finished at 9-7 in the ACC with their only wins coming against the bottom dwellers of the conference.

The Hokies' tournament resume looks bleak, but if they can somehow manage to win two games in the ACC Tourney, they might just sneak in. With a possible quarterfinal game with North Carolina, it doesn’t look good for Virginia Tech.

University of Miami and the Maryland Terrapins both have a conference record of 8-8. Maryland hopes to slip into the NCAA Tournament based on their key win over North Carolina.

Just like Virginia Tech, Maryland will need to win two games in the ACC Tourney in order to find their way in. Anything short of two wins will most likely spell disappointment for the Terps on Selection Sunday.

Miami hopes that they have already locked in a spot in the NCAA Tournament. They started the season with a 14-1 record, but couldn’t find the same success in conference play.

However, they did pick up two quality wins over Duke and Clemson.

At the very least Miami will have to win their opening game against NC State in order to get into the NCAAs. Losing to NC State would likely mean no NCAA Tournament for the Hurricanes.

Some ACC teams have already locked up their spots while others are fighting for their lives. The 2008 ACC Tournament will determine it all.

We'll see who steps up, and who misses out.

Shaun Livingston and Jonathon Spector: Before They Were Famous

Jake Widlowski — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:26:42 -0400

The time is mid-February 2000. The place is a small gym in the middle of Illinois. The scene, an eighth grade Lutheran boys basketball tournament.

Everyone could feel the anticipation as the two teams stepped onto the court. The players and fans were nervous. The winner of this game would advance to the championship tomorrow afternoon.

An 11-year-old boy watched in the stands as the two teams did layup drills before the game. This boy’s sister was a cheerleader for a school in Yorkville. Yorkville was playing a team from Peoria whom appeared to be just an average team. The boy looked up to his dad, “We can beat these guys. No problem.”

What happened next was unforgettable for this young boy. No. 14 from Peoria was scoring at will, and the boy's school was down big early.

“Who is No. 14?” he asked his dad during one point in the game.

His dad looked in the program and saw the name. “His name is Shaun Livingston,” his dad replied.

Livingston was single-handily taking over the basketball game. He would stand on top of the key and drain threes. He would drive to the basket and effortlessly pour in layups. He would pass, and he would rebound. The rest of the players on Peoria seemed to just be standing around watching as Livingston won them the game.

“Remember the name Shaun Livingston,” the father told his son as they exited the gym. “He is going to play in the NBA someday.”

Two short weeks later, the boy and his family traveled to Arlington Heights, Ill., to watch the Lutheran Sports State Basketball Tournament. Yorkville and St. Peters were playing each other in the first round.

There was a new player who stepped in and took over this time. A boy named Jonathan Spector from St. Peters, once again dominated Yorkville. Spector, just like Livingston, would drive to the basket and make all the layups. His shot was also just as fluid and beautiful.

A couple of days later the boy heard the team from Peoria had won the state tournament. He wasn’t surprised at all, considering they were lead by Livingston. The young guard earned the MVP award en route to the championship, while Jonathan Spector was named to the the All-Tournament team.

Livingston went on the lead his high school to back-to-back state championships. After high school, he skipped college and moved on to the NBA. He was drafted fourth overall by the Los Angeles Clippers. Livingston had a successful beginning to his professional career, appearing to get better each year. However, in his third year, he tore his ACL on a breakaway layup. He hasn’t appeared in a game since.

Spector has had similar success after his eighth grade basketball season. Spector was not only good at basketball and track, but was at his best while playing soccer. He was signed by the European soccer team Manchester United in the summer of 2003 and now plays for West Ham soccer team in England. Just this past week the United States Olympic qualifying team added Spector to the squad.

The young boy who watched Livingston and Spector defeat his school, still monitors their success in professional sports. The boy’s memories of these two playing basketball will never fade.

The boy mentioned in this article is also the one who wrote this article.

Buffalo Bills Still Need to Address Tight End in Draft

Jake Widlowski — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:53:19 -0400

The Buffalo Bills signed free agent tight end Courtney Anderson this morning. Anderson appears to be a solid young player with a very bright upside. In 2006 Anderson caught 25 passes for 285 yards, and two touchdowns for the Atlanta Falcons. His premier season was a year earlier, when he had 303 yards receiving and three touchdowns.

The Bills are hoping that Courtney Anderson hasn’t yet tapped into his true potential at tight end. At only 27 years old and with just four years experience in the NFL, Anderson is excited for the opportunity in Buffalo.

"It's a great organization and a great coaching staff," said Anderson. "There are a lot of great players here. I just look forward to coming in and working hard.”

Buffalo was hoping to add more height to their undersized receiving corps during free agency this offseason. The Bills were 30th in the NFL in yards per game and overall points last season. Buffalo only averaged 177 receiving yards per game in 2007.

Being undersized at tight end was one reason for the poor receiving game. Signing Anderson is an immediate way to add height at tight end. At 6’6” Anderson is one of the tallest tight ends in the league.

Even with the bright upside of Courtney Anderson, the Bills still need to address the tight end position in this year’s draft. Robert Royal and Michael Gaines were the two tight ends that the Bills used the most in 2007. They combined for over 450 yards receiving and five touchdowns last season.

However, Michael Gaines left the Bills as a free agent and signed with the Detroit Lions. With Robert Royal returning as the only reliable tight end from last year’s team, the Bills knew they had to sign another one.

Last week, tight end Ben Troupe came to Buffalo to interview for the position. In his interview he promised the Buffalo fans that the Bills were an organization he would have liked to play for. However, with likely more money available in Tampa Bay, he signed with the Buccaneers on Friday.

Signing Ben Troupe would have resolved the tight end problem for the Bills. Meanwhile, letting him get away meant the Bills needed to address the position quickly. Picking up Courtney Anderson appears to be a quick and easy solution to the problem for the Bills.

The Bills need to sign a long-term, reliable tight end. Buffalo will most likely draft a tight end in order to make the team more productive at scoring. This year’s draft boasts numerous premier tight ends. The top three prospects are Fred Davis from USC, Dustin Keller from Purdue, and John Carlson from Notre Dame. The Bills might not draft a tight end in the first round, but selecting one in the second round appears to be a possibility.

The Buffalo Bills haven’t made the playoffs since 2000, but having good tight ends will help to end this drought. Signing Courtney Anderson is a step in the right direction, but not the completion to the tight end puzzle.