(WGR 550) -- The picks rattled off the board after Buffalo chose Leodis McKelvin with their first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Some Bills fans who wanted wide receiver help for Trent Edwards were salivating as team-after-team passed on the "big" names: Malcolm Kelly, Limas Sweed, Devin Thomas... all still available as Round Two began.
Ten wide-outs were selected in that round, beginning with the University of Houston's Donnie Avery, who became a St. Louis Ram at slot No. 33 overall. Two more were chosen before the Bills were up. With Thomas and Jordy Nelson gone, the Bills had plenty of options at No. 41, and chose Indiana University's James Hardy.
The 6'5" junior had 36 touchdowns and almost 2,700 yards as a Hoosier, where he also spent two years on the hallowed Indiana basketball team. Hardy was a Buffalo Bill, and hopes were high that he could bring size and air to the passing game.
He stumbled out of the gate, and an off-field issue helped set the tone for a disappointing rookie season. Hardy grabbed just nine balls, two for touchdowns, before being lost for the season with a December knee injury, and losing his No. 81 to a certain free agent signing.
Now No. 84, Hardy is back on the active roster, and could make his return Sunday in Tennessee, especially considering that Terrell Owens may be unavailable with a hip injury, and John Clayton told Schopp and The Bulldog there's a chance he could not play, though Dick Jauron didn't seem all that pessimistic after Thursday's practice.
So, where does Hardy stand in relation to his peers, even after an injury set him back? Well...
Wide receivers traditionally take time to develop, and that's indicated in the relative struggles of all but three of the picks. In terms of sophomore slumps, only DeSean Jackson and Kelly are on pace to match or pass their freshman numbers. Coincidentally or not, the players who've hadbetter quarterbacks are generally having better careers, and only Royal, Avery and DeSean Jackson could fairly be considered a Top-Two receiver.
So, the good news for Bills fans is that Hardy doesn't have a long sojourn to meet most of his second-round peers. All he needs is one eight or nine catch game with Trent Edwards and he's back to the upper half of his class.
i dont think he'll be doing much standing. morelike sitting....on the bench.
11/13/2009 7:54AM
give the kid a chance
With great physical size and a great college career,he will probally play this season but not as much as needed.Wait for next yr,im sure a few wide outs will be gone,and he will play as a starter.
11/13/2009 8:05AM
Better than rock hands TO
Give the kid a chance, he might be able to catch those balls TO is dropping.
11/13/2009 9:10AM
Catch?
you guys remember his rookie season right? the one where he had awful positioning and just like Owens COULDN'T CATCH ANYTHING??
11/13/2009 9:20AM
Cha-ching
Just another overpaid loser that hit the bills lotto. But we wont pay for a coach. All of this screams Ralph doesnt care.
11/13/2009 9:57AM
if history repeats itself...
....and with the Bills it almost always does, he will be another DRAFT BUST!! Stevie Johnson is much more deserving of playing time anyway.
11/13/2009 10:03AM
Difference is
Hardy was a rookie just starting his career so he has an excuse for it. T.O. is on the down side of his career and is just being lazy.
11/13/2009 10:04AM
He is basically a rookie
think about it rookies make mistakes he can learn..how old is TO he will not learn so his mistakes will always be made!
11/13/2009 3:17PM
Give Him Time
He looks like he's put on some lbs, maybe, just maybe, he becomes a great WR. There's no denying his production in college. give him time before you crucify him. possession Wrs like him take longer to mature than speedsters like jackson, Avery and royal.
11/13/2009 5:34PM
bust
Good choice taking Hardy over DeSean Jackson. I couldn't believe that on draft day. When I heard we picked Hardy, I said "who?".
This front office CAN NOT DRAFT FOR CRAP!
11/15/2009 10:17AM
typical Bills analogy
Leave it up to Bills fans to look at things with a "They stink too" attitude...way to go Mendola!
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