FanHouse JamesHardy

Terrell Owens' signing with the Buffalo Bills was a bigger shock than when the Dallas Cowboys released him. Buffalo, with all the charm of a typical small-market team, simply did not seem like the franchise that would go out on a limb to ink the controversial wideout.

But it did. And Owens recently did his first interview with a Buffalo-area radio station, appearing on the Shredd and Ragan show (.mp3), via SportsRadioInterviews.com, where he was asked about how excited he was to head to the Bills. His response? A fantastically awkward pause.

This weekend, future Hall-of-Famer (and Hall of Fame cry-baby) Terrell Owens found a new home. He's going to play for the Buffalo Bills in 2009. We all know he's capable of great things on the field and tons of drama off.

Real football-wise, it's hard to see this ending well. This punk hated Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb. How's he going to feel about Trent Edwards' inability to get him the ball in the high winds and sub-zero temperatures this coming December? Still, you can't discount the ability of T.O. to find the end-zone. He does it better than any other receiver.

Let's examine the fallout, player by player.

Last year, Matt Forte and Leodis McKelvin opened some eyes with their Senior Bowl performances, and both would go on to have outstanding NFL rookie seasons. Andre Woodson, on the other hand, struggled in the college football showcase game, and the former Kentucky star's draft stock plummeted -- he eventually ended the 2008 season on the Giants practice squad.

While a poor Senior Bowl won't automatically torpedo a prospect's NFL aspirations (Joe Flacco stumbled through the game last year), it's a great way for players to separate themselves in a crowded field.

After the jump: a quick rundown of those who impressed and those who didn't.

Yeah, I know what you're thinking, smart guy. You're thinking this post should be one letter long, and that letter should be 'F.' It's true that the Big Ten did little to advance its reputation during the season, and even less during the postseason. In spite of it all, there are still a few diamonds among the, um, whatever else it is the diamonds are scattered among.

They're scattered among things like 35-3, a 1-6 bowl game record, the fall of the Michigan dynasty, a tragically unwarranted and completely unjustified preseason overrating, several regressions to the mean, and the worst sendoff since the last episode of "Seinfeld."

So we'll go through the league team by team, painful as that is, to build up the successes and try to understand the failures of Big Ten football in 2008. Yes, I used "success" and "Big Ten football" in the same sentence without the connecting phrase "lack of." Deal with it, Buck. Every team gets an overall grade and a quick look at its prognosis for the 2009 season. For you Big Ten fans, I promise you it's not all bad news; for you Big Ten haters, I promise you it's not all good.

Lance Moore only caught 32 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns in 2007. In 2008, he caught 79 passes for 928 yards and 10 touchdowns. It came from out of nowhere, considering all the other receiving options in New Orleans, but that doesn't mean we can't start grasping at who could be the one who goes from relative fantasy obscurity to a great contributor in the time of one season.

Let's check it out those who will likely see an expanded role in their offense next season, in addition to growth as a playmaker. Please realize these are for deep keeper leagues. Do not even think about keeping any of these over an elite receiver.

Donnie Avery, Rams -- As I said in my top-10 picks post about Steven Jackson, the Rams can't get any worse. They'll figure some things out in the offseason and Mr. Avery is going to be an important part of the offense for any new administration due to his youth. We saw the flashes of talent this time around, and next season we'll see him grow into a real NFL receiver. Plus, it's not like his division is chock full of beastly defenses.

Pretty big game in the AFC East today, which has suddenly become one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL from top-to-bottom, after being, essentially, the Patriots and three hapless squads a year ago. The Patriots and Bills entered play today with identical 5-3 records, and in the end it was New England that was able to come away with a 20-10 victory, improving to 6-3 on the season.

Buffalo, meanwhile, has now dropped three in a row, falling to 5-4. The loss was also the tenth straight for the Bills against New England. If the Bills -- or any team in the AFC East, for that matter -- ever want to stake their claim on the division, they're going to have to start, you know, beating New England at some point.

Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel completed 23-of 34 passes for 234 yards, while opening the scoring in the first quarter with a 13-yard touchdown run. The story of the day for New England, however, was the running of BenJarvus Green-Ellis, as the undrafted rookie out of Mississippi picked up his first career 100-yard game, registering 104 yards on 20 carries. He helped seal the game in the fourth quarter with a 1-yard plunge, capping off a 19-play drive, giving the Patriots a commanding 20-3 lead.

You've got questions. I've got answers. If not, I'll make them up. Each Thursday at 1 p.m. EST, I answer your queries on all things related to the NFL. If you have a question, send it over to NFLMailbag@gmail.com. Don't forget to include your name and location. Click here for the archives. Rock'n'roll.

How will the Saints offense make up for the loss of Jamar Nesbit and Jeremy Shockey for the next month, especially with Marques Colston out? Do you see any receivers finally catching anything?
- J. Willits, Jackson, MS

The Saints have been debacled by injuries so far this year; one-fifth of the roster appeared on this week's injury report. Nesbit's suspension makes him the 11th starter from the presumed opening day roster to miss time this year. That being said, while it never helps to lose a starter, Nesbit's injury opens the door for coaches to get a look at Carl Nicks, the one-time Nebraska right tackle they drafted in the fifth round this year. Nicks was thought generally to have second- or third-round talent, but some trouble he got into in college, causing him to be banned from Nebraska's pro day, caused him to drop. He was converted to left guard in the offseason and coaches rave about the athletic ability he has for his size (6'5'', 343). Nesbit has been the weakest link on a line that has really performed poorly in the run game, so seeing what Nicks can do might prove to give the line a spark.

As far as the receivers are concerned, Robert Meachem is going to get increased looks, and rightfully so. He's only got three catches in two games, but they've totaled 105 yards and a touchdown, and all have been for first downs. Each catch has showed a flair for the ability to make plays. The Saints always find a way to move the ball through the air, so they'll put together a good enough attack to hold them over, but Meachem will work his way into the forefront. By the way, the Saints have San Francisco, Minnesota, and Oakland in the next few weeks, so their schedule is pretty favorable while everyone gets healthy.

In fairness to Jacksonville, their offensive line really is beat up. Like, badly. But in fairness to Buffalo, they looked absolutely spectacular -- again -- on Sunday. This was a week after thumping Seattle and being kind of cast off (I think making them five and a half point dogs works, no?) against a Jaguar team that was considered to be a Super Bowl contender.

Then Trent Edwards decided to do his best David Garrard impersonation, going 20/25 for 239 yards and a touchdown, and Marshawn Lynch was his usual reliable self, posting 59 yards with a score on 19 carries, most of which came in the first half.

Edwards found eight different receivers, including rookie James Hardy, who recorded his first career regular season NFL trip to the end zone with a seven yard strike from Edwards in the fourth quarter.

It was bizarre though, because despite being heavily outplayed -- Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor combined for 67 yards on only 21 attempts and Garrard was a putrid 17/28 for 165 and a pick -- the Jaguars really should have won the game. They held the lead, mostly as a result of nice red zone defense, with as little as four minutes remaining in the game.

But a sharp offensive performance and a strong set of defensive stands got the Bills the win. And because the Bills are 2-0 and there's no more Tom Brady, well, it might be about time to start recognizing them as a viable playoff threat. I don't necessarily think they're going win the division, and they have gotten two beat up teams so far, but who else, outside Pittsburgh, has looked that much better in the AFC so far this year?

Certainly not Jacksonville.

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We here are at Fantasy FanHouse are deeply committed to helping the desperate. And you may be among them. If that's the case, we have some lovely last-minute gambles for you to try out in fantasy this week. Fourth and 26 isn't an "ideal" situation, but sometimes it works out.

Quarterback
Chad Pennington, MIA -- This is actually a really, really logical start. Pennington has the Jets playbook inside his head (I'm actually convinced the Fins will win), and he's out for revenge against the team that spurned him. He has a dangerous deep threat in Ted Ginn, and the running back tandem of Ricky Williams and (maybe) Ronnie Brown should give him some room to dink and dunk his way to nice low-end QB1 numbers. A nice waiver-wire scramble.

Trent Edwards, BUF -- Whaaa? Against the Seattle defense? Really? Yes. Really. As pointed out in this wonderful, wonderful book, the Seahawks defensive backs are short; neither Marcus Trufant nor Kelly Jennings are over six feet tall. Bills rookie James Hardy is 6-foot-5. Lee Evans is only 5-foot-10, but he's fast as all get-out. And the Bills have Marshawn Lynch to open up the passing game. Edwards won't win the week for you, but he won't be as bad as Eli Manning or Jason Campbell.

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is right around the corner, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: The J.P Losman era has come to its logical conclusion. Which is to say, he probably won't be around after this season. Trent Edwards, the team's 2007 third-round pick is now the starter, and if the Bills are to have any chance to improve on last year's 7-9 record, it will lie largely with him. Heat Index: 5

Running backs: Marshawn Lynch had a relatively quiet offseason until he accidentally ran over a pedestrian and bonked out before the cops showed up. The case has been settled, and he won't miss any time, which is great news for a Bills offense that can't afford to lose one of its best players. I suspect the hit-and-run victim might feel differently, however. Fred Jackson is more than capable behind Lynch. Heat Index: 8