Shaun Rogers to Buffalo? Decision Could be Jauron's

The Buffalo Bills are said to have interest in Detroit Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. However, the decision on whether the Bills acquire Rogers might rest with their head coach, Dick Jauron.

Ever since the 2007 season ended for the Detroit Lions, speculation has run rampant regarding what the team will do with troubled defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. A two-time Pro Bowler, the 28-year-old Rogers is on the outs in the Motor City because of some past off-field issues and an inability to properly control his weight.

Despite all the baggage Rogers brings, there is a decent amount of teams interested in acquiring the 6-foot-4, 340-pounder. One of those organizations is believed to be the Buffalo Bills, a club whose biggest need may very well be D-tackle. To acquire Rogers, it might only take a second- or third-round pick. And if "Big Baby," as he's come to be known, can return to his dominant form, he'd certainly be worth a first- or early second-day draft selection. After all, he's more proven in the pros than any of the big-name tackles entering this April's draft (mainly Glen Dorsey and Sedrick Ellis, among others) or the painfully mediocre ones available in free agency, which begins this Friday.

Character and weight issues aside, Rogers is truly a perfect fit for Buffalo. Detroit, like the Bills, employs the Tampa 2 defense, a scheme not normally based around large linemen. However, Rogers isn't exactly unathletic for a defender his size, and Jauron has already stated this offseason that he'd like to beef up the middle of his 'D.'

Can anyone blame him? Buffalo finished last season ranked 25th against the rush, and with the exception of improving youngster John McCargo, its smallish, athletically gifted defensive tackle corps—Larry Tripplett and Kyle Williams, et al.—was eaten alive by enemy running backs on a nearly weekly basis.

As for Jauron, he very well might hold the key to Rogers' fate. If Jauron informs Bills brass that Rogers is the type of player he can work with, then odds are good Buffalo will try to acquire the oft-terrific tackle for the middle of its defense. If not, though, the character-obsessed Bills won't pursue Rogers.

The reason Jauron knows Rogers well is because Buffalo's coach was recently a member of the Lions' staff. The 57-year-old Jauron, a long-time defensive coordinator, spent two seasons with the Lions (2004-05), including a five-game stint as their head man. When Jauron was at the helm of Detroit's 'D,' the multi-dimensional Rogers amassed 109 total tackles, 9.5 sacks and two forced fumble in 30 games. In addition, both of Rogers' Pro Bowl seasons came under Jauron's tutelage. Clearly, then, the pair worked quite well together.

Ultimately, if Rogers is traded to Buffalo, then the move received Jauron's blessing. Though he's been a mediocre coach for the Bills in two years, Jauron has a chance to truly help improve the team's roster now by encouraging Buffalo's overstaffed front office to acquire Rogers come Friday, when the NFL's trading ban ends.

Of course, adding a proven player of Rogers' ilk would also send the proper message to a dejected fan base that has Toronto, Ontario, on its mind more than an ever-so-elusive playoff berth.

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