Bowen Exclusive

Bowen Exclusive
What do you collect?
The nation's leading newspaper and source of information on antiques and the arts.
For More Bowen Exclusive Info Click On The Blue Links Below

It's been ages since the Buffalo Bills have tasted championship glory-1965 for league championships and 1995 for a division championship. Is 2007 as good a year as any for the Buffalo Bills to bounce back? What's been happening with the Buffalo Bills in the pre-season period? 2008 will be the Bill's 49th season and will be led by Head Coach Dick Jauron, returning for the third year. However, one major difference will be in the leadership of Turk Schonert, the team's new offensive coordinator. How is the team looking in terms of new additions and major losses?

Defensive tackle Marcus Stroud was acquired by trade from the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for 3rd and 5th round draft selections. Meanwhile, the team signed five free agents, including linebacker Kawika Mitchell from the New York Giants, defensive tackle Spencer Johnson from the Minnesota Vikings, two tight end players Courtney Anderson and Teyo Johnson from the Oakland Raiders and cornerback William James who was taken from the Philadelphia Eagles. The team also has had two non-drafted picks this season, coming from fullback Mike Viti from the army and offensive guard Robert Felton from the University of Arkansas.

There have also been some substantial losses for this season. There were three free agents that were snatched up by other teams, including wide receiver Sam Aiken, who went to the New England Patriots and cornerback Jason Webster who also went with the Patriots. Tight end Michael Gaines also signed to play with the Detroit Lions. Not only did the team lose some players to other teams, they also released four players from their contracts, including running back Anthony Thomas, defensive tackle Larry Tripplett, Linebacker Coy Wire and wide receiver Peerless Price. (Who now lives up to his name)

Will the team's restructuring help their chances? Going into the 2008 season, the team's biggest holes were in the positions of: wide receiver, cornerback, and tight end. They scored well in the eyes of many fans by selecting Leodis McKelvin, who was considered one of the top choices in the draft, not to mention choosing James Hardy. Other notable draft picks included second corner backs Reggie Corner and second wide receiver Steve Johnson. Other signings that may prove to be the Bills redemption in 2008 include Chris Ellis, Derek Fine, Alvin Bowen, Xavier Omon, Demetrius Bell and Kennard Cox.

How has the media and NFL fans responded to the Buffalo Bills' draft choices? Obviously, everyone is proud of the team's acquisition of McKelvin and Hardy. However, some have questioned the signings of Corner and Fine, especially considering the draft round. How will the Bills fare in 2008?

While the Bills have yet to claim a Super Bowl victory they did manage to win two league championships, four conference championships and 10 division championships, the most recent being in 1995. With a dynamic new team, Buffalo could be long overdue for a winning season and maybe even Super Bowl glory-which will no doubt send the team's revenue through the roof!

Catch every Buffalo Bills game on DIRECTV NFL Sunday Ticket. The NFL Network will air live games along with replays and in depth commentary about whats happening around the league (only guarenteed with Satellite TV). NFL Superfan on DIRECTV will replay each game in 30 minutes commercial free for those die hard fans on a limited schedule. NFL Superfan also allows you to watch live football games from your PC or laptop. Visit DirectStarTV today for the best Direct TV Deals. Direct TV has the exclusive rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket. If you need to catch your out of market games, this is where you need to be.

Many thanks for reading our Bowen Exclusive article

• Zane Grey
• Year One