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Buffalo Bills

Wide receiver Marcus Easley has been sidelined by a knee injury.

Stevie Johnson has high expectations coming off a breakout 2010 season. "Just try to be like Lee [Evans]," Johnson said. "Lee's one of the elite receivers. He's had 1,000-yard seasons, multiple 1,000-yard seasons. That's what I want to do. I want to be one of those receivers you hear about. Steve Smiths and all that. [Larry] Fitzgeralds. I want to be like those guys. I want to have consistent, 1,000-yard seasons and multiple touchdowns. I don't want to get it twisted and sound like an arrogant guy or anything. But that's the next step for me. I feel like I want to be in that category with those receivers, like Lee is."

Miami Dolphins

Jason Taylor was surprised to get the call asking if he wanted to return to the Dolphins.

Greg Cote of The Miami Herald: "Nothing the Dolphins have done so far, post-lockout, would scream win-now and command the rest of the league’s attention as much as the acquisition -- still -- of quarterback Kyle Orton."

New England Patriots

Chad Ochocinco has vowed to blend in with his new teammates in New England.

Chad Finn of The Boston Globe says Randy Moss' final pattern wasn't a predictable one.

New York Jets

Mark Sanchez says it's time for him to step up his game.

Sporting a new tattoo, Rex Ryan was in midseason form on Monday when he met with the media.

Adam Schefter reported Sunday morning that free-agent receiver Plaxico Burress has signed a one-year, fully guaranteed, $3.017 million contract with the New York Jets.

There had been much chatter this week about Burress -- who was released from prison last month after serving two years for firing an unlicensed gun in a New York nightclub -- possibly returning to the Giants, with whom he won the Super Bowl four years ago. Burress had said unflattering things about Giants coach Tom Coughlin in a post-release interview, but the Giants made a push to sign him anyway and he met with Coughlin on Friday night at the team's training facility in New Jersey.

But Burress never backed off his comments, and all along I told you I believed he was only using the Giants' interest as leverage to get what he wanted from a team whose coach he didn't dislike. He visited the Steelers on Saturday and apparently also had some nice conversations with the Jets, who are cutting ties with Braylon Edwards and needed a replacement.

There had also been some discussion about Burress and the Eagles, since Philadelphia seems to be signing every free agent in the world and Burress was very public about his desire to play for them. But there was never any indication from the Eagles that the interest was mutual.

For the Jets, this has to be a money move. They re-signed receiver Santonio Holmes last week, and they need money to re-sign cornerback Antonio Cromartie and for a new deal for linebacker David Harris. Edwards surely would have cost more than one year and $3.017 million, and Burress replaces him in the role of big-bodied downfield threat for Mark Sanchez. It seems a little bit of a downgrade, since Burress is an unknown quantity after two years in prison and the Jets and Edwards had a very nice relationship for the past two years. Edwards played well for the Jets and (other than his early-season DUI arrest last year) seemed to have kept his head on straight as a teammate and a reliable contributor. He should get a much larger deal elsewhere than what Burress just got from the Jets.

As for the Giants, their interest in Burress likely had something to do with Steve Smith's knee injury and the fact that they still haven't re-signed him. The Giants' losing out on Burress could help Smith's leverage and/or prod the Giants to look at Edwards or some of the other wideouts still on the market.

Regardless, while the Giants were interested in Burress, it doesn't look as if he was really ever interested in returning to play for them.

The Darrelle Revis Recovery Tour will resume Sunday against Houston Texans stud Andre Johnson.

Revis ended last season as maybe the brightest in the NFL's defensive galaxy. The New York Jets shutdown cornerback dominated elite receivers. He was considered the best player on a team that reached the AFC championship game and carried Super Bowl aspirations into 2010.

But the season didn't start well for Revis. First a contract standoff and then an injured hamstring knocked him down several pegs. He didn't always guard the other team's best receivers. Antonio Cromartie took on added responsibility to compensate.

Revis looks like he's returning to last year's form. He was masterful against Detroit Lions behemoth Calvin Johnson two weeks ago, keeping him to one catch for 13 yards.

Revis will face another challenge with Andre Johnson at the Meadowlands.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan said Wednesday that Revis either will be heads up on Andre Johnson or on the same side of the field, depending on the coverage scheme.

"They have one of the best receivers -- if not the best -- in the game," Ryan said of Andre Johnson. "How do you just sit back and say, 'Hey, we have one-on-one coverage over there [and not throw to him]?’

"Everything you're programmed to do says to throw it over there. Well, we've got the best corner. It ought to be a great match-up over there."

Last year, Revis allowed 2.9 receptions and 26.4 yards a game to a schedule that included Randy Moss twice, Terrell Owens twice, Andre Johnson, Roddy White, Chad Ochocinco, Reggie Wayne, Marques Colston, Steve Smith and Mike Sims-Walker.

Andre Johnson had four catches for 35 yards when they played on opening day last year.

"When you go out and play against anybody, you always want to get the best of them," Andre Johnson said. "Last year, when we played against each other, they executed the game plan, and they were very successful doing it. That's pretty much it. They took it to us.

"You definitely look forward to the challenge when you go against a player of Darrelle’s caliber. ... He's very technique-sound as a defensive back. He's very patient. He can mix it up with you. He can be physical at times. At times he doesn't have to be physical. He has the all-around game. He's great at what he does."

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- A year ago, Roscoe Parrish wanted out.

The Buffalo Bills signed Terrell Owens, a move that would squash Parrish at the bottom of a depth chart he already felt was oppressive. Parrish was the NFL's leading punt returner in 2007 and 2008 but couldn't convince the Bills to use him more in their atrocious offense.

Parrish went to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who also happens to be Owens' agent, and told him to request a trade.

The Bills refused. Rosenhaus floated reports that Parrish was on the trade block in hopes of stimulating some action. That didn't help either.

Why the Bills insisted on keeping Parrish isn't clear. He rotted on the sideline. Even more bizarre, former head coach Dick Jauron named Parrish the third quarterback.

"In this profession, you can never feel down on yourself," said Parrish, who caught a grand total of three passes for 34 yards last year. "Last year was a tough year for me, and I just had to handle myself like a professional and have a good attitude. You never know what tomorrow will bring."

That's the truth.

Parrish loves playing for the Bills again. In Saturday night's 35-20 preseason victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Ralph Wilson Stadium, he had a team-high four receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown.

"He's a big weapon for this football team," new Bills coach Chan Gailey said.

To be considered a weapon is contrary to Jauron's feelings. But Jauron was offensively unaware, a defensive coach through and through who would always claim he was working on ways to get Parrish more involved but never did.

Gailey, meanwhile, has a respected offensive mind.

"He just likes to get the ball in his playmakers' hands," Parrish said. "I heard a lot before, but that is in the past. Right now is right now. I just have to control my own destiny, and that is to take advantage of all the opportunities that come my way."

Asked if he knows why Parrish wasn't used more in the past, Gailey replied "I don't know anything about that."

The main criticisms of Parrish are that he is 5-foot-9 and sometimes plays small, unable to beat press coverage and unable to get physical. But when I spoke to Parrish last year about the outside perceptions of his limitations, he rattled off a list of receivers who play bigger than their height: Santana Moss, Steve Smith, DeSean Jackson, Eddie Royal.

Parrish might finally get the chance to see if he can make an impact, too.

"I've been a punt returner for a while in this league," Parrish said. "My speed and my quickness have been helping me out a lot. I'm just trying to transfer that over as a receiver."

Andre Reed knew this wasn't going to be the year he entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith were eligible for the first time, and both were no-brainers. Space is limited in each class, and the voters weren't going to induct two receivers.

But Reed views 2010 as a step in the right direction. The legendary Buffalo Bills receiver won't get into the Hall of Fame this weekend, but he's walking up the front steps.

Reed this year finished among the 17 semifinalists a fourth time. Although the board of selectors didn't vote to enshrine him this year, he finished in the top 10, something he'd never done before.

"My phone was blowing up when we got to the final 10," Reed recalled of the selection process, which concludes Super Bowl weekend. "I hadn't gotten to the final 10 yet. You're only a stone's throw away then."

He also received more votes than Cris Carter for the first time, indicating Reed's candidacy is on the rise.

Reed's case is an interesting one that has been explored on this blog before. When the seven-time Pro Bowler retired in 2000, he ranked third all-time with 951 receptions. He has slid to eighth and probably will drop out of the top 10 this year. Randy Moss, Torry Holt and Hines Ward are closing in.

"That's just how it is," Reed said. "A lot of guys are going to have a lot of catches. The game has changed. Now it's pass to set up the run. Before it was run to set up the pass. But maybe catches won't be as much of a factor. It'll be how many championships, how many times did you go to the Super Bowl? It'll be more team-oriented because anybody can catch 800 balls nowadays.

"In 1989, I caught 88 balls. That was a career year. These guys are catching 100 balls left and right now. Wes Welker had 100 balls three years in a row. Is Wes Welker going to be a Hall of Famer? I don't know. It's an accomplishment to catch 100 balls a year, but ...

"Keyshawn Johnson caught 800 balls, but nobody really talks about him. Great receiver, but do you put him in? Steve Smith? Keenan McCardell? Those guys are on the wayside."

Reed was the best receiver on a team that won an unprecedented four consecutive conference titles. The Bills couldn't manage to win one Super Bowl, but that hasn't barred Reed's teammates from the Hall of Fame.

Twenty years from now there likely will be more inductees from the Bills of the 1990s than the New England Patriots of the 2000s. Already in are quarterback Jim Kelly, running back Thurman Thomas, defensive end Bruce Smith and head coach Marv Levy. So is James Lofton, who spent four seasons with Buffalo.

"I played in the best era of wide receivers ever, if you ask me," Reed said. "All the guys that are in my era are Hall of Famers. The next group of guys will be Terrell Owens and Marvin Harrison and Randy Moss.

"They'll be arguing about those guys, but it'll be a different argument because of how the game has evolved."

While folks are formulating those arguments, Reed is content to wait his turn.

"I'm humbled by it," he said. "I don't trip and say 'Aw, man!' If it's going to happen, it's not on my time. It's on somebody else's.

"My friends and family are more upset about it that I am. When it's my time, it's my time."

Virtually in concert, the New York Jets praised the FieldTurf in the new Meadowlands stadium after Wednesday's public practice.

A day earlier, New York Giants receiver Domenik Hixon suffered a season-ending knee injury when he crumpled to the ground untouched on a punt return.

The Giants seem less certain than the Jets about the artificial surface's culpability.

"I was right there when it happened and I saw it right away," Giants safety Antrel Rolle told ESPNNewYork.com reporter Ohm Youngmisuk on Thursday. "And I was, like, 'Damn, it don't look good.' He didn't make a cut or anything. It just got caught in the turf."

Said receiver Steve Smith of the turf: "I thought it was real slippery. We were all slipping and stuff. Hopefully it settles in when more people do stuff on it."

Giants general manager Jerry Reese said the FieldTurf wasn't to blame. FieldTurf spokesman Chip Namias also refuted Rolle's opinion.

"With all due and sincere respect to Antrel Rolle, who is a wonderful player, he is simply not medically trained or qualified to make such a statement," Namias said. "The people who run NFL teams are ultra conscientious, and there's a very good reason why 21 of the 32 member clubs use FieldTurf."

Rolle also complained about the surface being hot on the bottoms of his feet and claimed several of his teammates had a similar experience. Slippage was another concern.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin stopped short at blaming the turf, but suggested it was an issue.

"You can speculate on whatever you want," Coughlin said. "Fact of the matter is it was an injury that occurred when he was not hit. He was running up the field and we are just going to leave it at that."

The Jets acted plenty confident in the surface Wednesday. Quarterback Mark Sanchez, recovering from offseason knee surgery, participated fully in the workout.

"The turf is great," Sanchez said of the turf. "I didn’t have any slippage. [Antonio] Cromartie did, but he’s so athletic that he’s like when a dog falls, they get up so quick, you almost don’t see it."

Jets punter Steve Weatherford and outside linebacker Calvin Pace raved about the turf. Running back LaDainian Tomlinson told me "It's a fast track. Guys are going to really enjoy playing on it." Cornerback Darrelle Revis noted it could stand to be broken in more.

"It's new turf," Jets inside linebacker Bart Scott said. "It takes a while for this stuff to harden up and mat down. There's going to be loose rubber until you run over it a couple times. ... But you just have to make the adjustment. Early on you may have to go with shorter spikes, and then as it hardens up you can go with longer spikes.

"But I think it's still top-notch. It's soft. It's level. There's no divots. There's no seams. You just have to break it in."

New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis and Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco have engaged in some colorful debates, but it's clear there's a mutual respect between them.

Revis and Ochocinco appeared together on the "First Take" set at ESPN The Weekend in Orlando, Fla.

Ochocinco explained why he reneged on his guarantee to change his name back to Chad Johnson if Revis shut him down in the regular-season finale. Ochocinco didn't catch a pass.

"I am a man of my word, but as a man of my word I have the choice to change my mind," Ochocinco said. "I'm on Revis Island, but it's in Ocho's world."

Revis faced a series of star receivers in 2010: Randy Moss twice, Terrell Owens twice, Ochocinco twice, Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Marques Colston, Steve Smith, Roddy White, Mike Sims-Walker ... They averaged 2.9 receptions and 26.4 yards against him.

But Revis considers Ochocinco his greatest challenge to defend.

"Because he's a competitor, his attitude, the stuff during the week, the trash talk," Revis said. "I think it's fun. I have fun with it. But I know when we get on the field he's serious and I'm serious as well. It's two race cars drag racing. Who's going to win at the end? Who's going to cross the finish line?"

Ochocinco seems to keep losing his lug nuts at the starting line.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

Terrell Owens is trying not to be the divisive personality he used to be.

"As of now, you see that I haven't had any gripes about anything," Owens told reporters Wednesday at the Buffalo Bills' facility. "I'm just going with the flow of what’s going on and going with the plays that are called."

Owens

Smith

That said, Owens sympathizes with what Carolina Panther receiver Steve Smith is going through.

Smith caught one pass for 4 yards in Sunday's victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His lone reception came on the final drive.

Afterward, Smith said: "We get the win, but I have a limited role. So, obviously, I see this game as showing I'm no longer an asset to this team."

Owens said he can identify with those feelings. He was asked about Smith because the Bills play the Panthers on Sunday. Owens and Smith were chosen as his division's biggest underachiever for an ESPN.com package that came out Wednesday morning.

"Well, yeah, I feel his frustration," Owens said. "I know where he is coming from. Especially when you know you can play this game at a high level, and for whatever reason I can't really comment on why he's not being involved.

"Obviously, he's voicing his opinion, and I've been there before. They have to deal with that on that side, but I totally understand where he is coming from, especially when you feel like you have the talents to be a game-breaker, as you’ve always been, and for whatever reason it’s not getting done down there.

"For myself, I understand the situation that I'm in here. So every day I just go out and practice hard and try to get better every day."

Owens is on pace for his worst season since he was a rookie with the San Francisco 49ers in 1996. Not even a seven-game season for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005 will be less productive that his projections for the rest of this season: 40 receptions, 573 yards and fewer than three touchdowns.

He also had his reception streak snapped at 185 games in Week 3.

A reporter asked if it's more acceptable for Smith to be outspoken as a ninth-year Panther than it would be for Owens as a first-year Bill.

"There is some truth to that, and for me I just have to go with the opportunities that are given to me," Owens said. "I can't really force the issue. And, again, I know I can play. That’s not something that bothers me. We just have to find ways to win, and I think however we win, we win.

"As you saw last weekend it wasn't the prettiest of wins, but we found a way to kind of grind it out and get the win, and that's all you can ever be concerned with is the wins. I've always said, especially back in San Francisco, if we're winning, you're not going to hear too much from me. If we're losing, then it's an obvious problem.

"So when some things are very obvious, I don't really have to say much. For myself, I just come here and do whatever I can to get better, come out here and practice hard and try to show my leadership when I can."

	Luc Leclerc/US Presswire
	Roscoe Parrish wants to be known as more than just a punt returner.

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Not every Buffalo Bill was delighted by the Terrell Owens signing.

The bombshell acquisition caused borderline delirium within the organization and among its fans. Before enough time had elapsed for the deal to sink in, receiver Roscoe Parrish came to the conclusion it wasn't going to create a favorable scenario for him.

"I asked my agent to let the organization know that I wanted to be traded," Parrish revealed after a recent training camp session at St. John Fisher College in suburban Rochester.

Unwilling to part with him, the Bills declined to honor his offseason request. Now he's hoping to make the most of an undesirable situation.

"I had a lot of issues with the organization in the offseason," Parrish said, "and I don't want to bring those negative issues to training camp."

Parrish, entering his fifth NFL season, is an intensely proud athlete. He's an elite NFL punt returner, but that's not enough for him. He figured he would be an established offensive star by now, not trying merely to be relevant, buried on a depth chart, scrounging for passes.

Owens' arrival pushed Parrish down the receiver pecking order to fourth at best. He's behind Josh Reed as the team's slot receiver. If you consider sophomore Steve Johnson, whom the Bills are high on, Parrish might be fifth.

Roscoe Parrish #11 WR Buffalo Bills 2008 STATS REC YDS TD AVG LNG YAC 24 232 1 9.7 22 77

"It's all good to be one of the best punt returners in the NFL, but I came into the NFL to be a wide receiver," Parrish said. "I wanted to leave that behind with a trade because it's a matter of getting used more at wide receiver. I know what I can do."

Parrish has led the NFL in punt return average the past two seasons -- 15.3 yards last year, 16.3 yards the year before. He has dashed for a touchdown three years running.

But the Bills weren't able to figure out ways to get him offensive touches before Owens joined them. It'll be much tougher now.

Parrish's best receiving season was 2007, when he caught 35 passes for 352 yards and one touchdown. Last year, he had 24 receptions for 232 yards and a touchdown.

For Parrish, that kind of action is trifling. He wants to perform, but he apparently has hit a glass ceiling with Buffalo.

"There's only so much a guy with my competitiveness can take," Parrish said. "You got some guys satisfied with being a role player or just being on a team. You got some guys who want to up their games an extra notch every year and not be complacent. That makes you a superstar.

"Coming into my fifth year, I should be a superstar wide receiver, not a punt returner."

"I feel he's a guy that has all this talent and all these big plays just balled up inside him, ready to explode if given the opportunity."-- Santana Moss on Roscoe Parrish

Washington Redskins receiver Santana Moss can relate. He has been mentoring Parrish, trying to buoy him mentally. Moss, also a small receiver from the University of Miami, was drafted by the New York Jets and started out as a return specialist, depth receiver and gadget guy.

Moss increased his reception total by 150 percent by his third season, catching 74 passes for 1,105 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was a Pro Bowler in his fifth season.

"I feel he's a guy that has all this talent and all these big plays just balled up inside him, ready to explode if given the opportunity," Moss said.

"He's going to get his. He puts in the time. He puts in the work. He works harder than most guys at his level. Whether his team allows him to be the guy that he wants to be, that time's going to come sooner or later."

Shortly after the Owens acquisition, reports circulated Parrish was on the trading block, suggesting the Bills were shopping him around. But that wasn't true, regardless of how badly agent Drew Rosenhaus, who represents both Parrish and Owens, wanted to stimulate some action.

The Bills simply weren't interested in trading Parrish. He skipped voluntary workouts. On the first day of mandatory minicamp, he mostly watched from the sideline with an ice wrap on his leg.

"I'm not a guy that's so outspoken, but there's a time when you just have to voice your opinion," Parrish said. "If you don't, they always think you're satisfied. Maybe it'll open the coaches' eyes. They need to know punt returning isn't the only thing I want to do."

About a month ago, Parrish finally came to grips he wasn't going anywhere. That doesn't mean he won't be looking ahead to the October trade deadline if circumstances don't improve.

"I'm not going to say I'm disappointed because I feel if they didn't trade me they got plans for me," Parrish said. "I'm just staying with a positive mindset and just come out here and do what I can do and take advantage of my opportunities.

"I know if I would get my opportunity in a game, all hell's going to break loose. That's how confident I am."

Buffalo is going to an up-tempo, no-huddle offense this year. One can see how depth at receiver will help, but that type of system makes substitutions difficult.

Bills head coach Dick Jauron acknowledged they're trying to find ways to get Parrish more involved.

"We've all seen what Roscoe can do with the ball in his hands, particularly in the open field," Jauron said. "We just need to keep working to find ways to get him the ball. And we also know he's got speed. If he gets a step on somebody he's hard to catch."

Parrish has felt typecast by his size. Listed at 5-foot-9 and 168 pounds, he has been unable to overcome the perception he can't withstand the rigors of every-down football.

But he rattles off a list of names of top NFL receivers who are closer to Smurfs than Goliaths.

"You got a lot of small guys," Parrish said. "You got Steve Smith. You got Santana Moss. You got DeSean Jackson. You got Eddie Royal. Those guys are just put in a good situation.

"That's the thing that was stressing me out. My situation's not as good as theirs, but I'm not going to say any negative things about it, but I'm just being 100 percent honest with everything. We're in training camp, and I'll just do what I have to do on my end."

Parrish has drawn strength from Moss' story. They work out together in the offseason at the University of Miami campus with fellow Hurricanes such as Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne.

"He sees other guys he played with and against in high school and college doing things he can do, and he's not being allowed," Moss said. "That can bring a guy down."

"Any punt returner can be a big playmaker on any offense. If you can elude all those defenders by yourself at times you can get the ball on offense."

Parrish cannot afford to become consumed with the belief the Bills are wasting him as an asset or holding him back from developing all he wants to be.

"If you go out there with a negative state of mind and your opportunity comes, you're not going to seize that moment," Parrish said. "I'll never let anybody break me. If this team doesn't use me, another team down the line one day will use me."

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

Next up in our daydream enterprise are the New York Jets.

Once again, here is the question we're posing to all four AFC East clubs:

If money, contracts and salary-cap restraints were no object, and you could choose any player in the NFL to add to your team, whom would you acquire?

There are all sorts of ways to go, but the most obvious is quarterback. Brett Favre threw two touchdown passes and nine interceptions over the final five games, a significant factor in their collapse.

Indianapolis Colts passer Peyton Manning wouldn't have done that. Or maybe the Jets would tab a younger specimen such as Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints or Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers.

Then again, whichever quarterback they selected wouldn't have a receiver with separation abilities. The Jets could go that direction and pick up Houston Texan Andre Johnson, Carolina Panther Steve Smith or Arizona Cardinal Larry Fitzgerald.

On defense, the Jets would be tempted to add Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware or San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker Patrick Willis, among others.

The Jets have two stars in the secondary, but their counterparts are weaknesses. They would assemble a devastating combo if they were to add Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu to play with free safety Kerry Rhodes. A few young lockdown cornerbacks opposite Darrelle Revis would give the Jets one of the NFL's best cornerback duos.

Those are some thoughts to get you started. Please share your thoughts below or drop a line in my AFC East mailbag. I will gather the responses and make a selection Monday based on your feedback.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

	G. Newman Lowrance/Getty Images
	Lee Evans joined elite (and wealthy) company at the wide receiver position Thursday.

The Buffalo Bills have made Lee Evans the third-highest-paid receiver in the NFL.

How could this happen? Evans has never been to a Pro Bowl. He has gained 850 or more yards only once in his four NFL seasons. Last year, he tied for 45th in receptions and 32nd in yardage.

So the Bills on Thursday awarded him with a four-year extension worth $37.25 million, putting him behind only obvious superstars Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Smith -- five Pro Bowls and three 100-catch seasons between them -- on the salary leaderboard.

And Evans is worth every penny. He is that good.

Casual fans who follow football through their fantasy rosters or perusing box scores might not fathom Evans being a top-10 receiver. He's not flashy like Randy Moss, Terrell Owens or Chad Ocho Cinco and doesn't produce like Reggie Wayne or Wes Welker.

But Evans is as important to the Bills as those players are to their teams. He is a dynamic, deep-ball threat who has been handcuffed in the past by lackluster offensive resources. And he's a credit to the uniform however you can imagine. Evans will never be confused for Travis Henry.

Evans, who has 14 catches for 332 yards and a touchdown, would have been an unrestricted free agent after this season. The Bills would have been forced to put the franchise tag on him. Otherwise, half the NFL would have been in hot pursuit.

The top three free-agent options at receiver would have been Evans, Roy Williams and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. After that, the drop off is steep.

So the ever-prudent Bills made a substantial commitment and locked up one of their big three offensive weapons. Evans is only 27 years old. Quarterback Trent Edwards will turn 25 this month. Running back Marshawn Lynch is 22.

The Evans deal sends a reassuring message to the rest of the team that if you go about your business professionally, you will be rewarded. Evans went to the Bills last year about extending his contract.

Although a deal hadn't been struck by the time training camp opened, he reported anyway. He practiced hard. Talks continued.

Imagine where Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters would be had he not held out. Maybe he would have a new deal, too. Peters has made no progress toward a new deal and still is trying to cast a shadow of the dominating presence he did last year.

Evans went about his business the proper way, and the Bills gave him a proper contract.