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HOT TOPIC
When he was head coach of the Buffalo Bills, general manager Marv Levy used to refer to rookies as "coach killers." Very few started for him in their first year, running back Thurman Thomas, linebacker Shane Conlan and guard Ruben Brown among the exceptions.
Clearly, Levy's thinking has changed.
The first four players the Bills selected in the college draft this off-season were underclassmen and all four will be expected to contribute as rookies as Buffalo rebuilds with youth.
All four are defensive players: juniors Donte Whitner, John McCargo and Ashton Yobouty and Ko Simpson, who is actually a red-shirt sophomore.
Because of free agency, NFL teams no longer have the luxury of providing long developmental periods for their draft picks. Levy understands that.
"I don't think it precludes them from coming in and playing," he said of his underclassmen. "Another year of experience would've been helpful. Maybe if you asked the question five or six years ago, I might have responded more in the vein, 'Gee, that's right.' But I was right then and I'm right now; I guess they don't have to be that old once they've reached a certain age of development. I've seen it basketball with some great stars coming out."
While it remains to be seen how Buffalo's underclassmen compete physically against NFL competition, they should have no problem handling the mental pressure of performing before big crowds.
Each played at a major college with Whitner and Yobouty starring at powerhouse Ohio State where the home crowds were 105,000 each Saturday. Youboty said the competition in practice prepared him well for the NFL.
"This season I practiced against two of the top receivers in the NCAA (Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Santonio Holmes and Ted Ginn Jr.)," Youboty said. "Going back to my freshman year, I played against (Atlanta Falcon and former Buckeye) Mike Jenkins, (ex-Michigan star and current Cleveland Browns receiver) Braylon Edwards, all the guys that are playing in the league right now. I think Ohio State has prepared me for (the NFL) and I'm looking forward to getting better and helping the team."
Simpson played at South Carolina, which is also known for its rabid fan support. And like the Big Ten, the SEC is a regular pipeline for NFL talent.
"I think it prepared me well," Simpson said. "I played in one of the best conferences in college football and we practiced against good players every day. I hope that translates to the next level.
"I felt I made the right decision (declaring for the NFL draft) and I'm going to prove it," Simpson added.
PLAYER NOTES
--The Bills added a punter to give Pro Bowler Brian Moorman's golden leg a break during the long days of training camp, signing free agent Joshua Brazen. He was a three-year starter at Kent State where he ranks second in career average at 41.2 yards. He is a native of Ada, Ohio.
--After scrimmaging the Browns or Packers during the past several training camps, the Bills will be keeping to themselves this summer. New coach Dick Jauron isn't a fan of traveling beyond the two scheduled road preseason games during camp and scrimmaging usually takes a reciprocal agreement. "Camp compared to what it was years ago is relatively short," Jauron said. "I like the fact of keeping our guys together in one spot and staying focused on ourselves. You really don't mind sometimes when another team comes to you but I'm not inclined to go visit anyone else and it's hard to find that kind of relationship every year. I'm comfortable with just keeping our guys and working our own stuff to get ready."
--QB Kliff Kingsbury, Buffalo's fourth QB heading into camp, is a football mercenary. This is his fifth NFL team in four years following stints with New England, New Orleans, Denver and the New York Jets. Kingsbury was a late edition to the Bills roster after Craig Ochs was injured in NFL Europe. "I've been in this situation before, you just have to buckle down and learn as much as you can and hope it translates on the field," he said of learning a new offense on the fly.
--OT Brad Butler, 6-7, thinks his background on the basketball court has helped him on the football field. Then again, all the sports he's tried have played a role. "I played a variety of sports in high school," he said. "Baseball helped my eye-hand coordination, I played basketball, ran indoor track, played indoor soccer. Whatever sports you play when you're younger it helps different aspects for whatever game you settle on playing."
--Jauron continues to insist he doesn't have any buyer's remorse when it comes to the draft. The Bills passed over former Heisman Trophy winning QB Matt Leinart for Ohio State SS Donte Whitner with the No. 8 overall pick. Jauron said the team is content to stage a three-way battle for its starting quarterback between J.P. Losman, Kelly Holcomb and Craig Nall. "We went into it (the draft) feeling like we have our guy here and he has to surface from these three," Jauron said. "It's going to be a battle, it's going to be a contest. They'll compete. Hopefully they'll push each other. One will elevate his play and he'll play to the level we need from the quarterback for us to have a chance to win."
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Veteran CB Nate Clements, who was retained as Buffalo's franchise player, will earn $7.2 million this season on a one-year contract. And in Buffalo's new "Tampa Bay" scheme, he'll be earning every dime.
Cover 2, in which there is safety help over the top, is the base coverage Buffalo will employ and in theory the Bills could get by with a less costly and accomplished player than Clements.
But defensive coordinator Perry Fewell doesn't want to be limited in his calls and Clements, who already has 20 career interceptions, will be asked to play his share of man to man.
Buying that kind of flexibility doesn't come cheaply but the Bills feel the short-term investment in Clements is worth it. They still hope to sign him to a long-term deal.
"I talked to the coaches during the off-season and they've assured me this defense is very simple," Clements said.
"I feel with my ability I can fit into any scheme. I'm not limited to cover 2 or zone, I feel I can play it all. Cover one, fire zone, blitz, whatever."
FRANCHISE PLAYER: CB Nate Clements (tendered at $7.226M; re-signed).
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--QB Shane Matthews (not tendered June 1).
--OG Lawrence Smith (not tendered as ERFA).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--WR Sam Aiken: RFA; terms unknown, had been tendered at $721,600.
--CB Nate Clement: FFA; $7.226M/1 yr.
--DE Ryan Denney: UFA; 4 yrs, terms unknown.
--CB Jabari Greer: ERFA; $425,000/1 yr.
--LB Mario Haggan: RFA; terms unknown, had been tendered at $721,600.
--OT Greg Jerman: UFA; $1.27M/2 yrs, SB unknown.
--OT Jason Peters: ERFA; $425,000/1 yr.
--WR Josh Reed: UFA; $10M/4 yrs, $2M SB.
--LS Mike Schneck: UFA; terms unknown.
--WR Jonathan Smith: ERFA; $425,000/1 yr.
--LB Josh Stamer: Potential RFA; terms unknown.
--RB Shaud Williams: ERFA; $425,000/1 yr.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--S Matt Bowen: FA Redskins; $2M/2 yrs, $300,000 SB.
--WR Andre' Davis: UFA Patriots; $1.3M/1 yr, $500,000 SB.
--C Melvin Fowler: UFA Vikings; $7.2M/3 yrs, SB unknown.
--OT Aaron Gibson: FA; terms unknown.
--OT Matt Morgan: Not tendered as ERFA by Rams; terms unknown.
--QB Craig Nall: UFA Packers; $4.27M/3 yrs, $1.3M SB; 2006 cap: $1.033M.
--WR Peerless Price: FA; $10.3M/4 yrs, $1.8M SB/$500,000 RB '07-09; 2006 cap: $1.25M.
--G Tutan Reyes: UFA Panthers; terms unknown.
--TE Robert Royal: UFA Redskins; $10M/5 yrs, $2.5M SB.
--RB Anthony Thomas: UFA Saints; terms unknown.
--CB Kiwaukee Thomas: UFA Dolphins; terms unknown.
--DT Larry Tripplett: UFA Colts; $18M/5 yrs, $5.5M SB.
--LB Courtney Watson: Trade Saints.
PLAYERS LOST
--DT Sam Adams (released).
--OG Bennie Anderson (released).
--DT Justin Bannan: UFA Ravens; $8M/4 yrs, $3M SB.
--TE Mark Campbell (released).
--DT Ron Edwards: UFA Chiefs; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--S Tim Euhus: Traded Saints.
--S Lawyer Milloy (released).
--WR Eric Moulds: Traded Texans.
--C Trey Teague: UFA Jets; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--OT Mike Williams (released).
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