Bills Cut Ties With QB Trent Edwards

By: Tyler Ward

Well, the Trent Edwards era is over in Buffalo. The Bills announced Monday that they have released quarterback Trent Edwards. Edwards was the team’s starter for the first two weeks before being benched in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Bills ended up losing their third straight game anyway, falling 38-30 against the New England Patriots on Sunday and becoming the only winless team in the AFC East.

The Bills had reportedly tried to trade Edwards, but could find no suitors, so they just went ahead and released the former Stanford quarterback. Edwards might have been traded if he had better numbers – in his two starts this season, he threw for just 241 yards and got sacked seven times. He led the Bills offense to a dismal 17 points, while the opposing teams combined for 49. No wonder they couldn’t trade him.

The release of Edwards marks the end of a three-year stint with the Bills. A third-round draft choice in 2007, Edwards was thought to be the franchise quarterback. Unfortunately, it didn’t end up that way.

In the middle of his rookie season, Edwards took over for 2004 first-round draft pick J.P. Losman midway through the year. He ended his rookie campaign with 1,630 yards and seven touchdowns, along with eight interceptions. However, there was no “sophomore slump” for Edwards, as he had the best season of his short career (so far). He passed for 2,699 yards, along with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and an 85.4 QB rating. But, he got worse in his third season, playing in half of the season, tossing for 1,169 yards. He would also throw six touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Now, one question remains: Who will he sign with? Somehow, Edwards is one of the best free agent quarterbacks, so a team is likely to take a shot on him. But, who will that be? I think that teams like the Jaguars, Raiders, Browns, Panthers, and Cardinals need a quarterback, whether it’s for the starting job or in a back-up role. Also, don’t count out teams like the Lions, Seahawks, and possibly the 49ers. I don’t think Edwards will be on the free agent market for long.

For the Bills now, Ryan Fitzpatrick is penciled in as the starter with Brian Brohm listed as the back-up. Against the Patriots, Fitzpatrick showed that the team can actually do something on offense. In the game alone, they almost doubled their output, scoring-wise, from the first two games of the season. But, is Fitzpatrick the long-term key for the Bills? Probably not. We will most likely see the Bills take a chance on a quarterback in the first round of next year’s draft and most are already envisioning Washington QB Jake Locker in that role (however, we can still see somebody different – like Andrew Luck, who coincidentally goes to Stanford, Trent Edwards’ alma mater). But, for now, the Bills still remain winless (0-3) and in my opinion, they will be lucky to win three games. I consider it almost a shoo-in for them to hold the #1 pick in next year’s draft unless Detroit or St. Louis slips up somewhere down the road.

Fitzpatrick is not a prototypical starter, but he’ll do for the time being. Maybe the Bills can get lucky and win more games. I highly doubt it, though. They lack too much at the receiver position with Lee Evans being the main and only target. Their defense also needs some work, as they have surrendered 87 points in three games this season. The Bills are still in a rebuilding phase and they still may be that way for a few more years.

AFC East Preview

By: Tyler Ward and Stephen Patterson

1. New York Jets (Head Coach: Rex Ryan)

Key arrivals: RB LaDainian Tomlinson, WR Santonio Holmes, LB Jason Taylor, CB Antonio Cromartie, WR Laveranues Coles, S Brodney Pool, CB Kyle Wilson (draft), RB Joe McKnight (draft)

Key Departures: S Kerry Rhodes, RB Leon Washington, RB Thomas Jones, G Alan Faneca, CB Lito Sheppard

TW: The Jets had the best offseason, in my opinion. They have one of the best aerial attacks now with the additions of Santonio Holmes and Laveranues Coles. Not to mention, they already have Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cothcery, and tight end Dustin Keller. Hell, with those receivers, Mark Sanchez could have a 4,000 yard season (not a prediction or anything). The arrival LaDainian Tomlinson also gives the Jets a solid ground game with the budding star, Shonn Greene, possibly having a pretty good season. With perhaps the best defense in the league, the Jets could possibly appear in the Super Bowl this season (or Tomlinson could continue to have poor playoff luck, as he did with San Diego).

- TW's Prediction: 12-4

SP: New York has an excellent chance of winning this division after a very busy offseason, including mostly improvements. Shonn Greene is one of the best young backs in the NFL and will likely have a fairly decent season. I would say he has a great chance to hit 1,000 yards rushing, but with new acquisition LaDainian Tomlinson joining the team, he will likely be sharing the workload. If Mark Sanchez can avoid a sophomore slump, which many quarterbacks that are successful in their rookie season endure, the Jets will have one of the most dangerous offenses in the NFL this season if his star cast of receivers can deliver on their end. New York also has one of the best defenses in the league, but Darrelle Revis is one of the keys that D, and without him the team might suffer. Rex Ryan isn't too worried, and while he would love to have him in camp and with the team, he has said he is preparing the team to play without him. The Jets are among the favorites to make the Super Bowl this season, but in my opinion they will fall just a little bit short due to injuries and distractions amongst the team.

- SP's Prediction: 13-3

2. Miami Dolphins (Head Coach: Tony Sparano)

Key arrivals: DE Charles Grant, DE Marques Douglas, WR Brandon Marshall, LB Karlos Dansby, DL Jared Odrick (draft), LB Koa Misi (draft)

Key departures: S Gibril Wilson, LB Joey Porter, WR Ted Ginn Jr., LB Akin Ayodele, G Justin Smiley, DT Jason Ferguson, LB Jason Taylor

TW: I personally like what the Dolphins have done this year in the offseason. The Brandon Marshall signing could be the biggest signing of the offseason. Chad Henne is a budding star in the league and could be in for a pretty good season. I also like what they did on defense, signing Karlos Dansby, Charles Grant, and Marques Douglas. Drafting Jared Odrick was also a good fit with the departure of Jason Ferguson. Miami could very well challenge the Jets for the division crown if all the pieces fall just right. I also see them as a possible darkhorse to make a playoff run and make the Super Bowl. But, who knows - only time will tell.

- TW's Prediction: 10-6

SP: While I admit I am a little biased towards Miami considering they are my favorite team, I am also relatively realistic with my predictions for them as well. The addition of Brandon Marshall, who is coming three straight 100+ reception seasons, will definitely help the Dolphin's in the passing game. I believe Henne will be one of the most improved QBs in the NFL this season with Marshall's addition. As long as Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams can stay healthy for the entire season, expect them to have a very dangerous run game as well. The Dolphins have had very impressive offensive packages over the past few seasons, including the Wildcat, and I expect they will get even more creative with Marshall now in the mix with the  superstar rushing duo. Adding Karlos Dansby, Charles Grant, and Jared Odrick to the defense were all solid moves that will definitely pay off this season. Dansby was one of the best defensive players in the NFC while he was with the Cardinals, and he just now reaching his prime. Health is the only thing I can see keeping Miami from making the postseason with one of the Wild Card berths.

- SP's Prediction: 11-5

3. New England Patriots (Head Coach: Bill Belichick)

Key arrivals: WR Torry Holt, TE Alge Crumpler, DT Gerard Warren, CB Devin McCourty (draft), TE Aaron Hernandez (draft), LB Brandon Spikes (draft), TE Rob Gronkowski (draft)

Key departures: CB Shawn Springs, LB Adalius Thomas, TE Ben Watson, DE Jarvis Green

TW: Well, I can't say anything bad about New England, as they filled their need....a lot. And that was Tight End. After trading Ben Watson, they added Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski through the draft, and got Alge Crumpler as a solid blocking tight end for Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk. They added Torry Holt to a steady receiving core, but it was announced Monday that Holt has been placed on IR, so he will not be used at all this season. They also lost defensive end Ty Warren for the season and it is unknown when Wes Welker will return..this could be an injury-plagued season for the Patriots. But, like always, the Patriots will have a good linebacking core with Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes, who they added in the draft. Tom Brady will probably be...well, Tom Brady. He's a perennial 4,000 yard passer and one of the best quarterbacks in the league, so with him on the field, the Patriots have a chance week-to-week.

- TW's Prediction: 10-6

SP: New England is a tough team for me to evaluate because there are several wild-cards on their team. Tom Brady has been an amazing QB since taking over the job for the Patriots, with the exception of the entire 2008 season he missed after injuring his knee against the Kansas City Chiefs in the season opener, but this may be the season his numbers begin the decline a little. With Wes Welker coming back from a torn ACL at the end of last season and age becoming a factor for Randy Moss, expect their numbers to be slightly down compared to recent years. Julian Edelman will likely have a good season, and could potentially be the teams top receiver this season. The Patriot's defense will need to continue to grow and improve, as they will need to be in the top half of the league for them to have a real chance at securing a playoff spot. They are pretty much dead even with the Dolphins, in my opinion, with the only exception being the Patriots have won a lot more recently. Sadly, New England, it's Miami's year.

- SP's Prediction: 11-5* (Would lose tie-breaker with Miami if they end with identical records, in my opinion)

4. Buffalo Bills (Head Coach: Chan Gailey)

Key arrivals: LB Andra Davis, RB C.J. Spiller (draft)

Key departures: WR Terrell Owens, DE/LB Aaron Schobel, LB Chris Draft, WR Josh Reed

TW: The Bills, in my opinion, are going to be the worst team in the league this year. They have no quarterback and their receivers are nothing more than unsteady. Trent Edwards has shown that he is not the "quarterback of the future" and Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't starting material. Their running game is what will save them, with a core of Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson, and rookie C.J. Spiller. Buffalo's receiving game hasn't been all that great since the Eric Moulds era and with the departures of Terrell Owens and Josh Reed, it looks like it's going to be worse. They also got a new coach, Chan Gailey, who is unproven and has already had an unsuccessful stint in the NFL. It looks like the Bills are in for a tumultuous season.

-TW's Prediction: 2-14

SP: After seeing Buffalo's first preseason game against the Washington Redskins, I'm not liking the outlook for this team. Chan Gailey may have walked into an impossible situation when he became head coach. With the exception of rookie C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson, there really aren't too many bright spots on this team on either side of the football. With Jackson injured and out an undisclosed amount of time, Spiller will have a lot on his shoulders in his first year in the NFL. While they definitely could have used a quarterback or wide receiver in the draft, adding Spiller will help them all over the field offensively. He truly is an all-purpose player that can run, catch, and probably play the return game as well if needed. The loss of T.O. is definitely going to hurt to receiving game, as it would take a massive season from Lee Evans for this team to have a chance at a respectable record. Trent Edwards has already proven he is one of the worst QBs in the league over the past few seasons, and he will be at the head of this train wreck too.

-SP's Prediction: 3-13

Buffalo Loses Fred Jackson To Injury

By: Stephen Patterson

The Buffalo Bills will be without running back Fred Jackson for at least the remainder of the preseason after he injured his left hand against the Washington Redskins in the teams first preseason game. While the extent of the injury is not currently known, Jackson's agent, Jerome Douglas, referred to it as "a bone injury". It is also unknown at this time if the injury is severe enough to require surgery, according to Douglas.

Head coach Chan Gailey said "We hope to get him back for the first game", which doesn't exactly sound like a guarantee he will be healthy. The injury occurred on the second play of the game from scrimmage when he was brought down by Kareem Moore, who was penalized for using the face mask for the tackle. Jackson had been using his left hand to stiff-arm Moore, and then landed on it when he was tackled.

This is a devastating loss for the Bills, but the team still has Marshawn Lynch and rookie C.J. Spiller to fill in for Jackson. Lynch was also injured in the 42-17 loss to the Redskins when he hurt his ankle, but Gailey said he thought the injury is "a lot more short-term than it is long-term". 

Although Jackson was listed as the starter heading into training camp, I expected Spiller to be the team's starting running back before the end of the season, prior to this injury suffered by Jackson. If he can show out during the next three games of the preseason, he may already have the job when the team opens the season against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 12.

Jackson supplanted Lynch as the team's starter last season and had a career year, finishing the season with  1,062 rushing yards and 1,014 yards in kickoff returns. With those numbers, Jackson became the first player in NFL history to have over 1,000 yards in each of those categories. Even after such an amazing season by Jackson, the team still drafted Spiller with their first selection in the 2010 NFL Draft.

With injuries occurring to both Jackson and Lynch, I expect Spiller to get a decent amount of carries in the teams next game on Thursday against the Indianapolis Colts. After an amazing career at Clemson, Spiller has shown he is a very versatile player capable of doing almost anything on a football field. Not only is he a home run threat every time he rushes with the football, but he is also a dangerous threat as a receiver. If he becomes the team's starter early in the year, I think he will be one of the best rookies in the NFL this season. And if Jackson has to have surgery and miss extended time, that could very easily happen.