Around the league Updated: Feb. 11, 2005 By Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com
• After a couple of weeks at home in California, quarterback J.P. Losman arrived back at the Buffalo Bills complex this week to begin offseason workouts, and there is a pretty good reason why the 2004 first-round pick is suddenly the team's early bird in the weight room. The decision has essentially already been made by Bills officials, several sources told ESPN.com, that Losman, who missed much of his rookie season recovering from a broken leg suffered in training camp, will be the starter in 2005. In fact, it is believed that Buffalo officials have apprised Drew Bledsoe of the plan to elevate the former Tulane star to the top of the depth chart and are giving the 12-year veteran some time to consider the ramifications of the move, and to determine if he wants to return to the Bills as the backup. Bledsoe is due a $1.05 million roster bonus in early March, and a base salary of $3.3 million for 2005, and has a salary cap charge of $6 million-plus. The Bills seem to feel they have gone about as far as they can with Bledsoe, and view the success of Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh this season as validation that you can win with a young quarterback when you surround him with solid talent. Losman appeared in just four games in 2004, all cameos, and threw only five passes. But head coach Mike Mularkey and his staff are enamored of the former Tulane signal caller, both from a physical and intangibles standpoint, and are ready to make the transition. As for Bledsoe, well, the Bills maintain a great deal of respect for the veteran and want to do right by him. There has been some speculation that the Dallas Cowboys might be interested in Bledsoe, who began his NFL career under Bill Parcells at New England in 1993 and at 33 is eight years younger than Vinny Testaverde. Then again, Bledsoe might prefer to be released, and then choose his own landing spot for 2005. If he did wind up in Dallas, there would be some irony to such a relocation. It was the Cowboys who dealt Buffalo a first-round pick in the '04 draft, and the extra selection was used by the Bills to grab Losman. It should be noted, in the case of Bledsoe and other veterans suddenly on the bubble with their teams, that players cannot be officially released until Feb. 22.
NOW - maybe we can beat teams WITH winning records!
haha, actually it might take a season for two before Losman gets up to speed - can't wait to see how he pans out though... wtf do we have to wait so long for the next season!
I thought Bledsoe looked decent at the end of the year.
If they go into training camp with a newbee at QB with zero NFL snaps, it might be a long year for Bills fans. If Bledsoe is too expensive, why not nab another NFL vet, and let Losman and him duke it out in training camp? They can probably get Brad Johnson dirt cheap, and I know Warner and a few others are available.
What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step. – C. S. Lewis
Bledsoe has no problems when facing teams with losing records. Put him against teams with winning records and he's toast. Now, granted, the O-line wasn't exactly number one in the league, but the fact remains.
Losman can scramble and is better at reading the D than Bledsoe - at least according to reports.
I'll agree with you that it's going to be "up in the air" till the season actually starts and he starts getting snaps on a regular basis. However, I think it's going to pay dividends to start him now.
I'd rather we have another *bad* season waiting for our rookie QB to get up to par, than to spend more money and a full season on Bledsoe who we KNOW isn't going to get it done. If they use Bledsoe next season - it only ADD to the time it's going to take get to the play offs. Another year non-productive year of Bledsoe - then another year of Losman getting up to speed. Rather than just getting rid of a lame horse NOW and only spending one year with Losman going through the learning curve. At least in theory.
Now that Buffalo has the QB issue resolved, it's time to spend some of that cap money (that's now freed from being spent on Drew) and improve the O-line. Maybe grab a kicker, or another WR.
The D is strong, the ST are strong, and now we've got a new fresh QB. Just need to whip him into shape and get the O-line issues resolved.
I was worried about losing Henry, BUT McGahee has proven good enough to actually to Henry's place as a starter. Henry want's out anyway - wants to play some where warmer... Hopefully, they can get something for him.
