What about you? Is there an 'I' in your team?

Leading up to the 2008 NFL season much has been written about Jason Peters.  For those that are unaware, Jason Peters is the Buffalo Bills All-Pro left tackle who is a 'no-show' so far this season.  Much has been made of the absence of communication between the Bills front office and Peters (or his agent). 

As our public football experts make educated guesses on who will win what game, who will win what division, the playoffs and so on - the recurring question about the Bills is that they are a young, talented team, but without Peters they will not be able to succeed in making the playoffs, let alone winning (even coming in 2nd) in the division.

Understood - we get it, Peters is key in many eyes and I'm sure there are valid points as to why so many have selected this line of thinking.

Let's rewind to the 2007 Super Bowl, or even the first Super Bowl won by the Patriots?  In any player interview, or story written, the underlying theme is that 'they were a team.'  In fact, the Patriots ran out as a team when they played the Rams.  Essentially communicating to the football world that they all have to work together to reach their goal.  I digress...

These same experts made it perfectly clear that one player very rarely changes the outcome of a game given the fact that the other 10 players on the field have to successfully complete their jobs in order for a favorable outcome, a good play, a touchdown, etc. 

A team - 11 players on the field at once, 53 on the roster.  A group of individuals working together to achieve a common goal.

The Bills suffered a tremendous injury list last year, a quarterback controversy, yet still were in position to make the playoffs towards the end of the year.  Why?  Did they not lose many key players - had you ever heard of John DiGiorgio before last year?  Yet, he stepped in a played outstanding football when Paul Posluszny went down.  Trent Edwards, the Bills 3rd round draft pick, was called upon early in the season...isn't he the starter now at QB?  Jabari Greer, a household name before 2007 - probably not.

What makes everyone so quick to think that without Peters the Bills are doomed?  Sure, it may be 'harder' as Peters is a quality player, yet someone will step up.  It always happens.

There are many that preach the 'team concept' yet discount the Bills given the absence of an 'individual' player.  Seems like a double-standard to me.  What about you?

Is there an 'I' in your team?  

The only 'I' in the Bills vocabulary this year will be found in 'Victory.'

JSW