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Buffalo
BILLS
2002 Record: 8-8
Head Coach: Gregg Williams
11-21 overall, 0-0 postseason
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TEAM LEADERS
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Passing
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Drew Bledsoe
375-610, 4,359 yards, 24 TDs, 15 INTs
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Rushing
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Travis Henry
325 carries, 1,438 yards, 13 TDs
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Receiving
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Eric Moulds
100 catches, 1,292 yards, 10 TDs
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Kicking
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John Hollis
25-33 FGs, 40-40 PATs, 115 points
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Schedule | Roster |
Statistics | Stadium
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By Jacob Luft, SI.com
Buffalo's offseason strategy was essentially the same as Joe Sixpack's at the neighborhood bar: order a couple of Sams.
Sam Adams the free-agent defensive tackle is just like Sam Adams the beer. Signing him is always a good decision. As is winning the annual derby for the services of Sam Gash, the bruising blocking back who gets all of two carries a season.
The double-whammy-Sammy strategy worked for the 2000 Ravens, who won the Super Bowl after signing the duo. Will it produce the same magic in Buffalo?
Um, no. The Bills don't win Super Bowls, remember? But at least they should contend for supremacy in what may be the most loaded division in the league.
Truth be told, the two Sams don't represent the best of the Bills' shopping spree. That would be linebacker Takeo Spikes, whom they rescued from the NFL gulag known as Cincinnati. Spikes' move to Buffalo makes sense from a football perspective, but he obviously doesn't care about looking good on the field, where he will have to wear the Bills' CFL-style uniforms. (And when they wear the blue-on-blue, it doesn't get any harder on the eyeballs than that.)
Fortunately for the Bills, the NFL doesn't assign wins and losses based on fashion awareness. The free-agent additions, combined with Drew Bledsoe coming back for a second season, should be enough to end the club's three-year postseason drought. And if it doesn't, Buffalo fans can drown their sorrows in a Sam Adams (the beer, not the player).
The Bills' defense last season can best be described as swiss cheese: It had holes and it stunk. The unit gave up an average of 132.6 rushing per game and allowed more than 20 points in 10 games. Enter Takeo Spikes (LB, Cincinnati). Folks, there's a new sheriff in town.
Peerless Price had a contract year for the ages in 2002, breaking out for 94 catches and nine touchdowns heading into free agency. Early indications are that second-year wideout Josh Reed can play nearly as well opposite a franchise WR like Eric Moulds. The question is, can they find a dangerous No. 3 option among the detritus of Bobby Shaw, Charles Johnson, et al?
WR Eric Moulds -- He climbed into the class of elite wide receivers last year by setting career highs with 100 catches and 10 TDs in his first season working with Drew Bledsoe. He was helped by the emergence of Peerless Price as No. 2, if not a 1A option. Price isn't there, which could mean even more catches for Moulds, who has great size and speed. While he should be among that group of receivers behind the trio of Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss and Terrell Owens, beware that he hasn't broken the 1,000-yard barrier in odd-numbered seasons.
K Rian Lindell -- There aren't a lot of bad fantasy options among starters, but Buffalo kickers are always risky given the weather in northern New York, especially late in the season. Lindell, signed away from Seattle, has been a hit-or-miss kicker during his career. While he was a solid 23-for-29 last season, he was just 20-for-32.
WR Josh Reed -- He should assume Peerless Price's role as the Bills' No. 2 wideout after a mildly productive rookie season that unfortunately peaked in Week 2 with an eight-catch, 110-yard game against the Vikings. Reed doesn't have great size, but as he showed at LSU, he could find ways to get open and make plays. Don't expect him to match Price's 2002 production right away, but 800-900 yards with five or six TDs is not out of the question.
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>> Bills will make the playoffs because...
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Drew Bledsoe is the best cold-weather quarterback in the game. He can throw the ball 80 yards through a blizzard. If the defense can stop anybody on a consistent basis and the offensive line can keep him upright, Bledsoe will find a way to win the tough games.
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>> Bills will miss the playoffs because...
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The AFC East is brutally tough. The Bills, Jets and Patriots have franchise quarterbacks, and the Dolphins have arguably the best running back in Ricky Williams. Tiebreakers will be the key, so they are toast if they go 2-4 in the division again.
| Buffalo Bills |
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| Signed |
From |
Lost |
To |
| LB Takeo Spikes |
Bengals |
DL Leif Larsen |
Released |
| LB Jeff Posey |
Texans |
DL Kendrick Office |
Released |
| TE Mark Campbell |
Trade w/ Cle. |
TE Jay Riemersma |
Steelers |
| DE Keith McKenzie |
Packers |
S Billy Jenkins |
Released |
| WR Charles Johnson |
Re-signed |
WR Peerless Price |
Trade w/ Atl. |
| WR Bobby Shaw |
Jaguars |
LB Keith Newman |
Falcons |
| S Izell Reese |
Broncos |
RB Larry Centers |
Released |
| DT Sam Adams |
Raiders |
LB Eddie Robinson |
Released |
| K Rian Lindell |
Seahawks |
RB Shawn Bryson |
Lions |
| WR Antonio Brown |
-- |
K Mike Hollis |
Giants |
| FB Sam Gash |
Ravens |
RB Charlie Rogers |
Dolphins |
| LB Dashon Polk |
Re-signed |
LB Greg Favors |
Panthers |
| CB Dainon Sidney |
Titans |
LB Kenyatta Wright |
Jets |
| RB Olandis Gary |
Broncos |
CB Chris Watson |
Lions |
| WR James Jett |
Raiders |
OL Ronald Boldin |
Released |
| G Ross Tucker |
Cowboys |
S Chad Cota |
Retired |
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C Bill Conaty |
Patriots |
| Unrestricted |
Restricted |
| DE Chidi Ahanotu |
RB Sammy Morris |
| 2003 Draft Picks |
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| Rd. |
Pick |
Player |
Pos. |
School |
| 1 |
23 (23) |
Willis McGahee |
HB |
Miami (Fla.) |
| 2 |
16 (48) |
Chris Kelsay |
DE |
Nebraska |
| 3 |
30 (94) |
Angelo Crowell |
OLB |
Virginia |
| 4 |
14 (111) |
Terrence McGee |
CB |
Northwestern St. |
| 4 |
30 (127) |
Sam Aiken |
WR |
North Carolina |
| 5 |
16 (151) |
Ben Sobieski |
OG |
Iowa |
| 6 |
14 (187) |
Lauvale Sape |
DT |
Utah |
| 7 |
14 (228) |
Mario Haggan |
ILB |
Mississippi St. |
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