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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" blasted throughout Ralph Wilson Stadium in the final minutes of the Bills' 31-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The song was a fitting tribute to Buffalo's surprising start to the 2011 season.

The no-name Bills are 4-1 and first in the AFC East. The uber-talented and high-powered "Dream Team" Eagles are 1-4 and have a slim chance to make the postseason.

Who would have thought?

"We were a home [under]dog today at 3-1 against a 1-3 team," Bills center Eric Wood said. "You don't put a lot of stock into it. But you know it, you talk about it, and it ticks you off. But keep picking us to lose. We like it. It helps keep the chip on our shoulder. We don't need to be the media darling that we were two weeks ago before we lost."

Memo to NFL media and fans: It's time to take these Bills seriously.

Stop punishing Buffalo for past mistakes. Forget about last year's 0-8 start and 4-12 season. This season's Bills are young, scrappy, fearless and fun to watch. Most importantly, this season's Bills have staying power and are a legitimate threat for the playoffs in the AFC.

Buffalo still has a long way to go to become elite. For starters, it must improve a porous defense that has allowed 450-plus yards in each of the past four games. But you can lump the Bills in with the "very good" of the NFL. And in this topsy-turvy league, that's a position a lot of teams wish they were in after five games -- including the desperate Eagles.

"We got talent, too," Bills safety George Wilson (11 tackles, one interception) said defiantly. "We don't back down from any challenge."

Buffalo didn’t go Frank Gore on the Eagles. But the Bills’ offensive players were not shy to admit that they believed they would have their way with Philadelphia’s struggling defense. The Eagles were ranked No. 30 against the run entering Week 5.

The Bills were correct. Buffalo running back Fred Jackson shredded Philadelphia’s soft front seven for 111 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. The Eagles were blown off the ball and their tackling was horrendous. According to ESPN’s Stats and Information, 59 of Jackson’s 111 yards came after contact. Buffalo ran the ball 35 times and passed 27 times, the second time Buffalo’s offense has run more than it has passed this season.

“We knew that with the running game we’d be able to move the ball,” said Jackson, who also had 85 receiving yards. “We felt like we were bigger and more physical at the line. So we felt like we’d be able to move them off the ball.”

Buffalo’s early success on offense put a lot of pressure on the Eagles, and Philadelphia cracked by making poor decisions. The Eagles tried (and failed) at an onside kick to start the second half. Vick forced the ball into tight spots and threw a career-worst four interceptions. The mistakes added up and, by the start of the fourth quarter, Buffalo held a 31-14 lead.

Philadelphia went into full desperation mode and tried to orchestrate a comeback. But Buffalo, which blew a 14-point second-half lead in Week 4 against the Bengals, learned from last week’s mistakes and held on. After that loss, Buffalo heard all week about how it was a fluke team and couldn’t bounce back against the talented Eagles.

“If we had Tom Brady or a big-name guy, we wouldn’t be so easy to write off,” Wood said. “But we got some talented players and we got a great quarterback to go behind now. We like our chances.”

How far can these no-name Bills go this season? If they play like they did Sunday, Buffalo will make the playoffs.

"This is a different season, a different era and a different team," Nelson said. "We know how to win games and we're continuing to come out and surprising people. But we're not surprising ourselves."

» NFC: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South » Unrestricted FAs

Readiness factor: The Bills will need every moment they can find to prepare for the season. Their offensive skill players gathered at quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's home in April. A larger contingent convened in Western New York for casual workouts in May.

Biggest challenge: Buffalo must find a defensive identity quickly. The Bills switched from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 with bad results last year. As it became obvious they had the NFL's worst run defense, they mixed their fronts. Head coach Chan Gailey has said that they will be a hybrid defense leaning toward a 3-4 base. Then he hired longtime 4-3 mastermind Dave Wannstedt -- not to replace defensive coordinator George Edwards, but as assistant head coach and linebackers coach.

Line in the sand: The Bills have a tenuous offensive line, although all the late-season starters are back. The line mostly has been mediocre and often riddled with injuries. Demetrius Bell has been a bargain at left tackle, but far from dominant. Right guard Eric Wood could eventually shift to center.

Key players without contracts for 2011: Inside linebacker Paul Posluszny and safety Donte Whitner have been two of the Bills' most prolific tacklers. Cornerback Drayton Florence is an overlooked free agent who could be popular on the open market. Disappointing former first-round pick John McCargo is a goner.

» NFC Draft Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Each Thursday leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-30), the ESPN.com NFL blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today’s topic: history in that spot.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills' top pick is No. 3 overall. Here are the last seven players taken in that spot, with their NFL teams in parentheses:

2010: DT Gerald McCoy (Buccaneers)

2009: DE Tyson Jackson (Chiefs)

2008: QB Matt Ryan (Falcons)

2007: T Joe Thomas (Browns)

2006: QB Vince Young (Titans)

2005: WR Braylon Edwards (Browns)

2004: WR Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)

ANALYSIS: Some sexy picks have been made in this spot. None of the players have been out-and-out busts, although character concerns have overshadowed a couple. Only McCoy and Jackson haven't been selected for at least one Pro Bowl. Fitzgerald is an elite receiver, arguably the best in the business. Edwards can be a dangerous playmaker when not dropping passes, which he didn't do last year. Ryan is an emerging star. Young has been a lightning rod, but he did win rookie of the year and has gone to a pair of Pro Bowls. Thomas is a star blocker with four Pro Bowls on his résumé already.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins' top pick is No. 15 overall. Here are the last seven players taken in that spot, with their NFL teams in parentheses:

2010: DE Jason Pierre-Paul (Giants)

2009: LB Brian Cushing (Texans)

2008: G Branden Albert (Chiefs)

2007: LB Lawrence Timmons (Steelers)

2006: CB Tye Hill (Rams)

2005: LB Derrick Johnson (Chiefs)

2004: WR Michael Clayton (Buccaneers)

ANALYSIS: This is a region of the first round where picks can break either way. There have been solid players drafted here, but no superstars. Cushing was a rookie of the year, but his career has been tainted by performance-enhancing drug usage. Clayton made an immediate impact with 80 catches for 1,193 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie, but hasn't caught more than 38 passes since. Johnson has been a solid linebacker for Kansas City, while Timmons has been an influential member of Pittsburgh's defense the past two seasons. Hill has been the biggest disappointment. He has been with four teams, starting 25 games.

New England Patriots

The Patriots' first-round picks are Nos. 17 and 28 overall. Here are the last seven players taken in those spots, with their NFL teams in parentheses:

2010: G Mike Iupati (49ers) and DE Jared Odrick (Dolphins)

2009: QB Josh Freeman (Buccaneers) and G Eric Wood (Bills)

2008: T Gosder Cherilus (Lions) and DE Lawrence Jackson (Seahawks)

2007: DE Jarvis Moss (Broncos) and T Joe Staley (49ers)

2006: LB Chad Greenway (Vikings) and TE Marcedes Lewis (Jaguars)

2005: LB David Pollack (Bengals) and DE Luis Castillo (Chargers)

2004: LB D.J. Williams (Broncos) and CB Chris Gamble (Panthers)

ANALYSIS: Results have been mixed with these slots, but the 28th pick actually has found more starters than the 17th in recent years. Freeman showed signs of developing into a future star last year, and Cherilus has started 40 of his 43 games at right tackle. Williams and Greenway have been regular starters. But Moss and Pollock didn't work out. In the 28th slot, Odrick is the only one who hasn't been a regular starter. Injuries detonated his rookie season.

New York Jets

The Jets' top pick is No. 30 overall. Here are the last seven players taken in that spot, with their NFL teams in parentheses:

2010: RB Jahvid Best (Lions)

2009: WR Kenny Britt (Titans)

2008: TE Dustin Keller (Jets)

2007: WR Craig Davis (Chargers)

2006: RB Joseph Addai (Colts)

2005: TE Heath Miller (Steelers)

2004: RB Kevin Jones (Lions)

ANALYSIS: What strikes me is that all seven selections not only are offensive players, but also ball handlers. Perhaps teams in the back of the draft feel they can gamble a little bit and try to hit big on a skill position. Whatever the reasoning, it seems to have worked. This has been a successful spot. Jones and Addai rushed for 1,000 yards as rookies. Best appears to be the Lions' running back of the future. Miller and Addai have gone to Pro Bowls. Britt was the Titans' leading receiver last year. Keller is one of the NFL's better tight ends.

» NFC labor impact: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A team-by-team look at how a continued labor impasse and extended NFL freeze on transactions would affect the division:

Buffalo Bills: The Bills are a young team that built momentum toward the end of last season. They went 4-4 in the second half. Over a six-game stretch in October and November they went 2-4, and each loss was by three points to an eventual playoff team. Three of them were in overtime.

A prolonged work stoppage would stunt Buffalo's development. Head coach Chan Gailey is entering his second year, but his first offseason with Ryan Fitzpatrick as starting quarterback. The Bills also could draft a quarterback next month, but they wouldn't be able to sign him or work with him until there's a new collective bargaining agreement.

Inexperienced players with one or two years dot the roster: running back C.J. Spiller, guards Eric Wood and Andy Levitre, nose tackle Torell Troup, outside linebackers Aaron Maybin and Arthur Moats, safety Jairus Byrd. They would benefit from as much prep time as they can get.

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins' offense will have serious difficulty taking shape if there's a long work stoppage. Incumbent quarterback Chad Henne wouldn't be on the securest footing if we were heading into a normal offseason. The Dolphins were frustrated enough to remove him as their starter twice last year. Now he's working with a new offensive coordinator (Brian Daboll) and new quarterbacks coach (Karl Dorrell) who never has been a quarterbacks coach before.

Henne got a head start on his offseason by meeting with Daboll and Dorrell and trying to absorb as much of the playbook as he could. Henne intends to communicate Daboll's philosophies to his teammates with informal workouts in South Florida.

That's where the Dolphins can have an advantage if they remain diligent. A large percentage of their players maintain homes in South Florida, making it easy for them to assemble for group sessions.

All of Henne's work could be rendered moot if the Dolphins want to acquire another quarterback, but then they'll have another problem. Until there's a new CBA, teams cannot sign free agents or make player trades. That means the Dolphins are in limbo if they want to make a play for an intriguing group of candidates that includes Kevin Kolb, Kyle Orton, Carson Palmer, Donovan McNabb and Vince Young.

New England Patriots: If any team can withstand a protracted work stoppage, it's the reigning AFC East champions. The Patriots have a solid roster filled with veterans, particularly on offense. Their coaching staff remained mostly intact. They're flush with draft picks.

The biggest impact probably would be felt on defense, where the Patriots sometimes started four rookies: end Brandon Deaderick, outside linebacker Jermaine Cunningham, inside linebacker Brandon Spikes and cornerback Devin McCourty.

Although a couple of veteran defenders returning from injuries -- defensive end Ty Warren and cornerback Leigh Bodden -- should help stabilize them, the Patriots will have difficulty coaching up their youngsters and improving their terrible third-down defense in a compacted offseason.

Another issue could be the way the Patriots flip through interchangeable parts. The Patriots are adept at discovering undrafted free agents and reclaiming other teams' castoffs while constantly overturning the bottom of their roster. With no CBA, these roster moves cannot happen.

New York Jets: Free agency will be the Jets' biggest issue if a work stoppage drags out. They have the most free agents in the AFC East and declined to re-sign any of them aside from placing the franchise tag on inside linebacker David Harris. The Jets didn't want to make any decisions until they knew what the next CBA looked like. That created several questions up and down the roster.

Receiver is the biggest question mark. Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards are without contracts, and quarterback Mark Sanchez needs a strong supporting cast. On defense, safety is a concern with Brodney Pool, Eric Smith and James Ihedigbo all about to be free agents, too.

No CBA means the Jets won't be able to sign incoming free agents either. Polls have shown players around the league would love to play for Rex Ryan more than any other coach. But the Jets can't use that to their advantage until there's a new deal.

There are some notable inactives to report for Sunday's games involving AFC East teams.

For their must-win game against the Cleveland Browns in Sun Life Stadium, the Miami Dolphins have scratched receiver Brandon Marshall, linebacker Channing Crowder and cornerback Al Harris.

The absences of Crowder and Harris might be more significant than Marshall. The Dolphins won without him last week in Oakland, and quarterback Chad Henne played one of his best games.

Dolphins defensive end Phillip Merling is back from his Achilles injury and active for the first time this year.

For the Buffalo Bills' game at the Metrodome, guard Eric Wood, tight end Shawn Nelson and cornerback Terrence McGee are out, as expected.

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson will play, but receivers Percy Harvin, Greg Lewis and Hank Baskett are out. So is right guard Steve Hutchinson. That might help Bills nose tackle Kyle Williams add to his sack total.

As NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert notes, the Vikings have just three receivers: Sidney Rice, Bernard Berrian and Greg Camarillo. Rookie quarterback Joe Webb could see some action as a target.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Aaron Maybin will wear shoulder pads on Sunday.

Maybin, the struggling Buffalo Bills outside linebacker, doesn't appear on the inactive list for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Ralph Wilson Stadium. The 11th pick in last year's draft has been a healthy scratch the five previous games.

These players have been deactivated:

Pittsburgh Steelers

• Quarterback Charlie Batch
• Running back Jonathan Dwyer
• Receiver Antonio Brown
• Tight end Matt Spaeth
• Tackle Chris Scott
• Defensive end Aaron Smith
• Defensive end Brett Keisel
• Cornerback Crezdon Butler

Buffalo Bills

• Quarterback Levi Brown
• Running back C.J. Spiller
• Guard Eric Wood
• Tight end Shawn Nelson
• Defensive end Spencer Johnson
• Defensive end John McCargo
• Linebacker Mike Balogun
• Cornerback Terrence McGee

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- In my halftime observations post from the New York Jets' 38-14 walkthrough against the Buffalo Bills, I gave a rundown of how nonexistent the Bills' past seven first-round draft picks had been through the first two quarters.

The update I'm about to deliver isn't much better.

• Receiver Lee Evans (13th overall in 2004): one catch for 6 yards.
• Safety Donte Whitner (eighth overall in 2006): 13 tackles.
• Defensive lineman John McCargo (26th overall in 2006): a healthy scratch.
• Running back Marshawn Lynch (12th overall in 2007): four carries for 8 yards, lost fumble, no catches.
• Cornerback Leodis McKelvin (11th overall in 2008): burned on a 41-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards.
• Outside linebacker Aaron Maybin (11th overall in 2009): a few plays, zero tackles, apparently surpassed on the depth chart by sixth-round rookie Arthur Moats.
• Right guard Eric Wood (28th overall in 2009): holding penalty to put the Bills at second-and-19 at their own 11-yard line.
• Running back C.J. Spiller (ninth overall this year): two carries for 11 yards, one receptions for 4 yards, five kickoff returns for 110 yards.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Some thoughts from the press box at Ralph Wilson Stadium, where the New York Jets lead the Buffalo Bills 17-7 at halftime:

• Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick started without a completion on his first five attempts then connected on seven straight to end the half, his last toss a 4-yard touchdown to wide-open tight end David Martin. Undrafted rookie David Nelson had three catches for 55 yards.
• This isn't a fresh observation, but LaDainian Tomlinson looks terrific. He has 13 attempts for 89 yards. He ran five times for 42 yards on the opening drive. What hurt his average was that 1-yard touchdown run.
• The Bills' run defense has been deplorable even with last season's top tackler, Paul Posluszny, back after missing two games with a knee injury. The Jets are throwing incomplete passes on first down, running on second and still finding themselves in third-and-short situations.
• How are Buffalo's past seven first-round draft picks doing? Receiver Lee Evans (13th overall in 2004) has zero catches. Safety Donte Whitner (eighth overall in 2006) has been invisible. Defensive lineman John McCargo (26th overall in 2006) is a healthy scratch. Running back Marshawn Lynch (12th overall in 2007) has two carries for 3 yards. Cornerback Leodis McKelvin (11th overall in 2008) got torched on a 41-yard touchdown strike. Outside linebacker Aaron Maybin (11th overall in 2009) barely has stepped on the field. Right guard Eric Wood (28th overall in 2009) has a holding penalty to put the Bills at second-and-19 at their own 11-yard line. Running back C.J. Spiller (ninth overall this year) has zero rush attempts and one catch for 4 yards.
• I'd love to reprint some of former Bills linebacker Darryl Talley's tweets, but his coarse language is reflective of how his old team is playing this year. To summarize, he thinks nose tackle Kyle Williams is the only defensive player who's performing.
• Bills receiver and punt returner Roscoe Parrish is off to a nice start this year. He has been one of the few bright spots overall. He made a tough catch in the second quarter for 7 yards. Parrish had two punt returns for 19 yards, surpassing the 1,500-yard mark for his career.
• The game would be more lopsided had Nick Folk not missed a 30-yard field goal at the end of the Jets' second possession, which began on a pooch kickoff Bills linebacker Chris Ellis fumbled. The Bills nearly were down 10-0 before they ran their first offensive play.

Buffalo Bills coach Chan Gailey revealed Wednesday safety Jairus Byrd had groin surgery for a third time in the past 13 months and will be out indefinitely.

The problem is related to the sports-hernia surgery Byrd underwent before the end of last season. Still, Byrd managed to intercept nine passes in just 14 games (11 starts) and tied for the NFL lead. He was selected for the Pro Bowl but couldn't play.

"It looks like he's going to be out for a while," Gailey said. "We're hoping first game, but it may be not."

Buffalo's prospects for 2010 were dim enough without their roster being ravaged by injuries.

For context on how rough training camp has been, here's a loosely comprised list of their top few players, not counting punter Brian Moorman or kicker Rian Lindell.

• Wide receiver Lee Evans: healthy.
• Running back Fred Jackson: out four to six weeks with a broken hand.
• Running back Marshawn Lynch: out three to four weeks with a sprained ankle.
• Inside linebacker Paul Posluszny: missed first two weeks and preseason opener after groin surgery ... expected to play Thursday night against Indianapolis Colts.
• Cornerback Terrence McGee: healthy.
• Safety Jairus Byrd: out indefinitely after groin surgery.
• Running back C.J. Spiller: healthy ... not sure yet where the rookie should rank on this list, but he belongs.

Did I forget anybody? Maybe you can put defensive lineman Marcus Stroud in there somewhere. He's also healthy.

Also hurt for the Bills: receivers David Nelson (leg), James Hardy (foot) and Marcus Easley (knee) and linebacker Chris Kelsay (shoulder).

Left tackle Demetrius Bell (knee) and right guard Eric Wood (leg) have been moved along cautiously as they recover from injuries suffered last year. Both are expected to play Thursday night.

ESPN.com NFL Power Ranking (pre-camp): 31

PITTSFORD. N.Y. -- Of any preseason prediction I can make, the one I'm most confident in is that the Buffalo Bills will finish fourth in the AFC East.

That slot would be neither general manager Buddy Nix's nor head coach Chan Gailey's fault. The problems they inherited have set the course for 2010.

But they are setting a tone for the long-term future the players can respect.

Gailey is trying to establish a new culture with his first training camp. He wants people to use two adjectives that haven't been associated with the Bills for a long time: tough and disciplined.

"He's very particular about things and how he wants them done," Bills receiver Lee Evans said. "We haven't really had that for a while here, with the head man running the show. You understand what he's trying to get done."

Gailey has kept his players in full pads at St. John Fisher College. Previous coach Dick Jauron rarely had his players in complete gear at camp.

Gailey believes players should be in pads and tested both physically and mentally. He's in a discovery phase not only about what he'll be able to work with on Sunday afternoons, but also keepers who will help him build a long-term foundation.

"When you actually have those shoulder pads on, mouthpiece in, chinstrap buckled up and you have to get off a block to make a play," safety George Wilson said, "that really shows the true testament of a real football player.

"That's what our coaching staff needs, a new staff that's coming in to evaluate this entire team and be able to put the best 53 men together for this 2010 season. I like what we’re doing. It's going to make us a lot more physical, a lot tougher, a lot more mentally prepared, and I have a positive outlook about it."

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Can quarterback Trent Edwards capitalize on another opportunity? Bills fans seemed to be pulling for Brian Brohm to emerge as the favorite to win the starting quarterback job. A major reason is they haven't seen him truly fail yet -- unlike Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Yet, after several months working with his quarterbacks, Gailey liked Edwards best and installed him as the No. 1 quarterback to begin training camp. The battle remains open, but with Fitzpatrick and Brohm sharing reps with the backups and surrendering a few here and there to rookie Levi Brown, it's Edwards' job to lose. Based on Edwards' medical chart (combined with Hot Issue No. 2 below), there are no guarantees.

But Edwards has yet to get a fair shot to prove what he can do. He has experienced plenty of chaos since the Bills drafted him in the third round in 2007. Gailey is the first offensive-minded head coach Edwards has played under. Last year, offensive coordinator Turk Schonert got fired 10 days before the season, the Bills jettisoned both starting tackles (two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters and the most experienced member of the offensive line, Langston Walker) from the season before and endured a futile no-huddle experiment.

Gailey has run successful offenses everywhere he has been. This finally could be a legitimate chance for Edwards to show what he can do.

2. How will the Bills survive without proven offensive tackles? The Bills aren't known for their pass rush, but it was apparent in the early days of practice their offensive tackles were overmatched in pass protection. For their safety, quarterbacks wear red jerseys to remind oncoming defenders not to hit them. Good thing, or else the Bills might have needed to sign some replacements already.

While some front offices believe guards are fungible and tackles vital, the Bills have operated contradictorily in recent years. They've drafted guards within the first two rounds (Eric Wood and Andy Levitre) and paid big bucks for a free agent (Derrick Dockery) while declining to draft a tackle earlier than the fifth round since 2002.

Left tackle Demetrius Bell has been limited in 11-on-11 drills because he's recovering from knee surgery. He received his first snaps Sunday. His replacement, Jamon Meredith, has been overwhelmed at times. The other tackles likely to make the 53-man roster -- Cornell Green, Kirk Chambers and rookie Ed Wang -- have looked ordinary at best.

3. What will happen with vacillating pass-rusher Aaron Schobel? He spent the entire offseason at his home in Texas, perhaps playing possum. He didn’t return to the Bills' facility to collect his roster bonus or participate in offseason workouts. He told some media outlets he was all but retired.

Then, on the verge of camp, the two-time Pro Bowler with a $6 million base salary expressed a change of heart. Schobel might want to play after all. Or maybe he's posturing for a trade, threatening to show up a month before the regular season despite failing to attend so much as a chalk-board session on the team's transition from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4.

On Monday morning, the Bills provided a nebulous answer: In a news release, Nix announced the team is moving forward with plans that do not include Schobel.

Nix said: “Aaron has been contemplating retirement for the past seven months, but we are at the point where we are moving forward and have informed his agent of our plans.”

Schobel can improve the defense with his talents, but the team is rebuilding and going through a defensive transformation he has demurred from. If they cut him, then they forfeit an asset. A trade appears to be the best option to me.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Wide receiver Steve Johnson was an afterthought when the Bills drafted him in the seventh round three years ago. But the front office was quietly confident he would be a player someday. After getting buried on a depth chart that no longer includes Terrell Owens and Josh Reed, Johnson might be ready to emerge. Johnson opened camp as the starting No. 2 receiver opposite Evans. That puts James Hardy on the spot. The Bills took him in the second round the same year they drafted Johnson.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Rookie running back C.J. Spiller, the ninth overall draft choice, still hasn't been signed. Reports indicate it might be a while before he's under contract. The players around him in the draft order have come to terms, but Spiller was the first running back off the board and was considered the most electric playmaker in the draft. His agent, Gary Wichard, certainly is hammering home that point every time he speaks to the Bills. While it's true running backs can afford to miss practice more than other positions because their role is so reactionary, Spiller is more than that. The Bills also consider him a receiver, and that makes practice time more precious for learning the nuances of Gailey's offense.

OBSERVATION DECK

• The atmosphere at St. John Fisher College has been lifeless. It hasn't mattered whether it's morning, afternoon, night, weekday or weekend. The few fans who have shown up are silent.
• Fitzpatrick has been plagued by interceptions through the first few days of camp. Bills defenders seem to have developed a strong read on where he's going to throw.
• Gailey has mandated knee braces at practice for the offensive linemen, whether they've had injuries or not. He has been doing that since he began working with O-line coach Joe D'Alessandris at Georgia Tech in 2002. The players can opt out of the knee braces for games if they don't like how they feel.
• The Bills' defensive backs have sensational hands. In every drill I watched, it was rare to see a ball hit the ground.
• Left cornerback Leodis McKelvin has demonstrated lapses in concentration. He seemed lost in a passing drill Saturday, getting beaten by Hardy for an easy touchdown. Secondary coach George Catavolos had trouble getting McKelvin's attention afterward for some instruction. Soon after, McKelvin was dropping punts in a return drill.
• Inside linebacker Kawika Mitchell told me the unit relies on free-agent acquisition Andra Davis' insight when it comes to 3-4 questions. That also goes for inside linebackers coach DeMontie Cross, who hasn't coached an NFL 3-4 before.
• Mitchell on the 3-4: "It gives you more freedom. It allows you to showcase your ability a lot more. It's going to be a lot more fun."
• Brian Moorman and Rian Lindell are one of the NFL's best punter-kicker combos. The Bills didn't bother to bring in any additional legs.
• Wood is a head knocker. His quick return from a shattered left leg and no-nonsense demeanor on the field will make him popular in Buffalo.
• After obstructed media views on the opening day, the Bills did a fine job of reorganizing their access areas to allow better viewing of 11-on-11 drills.
• Outside linebacker Aaron Maybin has a body shape that stands out the moment you see him. Maybin looks like a Wii character, with a tiny waist that flares upward toward his shoulder pads. He told me his waist is 36 inches, but in pads it seems like a 28.
• I focused on the tight ends at the blocking sled Friday morning. I saw why sophomore Shawn Nelson is viewed as more receiver than blocker. He looked considerably less powerful than the rest. While Derek Schouman, Jonathan Stupar and Michael Matthews jacked the sled, Nelson merely budged it. Nelson is listed at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds. Only Matthews is larger at 6-4 and 270.

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Aaron Maybin finally did something to stand out at Buffalo Bills practice.

And not in a good way.

In just the second session of training camp, Maybin drew the fury of the Bills' offensive line when he shoved running back Fred Jackson to the ground from behind at the end of a play during an 11-on-11 drill Friday morning. A brawl ensued.

Jackson hit the ground hard and yelled "Come on, man!"

From about 10 yards away, Bills center Geoff Hangartner stormed after Maybin. They engaged, hands in facemasks, until Maybin ducked down to pick up Hangartner from behind the knees and attempted to dump him with a wrestling move.

Offensive and defensive players jumped in to break them up. The combatants toppled to the ground and were being pulled apart when Maybin delivered a punch to Hangartner's cage. The fight happened about 20 feet in front of me.

"Do that again, Maybin! This is football!" defensive lineman Marcus Stroud hollered from a group of observers. Stroud, with his helmet off, was held out of practice for unspecified reasons. "You're supposed to get tackled!"

The tenor remained tense for a few more hard-hitting plays. Then Bills guard Eric Wood expressed a different sentiment to Maybin, the 11th overall pick in last year's draft who didn't start a game and finished the season with nine solo tackles.

"Give back some of that money you ain't [expletive] earned!" Wood screamed at the defensive huddle.

Maybin sat out all of training camp last year before signing a five-year contract that included $15 million in guarantees.

Wood was drafted 17 slots after Maybin last year. He started all 10 games before gruesomely breaking his left tibia and fibula. With a titanium rod in his leg, Wood was with the first-team offense when came opened Thursday.

Long-suffering Bills fans have to appreciate Wood's fiery reaction. I have a feeling the Bills will sell a few Wood jerseys once fans read coverage of Friday's fight.

Wood declined to comment when approached by Associated Press reporter John Wawrow.

"You hit our 1,000-yard rusher in the back when he's not looking, then it's going to cause some hard feelings with the O-line," Hangartner said. "We've got to protect our guy."

Maybin laughed off the altercation and said he didn't hear Wood's challenge.

"It is what it is," Maybin said. "It's a physical game."

"I'm never one to shy away from the contact portion of the game. If there's nobody who's going to be willing to get the practice started, I'll start things off for us."

Bills coach Chan Gailey will hold his daily news conference following Friday night's practice and was unavailable to share his thoughts about teammates tussling. Some coaches, such as predecessor Dick Jauron, abhor it because it demonstrates a lack of discipline and could lead to injuries. Other coaches like it because it indicates toughness.

When asked Thursday why he chose to put his players in pads on the first day of training camp -- Jauron always waited until the first Monday -- Gailey chuckled.

"We're in training camp, aren't we?" Gailey said. "Training camp is a time to go to work. We only have a certain number of opportunities to get out here and get better and be a physical football team. So we take advantage of every opportunity that we have."

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- A goofy smile came over Eric Wood's cherub face.

Wood, the Buffalo Bills right guard who's returning from a Joe Theismannesque broken leg, got rolled up by a teammate in Thursday's training-camp opener.

And it felt so good -- because Wood didn't feel a thing.

Wood's unsure who piled into him from behind on the first play of a nine-on-seven, inside run drill.

"I don't know if anyone was nervous, but a couple guys helped me up," Wood said. "It was kind of funny when I hopped up. Somebody said 'Well, that's it. Now you're good.' "

For Wood, it was a major mental milestone in his recovery. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady went through a similar process last preseason, when he announced he was looking forward to getting whomped for the first time since his 2008 knee surgery.

"A lot of these guys have been really sympathetic of me and my injury the past couple of months," Wood said. "Now I'm just a football player again. I'm a teammate. I'm going against defensive linemen that are giving me full looks.

"Nobody's going to baby me. Nobody cares now. No one in the AFC East cares that I broke my leg. That's the way I've got to approach it, too."

Wood was the second of Buffalo's two first-round draft choices last year. The Bills obtained the 28th pick from the Philadelphia Eagles in the trade for Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters.

The Bills moved Wood, one of the top two centers in the draft, to right guard. He was having a fine season until Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Montavious Stanley -- now with the Miami Dolphins -- inadvertently rolled into Wood's lower left leg while trying to sack Ryan Fitzpatrick in Week 10.

Wood's tibia and fibula snapped in a sickening way. He has a titanium rod and four screws in his tibia. He spent the first month of his recovery in a wheelchair then graduated to a walking boot before he could take -- gingerly -- his first running stride.

"He's had to come a long way, and that tells you a lot about Eric Wood's makeup," Bills coach Chan Gailey said. "He would have been out earlier if he could've. He's proven to be a fast healer. He's able to push throughout the tough times, which a lot of guys are not able to do. He's made an amazing recovery, and we're the benefactors of that."

Wood's goal is to take every first-team snap throughout camp but added the Bills want to be cautious with him. He noted Friday "will be a big morning. We'll see how I feel. If it's sore, we'll probably hold off because we have a lot of time before Miami" in the regular-season opener.

Wood guessed he's a half-step slower than he was before the injury but claimed he's a better football player, more mature, more aware.

He insisted heavy reps are the only way to get back to where he was last year.

"It's a violent game," Wood said, "and playing O-line or D-line in the league, there's nothing I can do in the weight room to replicate hitting Marcus Stroud. He's 300-some pounds, has long arms and you have to push as long as you possibly can for five seconds or the duration of the play.

"Just getting out here and working is good."

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» Draft Watch: Biggest needs (2/17) | Busts/gems (2/24) | Schemes, themes (3/3) | Recent history (3/10) | Needs revisited (3/17) | Under-the-radar needs (3/26) | History in that spot (3/31) | Draft approach (4/7) | Decision-makers (4/14) | Dream scenario/Plan B (4/21)

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: Five-year history in that spot.

Denver Broncos: There have been some stars taken in the No. 11 spot recently. In 2007, San Francisco took linebacker Patrick Willis. He has become one of the best defensive players in the NFL. He is a dominant middle linebacker. In 2006, Denver traded up to take quarterback Jay Cutler. He was a Pro Bowl quarterback in Denver before he was sent to Chicago last year. In 2005, Dallas took pass-rusher DeMarcus Ware. He is a key to Dallas’ defense. The past two players taken in the spot have to prove they belong. Buffalo took defensive end Aaron Maybin in 2009 and cornerback Leodis McKelvin in 2008. Maybin was slowed by a long holdout. Still, he has solid pass-rushing potential. McKelvin has some nice potential but he has been hampered by injuries.

Kansas City Chiefs: The No. 5 overall pick hasn’t been a sure-thing selection spot. In 2009, the Jets took quarterback Mark Sanchez. He has the makings of being an outstanding quarterback. He led the Jets to the AFC Championship Game as a rookie. However, the results at this spot have been uneven overall. Kansas City took defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey in 2008. Dorsey was considered perhaps the best player available in the draft. He has been slow to adjust to the NFL game and 3-4 defense the Chiefs adopted in his second NFL season. In 2007, Arizona took tackle Levi Brown. He has developed into a nice starting tackle. Still, he may have been taken too high. In 2006, Green Bay took linebacker A.J. Hawk, who has had his ups and downs. He’s been good, but not great. In 2005, Tampa Bay took running back Cadillac Williams. He has been a productive player when healthy. But injuries have hampered him.

Oakland Raiders: There hasn’t been an overwhelming amount of production out of the No. 8 spot the past five years. Jacksonville has been in this spot the past two years. It took left tackle Eugene Monroe last year and defensive end Derrick Harvey in 2008. Monroe looks like he could be a solid pick in an era where there are several good left tackles entering the league. Harvey had a long holdout and he has been hurt. He has 5.5 sacks in two full seasons. He needs to pick it up. In 2007, Atlanta took defensive end Jamaal Anderson. He looks like he may be a big bust. He has 2.5 sacks in 44 games. He started 16 games last season and did not have a sack. In 2006, the Bills took safety Donte Whitner. He has been a solid player. Arizona took safety Antrel Rolle in 2005. He was just cut by the Cardinals in a salary dump and signed by the Giants. He has been a solid playmaker.

San Diego Chargers: There has been some good production at the No. 28 spot for being so low in the first round. In 2009, Buffalo took center Eric Wood. He had a terrific start to his career, but suffered a broken leg in November and will need to prove he can come back from it. In 2008, Seattle took defensive end Lawrence Jackson, who has had 6.5 sacks in two seasons. He could still be solid, but he was an awful pick at No. 28. San Francisco scored big in 2007 with left tackle Joe Staley. He was a very good value pick. In 2006, Jacksonville took tight end Marcedes Lewis. He has 123 catches in four NFL seasons and he has seven career touchdowns catches. He isn’t dominant, but he has been far from a bust. The Chargers took defensive end Luis Castillo in this spot five years ago. He has become an important part of the Chargers’ defense, and the team gave him a lucrative deal in 2008 to keep him.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- In a 15-minute conversation with Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix and three other reporters, we touched on a number of topics.

Three of the questions I had for him dealt with the quarterback situation with Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Brohm, his stance on running back Marshawn Lynch's future with the team and an update on right guard Eric Wood's broken leg.

Is your opening-day quarterback on the roster?

"I have no idea. I really don't know. I know that's what we got now, and it's open. [Bills head coach Chan Gailey has] made that clear. We're going to see who comes out. The fact that those are the three guys we got, we like all three of them, all of them got redeeming qualities, but if something else comes available, we might add a fourth to the mix. I don't know."

Will Lynch be in your backfield this year?

"That's up to him. He's like everybody else. We expect him to be. We need two backs. We think that he's a really good player, and we want him to be there.

"We're all starting new, all starting fresh."

Are there any updates on Wood's recovery?

"I think he's ahead of schedule. That's what we hear, so he should be fine. ... He'll be back. Exactly when, I don't know. He's a hard-working kid that's ahead of schedule.

"We want to count on him, but we also have to have a plan. But we think he'll be ready."

In examining how effectively every NFL offensive lineman pass blocks, ProFootballFocus.com analyst Khaled Elsayed didn't limit himself to the tackles.

On Wednesday, we took a gander at Elsayed's research on the ultimate pass-protectors. The AFC East featured three of 2009's best tackles in a metric called "pass blocking productivity" of every offensive lineman.

ProFootballFocus.com devised a formula that essentially takes the number of sacks and quarterback hits allowed plus pressures and divides them by the number of pass plays.

Elsayed also applied that equation to the interior linemen. AFC East grunts excelled there, too.

Buffalo Bills

Geoff Hangartner came in last at center, but he was flanked by rookie guards in 2009. ProFootballFocus.com had Hangartner down for three sacks, four QB hits and 17 pressures.

Those rookies, Andy Levitre and Eric Wood, graded well.

Levitre was in the middle of the left guard pack. He allowed two sacks, nine QB hits and 11 pressures. Wood was farther down the list among right guards. In 10 games he gave up three sacks, two QB hits and a dozen pressures.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins had two centers in the top nine. Usual starter Jake Grove was ninth (zero sacks, one QB hit, seven pressures), while injury replacement Joe Berger was fifth (zero sack, one QB hit, four pressures).

Justin Smiley was ninth among left guards with three sacks, five QB hits and eight pressures. Nate Garner was second in limited action on the right side. He was blamed for only one sack, two QB hits and two pressures.

New England Patriots

Stephen Neal ranked fourth among all guards. ProFootballFocus.com charged him with two sacks, one QB hit and seven pressures.

Logan Mankins ranked 13th among all guards and sixth among left guards. Mankins yielded two sacks, three QB hits and 13 pressures.

Dan Koppen, however, was in the lower third at center, ranking eighth from the bottom. He allowed zero sacks, but had eight QB hits and 10 pressures.

New York Jets

Perennial Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca was way down the list. A dozen left guards had a worse PBP rating, but only two yielded more sacks than Faneca did. He was charged with six sacks, two QB hits and 15 pressures.

Brandon Moore was ninth among all guards and sixth on the right side with one sack, two QB hits and eight pressures.

Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold ranked fourth at his position. He gave up one sack, two QB hits and five pressures.

Elsayed was kind enough to share the spreadsheet he used to track these stats, and with a few clicks of the mouse I was able to merge all of the positions and sort them by PBP rating. Obviously, centers and guards were the most efficient because they're not victimized by pass-rushers as much.

Mangold ranked highest among all AFC East O-linemen at sixth overall. Berger was seventh and Garner ninth. Neal was 12th, Grove was 15th and Moore was 27th.

Bills left tackle Demetrius Bell ranked last among all NFL offensive linemen in PBP rating.