It's funny what a difference two weeks can make in the NFL. Yesterday's selection of team captains for the 2010 season should have been the simple end to a Bills offseason in which the team drew up a plan to attain their goal and end their streak of seasons without a trip to the playoffs. Instead, it comes across as a fairly meaningless act following a month of turmoil and uncertainty for team with a season probably headed nowhere pretty.
Still, the players got together and decided that Lee Evans and Brian Moorman would be two of their team captains for the fourth year in a row. Joining Evans and Moorman for their respective units will be second-year captains Trent Edwards and safety George Wilson. Linebackers Paul Posluszny and Kawika Mitchell will captain the defense.
If I there's something worth reading into any of these selections, it's the choices on defense. Noticeably absent from the captainship are defensive end Aaron Schobel and safety Donte Whitner. While they certainly haven't been big playmakers in the last few seasons, Schobel and Whitner have been seemingly the most vocal leaders of the locker room from a spectator's perspective. But beginning last year and through this offseason, both men have come under fire for not delivering on the expectations they helped build up through their actions and words (or lack thereof).
Could their really be a changing of the guard in the locker room? Have I not just been apologizing as usual for Poz? Remember, this is a guy whose real rookie season was last year. Maybe he'll never be the Urlacher-caliber linebacker we were all hoping for physically, but perhaps he's ready to be closer to it mentally. If there were one unquestionable leader, holding the defense accountable and truly leading this team on the field (which there obviously hasn't been the last three years AND YES, DICK, I'M INCLUDING YOU MOST OF ALL IN THAT HEAD COUNT), then maybe this defense will actually be able to make some of those big stops we've needed at the ends of games over the years!!
[Sidenote: I will probably be typing in ALL CAPS every time I talk to Dick this year since I can't even imagine talking with him without shouting in his face. I mean... You're gonna cut Langston Walker, then offer a contract to basically the same guy, but not until Tuesday, cuz then his contract won't be guaranteed through the season, so instead you're gonna send some poor rookie out to slaughter, care of one of the nastiest d-line's in the NFL? Say what you will about their linebackers and secondary, that d-line still has Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork.
Nice one, Dick. Why don't we just put billboards up in all corners of our stadium that read: "YOU'RE SPENDING YOUR HARD EARNED DOLLARS YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT, WHETHER YOU'VE GOT IT TO SPEND OR NOT, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS GONNA BE AS CHEAP AS AN OCTOGENARIAN ON A FIXED INCOME!"? Probably have to pare that down to make it fit though... and they would never openly admit a mistake, let alone pay to have an admission put up in public... oh well...]
Then again... maybe this is just another useless move amongst many for a team looking very lost in a league where rudderless teams go 0-16. Here's hoping it doesn't come anywhere near that bad.
Then again... the draft pick would be nice.
- The Apologist
Still, the players got together and decided that Lee Evans and Brian Moorman would be two of their team captains for the fourth year in a row. Joining Evans and Moorman for their respective units will be second-year captains Trent Edwards and safety George Wilson. Linebackers Paul Posluszny and Kawika Mitchell will captain the defense.
If I there's something worth reading into any of these selections, it's the choices on defense. Noticeably absent from the captainship are defensive end Aaron Schobel and safety Donte Whitner. While they certainly haven't been big playmakers in the last few seasons, Schobel and Whitner have been seemingly the most vocal leaders of the locker room from a spectator's perspective. But beginning last year and through this offseason, both men have come under fire for not delivering on the expectations they helped build up through their actions and words (or lack thereof).
Could their really be a changing of the guard in the locker room? Have I not just been apologizing as usual for Poz? Remember, this is a guy whose real rookie season was last year. Maybe he'll never be the Urlacher-caliber linebacker we were all hoping for physically, but perhaps he's ready to be closer to it mentally. If there were one unquestionable leader, holding the defense accountable and truly leading this team on the field (which there obviously hasn't been the last three years AND YES, DICK, I'M INCLUDING YOU MOST OF ALL IN THAT HEAD COUNT), then maybe this defense will actually be able to make some of those big stops we've needed at the ends of games over the years!!
[Sidenote: I will probably be typing in ALL CAPS every time I talk to Dick this year since I can't even imagine talking with him without shouting in his face. I mean... You're gonna cut Langston Walker, then offer a contract to basically the same guy, but not until Tuesday, cuz then his contract won't be guaranteed through the season, so instead you're gonna send some poor rookie out to slaughter, care of one of the nastiest d-line's in the NFL? Say what you will about their linebackers and secondary, that d-line still has Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork.
Nice one, Dick. Why don't we just put billboards up in all corners of our stadium that read: "YOU'RE SPENDING YOUR HARD EARNED DOLLARS YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT, WHETHER YOU'VE GOT IT TO SPEND OR NOT, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS GONNA BE AS CHEAP AS AN OCTOGENARIAN ON A FIXED INCOME!"? Probably have to pare that down to make it fit though... and they would never openly admit a mistake, let alone pay to have an admission put up in public... oh well...]
Then again... maybe this is just another useless move amongst many for a team looking very lost in a league where rudderless teams go 0-16. Here's hoping it doesn't come anywhere near that bad.
Then again... the draft pick would be nice.
- The Apologist
Injury Report
(AP) - Bills backup tight end Derek Fine and nickel cornerback Drayton Florence are likely to miss Buffalo’s season opener Monday night at New England.
Fine has been nursing a hamstring injury, while Florence injured his knee in the Bills’ second preseason game against the Chicago Bears. Both players were held out of practice on Friday.
Reserve defensive tackle Spencer Johnson was limited in practice on Friday for the second day in a row because of a bruised thigh, but coach Dick Jauron said he’s hopeful Johnson can play Monday.
Fine has been nursing a hamstring injury, while Florence injured his knee in the Bills’ second preseason game against the Chicago Bears. Both players were held out of practice on Friday.
Reserve defensive tackle Spencer Johnson was limited in practice on Friday for the second day in a row because of a bruised thigh, but coach Dick Jauron said he’s hopeful Johnson can play Monday.
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