Within the past few days, Bills head coach Dick Jauron fired offensive coordinator Turk Schonert and the team released their starting left tackle (Langston Walker)—two integral positions in the success of any offense. So with no time to test their suddenly new look offense in game mode, the team must rely merely on a week of practice to ready themselves for one of the toughest tests in the NFL—the New England Patriots in Foxborough. A division rival in front of a national TV audience. On Monday Night Football, no less.

Terrell Owens, Buffalo Bills / Image: Zuma Press

On the surface, the removal of coach Schonert and Langston Walker smacks of desperation for a struggling offense that only managed six points in their final two preseason games. In due time we may see these moves take shape as sensible decisions. But I’m wondering if it will be too late? I believe coach Jauron is on very thin ice and a poor showing in September might just seal his and this team’s fate.

That brings the headline into play—Can Terrell Owens save the Buffalo Bills? With all the hype and all the hope of a city on his shoulders, Terrell has been nursing a sore toe for a month and has thus only played in one preseason game—hardly a proper introduction to his new teammates. Is he going to be able to step onto the field with a new left tackle (Demetrius Bell), new OC (Alex Van Pelt) and relatively new no-huddle offense and win a football game? There are more questions than answers in Buffalo right now.

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Can Terrell Owens Save the Buffalo Bills?

If you’re wondering what the extent of Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Langston Walker’s injured left arm is, rest assured it’s just a bruise according to head coach Dick Jauron’s postgame presser following an impressive 20-7 preseason win over the Indianapolis Colts tonight:

“Langston had a bad bruise. We took him in for x-rays and the x-rays were negative so we’re optimistic. He got wacked by something and it was either one of them or one of us that hit him. I think it might have been one of us, which is nobody’s fault. It happens.”

Langston is so big (he’s 6′8″ and 366 pounds), I don’t know how anything could hurt him. The initial injury report had coach Jauron telling NFL Network’s Adam Schefter the injury was “not a good one.” Naturally, with left tackle Jason Peters still a holdout, this statement had Bills fans in an uproar. Coach Jauron was hesitant to say that Langston would be ready for the home opener in 13 days, but according to BuffaloBills.com, it’s believed he will be fit to play come September 7. Whether or not Jason Peters will be joining him is TBD.

Source: BuffaloBills.com

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Langston Walker Injury Just a Bruise

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

The Buffalo Bills broke training camp outside of Rochester, NY yesterday without Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jason Peters who hasn’t reported to the team since last season. Jason has missed 21 practices, 16 walkthroughs, two preseason games and 28 total days since camp opened July 25. That translates to the Bills fining him more than $420,000 — or about $15,000 for each day he’s missed. And that doesn’t include the $8,600 Jason was docked for missing two mandatory minicamp practices in June. The fines get steeper once the regular season begins. He’ll be fined a percentage of his salary for each week he’s absent. But who’s counting?

I understand the reason for Jason’s absence. He’s scheduled to make a base salary of $3.25 million this season. That’s considered low for a player who protects quarterback Trent Edwards’ blindside. He’s currently Buffalo’s third-highest paid offensive lineman, behind guard Derrick Dockery and right tackle Langston Walker. I’ve heard varying stories on the Bills’ willingness to negotiate with Jason — a.) that they won’t negotiate a new deal until after the 2008 season and b.) that they won’t negotiate any kind of a new deal or extension until Jason reports to the team.

What’s so unusual is that Jason and his agent aren’t talking to head coach Dick Jauron or any Bills execs. I guess it’s in Jason’s best interests to get with the program because it doesn’t look like anything is going to get accomplished under the current standoff.

Source: NFL.com

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Jason Peters Holdout Continues