Email
Print
FeedSome Bills we can say farewell to
Teams like the Buffalo Bills, who have dwellt in the rancid, musty cave of mediocrity and ineptitude for going on a decade, usually find ways to rebuild in the draft.
Bad teams can transform themselves into contenders with some shrewd additions in April, and it's a quick fix for teams that know what they're doing.
Therein, of course, lies the rub. To classify the Bills' talent-seekers as "scouts" is an affront to Weebloes everywhere; Moe Green has a better eye for future NFL contributors.
There are always surprise cuts in the weeks leading up to Opening Day. I know there's a smorgasbord of underachievers from which to choose, and with a new GM and coach in the fold, they're no longer "protected" by the yahoos who orginally drafted them. Anyway, it's fun to say "cut" to players like Homer Simpson when he was named coach of Bart's little league team.
Here's my list of passengers; guys that Bills fans, and more importantly, the organization, should be done with:
• James Hardy. The third-year wide receiver has done nothing to indicate he's even close to becoming a pro football player, which is wildly disappointing since he was taken in the second round in 2008 and has about a dozen catches to show for it, despite his size and skill. Hardy has been out-hustled and outplayed by a bunch of no-names who simply appear to want it more than he does. If he can't keep the likes of David Nelson, Naaman Roosevelt, and Chad Jackson from getting reps in his stead, it's time to admit defeat.
Plus, if I post a blog defending the Sabres' decision to waive Tim Kennedy, how can I possibly maintain my severely limited credibility by not calling for Hardy's ouster?
• Kawika Mitchell. Nothing against Mitchell, but he'd be much better suited as a third, weakside linebacker on a 4-3 defense, playoff-hopeful team that's missing the final piece. He's undersized and out of place as an outside LB in a 3-4 scheme on a team that's obviously rebuilding. To give younger players—and players who frankly are better run-stoppers—some playing time, it would be best to part ways with Mitchell.
• John McCargo. That's right, McCargo's still on the roster. What's more surprising is that the organization actually traded up to land the floundering defensive lineman, one of many on a way-too-long list of colossal reaches the Bills have made on draft day. The Bills had the right idea when they attempted to trade him to the Colts, only to be denied when he promptly flunked his physical. When he hasn't been injured, McCargo has been as useful as an '85 Yugo. There's only so much room for defensive ends in the team's new 3-4 defense. Is McCargo as good as Marcus Stroud, Spencer Johnson, Dawn Edwards, or even rookie Alex Carrington? Nope.
• Roscoe Parrish. One of the final draft-day flubs of the Tom Donahoe days, Lord Vader's infatuation with University of Miami players led to Parrish's selection as the Bills' top pick (second round) in 2006. Parrish has been nothing more than a gadget player since, and that's all the pint-sized receiver will ever be. Parrish had a remarkable stretch returning punts for the Bills for a few seasons, but Leodis McKelvin, Terrence McGee, Fred Jackson, and C. J. Spiller are probably just as good, if not better. The way the Bills collect kick returners, they're going to turn up on TLC's Hoarders: Buried Alive.
• Reggie Corner. I know, it's only Corner's second season in the league, and he showed some ability in his rookie campaign, but he was made to look like a clown by Washington's second- and third-stringers last Friday, getting scorched on a pair of touchdowns. He looked downright awful in that game, so how will he do against starters in the league? Drayton Florence, Ashton Youboty and Ellis Lankster are all better cornerbacks, and if Corner can't distinguish himself over Lydell Sargeant, Dominique Harris, and John Destin, why keep him on the fifty-three-man roster?
Now that I've booked five one-way flights out of Buffalo-Niagara International, who would you send packing?
