2008 BUFFALO BILLS DRAFT

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Round 1, Pick 11  Leodis McKelvin  CB  Troy State


Round 2, Pick 41  James Hardy  WR  Indiana

Round 3, Pick 72  Chris Ellis  DE  Virginia Tech

Round 4, Pick 114  Reggie Corner  CB  Akron

Round 4, Pick 132  Derek Fine  TE  Kansas

Round 5, Pick 147  Alvin Bowen  OLB  Iowa State

Round 6, Pick 179  Xavier Omon  RB  Northwest Missouri State

Round 7, Pick 219  Demetrius Bell  OT  Northwestern State (LA)

Round 7, Pick 224  Steve Johnson  WR  Kentucky

Round 7, Pick 251  Kennard Cox  CB  Pittsburgh
 May 01, 2008 | The Zone | NFL.com AP Photo
DraftBoy's Draft Review

1 (11). Leodis McKelvin CB Troy
The Buffalo Bills were the first team to go cornerback in the 2008 NFL Draft, and they went with the speedy corner from Troy.  Last year, the Bills ranked 30th in Pass Defense, and obviously felt that a large part of that was due to less then spectacular coverage. What the Bills got was a pure corner who excels in coverage.

 April 28, 2008 | Matt Elder | The Zone
The Calculus of the Draft for the Buffalo Bills


Every year, it is fun to go through and speculate whether the draft was a good draft, or did too many reaches bring the value/grade level down. Often, this is a difficult task, as different analysts, GMs, scouts and even fans have different players rated differently. As such, I make an attempt to find a consensus of when a player was opined to be drafted, and determine from there whether our draft of said player resulted in a reach or bargain based on that consensus. The NFL trade value chart will be used here to ascertain the value of where each prospect was chosen. The NFL value chart can be found here: http://www.nfldraftworld.com/tvc.htm

 April 28, 2008 | Alex Soto | The Zone
As I See It: The Buffalo Bills Begin Their Draft With Solid Picks

While it could be argued that the Buffalo Bills may have been able to do even better during the first day of the 2008 NFL Draft, it would be hard to find fault with them for coming away with the combination of cornerback Leodis McKelvin and wide receiver James Hardy to fill the two positions that the team (and most of its fans) felt that it most needed to address early in the draft.

 April 27, 2008 | Neil Masters | The Zone
BillsZone's 2008 Buffalo Bills Salary Cap Page
Welcome to the 2008 BillsZone Cap Page. If you have questions, please refer to the BillsZone Salary Cap Forum for explanations of the chart below.

Thanks to ASKTHECOMMISH , Ed Kilgore from WGRZ-TV 2, and Leo Roth from the Rochester D&C for recognizing my efforts. I also thank my "wanting to remain anonymous insider" who helps me with detailed information and the community of "cyberspace capologists" who help me with interpretation of CBA provisions.
 February 24, 2008 | Robert Balistreri | The Zone
 May 10, 2008
USD grad, Little invited to tryout with Buffalo Bills
Brooks Little, the all-time leader in receptions at The University of South Dakota, has been invited to a tryout with the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, May 17
 Plain Talk | Posted at 07:45 AM
 May 08, 2008
Graduation Day For DiGiorgio
This Saturday Bills linebacker John DiGiorgio will be crossing a stage to accept something he has worked very hard to earn. It's not an award for his football accomplishments. It's his college diploma as the soon-to-be Saginaw Valley State alum earned his degree in physical and health education, with a minor in psychology.
 buffalobills.com/Chris Brown | Posted at 06:29 PM
The Team The Bills Will Field - Part Two
After an overview of the Bills offense yesterday, we turn our attention to the revamped Bills defense. It was actually the defense that received the bulk of the attention in free agency, as well as the #1 selection in the 2008 draft. Bringing in a couple recognizable names, and one less recognizable name, the Bills bolstered their defense in all the right places.Let's take a look at the defensive unit the Buffalo Bills will (likely) field in 2008, position by position, starting up front.
 Bleacher Report/Greg Campbell | Posted at 06:26 PM
The Team The Bills Will Field - Part One
I am just a fan. I only know the Bills from a distance, but I love Bills football, and enjoy following every little detail. Even when they really aren't that great, I root for them, and follow them. And I'm pretty certain I always will.I am also an optimist. I tend to look for the best side of everything in life, and can usually find it. Thus, many of my predictions (and on our show, my "reviews") regarding Buffalo Bills football tend to be a bit, shall we say, "rosy".
 Bleacher Report/Greg Campbell | Posted at 06:25 PM
Recent second-round receiver history not on Hardy’s side
When the Buffalo Bills were on the clock in Round 2 of last month's NFL draft, they absolutely made the right decision in choosing former University of Indiana wide receiver James Hardy with the 41st overall pick. Measured anywhere from 6-foot-5 to 6-7 and weighing around 220 pounds, Hardy -- in terms of size -- is exactly what Buffalo's sputtering offense and frighteningly tiny receiving corps needs going forward. With that said, this decade's history says that fans expecting greatness from Hardy might ultimately be disappointed.
 Realfootball365/Connor Byrne | Posted at 12:44 PM
Karl Malone falls short, as a father
This is how Demetrius Bell, drafted a couple of weeks ago by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round, describes his relationship with his father:
 ESPN.com/Jemele Hill | Posted at 12:43 PM
Tickets for Bills games in Toronto hit stratosphere
The power of the Toronto marketplace was illustrated Wednesday as sky-high prices were announced for the Buffalo Bills’ series of games there.
 Buffalo News/Mark Gaughan | Posted at 12:41 PM
 May 07, 2008
Drone Hopes to Display Cool Hand with Bills
Luke Drone spent the weekend learning the Bills' offense with six other undrafted free agent quarterbacks. "Learning the offense was crazy, very sophisticated" said Drone "It was overwhelming as quarterback because you have to know what everybody is doing. Learning the lingo and terminology was what I was doing pretty much all weekend."
 Central Illinois Proud | Posted at 08:31 PM
Former Bills Player Everett On Amazing Recovery
Former Buffalo Bills player Kevin Everett will never play football again. The fact that he's able to even walk is nothing short of a miracle. Thanks in part to cutting edge medical technology, he's made an amazing recovery. CBS 2's Megan Mawicke reports Everett is in Chicago this week sharing his story.
 CBS 2-Chicago | Posted at 07:23 PM
Bills' tickets cost more in Toronto than Buffalo
In Toronto, seats in the lower bowl between the end zones and the 20-yard lines will be $295 (Canadian) each, with pricing for roughly 9,000 VIP seats between the 20-yard lines and throughout the second deck still to be announced. In Buffalo, prime seats between the 20-yard lines go for $77 (U.S.), while seats between the end zones and 20-yard lines go for $66.
 Toronto Globe and Mail | Posted at 07:20 PM
Prices for Bills' games in Toronto will be pricey
Those who buy the eight-game package get a discount. Those $295 seats near the corners of the lower deck cost $270 per game for the eight-game package. The lower half of the upper deck along the sidelines will cost $235 for the three-game package and $215 for eight games. The upper half of the upper deck along the sidelines will cost $185 for three games, $170 for eight games. The upper-deck seats in the end zones all are priced under $100.
 Buffalo News | Posted at 05:27 PM
Bills Toronto ticket prices more than three times the average
More than 180,000 ticket requests have been registered for the Buffalo Bills’ package of eight games at Toronto’s Rogers Centre over the next five years, it was announced today. Ticket prices will range from $55 to $295, an average of $183, and there will be no price difference in the five regular-season games or the three preseason games.
 Rochester Democrat & Chronicle | Posted at 04:15 PM
Bills in Toronto: Top ticket $295
Organizers of upcoming Buffalo Bills' games in Toronto Wednesday released ticket costs, which will range from $55 to $295 per seat. The pricing was part of a news release that said 180,000 ticket requests have been registered for the package to be played at Rogers Centre, which will have a seating capacity of approximately 54,000.
 Buffalo Business First | Posted at 02:49 PM
Toronto Series Tickets To Be Offered Week of May 19
Bills Toronto Series organizers announced Wednesday that the first group of tickets will be offered for sale to randomly selected www.billsintoronto.com registrants during the week of May 19. Approximately 180,000 ticket requests have been registered for the upcoming Bills Toronto Series games at Rogers Centre.
 BuffaloBills.com | Posted at 02:32 PM
Bills Release LB Brockington
Two days after completing their rookie minicamp the Bills made a roster move. Linebacker Joe Brockington was released by the club Tuesday. The undrafted rookie free agent agreed to terms with Buffalo following the close of the draft and signed with the team last Thursday.
 BuffaloBills.com | Posted at 09:00 AM
Big Brother Bowen
Just like any other college student, Bills fifth-round pick Alvin Bowen had a roommate while attending Iowa State. As an incoming freshman or junior college transfer, as was the case with Bowen, you rarely have the choice of who your roommate will be. As a senior Bowen did choose a roommate, but he was probably the only member of the Iowa State student body living with a 12-year old
 BuffaloBills.com | Posted at 08:57 AM
Bills season-ticket sales show fans keeping faith
The Buffalo Bills haven’t been in the playoffs since 1999. And many Bills fans fear the franchise has one foot out the door — possibly moving to Toronto — once owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. passes from the scene. But those twin developments haven’t seemed to hurt the Bills at the turnstiles.
 Buffalo News/Gene Warner | Posted at 07:49 AM
NFL Finalizes Preseason Schedule
Indianapolis and Washington will open the preseason at 8 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, Aug. 3. The game will be televised nationally on NBC. Six days later, the Colts will travel to Carolina to take on the Panthers at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Aug. 9, then will play again the next Saturday at Atlanta in another 7:30 p.m. start Aug. 16.
 Scout.com | Posted at 07:47 AM
NFL notebook
The Bengals acquired Travis Brown, a rookie wide receiver out of New Mexico, on waivers from Seattle on Tuesday. Brown, 6-foot-3 and 202 pounds, has 182 career receptions, putting him third in Lobos program history, and his 2,196 receiving yards rank fifth. He was a first-team all-Mountain West Conference selection his junior and senior seasons.
 Enquirer | Posted at 07:44 AM
 May 06, 2008
Undrafted rookies face long odds
Robert Felton comes to the Buffalo Bills humbled, but not discouraged. “Obviously the draft didn’t go the way I wanted it, but in a way it did because I’m where I wanted to be — in the NFL,” Felton said during the Bills’ weekend rookie minicamp. “This is my chance. I’m here and I’m trying to make the best of it.”
 Buffalo News | Posted at 07:06 AM
McKelvin gives back to Troy community
More than 150 Troy faithful went out to support the No. 11 NFL Draft pick of the Buffalo Bills, otherwise known as Leodis McKelvin, Monday night. McKelvin was at the Santa Fe Cattle Co. signing autographs from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. and he said it was all he could do to support a town that has been so good to him.
 The Troy Messenger | Posted at 07:05 AM
Temple cut by Browns, picked up by Bills
Former Missouri running back Tony Temple did not make the Cleveland Browns roster after last weekend’s tryout. The Browns kept just seven of the 54 players brought to last weekend’s camp, and only one of those was a running back. But Temple didn’t stay on the market long. The Buffalo Bills invited him to their rookie camp for another tryout later this month.
 St. Louis Post-Dispatch | Posted at 07:02 AM
 May 05, 2008
Whitner On Hardy: "He's Going To Make A Lot Of Noise"
On a roster blessed with more than its share of top flight athletes, most of the time the coaching staff would leave the secondary in man-to-man coverage knowing their cornerbacks could handle it. In his three seasons playing for the Buckeyes Donte Whitner can only remember one exception, Indiana receiver James Hardy. "The only guy we ever based our defensive coverages around was him," said Whitner of Hardy. "We didn't game plan for a lot of receivers, but we did game plan for him."
 BuffaloBills.com | Posted at 03:22 PM
Bills WR Hardy Faces Lofty Year One Expectations
Score. The Buffalo Bills could not do enough it of last year, but as a junior wide receiver at Indiana University, James Hardy did plenty of it. In 2007, Bills quarterbacks (helped out once by running back Marshawn Lynch) threw 12 touchdown passes. In 2007, Hardy notched 16 receiving touchdowns by himself. So, naturally, Hardy's rookie season in Buffalo comes with lofty expectations.
 Buffalo Rumblings | Posted at 09:37 AM
Bills hope Omon's production carries over into NFL

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Having scored 98 touchdowns -- that's right, two short of 100 -- in four years at college, Xavier Omon has a knack for finding the end zone. "Let's hope it stays that way," the running back said, cracking a smile. The Buffalo Bills hope so, too, after getting their first glimpse of the sixth-round draft pick out of Northwest Missouri State during a three-day rookie minicamp this weekend.

 ESPN.com/AP | Posted at 08:52 AM
Basics prep rookies for when vets report
Jauron said McKelvin and wide receiver James Hardy made a favorable impression on the coaching staff. "They don't disappoint you athletically," Jauron said. "Leodis is very quick, explosive in his movements. He has a nice feel for things that occur on the field. And he's aggressive. James, you can't hide the fact that he's over 6-foot-5 and he's got real good hands and catches the ball well. The rest of it is going to be technique and familiarizing themselves with the game at this level because it's just a lot better. It's faster and tougher and a lot better. But we're very confident in their skills."
 Buffalo News | Posted at 08:51 AM
Fine-tuning of new role is rookie tight end’s focus
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.
 Buffalo News/Allen Wilson | Posted at 08:50 AM
Bills' retooled defence still has plenty to prove
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Despite all the attention the Buffalo Bills spent on retooling their defence this offseason, Perry Fewell thinks it's way too early to get overly excited or start speaking in absolutes.
 Globesports.com/AP | Posted at 08:49 AM
 May 04, 2008
Rookie Minicamp Day Three Notes
Defensively, Leodis McKelvin spent most of the weekend on the left side of the formation with Reggie Corner on the right. Overall McKelvin felt comfortable with how things went for him. "I feel I can compete against anybody," said McKelvin. "Just me coming along and learning the defense and get it in my brain a little more and get better every practice, every day. So it's felt real good."
 BuffaloBills.com | Posted at 03:15 PM
Bills are counting on Hardy for impact
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- When James Hardy says he'd like to be fellow Buffalo Bills receiver Lee Evans' little brother, he's referring to age, not size. The distinction is apparent because, at 6 feet 6, there's nothing small about Hardy, the Bills' rookie second-round pick out of Indiana University.
 AP/John Wawrow | Posted at 07:11 AM
Toronto Argonauts should have as much right to play football in Buffalo, as the Buffalo Bills in Toronto
The National Football League (NFL) has demonstrated its own version of American neo-colonialism. The New York Sun specifically reports that Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson has "struck a deal". This Deal allows him to play one regular season game annually in Toronto through 2012, along with three pre-season games in 2008, 2010, and 2012.
 Cite Lebre/Iain Mackenzie | Posted at 07:09 AM
Matthews: Here's hoping Bell can move on now
Maybe now, with a potential professional football career ahead of him, Demetrius Bell can move past it all. Move past the unwanted spectre that in some ways always hung over his athletic career at Northwestern State.
 thetowntalk.com/Jeff Matthews | Posted at 07:05 AM
Steelers sign WR after Purdue's Bryant fails physical
PITTSBURGH -- Rookie free-agent wide receiver Kevin Marion signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday after another receiver failed his physical. The 5-foot 10-inch Marion caught 44 passes for 485 yards and one touchdown during his career at Wake Forest, making 18 catches for 192 yards as a senior in 2007.
 goerie.com | Posted at 07:03 AM
Army's Viti thankful for chance with Bills
ORCHARD PARK — When Mike Viti arrived at the United States Military Academy four years ago, the idea of him or any of his classmates playing in the National Football League immediately after graduation seemed about as preposterous as male Cadets being allowed to stroll across campus in tie-dye shirts and shoulder-length hair.
 Democrat & Chronicle | Posted at 06:57 AM
 May 03, 2008
Bills hope Omon’s production carries over into NFL
Having scored 98 touchdowns—that’s right, two short of 100—in four years at college, Xavier Omon has a knack for finding the end zone.
 AP/John Wawrow | Posted at 07:19 PM
Rookie Minicamp Day Two Notes
When the offense was working on their own with the quarterbacks throwing to the back and receivers, tight end Derek Fine made the catch of the day. The fourth-round pick snared a pass behind his body with one hand and pulled it while running across the middle. Fine has performed pretty admirably thus far and is getting a ton of work. But one thing he does not want is to be labeled a pass catching or blocking tight end.
 BuffaloBills.com | Posted at 03:11 PM
For Bills fans, an icy rage
If I'm a Buffalo Bills fan, I'm fuming right about now. Steam is rising off me like Thurman Thomas' shaved head in sub-zero weather. I'm angrier than Cornelius Bennett each time he checks his birth certificate to make sure his parents really named him "Cornelius."
 The Baltimore Sun | Posted at 07:54 AM
Buffalo Bills: Quarterback Controversy?

This is the first of 11 articles targeting all position situations for the Buffalo Bills entering the 2008 season. The first entry will deal with the quarterback position.

It has been a while since the Buffalo Bills had any security at the quarterback position.

 Bleacher Report/Carl Wagner | Posted at 07:52 AM
Hardy ready to jump right in
Receiver James Hardy found the end zone in each of his first six games as a freshman at Indiana University. In his first-ever Big Ten Conference game, he burned Wisconsin with seven catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns.
 The Buffalo News/Mark Gaughan | Posted at 07:49 AM
Undrafted free agents make debut

University of Arkansas guard Robert Felton was a first-team All- Southeastern Conference player and an Associated Press second-team All-American.

Nevertheless, he did not get drafted last weekend.

 The Buffalo News/Mark Gaughan | Posted at 07:46 AM
Rookie Corner confident he can play in Buffalo
Every player who is eligible for the NFL draft would like to say that in the weeks leading up to those two massively over-hyped days in April he ignores the endless analysis emanating from reporters, so-called draft experts and fans.
 Rochester Democrat & Chronicle/Sal Maiorana | Posted at 07:44 AM
 May 02, 2008
Rookie Minicamp Underway
At wideout Hardy did a nice job of adjusting to passes that were outside his body frame to make some catches. There were a couple of crossing routes where he successfully reached behind his body to make catches on the run. Hardy was lined up mostly at flanker on day one. Steve Johnson was praised by Turk Schonert for running a sharply executed out route. He looked real good on the quick slants.
 BuffaloBills.com | Posted at 05:27 PM
Youboty in jeopardy on CB-heavy Bills
After the Buffalo Bills signed cornerback Will James earlier in the offseason, it became apparent that two-year veteran Ashton Youboty was in jeopardy of making the roster in 2008. Sadly for the 2006 third-round pick, things only got worse last weekend.
 Realfootball365/Connor Byrne | Posted at 10:50 AM
A Look At Buffalo’s 2008 Undrafteds

The Bills filled in some positional needs with nine undrafted free agents Friday. The position most heavily addressed was linebacker as Buffalo signed three. The offensive backfield also had three additions with a quarterback, running back and fullback brought into the fold.

 BuffaloBills.com | Posted at 10:50 AM
Bills look for Ellis to provide pass rush
Among the many reasons the Buffalo Bills' defense struggled so much in 2007 was its glaring lack of a productive pass rush.

The Bills were 31st in total yards allowed including 29th against the pass, and you can't lay it all on injuries, or the play of the defensive backs.
 Rochester D & C/Sal Maiorana | Posted at 10:47 AM
 May 01, 2008
Bills Claim QB Baker
The Buffalo Bills have added a quarterback to the roster as the club claimed Matt Baker off waivers. Baker had been with the Dolphins up until early this week.
 buffalobills.com/Chris Brown | Posted at 04:18 PM
Nation Weighs In On Bills Draft
We thought we would provide a comprehensive listing of what the rest of the media pundits across the country thought of Buffalo's 2008 draft class. Appearing in alphabetical order by affiliation, here are the draft grades from coast to coast.
 Buffalobills.com | Posted at 03:16 PM
The more DEs, the merrier: Ellis was smart pick by Bills
Depending on which Buffalo Bills follower you asked before last weekend's NFL draft, the defensive end position either was or wasn't a glaring need for the roster.
 Realfootball365/Connor Byrne | Posted at 03:14 PM
Bills' Special teams reload

Special teams coach Bobby April could not have been happier about the Buffalo Bills’ draft.

Most of the 10 draft picks will likely have little impact on offense and defense. However, they will have a chance to contribute right away in the return game and coverage units.

 Buffalo News/Allen Wilson | Posted at 03:13 PM
Losman not the solution, even as No. 2

All right, so J. P. Losman was so unhappy at the end of last season, he asked to be traded. He felt the Bills had pulled the rug out from under him by giving the starting job to Trent Edwards. Losman and his agent, Gary Wichard, made it clear that J. P. had zero interest in re-signing here when his contract expired after the 2008 season.

 Buffalo News | Posted at 08:45 AM
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