NFL Cuts: Buffalo Bills Final Roster D-Day, Offensive Decisions !!

By 6:00 pm today, the Buffalo Bills face a deadline for naming their final roster for the 2010 season.

There are 22 players that will have to be placed on waivers. This slideshow will take one final look at the players that are up in the air on the offensive side of the ball, as we await who makes the roster and who is a victim of the final round of cuts.

First up is the offensive linemen fighting for a roster spot.

Offensive Lineman: Cordaro Howard

Cordaro Howard may have a shot at final offensive lineman kept

The Buffalo Bills offensive line is arguably one of the weaker units on the team. They do show promise however, and the hope that they can manage to stay healthy for the majority of the 2010 season would do wonders to allow this group to develop chemistry and grow together as a unit.

The starting five is pretty well set: Demetrius Bell, Andy Levitre, Geoff Hangartner, Eric Wood and Cornell Green. Jamon Meredith and Kirk Chambers are probably set as reserves due to their experience and/or potential.

What we don't know is if the Bills will keep eight lineman or nine. We also don't know how the Bills will handle the Ed Wang situation due to the progress or lack of progress with his broken thumb.

Cordaro Howard is one of those Bills linemen that might sneak his way on to the roster due to the potential the team sees in him. Chan Gailey had some knowledge of Cordaro from Georgia Tech.

Offensive Linemen: Andre Ramsey

Andre Ramsey spent time on Bills practice squad last year developing his game.

The Bills invested in Andre Ramsey last year when they brought him on to their practice squad. The second year lineman out of Ball State goes 6'5" and 322 pounds. He will be waiting on pins and needles just like Cordaro Howard, Jason Watkins, Christian Gaddis, Sean Allen and Nick Hennessey.

Offensive Lineman: Nick Hennessey

Nick Hennessey is another big body with some potential. Graduated from Colgate, he goes 6'5" and 291 pounds. He spent some time on the Bills practice squad last year and is eligible to return to the practice squad again if he fails to make the final roster.

In fact, the majority of the names listed on slide two are eligible for practice squad. Last year that proved to be the next best thing to making the team, as players seemed to be coming off the practice squad and on to the Bills roster with regularity due to all the injuries.

Best example of how this paid off last year was the development of Jamon Meredith.

Tight End: Derek Schouman

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

ORCHARD PARK - NOVEMBER 30: Derek Schouman #80 of the Buffalo Bills carries the ball against Nate Clements #22 of the San Francisco 49ers on November 30, 2008 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by: Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

The Bills right now have what seems like a six headed monster at the tight end position. Take your pick from Shawn Nelson, Jonathan Stupar, Derek Schouman, J.P. Forschi and Andrew George. I would just settle for one tight end that is well rounded that can block, run routes, and catch the ball downfield, and stay healthy. Is that too much to ask?

For what it is worth, Houston Texans just waived Derek Fine, so maybe the Bills should bring him back to further add to the confusion for this position.  Injuries and suspension to Shawn Nelson continue to hold back anyone from this group emerging as the go to guy. There are only so many roster spots, so figure at least three of the six have to go.

I hope we don't live to regret this, but the Bills passed over Aaron Hernandez, the stud tight end from Florida that lasted all the way to the 113th selection in the draft. I have the feeling the Bills wish they would reconsider their fourth round pick. He arrives in town with the rest of the Patriots on Dec. 26th.

Wide Receiver Chad Jackson

The ex-Florida Gator wide receiver, Chad Jackson is firmly in a battle for the final wide receiver spot along with James Hardy, Donald Jones, and Naaman Roosevelt.

It appears that the Bills will go with six wide receivers, so you would imagine that Lee Evans, Steve Johnson, Roscoe Parrish and David Nelson appear to have the first four positions made. That leaves two positions for the four players.

Jackson's prior NFL experience may be the difference in him making the team.

Wide Receiver: James Hardy

Coming in to the second half of the exhibition game against the Detroit Lions, James Hardy had to be something of a mystery to head coach Chan Gailey. Unable to get on the field due to his usual assortment of leg injuries, Hardy must have been difficult for Gailey to get a real true read on.

All of that might have changed with one play. Levi Brown threw a bomb to Hardy, and a Lions defender and Hardy battled for possession. Hardy came up with the deflection and then went in the rest of the way to score on the 74 yard pass. The fact that the play was called back to a holding penalty does not diminish what Gailey saw on the play.

If Hardy makes the roster, that might have been his saving grace.

Wide Receiver Naaman Roosevelt

Naaman Roosevelt didn't have to look very long or hard around the Bills locker room to see how many wide receivers that were starts in college, have found it very difficult to succeed in the pros. Chad Jackson and James Hardy are prime examples.

The University of Buffalo star receiver, Roosevelt had his work cut out for him to make the Bills final roster. Bills fans were hoping the local hero would come in to camp and basically make the same impact that fellow undrafted rookie David Nelson had.

If Roosevelt does not make the final roster, the Bills have already recognized his good hands and solid work ethic. He is certain to be on the practice squad and will be available to come on board once someone goes down.

Running Back: Joique Bell

Joique Bell dives high to score on this plunge vs the Colts

Joique Bell is getting a chance in training camp and the exhibition season to do a little bit of everything. He runs the ball, catches the ball, returns kicks and makes tackles on special teams. He seems like a smaller version of Fred Jackson.

Bell is in a roster battle with Chad Simpson for the final running back spot on the Bills roster. The Bills already have a trio of talented running backs in the fold in C.J. Spiller, Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch. A fourth running back may be a little like overkill, or a luxury the Bills don't need. But they definitely need to find some people to excel on the special teams unit, and that may be the niche that allows Bell to make the team.

Bell had his homecoming game this week in Detroit and there was apparently a large group of supporters there to cheer him on. He saw the field in a wide array of ways, and the Wayne State product may just wind up being a Buffalo Bill by this time tomorrow.

Running Back Chad Simpson

Chad Simpson wonders where the rest of his blockers went vs Lions

Serving as the backup running back and kickoff return specialist last year for the Indianapolis Colts, Chad Simpson was hoping he could continue his NFL career in the same capacity with the Bills. There were rumors that Marshawn Lynch would be traded and that was also before Joique Bell emerged as a serious contender for the roster.

Simpson has basically been everything as advertised, so what is more important to the Bills, his kick returning skills or the potential that they see in Bell? There is probably only room for one of the two backs on the final roster.

Quarterback: Ryan Fitzpatrick

Ryan Fitzpatrick led the Bills to their first preseason touchdown

Trent Edwards will be the Bills starting quarterback. Levi Brown has been deemed as having very good potential from Chan Gailey and Buddy Nix, so he will also be kept on the roster. Since the team is only keeping three quarterbacks, either Ryan Fitzpatrick or Brian Brohm will be the final quarterback to make the team.

Fitzpatrick has a much stronger resume and results during his NFL career. As a result, he may be the quarterback that commands some type of draft pick in return via trade. As chaotic as things are in Phoenix with Matt Leinart, they may be well advised to bring in Fitzpatrick to battle with Derek Anderson for the starting role.

If Fitzpatrick makes the final roster, Bills fans can rest a little easier in knowing that if Trent Edwards suffers any kind of blow to the head or concussion again, that there is a capable player waiting in the wings in Fitzpatrick.

Quarterback: Brian Brohm

Brian Brohm passes off this rollout vs Lions

Brian Brohm wasn't afforded much of a chance to demonstrate his skills while at Green Bay. The Bills have allowed Brohm to continue his dream to be a NFL starting quarterback. Whether or not that dream comes to fruition remains to be seen.

Brohm has potential and you can see it in his game. He scrambles, is tough and seems to have the skills to be an NFL quarterback. Unfortunately, he never had the chance to play in the preseason with the rest of the Bills starters to truly show what he could do. His weapons on offense were usually the second or third string guys and that had to limit his effectiveness to a degree.

The quarterback decision figures to be the most intriguing and debatable of the Bills final roster cuts.