News 4 Sports Blog

Bulls Biggest Game Ever?

2008-11-18T22:20:00.002-05:00

The U.B. Bulls play Friday night at Doyt Perry Stadium (pictured) in Bowling Green, OH. Its the biggest game in school history, and here's why:

*A win by the Bulls, their fifth straight, will clinch the MAC East Division title.

*A win by the Bulls will send them to the MAC Championship Game in Detroit on December 5.

*A win by the Bulls will clinch a spot in one of the MAC's three Bowl games (Motor City-Detroit, GMAC-Mobile, AL or International-Toronto).

With all apologies to Willie Evans, Gerry Philbin and the other Bulls greats from the 50's and 60's....a bowl bid for the 2008 Bulls puts the school on the map. That's why this is such a big game.

It would complete the incredible turnaround from doormat to contender in just three years under Turner Gill.

But, a loss to the Falcons could ruin all three dreams. A Bowling Green victory moves them into a tie for first with UB, and the Falcons would hold the tiebreaker. They would need to lose to Toledo in their finale, while UB beats Kent State at home.

The Bulls could still go to a bowl if they don't win the division, but it would be a longshot. Some bowl would have to be intrigued by the turnaround and Gill to open spot for the Bulls. The MAC's three bowls would be filled by the two MAC division champions. The third spot is likely to go to Ball State, Central Michigan or Western Michigan...whichever doesn't win the MAC West division. Central and Western both beat UB, and Ball State has been ranked most of the season.

UB would have to hope one of the big conferences doesn't have enough teams to fill its alotment, and then convince that bowl to take them for the open spot.

Thus, that is why this is the biggest game in school history.

O for Evans

2008-11-18T22:17:00.002-05:00

Lost in the dramatic Monday night loss to the Browns, is the fact that Lee Evans did not catch a pass. That ends his consecutive game receptions streak at 67. Evans was the intended target on the first pass of the game, the tipped interception of Trent Edwards. He was not the target of another pass the rest of the game. The Browns constantly double-teamed him, putting a deep safety on his side. Combined with the overall miserable play of Trent Edwards, it was a wasted night for #83. Edwards was so afraid to throw the ball downfield, he barely looked at his top wideout.

Evans was clearly upset about the game. Normally a stand-up guy and voice of reason in the locker room, Evans never appeared in the room after the game. We will get his first comments on the end of the streak at media day on Wednesday.

Bills "In aHole"

2008-11-10T12:51:00.000-05:00

Dick Jauron admits his team is “in a hole” based on its 0-3 AFC East division record. Here’s why. Division record is the first tiebreaker if the Bills were competing with the Jets, Dolphins or Patriots for a wild card spot. The best division record the Bills can have is 3-3, assuming they sweep the rest of their AFC East games. The only way to take the division record of of the mix is to win more games, and that may take an 11-5 record. That means the Bills must win six of their last seven games. That’s a tall order, although this coming three game stretch (Browns, @Chiefs, 49ers) does not have high caliber opponents. Maybe if the Bills get healthy these next three games, they’ll have momentum at 8-4 going into games against the Dolphins and Jets. Then its on the road against Denver and home to the Patriots. There are also other 6-3 and 5-4 teams in the AFC playoff mix. What almost looked like a lock for the postseason at 5-1 now looks like a major longshot.

Paul & Scott on the Road

2008-11-08T12:07:00.010-05:00

We're on the road to New England. Videographer Scott Swenson and I are driving to the Bills game against the Patriots. Normally, we fly together to Bills road games. But the chance to save some money and the nearly equal time demands made it an easy decision to hit the road. So we've loaded up the News 4 Ford Explorer and hit the Thruway. I'll update you on our trip as the day goes along.

10:18am Delaware Ave, Kenmore: We’ve gassed up and coffee-ed up and we’re on our way. Scott’s vat of Dunkin Donuts coffee is hotter than the surface of the sun. He may be able to drink it by Albany. My caramel swirl latte hit the spot. Scott’s breakfast sandwich smells good, but I’ll hold out for lunch.

10:43am I90 near Pembroke: Scott’s GPS has been programmed for the Courtyard Marriott in Foxboro (or is it Foxborough?) with an estimated arrival time of 4:47pm. Scott is an excellent driver and expect we’ll cut at least 30 minutes off that time.

11:53pm I90 between Rochester and Syracuse: I’ve fired up the laptop with the Verizon Wireless card and I’m blogging on the run. Gotta love technology.

12:07pm I90 Syracuse: Scott made me listen to some crazy country music song on a Syracuse station. I responded by making him listen to the first quarter of the Syracuse Orange-Rutgers football game.

12:35pm I90 outside Syracuse: The GPS is down to 4:32pm arrival. Scott is obeying all traffic laws and regulations….and the Orange are winning 14-0.

1:54pm I87 Outside Albany: Syracuse is now tied 14-14 at the Half. We’ve moved to the Albany radio affiliate, but I’m still making Scott listen. We’ve knocked down our GPS arrival time to 4:20pm. I think they build in at last 2 bathroom breaks for every few hours. We have not stopped yet, which is a shocker because Scott usually needs more restroom stops than a 3 year old. We hit some rain near Cooperstown, but that stopped once we got to Albany.

2:01pm Mass Pike Exit: We've hit the Mass Pike exit off I87. Making good time. Interesting note...the Sabres are also in Boston. They play the Bruins Saturday night. Its the first time since 1991 that the Sabres and Bills play in the same city on the same weekend. It will happen again next month, when the Sabres play the Devils in NJ the night before the Bills at the Jets.

2:31pm I90 on Mass State Line: We’ve hit the Commonwealth. Scott actually pulled over so I could take the above picture of the welcome sign.

2:47pm I90 Lee, MA rest area: The Papa Gino’s pizza slices hit the spot. We are fueled-up and ready for the stretch run to Boston. Scott's first restroom stop is hours after the experts predicted.

3:18pm I90 Springfield, MA: Syracuse goes on to lose 35-17. We switch to the Penn State-Iowa game so Scott can listen to his Nittany Lions.

4:25pm Foxboro, MA: We've arrived in Foxboro, just a few miles from Gillette Stadium. Other than some steady rain in Mass, the trip was great. The Courtyard by Marriott is full of dressed-up wedding guests.

Hecht to play against Thrashers

2008-11-06T16:56:00.002-05:00

Sabres forward, Jochen Hecht will return to the line-up after missing time with a broken finger. He's not sure whether he'll play on the wing or at center, as he skated along side Andrew Peters and Matt Ellis during this morning's skate. Other notes from practice: Tim Connolly was back on the ice after missing practice on Wednesday with a sore groin. Captain, Craig Rivet did not skate today. Lindy Ruff said he was sore, coming off yesterday's practice and the game in New Jersey. Both Connolly and Rivet will play tomorrow night against Atlanta. Game time is 7:30pm. The Sabres will need to make one roster move to make room for Hecht's return. They will be one over the limit. To find out who will get sent down to Portland, check out tomorrow's 5 and 6:00 sportscasts in our preview of their game.

Bills Injury Update

2008-11-05T16:15:00.004-05:00

Here's the latest from the banged-up Bills. At Wednesday's practice, missing were Josh Reed (ankle), Aaron Schobel (foot) and Donte Whitner (shoulder). Not practicing was Kawika Mitchell (ankle). That was a surprise, because he did not leave the game Sunday, nor was there any mention of an injury earlier in the week. Jon Corto took the snaps at outside linebacker. Dick Jauron, in his non-specific way, said the team hopes Mitchell could practice on Thursday.
Brad Butler took limited snaps, as he comes back from his knee injury. Ashton Youboty was also limited. The Bills need him to man the nickel corner spot that Whitner has been playing.

Washington Key to Bills Win

2008-11-01T19:04:00.002-04:00

The key to the Bills-Jets game is not Brett Favre. It may be Jets RB/KR Leon Washington. He is a dangerous, multi-purpose player who can hurt the Bills in a number of ways. He can run, he can catch, and he's an outstanding kick returner.

Washington's coming off a 274 all purpose yardage performance against the Chiefs. Washington's third in the NFL in kickoff returns (27.6) and fifth in punt returns (13.0). His 37 yard punt return set up the Jets winning score against KC. He's also had a 94 yard kickoff return this season.

So keep an eye on #29. He could be the difference in the game.

The Real U.B. Season Starts Now

2008-10-21T21:22:00.002-04:00

You can almost forget about the U.B. Bulls first 7 games, and their 3-4 record. Their season really starts now, with five games left. All five are against Mid American Conference East Division opponents. The Bulls and QB Drew Willy (pictured) are currently 1-2 in the MAC, heading into the final 5 game stretch. All that matters is the division race. If they can win the division, they earn a spot in the MAC Championship game in Detroit....and likely a spot in one of the 3 bowl games tied to the conference. The MAC East is muddled, with the Bulls just a half-game behind first place Akron. Preseason favorite Miami and Bowling Green have been inconsistent this season. The Bulls final 5 come against Ohio, Miami, Akron, Bowling Green and Kent State. The Bulls won't be a big underdog in any of these games. If UB can win four of those five (a good possibility), they would finish 5-3 in the MAC. If that includes wins over BG and Miami, the Bulls would have the tiebreaker. Remember, their two MAC losses are against teams from the Western Division.

Even a loss in the MAC Championship would put the Bulls overall record at 7-6. That would make them bowl eligible (six wins required) and put them in position for the International Bowl in Toronto to have a hard time turning them down.

So don't lose hope Bulls fans. The season you dreamed about is still a possibility. Stay tuned.

DiGiorgio Out for the Season

2008-10-21T21:14:00.002-04:00

The Associated Press, citing the player's agent, says Bills linebacker John DiGiorgio will have season-ending knee surgery next week. The injury happened while the backup linebacker was blocking on a Roscoe Parrish punt return. It leaves the Bills pretty thin behind starting 'backers Posluszny, Mitchell and Ellison. DiGiorgio was the main backup at both the middle and outside positions. Now, the Bills have only Jon Corto and Blake Costanzo. Neither of those players have much experience playing on every down. The only practice squad linebacker is rookie Marcus Buggs. Remember, Angelo Crowell and Alvin Bowen are both already out for the season with knee injuries. We'll update on Wednesday to see if the Bills bring in a veteran. I would expect that, just so they can have some piece of mind should something happen to one of the starters.

McCargo Trade Voided

2008-10-15T21:16:00.002-04:00

That trade yesterday that sent DT John McCargo from the Bills to the Indianapolis Colts is off. Colts sources confirm for us tonight that McCargo failed his physical today, because of a bulging disc in his back.
The Bills sent McCargo to Indy yesterday in exchange for a fourth round draft pick. A former first round pick in Buffalo, McCargo was getting limited playing time with the Bills this year and he was buried on the defensive line depth chart.
The failed physical means McCargo's rights revert to the Bills. It remains to be seen whether the Bills would keep him on the 53-man roster for long. They may elect to put him on injured reserve or reach an injury settlement with the three year veteran.

McCargo Traded

2008-10-14T18:44:00.003-04:00

Not a huge surprise that the Bills would trade John McCargo. His work ethic has been questionable through his three years in Buffalo. He had fallen far behind Stroud, Williams and Spencer Johnson. He was inactive for the season opener. NFL.com reports that the Bills will get a 4th round pick. The Bills reached for McCargo in the '06 draft when they traded up to get him. They were desperate for a DT, and McCargo was the last of the first-tier talents available. Reaching on draft day usually never works, even if the intentions are good.

It leaves a roster spot open, and leaves the Bills a little light at the DT position. Look for a move to be announced Wednesday. DT-DE Corey Mace is on the practice squad.

What's your reaction? Should the Bills have given McCargo more time to develop?

Bills No Go for Tony G.

2008-10-14T17:19:00.002-04:00

Tony Gonzalez won't be coming to the Bills. That possibility had Bills fans all fired up, hoping the team would add the missing piece to the puzzle. As we reported over the weekend, the Bills were interested and involved in trade talks. But in the end, Gonzalez stays in Kansas City despite his desire to go to a Super Bowl contender. Sources told us Monday that the Bills interest had cooled off on making a trade. That could have been due to the Chiefs' demands, which may have been what the Saints gave up for Jeremy Shockey-a 2nd and 5th round pick. Don't discount the fact that Gonzalez may not have wanted to play in Buffalo. In an interview with Fox Sports, he seemed to hint at his desire to play for the Giants. ESPN's John Clayton speculated that the Packers and Bills werent' desirable locations for the NFL's alltime leading tight end. Gonzalez said he wanted to play for a Super Bowl contender. Its probably a bit early to put the Bills in that category.

Maybe the Chiefs just decided not to trade their marquee player. It seemed odd that on Monday, they announced that Tony would be honored before Sunday's game for setting the league mark for TE yardage. I doubt they would have done that if there was a chance he would be dealt.

So hang in there Bills fans. Hardy looks like he's growing into his role, Parrish is back and Derek Fine may be too. Gonzalez would have been nice. But the offense should still be effective. What do you think?

Hecht Injured; Rivet Out?

2008-10-13T18:17:00.007-04:00

UPDATED 10/14: Some notes from the Sabres 7-2 win against the Islanders.

*Jochen Hecht (pictured) suffered an finger injury in the first period. He did not play the rest of the game. He had surgery on Tuesday in Buffalo. Hecht will be out for a couple of weeks. No roster moves have been made. Clark MacArthur will replace him on the line with Pominville and Paille.

*Craig Rivet received a double game misconduct for his role in the big 2nd period brawl. He was the third man in on the Mair fight that started it all. That will not prevent him from playing against the Ranger. But the next game misconduct will mean an automatic suspension.

*The shorthanded goal scored by Thomas Vanek was the first of his life. That's right, never in in junior hockey, college or the NHL. Vanek usually doesn't play on the penalty kill. In an effort to make Vanek a more all-around player, Lindy Ruff is giving him a chance.

Gonzalez Update 10/13

2008-10-13T17:43:00.002-04:00

Here's the lastest on what we know about the Bills attempts to trade for Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez. NFL sources tell us that the Bills interest may be cooling off. That my be due to Kansas City's asking price, Gonzalez' desire to pick his team, or the Bills decision to stick with what they've got.
A Chiefs website, but not the official one, reports that the Bills offered a 3rd round draft pick. This sounds right, based on what our sources are saying. The Eagles and the Giants appear to be two of the teams also chasing Gonzalez. Maybe that NFC East battle is driving up the price. Gonzalez himself told foxsports.com that he would welcome the chance to play for a contender. That web site hints that the Giants would be his first choice. They're playing Monday Night Football against the Browns, so nothing his likely to happen with them until Tuesday. The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday at 4pm EST.
Interestingly, the Chiefs announced today that they will honor Gonzalez before Sunday's game for becoming the NFL's alltime leading tight end in catches, yards and TD's. That is assuming he's still on their team...or maybe that's because they know he'll still be there.
Are you disappointed that the Bills may have backed off?

Bills Talking Tony

2008-10-12T22:33:00.002-04:00

NFL sources say the Bills are one of the teams talking to Kansas City about a trade for Tony Gonzalez. The sources say the Bills are willing to give up draft picks to get the NFL's tight end leader in catches, yards and touchdowns. KC reportedly wants a 2nd round pick. They may have to settle for a package including a third round, which the Bills apparently are willing to give up.

This would be a great deal for the Bills. A receiving threat at TE would be a major upgrade over Robert Royal and Derek Schouman. Figuring that the team would likely use a high pick on a tight end in next year's draft, giving it up now for a proven Pro Bowler is a no-brainer. Its the one hole right now in the offense. Trent Edwards threw 50 passes to tight ends last year, so Gonzalez would immediately become a major weapon.

Gonzalez' contract numbers are not huge, so its not a financial burden. Its a move that contending teams make to improve themselves. Its a "go-for-it-now" move that shows that the team has the Super Bowl as its goal after the 4-1 start.

The trade deadline is Tuesday. Do it now. What do you think?

NFL Justice for Edwards Hit

2008-10-09T22:56:00.005-04:00

We speculated two days ago about a possible fine for Arizona Cardinals Safety Adrian Wilson (left). We learn tonight that it's comimg down. NFL sources tell us tonight the league will fine Wilson $25,000 for his hit on Bills QB Trent Edwards last Sunday.
The hit knocked Edwards out of the game, and caused a concussion.
The league apparently will state that Wilson did not attempt to prevent most or all of his weight from landing on Edwards, causing the concussion. It comes under the rule prohibiting unneccessary acts against the passer.
I have to admit, I'm surprised both by the fine and the amount of the fine. There was no flag thrown on the play against Wilson, but it has become routine in the NFL in recent years for officials in New York to act independently of what the game officials call, especially when it comes to protecting quarterbacks.

What do you think of the fine? Is it excessive?
Maybe more importantly, do fines like this prevent similar hits on NFL QBs in the future?
Let us know what you think.

Rivet named Sabres Captain

2008-10-09T17:18:00.005-04:00

For the first time since Stu Barnes, the Sabres named a permanent captain for the season rather than going month to month on a rotating basis. So, what's your thoughts on 12 year NHL vet, Craig Rivet being named the captain. He was chosen by his teammates, a tight group that has grown together picked the "new" guy to lead them this season. It seems a little surprising on the outside, but it goes to show you how much they respect Rivet and what he has done and brings to the table. He's a solid defenseman, if not the teams best one. He will stick up for every player, including Ryan Miller who needs a little protection back there.

When Rivet was traded to Buffalo from San Jose this off season, little did anyone know they were getting a Captain. Rivet himself wasn't happy about the move at the time. He said it didn't have anything to do with Buffalo, rather not wanting to move his family and leave his newly built 5,000 square foot house. He said this week that Buffalo really gets a bad wrap and he has come to love the city, and the people in just 2 months. He said his family (wife and children) are settled, after buying a home in Clarence. He also said it's the fans in Buffalo that really make it a great city to live in. The good news: He's under contract for the next three seasons, so the Sabres finally have a captain that's not going anywhere.

Any Credit for Mularkey?

2008-10-08T21:08:00.003-04:00

With the Bills off until Friday, you get a chance to look around the NFL at some of the big stories through the first five weeks. One of the best stories in the first third of the season has to be what's going on with the Atlanta Falcons.
They're coming off a big win in Green Bay, and they're riding high with a 3-2 record so far. The big surprise? The play of rookie QB Matt Ryan from Boston College.
Ryan has been much better than expected in his first five starts. He's completing 54-percent of his passes with 4 TDs and 3 INTs so far. Beyond that, he's playing with poise and confidence, and you wonder how much is offensive coordinator has to do with that.
His Offensive Coordinator? None other than Mike Mularkey (above), the former Bills Head Coach. He may have been in over his head as a head coach with the Bills, but Mularkey remains a solid offefnsive strategist, one of the best in the game.
Did you know that while he was with the Steelers and the Bills, Mularkey was invited to the EA Sports game designers complex in Florida, so the designers could pick his brain regarding NFL plays, formations and offensive strategy. He spent a week with the gamers every year for several years, evidence of how much they valued his take on NFL offensive play.
Mularkey has what he needs in Atlanta right now--a solid running back in Michael Turner, and a smart, talented quarterback under center. I know he's not the buffoon he's made out to be in some media circles in Buffalo, Mularkey knows his stuff. Let's see what he does with Ryan and the Falcons the rest of the way.

Let's hear your thoughts on the Falcons 3-2 start.

Dr. Hamden's House Call

2008-10-08T15:39:00.004-04:00

3rd string QB Gibran Hamden is one of the smartest players on the Bills. But he's not a doctor, even if he acted like one following Wednesday's practice.
Because he is Trent Edward's closest friend on the team, we in the media asked Gibran for an update on Trent's condition. Hamden has been to Trent's house, and spoken with the injured Bills QB during his brief appearances at the Stadium.
"He seems fine," was Gibran's diagnosis of Edwards. He says they haven't talked much about Trent's condition, and haven't talked much about football. Gibran wants to give Trent his time and space.
"I think he's just trying to get back on a day-to-day schedule where he's doing things that he always does."
Edwards did not attend either Tuesday or Wednesday's brief team practices inside RWS. The team provided no update on his condition, other than to say that Edwards was sent home to rest after showing up at the Stadium on Tuesday.
The team is off for the next four days. Their next scheduled practice is Monday.

A Fine for Edwards Hit?

2008-10-07T22:47:00.004-04:00

I'm a bit surprised to hear this week that the NFL is reviewing Adrian Wilson's hit on Bills QB Trent Edwards, to determine whether he should be fined. It was a hard hit, and certainly a costly one for the Buffalo Bills. But was it illegal? Was it excessive? I'm not so sure.
For the last few games, we've been admiring Edwards durability, and his willingness to stand in the pocket until the very last instant, in order to finish the play and deliver the ball downfield. He's been hit hard on some of those plays. In the case of Adrian Wilson's hit, I think Edwards simply got caught a split-second late hanging onto the ball.
Reviewing the play, I don't see any intent on Wilson's part to injure Edwards. There was no helmet hit, nor a hit that was up around the head.
The one possible interpretation that might argue for discipline, is the NFL's instructon that defensive players must not "unnecessarily or violently throw him down and land on top of him with all or most of the defender's weight." You could argue that's what happened on the Edwards hit, but I'm not convinced.
You can watch these hits over and over again in slow motion, frame by frame, and come away convinced one way or another. But I have to say, having seen the play in person, in real time, I never expected the league might issue a fine for Adrian Wilson.
We should know by the end of the week which way the NFL will go.

What do you think? Does Wilson's hit warrant a fine or some other form of discipline? Let us know.

More Details on Evans Signing

2008-10-06T22:45:00.002-04:00

The Bills new deal with wide receiver Lee Evans is very much a front-loaded contract, but the average salary is not as much as was reported last week. When the deal was first announced last Thursday, some reports said Evans would make an average salary of more than $9-million under the new deal.
As Paul Peck points out in his post below, the deal is for a total of five seasons, including the current 2008 campaign. From league sources, here's what we believe the actual salary figures are for Evans:

2008 season total $11.7 million; guaranteed (a $9.45-million raise over the
salary he was scheduled to receieve)

2009 season total $9 million (guaranteed, no bonuses)

2010 season total $5.4 million; plus a $3 million roster bonus

2011 season total $3 million; plus a $1 million roster bonus

2012 season total $3 million; plus a $1 million roster bonus

From these numbers, you can see that Evans is getting a great deal of guaranteed money (more than $20-million) in the first two years. After that, his salary totals decrease dramatically. The total figure reported last Thursday, $37.25 million, includes bonuses in each of the last three years for making the 53-man roster.
The actual average salary over the five year life of the deal is $8.25 million, a little less than what was reported last week.
Needless to say, it's a great deal. But just think of what Evans would have been able to command on the free agent market if the Bills did not lock him up last week.

Let us know what you think of the Evans contract.

The Deal that Had to be Done

2008-10-03T17:42:00.003-04:00

As John Murphy pointed out a few posts below, the Lee Evans deal had to be done. Thankfully, the Bills did it. The team could not allow Evans to be the latest Buffalo star to leave town. He is everything you want in a star player: outstanding on the field, a leader, a solid citizen and a player who wants to be here. The front office, led by Russ Brandon, knew this. They also knew what Evans value was on the open market. Evans also knew that his stats did not warrant being the highest-paid receiver. So the compromise was reached with a five-year extension worth $37.25 million. Because the deal gives Evan some new money this year, its considered a five year contract. It has been reported elsewhere as a four year deal. The average of $7.45 million a season does not put Evans in the NFL's top five receivers, but it does make him the team's highest paid player.

Next up, a new deal for Jason Peters. He'll have to wait after the holdout, and hopefully he'll play better and earn the big money. Its a bit early now, but at some point the Bills have to think about a new deal for Edwards. If his outstanding season continues, he should get a raise for next year. Starting quarterbacks demand the big bucks, even though Trent is only two years into his rookie deal. Who else should be on the negotiation list?

Thank You Al Davis

2008-10-03T17:36:00.002-04:00

Thank you, Al Davis. Without you, the Bills might not have Trent Edwards. That's what I kept thinking after watching the Raiders boss' news conference earlier in the week. He outlined all of his differences with fired head coach Lane Kiffin. One of them centered around current Raiders starting QB JaMarcus Russell. Davis says Kiffin didn't want the team to draft Russell with the first pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. Davis wanted Russell, and he won the battle. Before the Bills-Raiders game a few weeks ago, Kiffin told the WNY media that Oakland would have selected Edwards with the first pick of the second round, if they had not taken Russell. So, Bills fans, if the Raiders weren't such a disfunctional organization, they might have one of the NFL's best young QBs.

Big Payday for Evans

2008-10-02T20:36:00.005-04:00

It's a good day for Bills fans, a great day for Bills WR Lee Evans. Late today, the Bills veteran signed a contract extension, reported to be four years in length. Reports say it's a a $37.25 million dollar deal, with roughly half of that guaranteed. Evans' average salary of $9.3 million a year puts him among the top five highest paid receivers in the NFL.
He belongs there. Evans has been nothing but a consummate pro since his arrival on the scene as the Bills first round draft pick in 2004. It took him only 68-games to pass the 4,000 yard mark in receiving yardage in his career, tieing a franchise record. He's a proven game-breaker with a record of explosive plays, on an offense that has struggled to get explosive plays in recent years.
More importantly, Evans has been a solid, calming presence in the Bills locker room over the years. He's survived coaching changes, revolving doors at the QB position, and meaningless late season games and kept his head up, and his effort at a high level.
Evans signing sends a clear message to the Bills locker room that those who produce will be rewarded with new deals, as long as they show up for OTAs and training camp (are you listening, Jason?). More importantly, it sends a message to already giddy Bills fans that this franchise is serious about keeping the core intact on this young, talented team. They're not just 4-0, they're building for the future (as much as you can in today's NFL) by identifying the key players on the roster, and rewarding them.
Just another bit of good news in a Bills season that's gone very well so far.

What do you think of the Evans contract? Is it time yet for Jason Peters to get an extension? Let us know.

Bills Injury Update

2008-10-01T15:47:00.003-04:00

Here's the injury update for the Bills at Arizona:

CB Terrence McGee: Suffered a sprained knee vs. St. Louis. Did not practice Wednesday. Did not rule himself out for the Cardinals game, and Dick Jauron did not provide any specifics. Seems unlikely that he'll be ready to go. Usually, sprained knees take 2-4 weeks to heal. Leodis McKelvin and Ashton Youboty split reps at the corner spot in Wednesday's workout.

DT Marcus Stroud: Shoulder injury. Was seen riding the stationery bike at Wednesday's workout. Did not practice.

DE Aaron Schobel: Foot injury. Did not practice Wednesday.

Jauron believes both Schobel and Stroud will be OK to play.

Update: It looks like Cards WR Anquan Boldin will not play. He suffered a fractured sinus membrane after a big hit against the Jets. The report alludes to Boldin saying he won't play any differently WHEN he comes back.