March 13, 2013 - 10:36 AM
By Tim Graham
Stevie Johnson was recruiting free agents to join the Buffalo Bills a couple weeks ago.
Now it sounds like he's begging.
ESPN reporter Josina Anderson tweeted a comment from Johnson, who wanted to relay a message to recently released Oakland Raiders receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Continue reading "Now Stevie Johnson lobbying for Darrius Heyward-Bey's help" »
March 6, 2013 - 12:06 PM
By Tim Graham
On the NFL Network this morning, Buffalo Bills receiver Stevie Johnson revisited comments he made a few days ago for the Press Coverage blog.
Johnson was asked about his recruiting efforts to bring free agents to Buffalo and revealed the name of another receiver he has delivered a sales pitch to.
"I done tried to get a few guys," Johnson said. "I talked to my boy Brandon Gibson, who is in St. Louis. He's a stud. And Dashon Goldson, I talk to him a lot.
Continue reading "Add Rams WR Brandon Gibson to Stevie Johnson's recruiting list" »
March 4, 2013 - 4:23 PM
By Tim Graham
Remember all those Dwayne Bowe/free-agency references that've been dropped on the Press Coverage blog over the past few days?
Forget about 'em.
Bowe, arguably the best receiver with an expiring contract, isn't going to hit the market next week. The Kansas City Chiefs have re-signed the productive wide receiver, reportedly to a five-year deal.
We don't know how interested the Bills legitimately were in Bowe, but receiver Stevie Johnson said he tried to nudge Bowe to signing with them.
Bowe is coming off an inconsistent campaign with 59 catches, 801 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games. But in 2010 and 2011 he had 153 receptions for 2,321 yards and 20 TDs.
The best receivers available appear to be Greg Jennings, Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline on the outside and Wes Welker and Danny Amendola on the inside.
March 4, 2013 - 4:00 PM
By Tim Graham
The Buffalo Bills need to restock the shelves at wide receiver, a process Stevie Johnson talked with me about for a Press Coverage blog posted this morning.
The Bills could add the best receiver in this year's draft class with the eighth overall pick, but they'll have a chance to address their needs in free agency as early as next week.
NFL.com writer Marc Sessler examined the receivers in this year's class and the 11 teams that should be most active in trying to acquire them.
Sessler ranked receivers Nos. 1 through 9 in categories labeled "impact players" (Mike Wallace, Dwayne Bowe, Greg Jennings, Wes Welker), "solid starters" (Danny Amendola, Brian Hartline), and "role players with questions" (Brandon Gibson, Donnie Avery, Julian Edelman).
Unless the Bills have their hearts set on using the eighth pick on a wide receiver, I would expect them to aim for someone in the above group. Johnson told me he has been talking up Buffalo to Bowe and Jennings directly.
A year ago, the Bills courted Robert Meachem as soon as free agency began but lost him to the San Diego Chargers. They never found a receiver of that caliber, choosing instead to draft T.J. Graham in the third round.
Graham was a disappointment, and the receiving corps as a whole has deteriorated since they took Meachem to dinner in Allentown. The Bills have announced they don't want Donald Jones and David Nelson back.
Jones and Nelson were ranked Nos. 12 and 13 overall on Sessler's list. They were under the "rotational/situational" heading, right after Domenik Hixon and a washed-up Randy Moss and ahead of Brandon Stokley, Josh Cribbs and Ted Ginn.
Sessler then lumped the rest of the receivers for teams that are desperate or need to fill out a roster. That's where you'll find Ruvell Martin's name along with the likes of Roscoe Parrish, Mike Sims-Walker, Greg Camarillo, Legedu Naanee and Derek Hagan.
March 4, 2013 - 9:52 AM
By Tim Graham
Stevie Johnson accounted for a preponderance of the numbers posted by Buffalo Bills wide receivers the past two years.
Subtract the contributions from David Nelson and Donald Jones, as the club did when it announced it won't re-sign them, and Johnson practically is on his own.
Of the wide receivers still on Buffalo's roster, Johnson has been responsible for 70 percent of the catches, 74 percent of the receiving yards and 76 percent of the receiving touchdowns in 2011 and 2012.
Continue reading "Stevie Johnson excited to learn who his new WR mates will be" »
March 4, 2013 - 7:47 AM
By Tim Graham
If the Buffalo Bills are unwilling or unable to re-sign left guard Andy Levitre, then there's little reason to get critical of his departure until we know on whom the club will choose to spend its money.
Buffalo News senior columnist Jerry Sullivan examined Levitre's situation for this morning's paper. The Bills don't have to re-sign Levitre.
From a practical standpoint, however, the Bills would have one more hole to fill without him. They would need to replace a quality guard who hasn't missed a start since he turned pro in 2009.
NFL.com editor Gregg Rosenthal ranked Levitre the best guard and ninth-best player at any position in this year's free-agency class.
Continue reading "How easy would it be to replace Andy Levitre?" »
March 1, 2013 - 4:37 PM
By Tim Graham
Stevie Johnson would love to be the John Calipari of Buffalo.
Johnson claimed he has been trying his best to woo some star free agents to the Buffalo Bills.
Dwayne Bowe? Greg Jennings? Dashon Goldson?
Continue reading "Stevie Johnson giving Bills sales pitch to Bowe, Jennings, Goldson" »
February 15, 2013 - 8:27 AM
By Tim Graham
Buddy Nix has been up front about the Buffalo Bills' offensive needs.
Nix has stated publicly his desire to draft a quarterback, acquire receivers and get help at tight end. In other words, the Bills need to overhaul their passing game for new coach Doug Marrone.
Options at quarterback are limited in free agency, and the college prospects will be dissected ad nauseum.
But the Bills can improve their targets with an assortment of moves through free agency and the draft.
Continue reading "Dwayne Bowe? Mike Wallace? Maybe Bills should go 'all in' at TE" »
Tim Graham returned to The Buffalo News in 2011 after covering the NFL for three years at ESPN and for one year at the Palm Beach Post. Before that, the Cleveland native spent seven seasons on the Buffalo Sabres beat for The News and was president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
@ByTimGraham | tgraham@buffnews.com
Buffalo native Mark Gaughan started working at The News in 1980 and has been covering the Bills exclusively since 1992. He is president of the Pro Football Writers of America, and he is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee.
@gggaughan | mgaughan@buffnews.com
Jay Skurski joined The News in January 2009. The Lewiston native attended St. Francis High School before graduating from the University of South Florida. He writes a weekly Fantasy column in addition to his beat writing duties.
