IMPACT ROOKIES FOR 2013 NFL SEASON-AFC EAST

This doesn't look like it's going to be a banner year in the AFC east, but really, can anyone remember a year where at least one of these teams didn't stink?

On the bright side, the Bills and Dolphins look to be taking steps in the right direction and their fandoms have hope again. 

The Pats are going to be interesting, as they look like they are going to have to learn on their running game heavier than they did in past years.  That's not really a bad thing when you were known for passing last year and ended up with the #7 rushing attack in the league.

but, enough about last year...the question, which rookies are going to help out the most on their teams?

here we go, the AFC EAST Impact Rookies.

First Round Winners and Losers: Veteran Edition

The dynasty value of a player can change at a moments notice throughout the regular season or even in the off-season. This is especially true during the last weekend in April when the annual NFL Draft is held in New York City. This year is no different as we saw draft picks who will have a great impact on the value of not only the incoming rookies, but also the veterans already a part of teams. Let’s take a look at some of the specific players whose value might be on the rise or on the decline as a result of a draft pick in the first round.

The Pick: Tavon Austin, WR STL (1.08)

The Rams moved up to select the first offensive skill position player of the draft and made diminutive wide receiver Tavon Austin that choice. Austin’s value has been steadily on the rise throughout the off-season and he should get a chance to start immediately for the Rams, as well as play a crucial role on special teams.

The Winner: Sam Bradford, QB STL

The Rams have tried for the past couple of years to get their franchise quarterback Sam Bradford some offensive weapons. In fact, they have drafted two wide receivers in each of the past two drafts (and this year would continue that trend). Rather than relying on those former draft picks, the Rams have shown they are serious by making moves in free agency and now the choice of Austin. With the weapons he now has on offense, Bradford has no excuse not to be a top quarterback in the NFL and in fantasy leagues. Bradford has never finished higher than QB20 in his three-year career, but now is his time to prove himself. His dynasty stock will see a nice jump in value and expect his ADP to rise as a result. He is now a high upside QB2.

The Loser: Chris Givens, WR STL
A good friend of mine who does a great job of studying every game played throughout the regular season shared something interesting with me after the Austin pick was made. My initial thought was that wide receiver Chris Givens would not be greatly affected by the Austin addition since he is used more as a deep threat, scoring several deep touchdowns in his rookie season. What my friend told me (and what I didn’t realize) was that many of Givens’ targets and catches came from bubble screens. It is natural to assume that Austin will come in and steal many of those targets. Givens’ dynasty value takes a slight ding with the addition of Austin, but unfortunately, this would not be the last time he makes our list.

EJ Manuel Says The Eagles “Want Him Pretty Bad”

EJ Manuel is either an extremely confident quarterback, he knows something, or he’s just crazy.   While NFL Play 60 event in Chelsea Waterside Park on Wednesday, Manuel let it be known that the “Philadelphia Eagles want him pretty bad” according to CSN Philly.

speaking to reporters at an

“But I think it’s just a matter of who takes me first, because I know the Eagles may want me, theCleveland Browns may want me, the Buffalo Bills and the Jets,” he said. “I think those are all sequential picks, you know what I mean, within those top 13 picks or whatever. I’m just hoping one team loves me, because really, that’s all you need, one team to fall in love with you.”

Oh and about that confidence, Manuel doesn’t lack it at all.

Buffalo Bills Hope History Doesn't Repeat at Quarterback Battle Takes Shape

In the first season after Jim Kelly retired, a second-round draft pick named Todd Collins was expected to seize the starting job. One veteran backup was retained in Alex Van Pelt, while veteran Billy Joe Hobert was signed as added insurance.

  

All three signal-callers saw time as the Bills stumbled to a 6-10 record. Collins was insonsistent when he wasn't injured. Van Pelt tried but was blessed with a second-stringer's talent. And Hobert was cut when, after getting significant playing time, he confessed to not reading the play book the week prior.

That last scenario is unlikely to repeat itself, but otherwise 2013 could look the same. The Bills are expected to draft a high-round rookie, who will get a shot to start immediately. Former Arizona Cardinals starter Kevin Kolb was brought in to push him and Tarvaris Jackson, who didn't play last season but was re-signed earlier this offseason.

So two experienced starters will contend with (presumably) a hot-shot rookie for the job. That has the potential to go very well … or very, very poorly.

Buffalo Bills hire Syracuse coach

The Buffalo Bills stayed out of the limelight during their hiring process for a new coach.

Now they found their man and he is not one of the box office names on the market.

The Bills came to terms with Syracuse coach Doug Marrone on Sunday.

Marrone comes with NFL experience having been an assistant coach with both the New Orleans Saints and the New York Jets.

The hire could be a good one.

Coming from an offensive background, the new lead man will be charged with making sense of Buffalo’s quarterback situation.

It’s no secret that Bills GM Buddy Nix wants to see a different face under center.

Buffalo is secure with their skill players as both Steve Johnson and running back C.J. Spiller have the potential to be superstars in this league.

Marrone must have blown the Bills away as Buffalo pulled the trigger before taking the opportunity to interview Denver Broncos’ offensive cordinator Mike McCoy on Sunday.

McCoy was expected be heavily courted by Buffalo.

The same was said for former-Bears coach Lovie Smith.

What this round of coaching hires is proving is that we should all expect the unexpected.

For ever rumor and hyped report comes a eventual truth that did not seem expected.

For Bills fans, they have to hope that Nix found the right guy to restore playoff  hopes.

The Bills have not been to the tournament in almost a decade.

It has been longer than that since they were a serious contender for the ultimate prize.

Buffalo invested a great deal of money in DE/OLB Mario Williams last off-season only to seem him come up short.

Is Marrone the guy that will find and develop a quarterback and inspire their huge defensive investment into stepping up and taking charge?

Those answers will start to fall during the NFL Draft.

The post Buffalo Bills hire Syracuse coach appeared first on Players View.

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Buffalo Bills pull the plug on Chan Gailey

Whether or not Chan Gailey would be fired has been a touch-and-go subject as of late. General manager Buddy Nix has been telling anybody that would listen that all the team needs is a new quarterback.
Obviously the issues run deeper than that as Gailey is gone.


The team released a terse statement on their website that applies to both  Gailey and his entire staff.

“The Buffalo Bills today are announcing that Chan Gailey has been relieved of his duties as the team’s head coach.”

Gailey responded with a statement of his own.

A couple of things. One, Scott (Berchtold) wanted to make sure I clarified one thing, the staff has been relieved of their duties as well. Just so we all get that straight. The second thing is there won’t be any questions after this. I’ve just got a few things I want to say.

The first thing I want to say is thanks to the Bills organization, to Buddy (Nix) and Mr. Wilson for the opportunity. I understand this is a business. We didn’t get the job done. I’ve been called two other times to turn things around, was able to do it. I wasn’t able to get this one done soon enough, and I understand that completely.

Bills’ C.J. Spiller frustrated by lack of touches

It’s been an extremely disappointing year for the Buffalo Bills. A 2012 campaign that began with Super Bowl aspirations is going to end in a familiar place: the AFC basement.

On a personal level, it’s all the more maddening for C.J. Spiller.

Now in his third year, the speedy running back has established himself as one of the most electrifying players in the NFL, yet he’s barely incorporated into the offense. It’s one of the more puzzling situations you’ll come across, and Spiller, like all of us, has taken notice.

“I really can’t control how many times I touch the ball, guys,” Spiller said, via the Buffalo News. “I keep saying it over and over, but I don’t know what else y’all want me to say. The only thing I can do, when my number’s called, is do the best I can. Even when it’s not, just try to do the best I can.”

Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas Impressed with C.J. Spiller

Coming into Sunday's game, Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller was quickly approaching a team milestone.
Spiller, as of early Sunday, had run for 100 or more total yards in six straight games. The team’s record is currently held by Hall Of Fame running back Thurman Thomas, who ran for 100-plus yards in nine straight matches.
However, the Jacksonville Jaguars held Spiller to 84 yards from scrimmage on Sunday, stopping the running back from catching up to the Hall of Famer.
According to www.buffalobills.com, Thomas averaged 110 rushing yards and around 30 receiving yards per game during his streak. Spiller, coming into Sunday, was averaging 77.5 rushing yards and 35.5 yards receiving per game.
But, Spiller, so far, has received about 10 less touches per game than Thomas did.

“That’s pretty darn productive,” said Thomas told buffalobills.com. “We could be talking about maybe over 200 yards if he gets the ball a little bit more. So to be that productive with a limited amount of carries is impressive, and we know the story of how they work things out with Fred Jackson also being back there. But I’ve always said that this guy at any time can snap one off and go 60 or 70 yards a couple of times a game. I think everybody is starting to realize the speed that he has to get to the outside and turn it up field and get a lot of yards.”

Spiller said he has communicated regularly with Thomas since Spiller was drafted by the Bills.

“On the phone he’ll send me a text message and encourage me and tell me to keep my head up. He sent me one yesterday telling me to keep working and keep fighting,” Spiller told buffalobills.com. “That’s great to come from a Hall of Famer like him.”

Meanwhile, Thomas knows Spiller will accomplish big things in the league.

“I just know what type of player he can be,” Thomas said. “Obviously he can run the ball, but he can catch the ball also. So I’ve just been encouraging him to keep working hard and everything will work out for him.”

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Buffalo Bills Spiller Could Break Team Record

While the Bills will need all they help they can get to make the playoffs in the upcoming weeks, one player is seeing his abilities bring him to the brink of a team record.

Running back C.J. Spiller, who is currently in the middle of a six-game streak of 100 yards from the line of scrimmage, is closing in on Thurman Thomas' record of nine in a row. While the Bills are only 2-4 in the six-game stretch, the running game hasn't been the issue. Both Spiller and Fred Jackson are creating positive plays for an otherwise stalling offense.

During his run, Thomas averaged 110 rushing yards per game and about 30 receiving yards per outing.

Spiller on his current streak is averaging 77.5 rushing yards per game and 35.5 yards receiving. 

Patriots Barely Get by Bills 37-31

It took a couple of late Bills turnovers deep in Patriot territory and a myriad of Buffalo penalties for the Patriots to fend off their division rival Buffalo Bills 37-31.

The Patriots were heavily favored and looked like it at the beginning of the game as they jumped out to a 17-3 lead with nine minutes to go in the second quarter on rushing touchdowns from Stevan Ridley and Danny Woodhead.  However, they failed to put the Bills away early giving up two touchdowns before halftime and went to the locker room leading just 24-17 despite the Bills committing over 100 yards in penalties in the first half alone.

Buffalo Bills Linked to Possible Dwayne Bowe Trade

The Buffalo Bills could be a team interested in Kansas City Chiefs star wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, who recently requested a trade.

According to Greg Maiola of the Bleacher Report, Buffalo would be a good fit for Bowe, who has caught 34 passes for 423 yards and three touchdowns. Bowe is currently in a one-year deal worth $9.515 million and will be a free agent at the end of the season.

Buffalo Bills Lose Close Game to Tennessee Titans

It was the tale of the running game as the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans faced off Sunday in a 35-to-34 Titans’ victory.

Running backs for both teams had strong games, which was evident by the Titan’s first drive of the game.

Running back Chris Johnson capped off an eight play, 77 yard drive with a touchdown to put the Titans ahead.

But the Bills would soon answer, as running back Fred Jackson scored on a three-yard pass from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. The scoring drive featured a number of different plays from the Bills’ offense, including utilizing both Jackson and running back C.J. Spiller, passing to wide receiver Stevie Johnson and the Wild Cat.

However, the tied game wouldn’t last long, as Johnson again scored for the Titans. On the first play of the Titan’s second drive, Johnson broke free for an 83-yard score to put the Titan’s ahead again.

On the ensuing kick-off, Bills’ quarterback/wide receiver Brad Smith returned the kick-off for a touchdown.

The scoring wouldn’t stop there. Titan’s running back Jamie Harper scored a touchdown to start the second quarter. The Bills’ answered with a Ryan Lindell field goal after a drive which featured several strong runs from Jackson and Spiller.

With two seconds left in the first half, Lindell hit a 42-yard field goal to bring the score to 21-20 Titans.