Tim Anderson

The tight end position is among the more exciting groups as we prepare to enter training camp.  The battles for jobs at varying levels within this unit will give fans a true feeling of competition during the preseason.  As it stands now, there are five tight ends on the roster, and I expect that number to dwindle to 4 before the season starts. 

Current Roster Players (In order of NFL experience)

Robert Royal - Entering his 8th season; 3rd with the Bills

Courtney Anderson - Entering his 6th season; 1st with the Bills

Tim Massaquoi - Entering his 4thseason; 1st full season with the Bills

Derek Schouman - Entering his 2nd season; 2nd with the Bills

Derek Fine - Rookie

Battle for starting spot

Robert Royal is the incumbent, andwill likely enter training camp with the #1 spot being his to lose.  However, a bad knee, anda sub-par ‘07 campaign makes him ripe for the picking.  Enter newcomer Courtney Anderson, who possesses all the physical tools, but has yet to put it all together.  Anderson will be leaving it all on the table, as his football career may be hanging in the balance.    The wild card for this job lies lower on the depth chart, in 2nd year Boise State grad Derek Schouman.  While Schoumanwill not contend for the #1 slot, his blocking prowess could leave the Bills no longer needing the services of Robert Royal.  Thus, Schoumancould become Anderson’s best friend in the upcoming 8 weeks.  Don’t be misled though - Anderson will have to earn it.

Battle to make the team

There are a few scenarios here, which could totally change the outlook of this unit in 2008.  Derek Fine was drafted as a tight end, but also based on his history of strong special teams’ play.  Additionally, Tim Massaquoiappeared in 4 games last season with the Bills, playing in that same role.  This leads me to believe that 4 spots may be open.  However, if a young linebacker or defensive back shows the ability to cover kicks exceptionally well, only 3 will make the team.  If it comes down to 3, I think Royal and Massaquoi will be cut.  If it stays at 4 (more likely), I think Massaquoi gets the axe unless Courtney Anderson has a very poor showing.  Interestingly enough, I believe Schouman is the only lock.  His blocking is above average, and his pass catching ability is adequate.

Who to watch for

As I said before, Derek Schouman may be the sleeper in this group, and could be a regular contributor in the blocking game.  I don’t see him hauling in more than 10-15 passes, but you’ll see #80 in on all short yardage situations.  Word is that he has shown a significant improvement at the OTA’s and in Mini-Camp, and I think he will sneak up and steal a job.

Potentially Shocking Cut

Robert Royal has a very realistic chance of being in the unemployment line before September.  As previously noted, his knee is questionable, and his pass catching numbers simply haven’t been there.  That said, if his knee is up to snuff, and Anderson can establish himself as a threat in the passing game to take some of that pressure away from Royal, he will still have a job.

Final Prediction

Quantity Kept: Four; I think Fine’s ability to play special teams opens up an extra slot in this group, and the Bills will hang on to 4 tight ends.

Players Cut: Tim Massaquoi

Practice Squad Candidates: Tim Massaquoi; With all of the losses in the kick coverage units this past off-season, Massaquoi’s special teams’ experience could easily land him a job on the practice squad.

Patrick Mulroy

A 4th of July in Green Bay - and of course the topic was ‘ball!  With all the recent media coverage around the latest BF ‘rumours’, it was quite ironic that the Green Bay folks in charge of the fireworks would sync audio and the ‘crackers up together and find a way to get football and BF in there.  About midway through various classics, “Ring of Fire” for instance we begin to hear the voice/person that is BF from the ‘retirement’ press conference.  Then fireworks with the familiar Packer logo, then a #4 and a heart.  This continued for at least a good 5-10mins.  I had just said to my wife when will they start adding words or even letters into those things?…   At any rate, given the most recent saga that has went down this past week its all too much with less than a month to go before official training camp and the preseason.  It comes down to ‘he’ will come back for the Pack or ‘he’ won’t.  Until someway, this whole thing can actually come to a concrete end I suppose we all have to wait for episode #1 of the new Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood - Green Bay edition to finally kickoff.

Rebekah Edwards

Najeh Davenport was b**ch slapped by the Pittsburgh Steelers roughly three months after being acquitted of domestic violence against the mother of his five year old child.

No one needed a crystal ball to see this one coming…

Davenport signed with the Steelers in 2006 as a back up to the ever fabulous Willie Parker. Unfortunately, Davenport never lived up to the team’s expectations. He had his moment to shine in the final two games of the season once Parker’s season ended on crutches. He didn’t shine, he didn’t even glimmer. He actually did not do a lot of anything.

If I had had the opportunity to talk to Najeh it would have gone something like this, “Seriously Najeh, your career and livelihood are brought to the forefront. Your actions will make or break you. Common sense would say figure it out. Be unpredictable in your running game. You only get one chance.” I think that pep talk would have been just what he needed because he didn’t seem to have that mindset at all. Instead Davenport went straight into Jacksonville defenders 16 times for a whopping 25 yards and then followed it up the next week by allowing Baltimore to hold him to 27 yards on 12 attempts.

After the sub par showing and an almost not quite there post season the Steelers organization sat back and pondered. The team could not place the fate of another season on Parker’s legs. They decided to incorporate a “who to defend” running game. You know, the Fred Taylor-Maurice Jones-Drew system that kicked Pittsburgh’s behind more than once last season. Until Parker broke his leg he led the league in yards rushing but mainly becasue the entire rushing game rested on his shoulder (pads).

Enter Rashard Mendenhall. Willie Parker’s very own Jones-Drew. The Pittsburgh Steelers new running sensation. Najeh Davenport’s kryptonite. If the Mendenhall first round draft selection didn’t burn than the blatant stab of picking up Mewelde Moore to return kicks had to have. That leaves Davenport sitting on the bench contemplating what might have been.

Instead of paying Davenport a cool mil to not do what he was hired to do, the Steelers canned him. They made a valiant effort to trade him but no dice.

What will Davenport be doing in just over 3 weeks when Steelers training camp officially begins? Hopefully he will be picked up by a team (he is eyeing the Lions and the Cardinals) and learn from the mistakes of the past. Slap the Steelers around and they will slap back!

Becky