NFL Justice for Edwards Hit

We speculated two days ago about a possible fine for Arizona Cardinals Safety Adrian Wilson (left). We learn tonight that it's comimg down. NFL sources tell us tonight the league will fine Wilson $25,000 for his hit on Bills QB Trent Edwards last Sunday.
The hit knocked Edwards out of the game, and caused a concussion.
The league apparently will state that Wilson did not attempt to prevent most or all of his weight from landing on Edwards, causing the concussion. It comes under the rule prohibiting unneccessary acts against the passer.
I have to admit, I'm surprised both by the fine and the amount of the fine. There was no flag thrown on the play against Wilson, but it has become routine in the NFL in recent years for officials in New York to act independently of what the game officials call, especially when it comes to protecting quarterbacks.

What do you think of the fine? Is it excessive?
Maybe more importantly, do fines like this prevent similar hits on NFL QBs in the future?
Let us know what you think.

Rivet named Sabres Captain

For the first time since Stu Barnes, the Sabres named a permanent captain for the season rather than going month to month on a rotating basis. So, what's your thoughts on 12 year NHL vet, Craig Rivet being named the captain. He was chosen by his teammates, a tight group that has grown together picked the "new" guy to lead them this season. It seems a little surprising on the outside, but it goes to show you how much they respect Rivet and what he has done and brings to the table. He's a solid defenseman, if not the teams best one. He will stick up for every player, including Ryan Miller who needs a little protection back there.

When Rivet was traded to Buffalo from San Jose this off season, little did anyone know they were getting a Captain. Rivet himself wasn't happy about the move at the time. He said it didn't have anything to do with Buffalo, rather not wanting to move his family and leave his newly built 5,000 square foot house. He said this week that Buffalo really gets a bad wrap and he has come to love the city, and the people in just 2 months. He said his family (wife and children) are settled, after buying a home in Clarence. He also said it's the fans in Buffalo that really make it a great city to live in. The good news: He's under contract for the next three seasons, so the Sabres finally have a captain that's not going anywhere.

Any Credit for Mularkey?

With the Bills off until Friday, you get a chance to look around the NFL at some of the big stories through the first five weeks. One of the best stories in the first third of the season has to be what's going on with the Atlanta Falcons.
They're coming off a big win in Green Bay, and they're riding high with a 3-2 record so far. The big surprise? The play of rookie QB Matt Ryan from Boston College.
Ryan has been much better than expected in his first five starts. He's completing 54-percent of his passes with 4 TDs and 3 INTs so far. Beyond that, he's playing with poise and confidence, and you wonder how much is offensive coordinator has to do with that.
His Offensive Coordinator? None other than Mike Mularkey (above), the former Bills Head Coach. He may have been in over his head as a head coach with the Bills, but Mularkey remains a solid offefnsive strategist, one of the best in the game.
Did you know that while he was with the Steelers and the Bills, Mularkey was invited to the EA Sports game designers complex in Florida, so the designers could pick his brain regarding NFL plays, formations and offensive strategy. He spent a week with the gamers every year for several years, evidence of how much they valued his take on NFL offensive play.
Mularkey has what he needs in Atlanta right now--a solid running back in Michael Turner, and a smart, talented quarterback under center. I know he's not the buffoon he's made out to be in some media circles in Buffalo, Mularkey knows his stuff. Let's see what he does with Ryan and the Falcons the rest of the way.

Let's hear your thoughts on the Falcons 3-2 start.

Dr. Hamden's House Call

3rd string QB Gibran Hamden is one of the smartest players on the Bills. But he's not a doctor, even if he acted like one following Wednesday's practice.
Because he is Trent Edward's closest friend on the team, we in the media asked Gibran for an update on Trent's condition. Hamden has been to Trent's house, and spoken with the injured Bills QB during his brief appearances at the Stadium.
"He seems fine," was Gibran's diagnosis of Edwards. He says they haven't talked much about Trent's condition, and haven't talked much about football. Gibran wants to give Trent his time and space.
"I think he's just trying to get back on a day-to-day schedule where he's doing things that he always does."
Edwards did not attend either Tuesday or Wednesday's brief team practices inside RWS. The team provided no update on his condition, other than to say that Edwards was sent home to rest after showing up at the Stadium on Tuesday.
The team is off for the next four days. Their next scheduled practice is Monday.

A Fine for Edwards Hit?

I'm a bit surprised to hear this week that the NFL is reviewing Adrian Wilson's hit on Bills QB Trent Edwards, to determine whether he should be fined. It was a hard hit, and certainly a costly one for the Buffalo Bills. But was it illegal? Was it excessive? I'm not so sure.
For the last few games, we've been admiring Edwards durability, and his willingness to stand in the pocket until the very last instant, in order to finish the play and deliver the ball downfield. He's been hit hard on some of those plays. In the case of Adrian Wilson's hit, I think Edwards simply got caught a split-second late hanging onto the ball.
Reviewing the play, I don't see any intent on Wilson's part to injure Edwards. There was no helmet hit, nor a hit that was up around the head.
The one possible interpretation that might argue for discipline, is the NFL's instructon that defensive players must not "unnecessarily or violently throw him down and land on top of him with all or most of the defender's weight." You could argue that's what happened on the Edwards hit, but I'm not convinced.
You can watch these hits over and over again in slow motion, frame by frame, and come away convinced one way or another. But I have to say, having seen the play in person, in real time, I never expected the league might issue a fine for Adrian Wilson.
We should know by the end of the week which way the NFL will go.

What do you think? Does Wilson's hit warrant a fine or some other form of discipline? Let us know.

More Details on Evans Signing

The Bills new deal with wide receiver Lee Evans is very much a front-loaded contract, but the average salary is not as much as was reported last week. When the deal was first announced last Thursday, some reports said Evans would make an average salary of more than $9-million under the new deal.
As Paul Peck points out in his post below, the deal is for a total of five seasons, including the current 2008 campaign. From league sources, here's what we believe the actual salary figures are for Evans:

2008 season total $11.7 million; guaranteed (a $9.45-million raise over the
salary he was scheduled to receieve)

2009 season total $9 million (guaranteed, no bonuses)

2010 season total $5.4 million; plus a $3 million roster bonus

2011 season total $3 million; plus a $1 million roster bonus

2012 season total $3 million; plus a $1 million roster bonus

From these numbers, you can see that Evans is getting a great deal of guaranteed money (more than $20-million) in the first two years. After that, his salary totals decrease dramatically. The total figure reported last Thursday, $37.25 million, includes bonuses in each of the last three years for making the 53-man roster.
The actual average salary over the five year life of the deal is $8.25 million, a little less than what was reported last week.
Needless to say, it's a great deal. But just think of what Evans would have been able to command on the free agent market if the Bills did not lock him up last week.

Let us know what you think of the Evans contract.