The Mitchell File

[patmoran2006]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6383

28 years old. 76 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 2 FF and a INT last year (2 sacks and the INT were against us)

[LifetimeBillsFan]

According to Chris Brown on bb.com, Mitchell played WLB for the Giants last season. Brown suggests that the Bills may want to leave him at WLB (and, by implication, Crowell at SLB) to make it easier for him to adjust to P.Fewell's defense.

[patmoran2006]

I dont care where he plays, if it means keith Ellison is coming off the bench.

With Ellison and DiGiorgio, we now have good depth at LB.. I love this signing.

WHo wouldnt want Briggs? But I dont think that was very realistic.

[patmoran2006]

From AP.. Didnt put out entire story.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Linebacker Kawika Mitchell reached an agreement with the Buffalo Bills (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/sports/profootball/nationalfootballleague/buffalobills/index.html?inline=nyt-org) on Friday, cashing in on the first day of NFL free agency after playing on a Super Bowl (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/s/super_bowl/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier) winner with the New York Giants (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/sports/profootball/nationalfootballleague/newyorkgiants/index.html?inline=nyt-org).
The five-year veteran started all 16 games for the Giants last season after being the team's only notable free-agent addition a year ago. He finished with 87 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks and an interception, which he returned for a touchdown against the Bills.
He also had a fumble return for a TD and added two sacks in four playoff games, including one in the Giants' Super Bowl win over New England.
The Bills confirmed that a verbal agreement had been reached, but provided no further details.
Mitchell bolsters a young and injury-depleted linebacker corps in Buffalo. He's expected to round out a starting unit of returning veteran Angelo Crowell and second-round draft pick Paul Posluszny, who missed the final 13 games of his rookie season after breaking his forearm.
Selected in the second round of the 2003 draft by Kansas City, Mitchell became a full-time starter midway through his rookie season. He spent four years with the Chiefs (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/sports/profootball/nationalfootballleague/kansascitychiefs/index.html?inline=nyt-org) before signing a one-year deal with the Giants.
Mitchell is coming off his best season, and benefited from opponents double-teaming the Giants star defensive ends. He did show resilience, bouncing back from a sprained knee sustained in New York's season-finale against New England, to play at Tampa Bay (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/sports/profootball/nationalfootballleague/tampabaybuccaneers/index.html?inline=nyt-org) in New York's NFC Wild-Card playoff-opener the following week.

[madness]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6383

28 years old. 76 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 2 FF and a INT last year (2 sacks and the INT were against us)

...as well as one of those FF.

[madness]

Wow, the more I find out about this guy the more it seems like it was a lock he'd end up in Buffalo. Awesome teammate, great leader, donated week 15 check to the former NFL players charity.

BB.com has a highlight reel up on him already.

http://www.buffalobills.com/multimedia/index.jsp?FILE_300=http://play.rbn.com/?url=nfl/nfl/open/bills/wmdemand/06billsroundup/022908mitchelllites.wmv&proto=mms?mswmext=.asx

[patmoran2006]

Bills | K. Mitchell contract update
Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:54:44 -0800
Updating a previous item, Adam Schefter, of the NFL (http://www.kffl.com/team/77/nfl) Network, reports the Buffalo Bills (http://www.kffl.com/team/9/nfl) signed free-agent LB Kawika Mitchell (http://www.kffl.com/player/6094/nfl) (Giants) to a five-year, $17.5 million deal.

[Philagape]

Wow, the more I find out about this guy the more it seems like it was a lock he'd end up in Buffalo. Awesome teammate, great leader, donated week 15 check to the former NFL players charity.

BB.com has a highlight reel up on him already.

http://www.buffalobills.com/multimedia/index.jsp?FILE_300=http://play.rbn.com/?url=nfl/nfl/open/bills/wmdemand/06billsroundup/022908mitchelllites.wmv&proto=mms?mswmext=.asx

That explains a big reason why we signed him. Character guy. The Marv influence remains.

[Philagape]

Good start to FA, but it better be just a start!!

[patmoran2006]

From the ESPN blog..

Why the Giants would let Mitchell leave (http://myespn.go.com/blogs/hashmarks/0-5-608/Why-the-Giants-would-let-Mitchell-leave.html) http://assets.espn.go.com/profile/i/trans/icon_report_hi.gif (http://myespn.go.com/profile/violation?ou=hashmarksadmin&at=7&vid=1204305418991)
February 29, 2008 12:16 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
The Giants are reportedly watching Kawika Mitchell head to Buffalo (http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/288087.html) to play for the Bills. Mitchell has been a durable starter for Kansas City and the Giants.
I don't know how much the Bills are paying Mitchell, but this could be a case of the Giants showing some discipline coming off a great season. Teams can err when they pay a premium for starters coming off a championship season, even when cap room isn't an immediate concern.
Players more who are established than Mitchell could be seeking raises (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/2008/02/28/2008-02-28_jerry_reeses_way_fine_by_john_mara-2.html) this offseason. That might be one reason Mitchell was more valuable to the Bills.

[cocamide]

Here's an interview with him after the SB: http://youtube.com/watch?v=yMFQ3vAc2gM&feature=related

[madness]

Giants insider on Mitchell

<TABLE borderColor=#09347b cellPadding=10 width="95%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=mediumrow style="BORDER-RIGHT: #548bb5 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #548bb5 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #548bb5 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #548bb5 1px solid" colSpan=2><TABLE style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #002d78 1px solid" width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD align=left>Today
</TD><TD align=right>Posted By: Chris Brown | Time: 1:30 PM ET | Link (http://buffalobills.com/blog/index.jsp?post_id=3039)

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>GIANTS INSIDER ON MITCHELL: A good friend of mine Ken Palmer, the editor of Giants Insider, provided me with the following thumbnail sketch on Kawika Mitchell, which I thought I would pass along.
He's pretty quick and athletic...always seemed to be at and around the ball, as his two TDs would attest...He didn't do much blitzing here, but showed decent ability to cover and to track guys down from behind...He played middle in KC so it took him a while to get comfy in NY at WLB, but once he was he played very well...He graded out very well in Super Bowl...A great locker room guy and real good with media as well...You're going to like him, on the field and off.

Sounds like a good endorsement to me.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[RockStar36]

I was holding hope for Briggs but that was a pipe dream and I knew it. I'm happy with this signing. A good solid guy with playoff/Super Bowl experience who can make an impact.

[YardRat]

If we keep signing guys that had big games against us, we are going to be plenty stacked next year.

[RockStar36]

If we keep signing guys that had big games against us, we are going to be plenty stacked next year.


Randy Moss still available?