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INDIANAPOLIS (WGR 550) -- Another season has passed and it's time once again to convene for the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis.
There will be no shortage of stories throughout the week, ranging from individual players to what the brass of NFL teams may say. The decision makers at One Bills Drive are on hand taking in what all the prospects have to offer.
Keep checking in throughout the day as I update this blog with the latest news.
5:45 pm: About to wrap up here at Lucas Oil Stadium for the end of Day One. Be on the lookout tomorrow morning for some more tidbits from Buddy Nix and Russ Brandon, as well as all the latest from the quarterbacks and wide receivers that stroll through the media room here at the 2013 NFL Combine. WGR550.com has you covered all the way through. Talk to you tomorrow!
5:05 pm: Media availability has ended for the day, but I wanted to pass one more tidbit along before I finish writing up the Buddy Nix story. One quarterback Bills fans may be interested in is Tennessee's Tyler Bray. He checked in at 6-foot-6, 236-pounds. For those keeping track at home, that means Bray has put on 24 pounds since the end of the season. While it's not the only hurdle he needs to clear, that was a question as to whether his frame would allow him to endure a beating from the bigger, faster pass-rushers. He still has to answer maturity and leadership questions, and he knows that. However, he said the one thing he wants to prove to teams is that he's grown up.
4:03 pm: Just got done meeting with Buddy Nix. The story can be found here.
2:30 pm: This news via the Twitterverse, coming to you from restricted free agent David Nelson. Here's what he wrote in response to a fan:
Theyre not RT @brianmc630: Hey @davidnelson86 how's the contract talks going?
— David Nelson (@DavidNelson86) February 21, 2013
- The Bills haven't shown any interest in signing Nelson
- They may just be planning on tendering him a contract because he's restricted.
- Perhaps they're focusing on other things right now that are more pressing such as unrestricted free agents.
2:03 pm: Bills GM Buddy Nix will be speaking with reporters sometime around 3 pm. If you want to hear what he said this morning with Howard Simon and Jeremy White, click play below:
1:40 pm: The "throwing" QBs of the 2013 Combine are starting to be identified. That term might seem a little odd to you, but the "throwing" folks are the ones that are in Indianapolis all week, throwing to tight ends, linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties. If you'll remember, former UB quarterback Drew Willy was one of them a few years back. James Vandenberg of Iowa and Colby Cameron of Louisiana Tech are the two that have come through the media room already. Usually there are three. I'll keep you posted on the third.
12:54 pm: In case you wanted to listen to the entire interview with Russ Brandon, just click play below:
12:26 pm: Just heard from Central Michigan OT Eric Fisher. He's a potential top-ten pick who bulked up 70 pounds in his time with the Chippewas. He credits his basketball background for his solid footwork, and weighed in at 306 pounds. By many accounts, he was dominant at the Senior Bowl last month. He likely won't be a target for the Bills at eighth overall, but he certainly disproves the theory that you have to go to a top school to be a top pick.
11:41 am: Just plucking out more things from the Russ Brandon conversation, including the hot topic of when Doug Whaley would replace Buddy Nix as the Bills GM. Here's what the Team President had to say on the matter.
"There is no timetable for that," he said. "But Doug Whaley is not going anywhere. He's our assistant GM, and he's in charge of all personnel, and Doug is -- he's locked in to Buffalo for the foreseeable future. There's no transition, timetable, plan. Buddy, he and I will meet when it's appropriate. But we haven't discussed that at all."
10:43 am: Just got done speaking with Bills Team President Russ Brandon and here are some quick hits from the 20-minute conversation:
- He and Jim Overdorf will be meeting with the representation of their impending unrestricted free agents over the next few days. Most notably, Brandon says he has meetings set up with the agents for Jairus Byrd and Andy Levitre.
- Brandon called the franchise tag a tool that they would prefer not to use from a cap management standpoint, but said it's an available asset if needed.
- The Bills have not cleared up any of the amiguity surrounding quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's future just yet. Brandon said they have not talked about restructuring Fitzpatrick's current contract just yet.
More coming up in a separate article soon here on WGR550.com
- He and Jim Overdorf will be meeting with the representation of their impending unrestricted free agents over the next few days. Most notably, Brandon says he has meetings set up with the agents for Jairus Byrd and Andy Levitre.
- Brandon called the franchise tag a tool that they would prefer not to use from a cap management standpoint, but said it's an available asset if needed.
- The Bills have not cleared up any of the amiguity surrounding quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's future just yet. Brandon said they have not talked about restructuring Fitzpatrick's current contract just yet.
More coming up in a separate article soon here on WGR550.com
9:22 am: A bit of news to pass along about one of the top cornerbacks in the draft. Alabama CB Dee Milliner will need surgery to repair his labrum according to various reports. He's widely considered to be the top man in the draft at his position, but this news may open the door for some players like Florida State's Xavier Rhodes, Washington's Desmond Trufant or Johnthan Banks from Mississippi State to rise up and claim that top billing.
8:59 am: All checked in for the fifth straight year here at Lucas Oil Stadium. Here's what we're looking forward to today: Bills Team President/CEO Russ Brandon, GM Buddy Nix, tight ends and offensive linemen will all be speaking with the media today. Be sure to check in for all the latest from Indianapolis.
Twitter: @JoeBuscaglia