Bills Need To Find Help In The Pivot

The center position has long been a concern for the cheap Buffalo Bills jerseys and its fans. Playing in an AFC East division that features three of the league's toughest 3-4 defenses, which in turn feature some excellent, massive nose tackles, quality interior line play is of the utmost importance for this team.

Buffalo didn't get good center play in 2008, when the combination of Melvin Fowler and Duke Preston was, at best, forgettable. Geoff Hangartner was signed as an unrestricted free agent from Carolina to rectify the situation, and while the team did see much better run blocking with Hangartner manning the pivot, the overall gains were not especially significant.

Perhaps the best quality emerging from Hangartner's first season in wholesale Buffalo Bills jerseys was the fact that he started 16 games. Even though he, too, dealt with injuries along with virtually every other lineman on the roster (in his case, it was a bad back), Hangartner was the only lineman on the roster to take every snap at one position in every game. Still, even with all the positive energy surrounding Buffalo's revamped strength and conditioning program, injuries are still a concern - and if Hangartner goes down, Buffalo doesn't have a lot of places to turn.

 

The team, under the direction of new head coach Chan Gailey, is likely to keep nine offensive linemen on the 53-man roster come early September, with seven of those likely to be active on game days. Buffalo is a team that values versatility in its offensive linemen, but at the moment, they're fielding talent that is more tackle/guard than guard/center. Depth along the interior offensive line, without considering those converted players, is minimal.

One could argue that aside from Hangartner and starting guards Eric Wood and Andy Levitre, the team only employs two more pure interior offensive linemen - Christian Gaddis and Sean Allen. Players like Kirk Chambers, Andre Ramsey, Jason Watkins, Kyle Calloway and Cordaro Howard are all getting guard reps during spring OTAs, but they were all tackles in college, and might be better fits on the edge. None of those players are center candidates, either.

Gaddis and Allen represent the only true backup discount Buffalo Bills Jerseys center candidates on the roster - that aren't tied up with other positions, at any rate. They're also low men on the totem pole, with players like Chambers and Calloway having a better chance at securing reserve guard spots. I went on record back June 8 predicting that neither Gaddis nor Allen would make the final roster, which obviously leaves some massive question marks at reserve center.

Most of us want to believe that Wood, last year's No. 28 overall pick and a three-time All-Big East performer as a center at Louisville, is the team's long-term answer at center. How fair is it for the team to expect Wood, the starting right guard, to be the team's primary center, as well, considering that he's not likely to get a ton of playing time during the pre-season to preserve his just-recovered health? Meanwhile, Levitre's experience as a center is very minimal, as he was a left tackle at Oregon State and has only snapped the ball a few times during practices.

A lot is riding on Hangartner in 2010, not only to continue his durable ways, but to improve upon a rather pedestrian 2009 season as a pass blocker. Buffalo has much larger question marks at tackle, where they're more likely to stockpile on depth, particularly given in the investment made in reserve tackle Ed Wang. There's a very good chance that, should Hangartner go down, Wood becomes the only viable option to slide into the pivot - and depending on when that happens, that's pretty risky.

Long story short: we worry about the tackles quite a lot, but supply Buffalo Bills Jerseys center depth is a huge concern as well, and the Bills might not have a lot of options there once the season starts. Don't be surprised if this is a position that the team targets when scouring the waiver wire once training camp cuts start rolling in in late August.

Titans Searching For New Starting Cornerback

 NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Titans are looking for a new starting cornerback, and they can only hope to be as fortunate as the last time they threw open competition for that job. 

cheap Cortland Finnegan jersey  won the job in his second year and became an All Pro. 

The competitors include Jason McCourty, Ryan Mouton, Tye Hill and rookie Alterraun Verner. McCourty and Mouton are both entering their second season. 

Hill is a former No. 1 pick signed as a free agent sidelined by a hamstring injury, while veteran Rod Hood was lost with a torn ACL. 

Some young cornerbacks have a big opportunity when training camp opens July 31. Coach Jeff Fisher said they expect someone else to step up like Finnegan. 

NFL Division Predictions: Who Comes out on Top in the NFC East

I have finally completed one conference in my NFL  jerseys Division Predictions series. Now we head over to the NFC conference.

I start with the NFC East division, compiled with the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and the Washington Redskins.

Now, we know the picture above is outdated as well. Eli Manning and Tony Romo are still on their teams, but the other two quarterbacks aren't. Jason Campbell is with the Oakland Raiders in the AFC West while Donovan McNabb got sent to a team in the SAME division: The Washington Redskins.

So let's cut the nonsense now. One thing I need to announce: this list may surprise you.

Okay, so without a further ado, here are my predictions for the NFC East division.

Saginaw High's DeAnthony Arnett feels comfortable working with NFL stars at LaMarr Woodley's free football camp

SAGINAW — DeAnthony Arnett is not an NFL player .

He's not even a college player ... yet.

But the Saginaw High senior felt at home around the NFL stars Saturday during the fourth annual LaMarr Woodley Football Camp at Saginaw High. More than 250 youth football players attended the camp.

"I've been around NFL-type players ever since I can remember," Arnett said. "When I was growing up, I'd be out here with guys like Woodley or Charles Rogers. Some of the guys, like (Marshawn) Lynch remembered me from when I worked the camp last year."

Arnett, 17, hopes to make it back someday as an NFL player. He is one of the highest-ranked receiving recruits in the country and has narrowed his list of programs to six: Michigan State, Oklahoma, Tennessee, California, Iowa and Southern Cal.

But not Michigan, although Arnett wasn't going to say anything about that until after Saturday's camp. Former Michigan football players working at the camp included Woodley, Mike Hart, Leon Hall, David Harris and Shawn Crable.

Also helping out were Lynch and Detroit Lions safety Louis Delmas.

"I worked out with Woodley and we've seen each other, but I haven't really talked to him about college," Arnett said. "I love Michigan. They were the first to offer me a scholarship, but it's not really a place for a receiver.

"It's a great place for a tailback or a dual-threat quarterback. Those guys can win a Heisman in that offense. But it doesn't do much to highlight the receivers."

Woodley, a Pro Bowl linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is ready to give advice to his fellow Trojan, but he knows Arnett will have to ultimately decide for himself.

"You have to make the decision yourself because it's not about what people are telling you," Woodley said. "It's on you. And you can't just make a decision thinking that one place is going to get you to the NFL faster, because not everybody makes it to the NFL. 

"You have to look at everything. I can only tell him what Michigan did for me and why it was a great place for me. He has to make a decision on what will be a great place for him."

Arnett is a 6-foot, 170-pound receiver who caught 41 passes as a junior for 876 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also had four interceptions on defense.

His statistics, however, are not his selling points. Arnett is a regular on the summer camp tour, making stops at the top programs, including Michigan and Michigan State.

"I'm very comfortable at Michigan State," Arnett said. "And when you look at their history, they get the ball in the hands of their receivers. You can go down the list — (Andre) Rison, (Plaxico) Burress, (Charles) Rogers, Devin Thomas, Blair White.

"When they have a top receiver, they get him the ball."

Oklahoma was Arnett's favorite team when he was growing up, while Southern Cal and California feature passing offenses. California also has a Saginaw High connection. Former Saginaw High assistant and Eastern Michigan head coach Jeff Genyk is an assistant at California and is recruiting Arnett.

And despite the NCAA penalties that Southern Cal is facing, the Trojans are still on Arnett's list. The penalties include a two-year ban on post-season play and a loss of scholarships.

"They're still offering and I'm still thinking about them," Arnett said. "Southern Cal might appeal the ruling and maybe they won't. But it's still a great program, a great place to play. If it means I don't play in a bowl game my freshman year, that's OK."

Woodley hopes Arnett makes the right choice and everything works out well.

"Cal and Southern Cal ... they're good programs," Woodley said. "And maybe they would be great for him. All I know is that you're going to get homesick your first year. I got homesick ... and I was only in Ann Arbor. I hope he does well.

"I hope all these kids here succeed. Maybe nobody playing here today makes it in the NFL, but they can still be successful. We're just trying to get them outside for a day and get them working hard. Whatever you do, you have to work hard."

Woodley is already planning on having a fourth annual camp in 2011.

"I'm going to keep doing them as long as they'll let me, even when I'm out of football," Woodley said. "In the NFL, you form a lot of relationships so it's possible that when I'm done, I'll know players who will come and help out.

"And who knows, maybe there are some kids out there right now who are going to be NFL players and someday they can follow me and run the camp. You never know."

Falcons sign Schillinger to $1.91 million deal

The Atlanta Falcons have signed sixth-round Montana safety Shann Schillinger to a four-year contract with a total base value of roughly $1.91 million, according to a league source.

Schillinger received a signing bonus of about 125,000.

The total value of the deal can be boosted significantly if Schillinger triggers a fourth-year escalator clause or earns Rookie of the Year or Pro Bowl distinction.

The Atlanta Falconscut quarterback Eric Ward.

Raiders Lose Two OTAs Due to Unspecified Infraction

The NFL forced the Oakland Raiders to cancel its final two OTA practices due to an unspecified dispute regarding the team's offseason program.

The league and the players union announced the cancellation in a joint statement as part of the resolution for the unspecified issue.

According to a team release, activities planned for June 16 and 17 have been canceled and players will not be allowed at the team's facility. However, they will still be paid for the originally scheduled sessions.

The Raiders will still hold practices on Thursday and next Tuesday as originally planned.

This marks the second time in less than a week the NFL jersey has cited a team for offseason infractions. The Baltimore Ravens suffered a similar fate on Monday.

Jared Gaither absent from practice

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- One day after reporting to workouts and signing his $2.396 million restricted tender, Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Jared Gaither was nowhere to be found today.

Gaither had been out with a foot injury ever since May 7 when the team shifted him to right tackle and replaced him with Michael Oher on the left side.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he didn't know why Gaither wasn't at the voluntary practice today, but indicated it wasn't injury-related.

Gaither had a cortisone shot on his foot and had orthotics fitted for his shoe.

"He practiced yesterday, did a nice job," Harbaugh said. "Told me the foot felt a lot better, the injection worked. The orthotics made a big difference. I have not seen him today, it was not an injury. So, I have not talked to him today and I don't know what his reason for not being here is."

Gaither has been linked to many trade rumors this offseason, especially the Buffalo Bills, but nothing concrete.

Lots of stars on hand for Kelly Classic

BATAVIA -- Current and former Buffalo Bills stars, NFL Hall of Famers, Buffalo Sabres greats and other celebrities were on hand today for the Jim Kelly Celebrity Golf Classic at Terry Hills Golf Course.

Kelly was on hand to host the event. Andre Reed, Steve Tasker, Fred Smerles, Will Wolford, Joe Delamielleure and Mark Kelso were some of the former Bills on hand.

Bill Polian, the architect of the Bills Super Bowl teams of the early 90s who has now turned the Indianapolis Colts into perennial Super Bowl contenders, also took part.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff and legendary Sabres Rick Martin and Rob Ray were also on hand, as were broadcaster Chris Berman and actors Jamie Farr and Chris McDonald.

The annual event has raised more than $3 million for local charities since the retired Bills Hall of Fame QB started the event in 1987.

The tournament started at Brierwood Country Club in Hamburg and was moved to Terry Hills a few years back because of the Batavia facility's 27 holes and other amenities.

Five Reasons Why Cincinnati Bengal Fans Will Not Miss Shayne Graham

Shayne Graham recently signed a deal with the Baltimore Ravens. If he wins the job, he will receive a base salary of $1.5 million with an extra million in incentives. He did not get a signing bonus and must make at least 85 percent of his field goals to cash in on the incentives.

Graham did a lot for charities during his time in Cincinnati. He was a great regular season kicker for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Here is why the Bengals fans will not miss Shayne Graham.

Chargers sign randy mcmichael

The San Diego Chargers have signed veteran tight end Randy McMichael to a one-year contract, the team announced.

He'll provide depth behind Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates and help fill the void created when Brandon Manumaleuna signed with the Chicago Bears.

"Randy has been a targeted player for us for some time now," general manager A.J. Smith said in a statement. "With the departure of Brandon to the Bears, we wanted to sign another veteran. We were hoping that would be Randy.

"We're happy it all worked out. We just thought it made good football sense to add a player like Randy. He brings veteran experience and added leadership to our team."

McMichael has previous stints with the Miami Dolphins and the St. Louis Rams.

He played for Norv Turner in Miami.

"We're excited to add Randy to the team," Turner said. "He brings experience and added depth to the tight end position."

McMichael caught at least 60 passes in three consecutive seasons with the Dolphins for 2,013 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Last season, he caught 34 passes for 332 yards.

Besides Gates and McMichael, the Chargers have Kris Wilson, Dedrick Epps and Richie Brockel

Talib Eyes Barber's Records, Puts Past Behind Him

Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib has had two star-crossed years to open up his NFL career. On the field, Talib has had instant success, but has seen it tarnished by his temper and some altercations.

Last year, Talib shutdown some of the best receivers in the NFL like the Philadelphia Eagles' DeSean Jackson, New England Patriots' Randy Moss, and Carolina Panthers' Steve Smith. Talib held Moss to five catches for 69 yards and Jackson to one catch for one yard. Smith was held to four catches for 82 yards in two games against Talib in 2009.

Off-the-field issues have put Talib in the headlines more than his productive play. He got into legal trouble after allegedly assaulting a cab driver at the end of the preseason in 2009. That came after Talib swung a helmet at teammate Donald Penn in an OTA (organized team activity) in the spring of 2009. Talib also got into a fight with former teammate Cory Boyd at the NFL Rookie Symposium after being drafted in 2008.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Talib has resolved all of his legal issues and said he has moved past the maturity issues during his first two years in the NFL. According to Talib, the off-the-field problems were not exclusive to him.

"Definitely, I feel like our whole team has grown," said Talib. "Our whole team had problems whether it made the news or didn't make the news. We all come together, and work together. We put that stuff behind us and we're focused on the year that's coming up."

As a rookie in 2008, Talib was the Buccaneers' third cornerback and totaled 27 tackles with four interceptions that he returned for 32 yards. In 2009, Talib tied for the team lead with five interceptions, and led the Bucs with 17 passes defensed. He totaled 69 tackles with two tackles for a loss and a fumble recovery. Talib had a career-high three interceptions on October 4 at Washington, and finished with a personal-best five interceptions in 2009, which he returned for 99 yards.

Last year Talib, 24, was consistently matched up with the other team's best receiver. Teammate Ronde Barber said that if Talib stays with Tampa Bay, he believes that Talib will break his franchise record of 37 interceptions.

"He needs direction all the way around," Barber said in a Pewter Report Conversation in January. "I don't psychoanalyze guys. That's not my job. When you tell him something and you look him in the eye and he says, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah' or if he says 'I messed up" then he gets it. It's there. He has an opportunity. I kind of compare him to Charles Woodson. Charles was like that early in his career in the first couple years he was in and out. Then he goes to Green Bay and he's been the best defensive player in the league the last four years now. I like to think of myself having a decent stretch with my 12 years. Well his last four years have been unbelievable. I think Aqib will be like that once he grounds himself and finds that this is serious business.

"In 10 years, I won't be the Bucs' all-time leading interceptor. It will be Aqib Talib depending on whether he stays on the pace that he's on and stays with the team. He's got 10 times the ball skills that I have."

Talib said that he would like to break his Barber's records and is focused on that instead of the off-the-field issues that have plagued him in the past.

"That's definitely the goal – to break all the records and be the best corner that ever came through here," said Talib. "We just put all that past stuff in the past. That's why it is called the past. We put it behind us and move forward. If you keep looking back at it that's when it comes back to haunt you, all you can do is put it behind you and move forward in life."

SMITH SAYS HE HAS NO ISSUES FROM CONCUSSIONS
Buccaneers backup running back and kick returner Clifton Smith said that he has no lingering effects from the two concussions he sustained during the 2009 season. Smith had his first concussion on October 18 at home against the Carolina Panthers, and it caused him to miss one game.

The second one came on December 6 at Carolina, and Smith was placed on injured reserve after that game. After Wednesday's OTA, Smith answered whether he feels any lingering affects from the concussions and if he had to cut back on any offseason training.

"No. I know no such thing as cutting back. I let loose," said Smith. "In the second half of the second Carolina Panthers game I let it go, and left it all behind me.

"The first one was a lot worse. The second one I pretty much remembered everything and knew what was going on. The first one was a lot worse. I just had to pick the biggest guy on the field and take him out."

Smith is an active boxer, and said that the concussions have not caused him to stop boxing in the offseason.

"I go boxing two or three times a week," said Smith. "I can't worry about that stuff. I just go out there and keep working hard. I'm working on my conditioning and my hand speed and hopefully one day you see me in the ring."

The Bucs originally signed Smith, 24, as an undrafted free agent out of Fresno State in 2008. Smith (5-9, 190) was on the Buccaneers practice squad for part of the 2008 season. After Dexter Jackson failed as a returner partway through the season, Smith replaced him and went on to make the Pro Bowl after a stellar nine games.

In 20 career games, Smith has returned 67 kickoffs for 1,894 yards and averaged 28.3 yards per kick return. He returned a kick 97 yards for a key touchdown at Kansas City in 2008. On 46 career punt returns, Smith has averaged 12.1 yards per return including a 70-yard touchdown return at Detroit in 2008.

Last season, Smith played in 11 games before ending the season on injured reserve after sustaining two concussions. Both concussions came against the Carolina Panthers in Week 6 and Week 13. He averaged 29.1 yards per kick return and 14.1 yards per punt return. Both averages were better than his averages in his Pro Bowl season in 2008 when he averaged 10 yards per punt return and 27.6 yards per kick return.

In his career has carried the ball 12 times on offense for 47 yards and has six receptions for 28 yards. Smith had some issues with fumbling in his career. He had three fumbles last season after fumbling the ball four times as a rookie. The fumbles have prevented Smith from getting more playing time on offense, but the third-year pro is still in the competition at running back.

"I'm taking a lot of reps at running back right now," said Smith. "We are switching every rep. We get a new running back in there every rep. I'm just trying to run with every chance that I get."

Who Is The Next Best Receiver For The Colts Other Than Reggie Wayne?

The Indianapolis Colts have been ruling for nearly a decade on the passing attack.

We've seen Peyton Manning throwing to Marvin Harrison all the time, including a season where both connected for 143 receptions, as it became the best quarterback-to-wide receiver tandem in the National Football League.

When Marvin left, it made a hole in the Colts' receiver spot. Colts' fans knew Reggie Wayne will live up to expectations in the 2009-10 NFL season, and he did. And Anthony Gonzalez was there to help.

Meanwhile, Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie will look to come in at times when there are three or four receivers up by the line of scrimmage.

But those plans went spiraling downward when Gonzalez was out for a few weeks. Those few weeks would later turn into number eleven being out for the whole year.

As the season went by, we saw how good Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie really were.

We saw one of the bests, if not the best, season of Peyton Manning's career as he led the Colts to a 14-0 run. The Colts would later strive in the playoffs and finish the year off as the second best team in the league after...well you know exactly what happened in February.

Now the Colts are looking for something better this season: being the number one team. Isn't that what every NFL team wants to be? Do the Colts want it? I guess we will have to see, won't we?

But the Colts built themselves up well in the off-season. Though, yes, they had some releases of players. Yes, some of them were questioning, but the Colts know what to do. Hey, they released Marvin Harrison and they turned out great.

But the big question for the off-season and as training camp and the pre-season comes up: what should the Indianapolis Colts do with their wide receiver corps?

Anthony Gonzalez is returning and we saw how great Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie are and how important they are to the white and blue. We know that Reggie Wayne will be the number one receiver and it brings questions of what they will do for the second and third spot.

I have a feeling it will be Pierre Garcon and Anthony Gonzalez fighting for the second position, so they can be on the opposite side of Reggie Wayne most of the time when the 60-minute game starts.

Whoever wins will probably battle Austin Collie at the slot receiver spot, or just win it just like that. But it is going to be a real big battle here. I think Garcon is the second best receiver.

He didn't have a chance to prove how good he was to the Colts in the 2008-09 season. But last year, he showed what he really was. And that injury that hit Gonzalez really is going to effect him.

Garcon will win the second spot and Anthony Gonzalez and Austin Collie will fight for the third spot. I always had this idea of the Colts trading Gonzalez. They could do that. But I think Indianapolis will pass on that.

So I guess the fans will have to decide. Who should win third spot: Collie or Gonzo?

This season is going to be fun!