AFC East: Michael Oher
Buffalo scratches Aaron Maybin again
The Bills have deactivated Maybin for a third straight week, leaving him to watch Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears in street clothes. The Bears have given up a league-worst 31 sacks in just seven games.
Maybin's not hurt. He simply can't get on the field for a winless team.
The Bills drafted Maybin 11th overall last year out of Penn State because they thought he would be a star pass-rusher. They selected him ahead of Brian Orakpo, who recorded 11 sacks as a rookie and already has seven this year.
Other players the Bills could've taken instead of Maybin: outside linebackers Clay Matthews and Brian Cushing, offensive tackle Michael Oher, quarterback Josh Freeman and tight end Brandon Pettigrew.
Yes, I know Cushing has been suspended for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. So has Shawne Merriman, who the Bills picked up on waivers Wednesday because their pass rush is so weak. The Bills have 11 sacks, tied for 25th in the league.
- The Patriots' offense has been creative without Randy Moss. In fact, they've looked more like their offense of the past three seasons than they did with Moss through four games. The Patriots are spreading out their receivers and going with less multiple tight end sets than has been their norm.
- Even so, Tom Brady is having an uncharacteristically bad home game to this point. He has completed seven of his 13 attempts for 90 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions. He has been off the mark on a couple short throws that normally are layups for him.
- BenJarvus Green-Ellis has the Patriots' lone touchdown, a 2-yard run. But they have had trouble generating a ground game against the stingy Ravens. Patriots running backs have seven carries for 17 yards. The longest run of the afternoon has been receiver Brandon Tate's 22-yard reverse.
- The Patriots' defense was its usual, ineffective self on third down to start the game, but tightened up a little. The Patriots went into the game dead last in stopping teams from converting. The Ravens converted third downs of 10 and 9 yards on their opening drive, which lasted 15 plays, went 81 yards and ended with a field goal. But the Ravens moved the chains only one more time in the first half.
- The last time I saw Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco live, he was less than spectacular on opening night against the New York Jets. He has been sharp so far against the Patriots, going 14 of 17 for 136 yards and a touchdown with zero interceptions. On the opening drive, he completed all five passes for 63 yards and two big third-down conversions.
- Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather can expect a fine for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Ravens tight end Todd Heap with 8:40 left in the second quarter. The ball had already sailed incomplete on a second-and-7 play, but Meriweather launched himself into Heap, who was defenseless.
- Rough game for Ravens left tackle Michael Oher: two false starts and a hold so far.
Each Wednesday leading up to the NFL draft (April 22-24), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today's topic: biggest team needs.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills had craters to fill on both sides of scrimmage before new coach Chan Gailey came aboard and decided to switch to a 3-4 defense. That has created more positional needs. Critical to pulling off that defensive transformation is identifying a classic, run-stopping, multiple-blocker-occupying nose tackle. One doesn't exist on their roster.
But where the Bills really need to upgrade is at offensive tackle and quarterback for an offense that has rated 30th, 25th, 30th, 30th, 28th, 25th and 30th the past seven seasons. They neglected left tackle after trading Pro Bowler Jason Peters before last year's draft. They passed on budding star Michael Oher. Without that piece, can the Bills afford to draft a quarterback ninth overall, pay him the type of money he would command and expect him to develop behind a feeble line?
Miami Dolphins
For the third offseason in a row, receiver is Miami's sexiest offseason need. Dolfans have been begging for downfield help, and the necessity has been augmented now that Chad Henne is the quarterback. The Dolphins got by with a collection of possession receivers because of Chad Pennington's pinpoint, midrange arm. A reliable deep threat would benefit Henne.
The Dolphins have a decision to make at nose tackle. Incumbent Jason Ferguson is coming off a season-ending leg injury and will turn 36 next season. If the Dolphins look elsewhere, then that's a big hole.
No matter what, they must improve at inside linebacker and free safety, the positions most responsible for surrendering big play after big play throughout the season. Last year's free safety, Gibril Wilson, was paid well and gave up costly plays. Inside linebackers Channing Crowder and Akin Ayodele simply aren't playmakers. They combined last year for one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and two recoveries.
New England Patriots
Crucial to the Patriots' offseason is finding pass-rushers, either through free agency or the draft. They're rice-paper thin at outside linebacker, where unrestricted free agents Tully Banta-Cain and Derrick Burgess were first (9.5) and tied for second (five) on the team in sacks. It's hard to imagine Adalius Thomas remaining on the roster. Defensive end is another area of concern. Bill Belichick dealt Richard Seymour in training camp. Jarvis Green is unrestricted.
On offense, it would sound laughable to say this a year ago, but the Patriots need receiver help. They never located a legitimate third option last season. Randy Moss showed his volatile side for the first time as a Patriot. Wes Welker has a long recovery from knee surgery ahead. Tight end is another unsettled spot. Benjamin Watson is unrestricted, and even if he comes back, the Patriots never seem comfortable there.
New York Jets
A year ago, the Jets embarked on what appeared to be massive renovations. Now they're tweaking. On offense, receiver is an area to concentrate on. Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery are a nice start, but the Jets couldn't find trustworthy help beyond that. Whether they add a wideout or a slot target, Mark Sanchez could use help as the Jets develop into a more balanced offense.
Offensive line and defensive end are places where the Jets are getting older. The Jets are not compelled to find starters in either area, but they're in desperate need of depth players they can groom for the future. General manager Mike Tannenbaum isn't afraid to barter draft picks, and the result has been just 13 selections over the past three Aprils, including three last year. When you're constantly filling out the back end of your roster with undrafted rookies and castoffs, depth can suffer a long time.
» Clayton: Video | AFC grades ... NFC » More: Fantasy MVPs | FB Outsiders
| Awards A team-by-team analysis of the division. The arrow indicates which direction each team is trending.
New England Patriots
Final Power Ranking: 10
Biggest surprise: Tully Banta-Cain largely was considered an afterthought to the Patriots' defense when the season began. Players such as Vince Wilfork, Ty Warren, Jerod Mayo and Brandon Meriweather were the projected stars. But Banta-Cain, back after two years with the 49ers, led the Patriots with 9.5 sacks, four more than his previous career-high. He also had a pair of forced fumbles.
Biggest disappointment: Outside linebacker Adalius Thomas probably won't be back next year. Thomas has two years remaining on a free-agent contract that pays him an average of $7 million, but that didn't stop Bill Belichick from benching him twice. Thomas notched 11 sacks for the Ravens the year before the Patriots signed him. He finished with three this year, tying his worst output since he became a starter in 2001.
Biggest need: Despite unexpected seasons from Banta-Cain and defensive tackle Mike Wright, the Patriots must improve their pass rush. Wright had five sacks. So did Derrick Burgess, acquired with high expectations in a trade with the Raiders in training camp. The Patriots notched a mere 31 sacks, tying them for 23rd in the league. They ranked 12th in pass defense.
Team MVP: Wes Welker won't be around for the playoffs, but he certainly helped the Patriots get there. He led the NFL with a franchise-record 123 receptions for 1,348 yards.
Turning point: On opening night, Bills kick returner Leodis McKelvin fumbled with about minute left in the game to set up Tom Brady's second touchdown pass in the final 2:06 of a stunning victory. Had the Patriots lost that game, the whole trajectory of their season might've changed.
New York Jets
Final Power Ranking: 12
Biggest surprise: When star nose tackle Kris Jenkins suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 6, everyone figured the Jets' 3-4 defense was doomed. But rookie coach Rex Ryan continued to mold his defense into the NFL's best unit. The Jets ranked No. 1 in total defense, scoring defense and passing defense, and gave up the fewest first downs.
Biggest disappointment: Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez's lack of progression from the start of the season has been frustrating. He began his career remarkably well, playing beyond his years in helping the Jets open 3-0. But his penchant for giveaways and a failure to grasp team concepts forced the Jets to curb their offense rather than open it up as the season wore on. The best solution has been to marginalize Sanchez. In his past five victories, his attempts were in the teens, and his yardage never surpassed 154.
Biggest need: Aside from accelerated experience at quarterback? Despite the trade for downfield threat Braylon Edwards, the Jets really could use help at receiver. Sanchez would benefit from a reliable slot receiver. The Jets' fourth-leading target was running back Leon Washington, who didn't play the final nine games. You'd have to look even lower on the stat sheet to find their third receiver. David Clowney finished with 14 catches for 191 yards.
Team MVP: Lockdown cornerback Darrelle Revis was the best player on the NFL's best defense. His six interceptions tied him for fifth in the league, and his 37 passes defensed were best by a comfortable margin.
Turning point: The Jets had a miraculous Week 16. All of the teams they needed to lose fell flat, and the undefeated Colts pulled their starters with almost six minutes left in the third quarter to usher the Jets onto the postseason threshold.
Miami Dolphins
Final Power Ranking: 21
Biggest surprise: The Dolphins couldn't have appear more condemned than when they started 0-3 and lost quarterback Chad Pennington to a season-ending shoulder injury. In came sophomore Chad Henne, who had been lackluster in the preseason. The Dolphins preferred to let Henne marinate for another season, but he won seven of his first 10 starts and showed enough to give Dolfans reason to believe they've found a franchise quarterback.
Biggest disappointment: The best compliment head coach Tony Sparano could pay outside linebacker Joey Porter recently was that he had gotten better at stopping the run as the season progressed. Porter led the AFC in sacks last season with 17. He recorded only nine this season, with half coming in two games. A hamstring problem bothered him, and Sparano benched him one game for disciplinary reasons.
Biggest need: The Dolphins need receiving help more than ever. Pennington thrived with their collection of possession receivers because he's a precision passer. But Henne has downfield capabilities that require a reliable deep threat. Ted Ginn certainly has the speed but little else to qualify him as a No. 1 wideout.
Team MVP: Ricky Williams is 32 years old, but he turned back the calendar with his best campaign since 2003, the longest spread between 1,000-yard seasons in NFL history. He became the workhorse, rushing for at least 102 yards in four out of the five games after Ronnie Brown suffered a season-ending broken foot in Week 10.
Turning point: The Dolphins were in control when they were 7-6. Then they lost their last three games to finish out of the playoffs.
Buffalo Bills
Final Power Ranking: 24
Biggest surprise: When it came to this year's draft class, all of the attention was focused on defensive end Aaron Maybin (11th overall) and offensive linemen Eric Wood (28th) and Andy Levitre (51st). But safety Jairus Byrd (42nd) stole the show for much of the season and was selected for the Pro Bowl. Byrd started only 11 games, but his nine interceptions tied for the NFL lead.
Biggest disappointment: Marshawn Lynch appeared ready to break out as an elite running back. He was entering his third season and was a Pro Bowler with a pair of 1,000-yard campaigns. But he opened the season with a three-game suspension for repeated bad behavior. He lost his job as the featured back by Week 11 and finished with 450 yards. He completed four games with 6 or fewer yards.
Biggest need: The Bills are practically naked at both offensive tackle spots. They traded Pro Bowler Jason Peters before the draft and chose not to replace him -- even though they had a crack at young star Michael Oher. The Bills went through a series of unimpressive names, including Demetrius Bell, Brad Butler, Jamon Meredith, Jonathan Scott and Kirk Chambers.
Team MVP: Fred Jackson took over as lead back by thoroughly outperforming Lynch. Jackson rushed for 1,062 yards and two touchdowns, and caught 46 passes for 371 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson also was Buffalo's top kick returner with 1,014 yards.
Turning point: Had McKelvin not coughed up the ball on that fateful kickoff return on opening night, the Bills would have ended a wicked losing skid against the Patriots and probably would have changed the course of their season.
Root of Buffalo's problem easy to tackle
It wasn't installing the no-huddle offense. It wasn't signing Terrell Owens. It wasn't firing the offensive coordinator 10 days before the regular-season opener. It wasn't Leodis McKelvin's fumble or Roscoe Parrish's bobble.
David Butler II/US PresswireProblems at offensive tackle helped lead to Dick Jauron's demise in Buffalo.Fitting that Jauron was fired the same week "The Blind Side," a major motion picture about the life of Baltimore Ravens rookie tackle Michael Oher, will hit theaters.
The movie is based on the book by Michael Lewis, author of "Moneyball." Oher was the central character in Lewis' book, but the real subject of "The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game" was about how left tackle had evolved into the second most important position in football.
The problem in Buffalo is that they don't have a tackle. Or they've had too many. Either way, it has been a disaster.
What follows is a timeline of how the Bills went from having a respectable pair of tackles to the most abominable group in the NFL.
April 17: Unable or unwilling to negotiate a contract extension, the Bills trade two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters to the Philadelphia Eagles for draft picks.
April 25 and 26: Bills decline to select a tackle in the 2009 draft.
April 26: I asked Jauron what the Bills intend to do at tackle.
"We went into the draft having discussed that after the trade of Jason, saying 'Do we feel like we have to have a tackle?' And I think we all agreed ... we're not going to stray far from our grades just to take a tackle," Jauron said.
"We felt like we have guys that can play there. So there's no sense in passing up a guy we think is significantly better at another position just to feel like we've plugged a number in. We weren't going to do that."
Shortly after the draft: Jauron informs right tackle Langston Walker they are moving him to left tackle and right guard Brad Butler they are switching him to right tackle.
May 14: Scouts Inc. analyst Matt Williamson observes "Buffalo might have the worst offensive tackles in the NFL."
Aug. 28: A team source tells me Demetrius Bell, despite a back injury, has overtaken Walker as the Bills' left tackle of choice. Bell is entering his second year and hasn't played in an NFL game.
Sept. 5: Bills cut tackle Kirk Chambers, who started four games in 2008.
Sept. 8: Bills cut Walker, re-sign Chambers. Jauron is asked if he overestimated Walker's ability.
"Probably," Jauron replies. "We clearly felt we could move him in, and he'd do the job. He just wasn't playing up to our expectations. So we felt like it was time to make that move."
Sept. 14: Bills start the season with Bell at left tackle and Butler at right tackle. Their entire opening-night offensive line has 47 career starts among them.
Sept. 20: Butler suffers a season-ending knee injury against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Sept. 22: Rather than pursue veteran help such as Jon Runyan or Damion McIntosh, the Bills pluck rookie tackle Jamon Meredith off Green Bay Packers' practice squad.
Sept. 27: Jonathan Scott starts for Butler at right tackle against the New Orleans Saints. It's Scott's seventh career start in four seasons. ... Bell suffers a groin injury.
Oct. 4: Chambers, inactive the two previous games, starts at right tackle against the Miami Dolphins and gives up 2.5 sacks to first-year outside linebacker Cameron Wake. ... Scott starts at left tackle for Bell.
Oct. 18: Meredith makes his first NFL start at right tackle against the New York Jets.
Nov. 1: Meredith suffers a knee injury against the Houston Texans.
Nov. 15: Bell suffers a right knee injury against the Tennessee Titans. Rookie guard Andy Levitre finishes the game at left tackle.
Nov. 16: Through Week 10, Bell is the NFL's most penalized player regardless of position.
Nov. 17: Bills fire Jauron, name defensive coordinator Perry Fewell interim head coach.
Video: Oher, Bills could've been big
The Buffalo Bills have shown a penchant for making a splash. They signed diva receiver Terrell Owens, and we recently learned they pursued quarterback Michael Vick. Yet they gravely miscalculated by declining to acquire a tackle to replace two-time Pro Bowler Jason Peters.
Put those two elements together, and Ole Miss tackle Michael Oher would have been a perfect fit for the Bills. His life was the subject of a book and turned into a major motion picture that comes out next week.
More importantly, he's already establishing himself as a star on the field for the Baltimore Ravens, who took him 23rd overall. The Bills drafted Penn State pass-rusher Aaron Maybin 11th and Louisville guard Eric Wood 28th.
Ravens LT Gaither suffers scary injury
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- A frightening moment here in Gillette Stadium:
|
Replays showed the crown of Gaither's helmet rammed into quarterback Joe Flacco's back while pass blocking.
Gaither did have movement in his hands as he lay on the field.
I'll share an update when the Ravens release one.
Rookie right tackle Michael Oher has been flipped to the left side.
Two trades later, Patriots have 13 picks
The New England Patriots went into the draft with 11 selections. They've accumulated 13 as of this posting.
They've been on the clock twice already and still haven't picked yet. They traded their No. 23 to the Baltimore Ravens, who took Mississippi tackle Michael Oher.
The Patriots received the Ravens' No. 26 and No. 162 picks and sent them to the Green Bay Packers for Nos. 41, 73 and 83.
The Packers used No. 26 on Southern California linebacker Clay Matthews.
Here's New England's draft rundown as of the time stamp:
- 34th (from Kansas City Chiefs for Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel)
- 41st (from Packers)
- 47th (from San Diego Chargers at last year's draft)
- 58th
- 73rd (from Packers)
- 83rd (from Packers)
- 89th
- 97th (compensatory)
- 124th
- 170th (compensatory)
- 199th
- 207th (compensatory)
- 234th
Unless there's trade activity or a bombshell revelation over the next couple days, no additional work can be done to a mock draft at this stage.
We know all the team needs. Prospect evaluations have been completed.
So this very well could be the final edition of the AFC East mock report.
In this rundown, you'll find the latest from ESPN's Mel Kiper and Todd McShay, Sports Illustrated's Don Banks, NFL.com's Pat Kirwan, Dallas Morning News columnist Rick Gosselin, CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco and Clark Judge and NFLDraftScout.com's Rob Rang and Chad Reuter.
You'll notice a few regulars have been omitted from this edition. Some mocks have not been updated to show the Bills drafting at No. 28.
I'm also listing the cumulative results of SportsNation's interactive NFL Mock Draft Machine. Those projections are as of Thursday morning and may change.
No. 11 Buffalo Bills
- Kiper's pick: Robert Ayers, Tennessee defensive end
- McShay's pick: Brian Orakpo, Texas defensive end
- Kirwan's pick: Michael Oher, Mississippi tackle
- Banks' pick: Robert Ayers, Tennessee defensive end
- Gosselin's pick: Tyson Jackson, Louisiana State defensive end
- Prisco's pick: Aaron Maybin, Penn State defensive end/linebacker
- Judge's pick: Everette Brown, Florida State defensive end
- Rang's pick: Brian Cushing, Southern California linebacker
- Reuter's pick: Brian Orakpo, Texas defensive end
- SportsNation's pick: Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State tight end
No. 17 New York Jets
Kiper's pick: Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland receiver- McShay's pick: Josh Freeman, Kansas State quarterback
- Kirwan's pick: Josh Freeman, Kansas State quarterback
- Banks' pick: Josh Freeman, Kansas State quarterback
- Gosselin's pick: Percy Harvin, Florida receiver
- Prisco's pick: Josh Freeman, Kansas State quarterback
- Judge's pick: Knowshon Moreno, Georgia running back
- Rang's pick: Josh Freeman, Kansas State quarterback
- Reuter's pick: Jeremy Maclin, Missouri receiver
- SportsNation's pick: Percy Harvin, Florida receiver
No. 23 New England Patriots
Kiper's pick: Donald Brown, Connecticut running back- McShay's pick: Clay Matthews, Southern California linebacker
- Kirwan's pick: Clay Matthews, Southern California linebacker
- Banks' pick: Darius Butler, Connecticut cornerback
- Gosselin's pick: Rey Maualuga, Southern California linebacker
- Prisco's pick: Brian Cushing, Southern California linebacker
- Judge's pick: Clay Matthews, Southern California linebacker
- Rang's pick: Darius Butler, Connecticut cornerback
- Reuter's pick: Clay Matthews, Southern California linebacker
- SportsNation's pick: Clay Matthews, Southern California linebacker
No. 25 Miami Dolphins
Kiper's pick: Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State cornerback- McShay's pick: Vontae Davis, Illinois cornerback
- Kirwan's pick: Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina receiver
- Banks' pick: Kenny Britt, Rutgers receiver
- Gosselin's pick: Clay Matthews, Southern California linebacker
- Prisco's pick: Larry English, Northern Illinois defensive end
- Judge's pick: Vontae Davis, Illinois cornerback
- Rang's pick: Aaron Maybin, Penn State defensive end/linebacker
- Reuter's pick: Robert Ayers, Tennessee defensive end
- SportsNation's pick: Brian Cushing, Southern California linebacker
No. 28 Buffalo Bills (from Philadelph
ia Eagles)
- Kiper's pick: Eben Britton, Arizona tackle
- McShay's pick: Eben Britton, Arizona tackle
- Kirwan's pick: Larry English, Northern Illinois defensive end
- Banks' pick: Eben Britton, Arizona tackle
- Gosselin's pick: Eben Britton, Arizona tackle
- Prisco's pick: William Beatty, Connecticut tackle
- Judge's pick: Chris Wells, Ohio State running back
- Rang's pick: Everette Brown, Florida State defensive end
- Reuter's pick: Eben Britton, Arizona tackle
- SportsNation's pick: Eben Britton, Arizona tackle
Now that the Buffalo Bills have resigned themselves to life without Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters, where do they go from here?
If the Bills' offensive line were a landscape, the left side would be a gulch.
They previously released left guard Derrick Dockery. They have a new center, too, in a division that features defenses inspired by Bill Belichick, Rex Ryan and Bill Parcells.
"I'll bet Rex Ryan is salivating," Scouts Inc. analyst Matt Williamson said, referring to the New York Jets head coach. "Not only do the Bills have a new left guard, they have a new left tackle. To completely revamp that left side, there's going to communication errors.
"I would imagine all the AFC East defensive coordinators are happy about it."
The Bills agreed to a trade that will send Peters to the Philadelphia Eagles for three draft choices: the 28th overall selection, a fourth-round pick and an undisclosed selection next year.
The Bills also have their own 11th pick, giving them an opportunity to draft a tackle early. The names that come up most frequently are Alabama's Andre Smith and Mississippi's Michael Oher.
Without some help, Bills quarterback Trent Edwards might want to warm up to the idea of peering from his helmet's earhole as he gets off the turf again and again.
"You get Terrell Owens and have all these weapons," Williamson said, "but if you can't keep Trent Edwards upright, you've got big problems.
"I don't think he's the most instinctive quarterback. I don't know that he feels the rush all that well. Defenses will be bringing it form all angles, and you're going to play against all those 3-4 teams, which are really going to challenge him mentally because you don't know who's coming."
The tackles on Buffalo's roster include Langston Walker, Kirk Chambers, Jonathan Scott, Demetrius Bell and Chris Denman.
Not exactly a Murderer's Row of blindside protectors.
Only Walker, Chambers and Scott have started an NFL game at tackle.
Walker is the lone regular. He was Buffalo's left tackle while Peters boycotted training camp, but Walker was their right tackle for every game after the season opener.
"Walker is a big, stiff right tackle, who's smart," Williamson said. "He's a better run blocker than he is a pass protector, but I certainly don't want him on the left side.
"I don't think he's quick enough out of his stance. I don't think he can handle edge speed. That's what he's going to see moreso than in any other division. That left tackle is going to deal with Joey Porter and whoever New England decides will be their right outside linebacker. And Rex Ryan is going to concoct something for the Jets."
Williamson also gave his take on Bell, a seventh-round draft pick last year out of Northwestern State. The son of Karl Malone is listed at 6-foot-5 and 307 pounds. Bell was inactive for every game last year.
"Bell's a big-time project," Williamson said. "Athletically, he's there. But he had a lot of work to do coming out of college. He's a small-school kid, and asking him to be a starting tackle is a stretch. He was extremely raw. Unless he's improved by leaps and bounds behind the scenes and none of us knows, he's nobody to count on."
In breaking down the trade, Williamson thought the Eagles were clear winners.
"I'm a big fan of Peters," Williamson said. "I think he had a down year last year. He was much better two years ago, but he's still a puppy. That's what people don't realize. He never played the position in college. He's a big tight end. It's all in front of him.
"I think it's a tremendous move for Philly. They're not going to get anybody close to him with that pick and fulfill a need. I look at Philly, and they might have the best offensive line in the league."
ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay looks at the riskiest first-round picks. Several names frequently have been mentioned as possibilities for AFC East teams.
Bills no closer to trading Peters than to signing him
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| Icon SMI | |
| Will the Bills unload disgruntled LT Jason Peters to avoid another lengthy holdout? |
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham
For the past 72 hours, the Buffalo Bills have dominated NFL headlines.
The league suspended Pro Bowl running back Marshawn Lynch for three games, and star receiver Terrell Owens unexpectedly showed up for voluntary workouts.
The most important offseason Bills story, however, regards neither of them.
While cameras search for T.O. and questions swirl around Lynch's latest reprimand, contract angst roils again within left tackle Jason Peters.
To say trouble's on the way would be false. It's already here. More precisely, it never went away.
Just as he did last year by refusing to join the team until two days before the season opener, Peters still wants to be compensated like a franchise cornerstone and quarterback Trent Edwards' blindside protector.
The Bills don't think he's necessarily worth it. Peters' talent is undeniable, but his commitment is dubious.
The drama apparently will drag on awhile. Amid speculation they will unload Peters before the NFL draft to avoid another prolonged holdout, the Bills sound about as far away from trading the two-time Pro Bowler as they are from reaching accord with him.
Peters' trade value will be at its peak before the draft begins April 25, but NFL sources tell ESPN.com it's highly unlikely a deal will materialize by then.
One AFC personnel executive said teams interested in obtaining Peters must open the conversation with first- and third-round draft picks. The Bills are looking for a bundle of assets in return for perhaps the best player at football's second-most-vital position. Those types of proposals haven't been forthcoming.
The Philadelphia Eagles are the team most frequently mentioned as being interested in Peters. They hold the No. 21 and No. 28 draft choices and lost three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tra Thomas to free agency.
But a league source said the Bills and Eagles haven't held any discussions about Peters.
That Peters remains a Bill through the draft isn't guaranteed. Significant trade talks still could occur during the next two weeks.
The switchboard at One Bills Drive could get flooded with calls from around the league, but the Bills are said to be resigned to the possibility they'll be forced to deal with another holdout that could last through training camp.
"We're anxious that he's present and involved," Bills coach Dick Jauron said last month at the NFL owners' meeting in Dana Point, Calif. "It doesn't serve anybody's purpose when he misses all that time.
"Last year, he didn't show up. We've just got to anticipate that he will, and we've got to keep working in that direction and keep the lines of communication open and believe he's going to show up because that's all we can do."
Good luck with that.
Peters proved last year he's not afraid to boycott mandatory practices, incurring more than $600,000 in fines.
Peters still has two years left on a contract he signed in 2006. He will be paid an average of about $4 million a year -- not bad for a guy who was an undrafted tight end out of Arkansas, but well under market value for an elite left tackle, which he has become. Bills right tackle Langston Walker's contract averages $5 million a year.
Bills chief operating officer Russ Brandon and senior vice president of football operations Jim Overdorf submitted a contract proposal to Peters' agent, Eugene Parker, at the end of last season.
The proposal practically was dismissed out of hand. Counteroffers have been made, but the sides are farther apart than Bill O'Reilly and Keith Olbermann.
Peters wants a deal that pays him eight figures a year. The Miami Dolphins gave No. 1 overall draft pick Jake Long a five-year, $57.5 million deal last spring, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history. The Carolina Panthers in February kept All-Pro tackle Jordan Gross from hitting the open market with a six-year contract worth nearly $60 million.
One AFC general manager agreed Peters is a premium tackle and -- in theory -- well worth the Bills' asking price of multiple draft picks, including first- and third-rounders. But the GM questioned whether it would be a prudent investment to give Peters the money he seeks because of perceived dedication issues.
"Once you give him the money, I'm not so sure he plays up to it," the GM said.
Last offseason, with three years remaining on his deal, Peters skipped every offseason workout, mandatory minicamp, training camp and all four preseason games. He begrudgingly reported -- sans new contract -- two days before the regular-season opener.
Peters was scratched from the first game and got off to a slow start while he played himself into game shape. He missed the final two games with a knee injury.
He didn't play nearly as well as he did in 2007, but his peers and opposing coaches voted him to his second straight Pro Bowl.
Internally, the Bills were dismayed Peters received the honor because they feared it would only reinforce the idea he can coast through another offseason and be rewarded.
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| Scott Cunningham/Getty Images | |
| If the Bills do unload Peters, they could draft a replacement in the first round, such as Andre Smith. |
A club might be hesitant to trade for Peters in part because it could use a first-round pick on a top rookie tackle rather than send it -- along with other draft choices -- to Buffalo.
For the second straight year, there's impressive talent among offensive tackles in this year's draft class. Baylor's Jason Smith, Alabama's Andre Smith, Virginia's Eugene Monroe and Michael Oher of Ole Miss all are immediate starter material.
Buffalo owns the 11th selection and could take one of those players if they were to trade Peters. With the extra first-round pick they would receive in return, they migh
t draft Oklahoma tight end Brandon Pettigrew or a linebacker.
But one AFC executive remarked that pulling off a multipick deal like the Bills are seeking for Peters would get more difficult as the draft draws nearer.
While that might sound counterintuitive because Peters' trade value should be at its zenith, the executive noted scouts become increasingly passionate about their evaluations as the draft approaches and would become less likely to deal a package of choices.
The New England Patriots, with 11 picks in all and six within the top 97, would be an exception. But the Bills aren't trading Peters within the AFC East.
Then again, based on the vibe emanating from One Bills Drive at the moment, there's a strong possibility they won't trade him at all.
The Bills simply aren't working themselves into a lather to get Peters off their roster.
Much can change over the next two weeks. Maybe the Bills get nervous, some calls get made, a deal gets hammered out and he gets shipped to Philly.
At the every least, the Bills have a Pro Bowl left tackle under contract for two more years.
They would prefer to avoid another holdout, but it's an outcome they probably can't sidestep without a radiant proposal or a serious compromise to make him happy.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
James Walker
Walker joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the NFL and NBA for the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. He's a Temple graduate and Hyattsville, Md. native who lives in Miami.
