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| James Hardy released a statement on Wednesday regarding the reported altercation with his father. As reprinted on the team's official web site, Hardy says, "I realize what the public perception could be pertaining to this incident, however that was not the reality of the situation. This situation that has been blown out of proportion has been very hurtful and frustrating for me and my father. There was a misunderstanding and a misinterpretation of the situation. I would like to first apologize to the fans of Buffalo and the Bills organization for any distractions this may have caused." Published reports claim Hardy was beating up his father and had pulled a gun on the older man. |
Our View: It sounds like the Bills have done their part to figure out what happened and are ready to move forward with the rookie receiver. Hardy hopefully won't have this hanging over him as he tries to climb the depth chart this summer. |
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| As a follow-up to a previous story, a woman called police saying James Hardy was beating up his father and had pulled a gun when she yelled for him to stop, according to the AP. The witness told officers she yelled out for Hardy to stop after hearing a loud disturbance in the back yard at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Fort Wayne police spokesman Michael Joyner stated on Tuesday that no charges were filed because James Hardy was gone when officers arrived and Hardy’s father did not want to press charges. The police report quoted Hardy's father as saying his son has a lot of anger toward him because he was in prison when his son was young.
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Our View: Hopefully this will be the end to this incident, and Hardy can move on and focus on football. As previously stated, Hardy was off to a good start with the Bills prior to this news, as he was believed to have a good shot to start opposite Lee Evans this season. |
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| The Bills have talked to rookie wideout James Hardy following the news that he pulled a handgun on his father, according to BuffaloBills.com. The team released a statement that read, "We have spoken to law enforcement officials and they have informed us that they looked into this and have no plans to pursue the matter any further. We also spoke to James last night and will continue to speak with him today, but indications are that this matter has been resolved." |
Our View: Hardy was off to a good start with the Bills prior to this news, as he was believed to have a good shot to start opposite Lee Evans this season. |
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| Rookie wide receiver James Hardy (Indiana) allegedly pulled a handgun on his father on Sunday, according to ProFootballTalk.com. Hardy’s name has been removed from a police report regarding the incident, but other evidence pointed to Hardy pointing the gun at his father. Fort Wayne, Indiana police chief Rusty York confirmed that Hardy was the man who allegedly pointed the gun. But York said that the matter isn’t being pursued, because Hardy’s father wasn’t hurt.
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Our View: The NFL could still decide to discipline Hardy for the incident. Hardy was off to a good start with the Bills prior to this news, as he was believed to have a good shot to start opposite Lee Evans this season. |
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| The Bills have placed injured tight end Kevin Everett on the NFL’s waived/failed physical list, according to the AP. As a result of his release from the team, Everett becomes eligible to seek benefits to ensure his future financial stability.
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Our View: Everett suffered a near-fatal spinal cord injury in September’s season opener, which initially left him paralyzed from the neck down. The 26-year-old has made a remarkable recovery since sustaining the injury, and is walking on his own, though his rehab continues.
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| There is a very good chance that rookie James Hardy (Indiana) can nail down the starting role opposite Lee Evans this season, according to BuffaloBills.com. Veteran Peerless Price is no longer on the roster and Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish are primarily inside players. Parrish also lacks size. |
Our View: Hardy will provide the Bills with a big red-zone target at 6-5 220, and could prove to be dangerous in that area to opposing defenses. He lacks quickness and needs work on his routes, but he is strong and has long arms to fight off jams. He is also aggressive after the catch, and fights for extra yards. The Bills have lacked a receiver like him, and he could prove to be a good compliment to speed demon Evans. |
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| When James Hardy says he'd like to be fellow receiver Lee Evans' little brother, he's referring to age, not size. The distinction is quite apparent because, at 6-5 and change, there's nothing small about Hardy, the Buffalo Bills' rookie second-round pick out of Indiana. The only thing bigger as far as head coach Dick Jauron is concerned might be the expectations the organization has of Hardy. They're counting on him to make an immediate impact on what's been a popgun offense by providing a secondary threat opposite Evans, according to the Sporting News. "He's a 6-foot-5 receiver, and we've got to score," Jauron said referring to an offense that produced 20 touchdowns last year -- a franchise low in a 16-game season. "Hopefully, he'll provide us with a lot more opportunity to score and make more plays, the plays that we need." |
Our View: With only Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish ahead of him on the depth chart, it would be a major disappointment if Hardy didn’t seize the starting role opposite Evans during training camp. |
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| Adding James Hardy to the Buffalo Bills receiving corps has safety Donte Whitner excited. He believes that a receiver with the size and ability of Hardy will force opposing defenses to make tough choices when it comes to coverage, according to BuffaloBills.com. "Any time you have a guy [Hardy] that's 6'5" or 6'6" with the speed that he has and with Lee (Evans) on the other side and guys like Roscoe (Parrish) and Josh (Reed) in the slot, you have a dangerous receiving corps," Whitner said. "So now when we get down in the red zone we don't have to come up with little schemes or tricks to try to get in the end zone. You can just throw the ball up to him and if he's double covered that means Lee is probably singled up. And I'm taking Lee 95 percent of the time against any corner in the league one-on-one. If you try to double both of them you have a guy like Roscoe in the slot. And I don't believe that anybody can cover him one-on-one in the slot in true man to man. I truly don't believe it. So now you have a very dangerous receiving corps." |
Our View: Hardy compiled 79 receptions for 1,125 yards during his senior season, and scored 36 touchdowns during his three-year career at Indiana. He has No.1 receiver potential and will alleviate the doubles on Evans, while providing quarterback Trent Edwards with an imposing red zone target. |
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| Leodis McKelvin's first weekend as a NFL player went as smooth as he expected. There was a lot to learn, but he is confident in his ability to handle the transition, according to the Buffalo News. "I feel like I can compete against anybody," McKelvin said. "I feel like I'm getting better every practice and every day. It's been real good." McKelvin reiterated that he's aware of the high expectations of being the 11th overall pick, but he also expects to live up to them. "That's the goal I set for myself coming in, especially being drafted No. 11," he said. "If you're going to draft somebody at No. 11 you don't want him sitting on the bench or waiting for somebody. You want him to come in and play early. I'm going to come in and learn the defense and get better and better." |
Our View: McKelvin is expected to start on day one opposite Terrence McGee. In the IDP world there is the rookie cornerback rule, which states the youngsters get picked on until they prove they belong in the league. In the Bills cover 2 scheme, McKelvin could make for a solid selection in leagues required to start cornerbacks. |
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| Robert Royal is safe as the starting tight end this year in Buffalo, leaving rookie Derek Fine to compete with free-agent pickups Teyo Johnson and Courtney Anderson as well as second-year pro Derek Schouman for playing time, according to the Buffalo Bills News. Derek Fine’s receiving numbers at the University of Kansas weren’t jaw-dropping last season. But his 46 catches for 394 yards and four touchdowns weren’t that bad for a tight end playing in a spread offense that used multiple wide receivers and moved him all over the field. |
Our View: Royal might be the starter for 2008, but he hasn’t been very impressive during his six-year career. Meanwhile, Fine is a player to keep an eye on, especially in dynasty leagues, because Johnson and Anderson are career underachievers, who don’t pose much of a threat in the competition for the backup job. |
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| The Bills have claimed quarterback Matt Baker off waivers, according to BuffaloBills.com. Baker has been bounced around by the Texans, Cowboys, Cardinals, Saints, and most recently the Dolphins prior to landing in Buffalo. |
Our View: He will serve as nothing more than a practice arm in Buffalo, and holds no fantasy value. |
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| Leodis McKelvin will play immediately at cornerback, but will see action on special teams as well, according to Buffalo News. McKelvin was considered to be the best return specialist in the draft, and had eight return touchdowns (seven on punts) over his career at Troy. Special teams coach Bobby April said, "He’s a hungry guy in terms of wanting to return the ball, and that’s a huge plus. And he’s good. We have two very good guys, but he’s not taking a back seat to anybody. Leodis will have his work cut out for him, but so will Terrence and Roscoe." |
Our View: The Bills already have a great return game with Terrence McGee on kickoffs and Roscoe Parrish on punts, but McKelvin should make their special teams even better. So McKelvin should make an impact as a playmaker on defense, as well as special teams this season.
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