Free from Detroit, Furrey could help a less depressing team like Buffalo

By Anthony Bialy  |   Friday, February 13, 2009  |  Comments( 54 )

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The worst team ever doesn’t want him anymore, but Mike Furrey could still help another NFL franchise after the Detroit Lions released him. The truth is that the Lions are planning on fielding a team of Michigan college all-stars next season on the entirely logical theory that they couldn’t do any worse; that benefits players like Furrey, a wideout who wasn’t as much cut as he was allowed to escape. The delightful termination is also an opportunity for the Buffalo Bills, as they should acquire a player who’d help a squad actually capable of being helped.

While able to contribute on offense, he’s more importantly willing to help his team if asked. The wide receiver’s most notable season was one in which he made zero receptions: During 2005, the desperate St. Louis Rams changed him to safety. Anyone who switches positions as a pro is automatically a great teammate and true footballer; in Buffalo, that’s called the George Wilson Rule. Even better, Furrey was actually good at defense, starting 11 games and compiling 48 tackles.

The Northern Iowa product (on three, two, one, “Just like Kurt Warner”) still handled passes, too: Furrey totaled four interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. As a thank you for his selfless positional change, the Rams dropped him after the season; the franchise has 13 wins in the three years since then, which is as fitting as it is amusing. More importantly, joining a new team allowed him to show how skillful he could be at his natural spot.

Furrey moved on to the Lions, who at first permitted him to thrive at his true position: In his career’s peak, he racked up 98 passes for 1,086 yards in 2006 under pass-mad offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Those amounts respectively dropped to 61 and 664 the next year; they slipped again last season, as he only caught 18 passes for 181 yards. He suffered a concussion which limited him to nine games last year, but his true excuse is Detroit.

Viewing the list of 2008 Lions quarterbacks makes any football fan’s eyes water, then bleed. Every catcher suffered: The team’s best non-Calvin Johnson wideout, Shaun McDonald, only made 35 catches for 332 yards. McDonald is the unlucky one, as he’s still a Lion.

As for the player blessed with a release, the 31-year-old Furrey is capable of being a possession receiver in the term’s best sense, namely as someone whose middling gains are acceptable because he makes so many of them.

In addition to his sense for the game, his career’s arc itself shows that he’s a battler: He spent two seasons in arena football before playing in the XFL for its entire existence from 2001 to 2001, which all you Las Vegas Outlaws bluffs already knew. Much like that more famous Northern Iowa Panther, spending years mired in obscurity while frequently hearing the word “No” didn’t thwart him from successfully clawing his way to the NFL. That perseverance alone serves as a fantastic general quality for any athlete.

Most importantly, he’d be a practical get for the Bills. Furrey could potentially be good enough to flourish alongside Lee Evans while simultaneously not costing as much as a genuine nearly primary threat. Secondaries keying on Evans would enable Furrey to get an abundance of 10- or 11-yard receptions, allowing the Bills to win with either one deep cut or a dozen flesh wounds. The new target would also allow quarterback Trent Edwards to focus on his strengths as a precision mid-range thrower; it would be to the advantage of both players, not to mention this team.

He’s not going to outrace Buffalo’s Flash in Evans, but Furrey’s steadiness could open multiple new small worlds for the offense.
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About Anthony Bialy

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CommentsComments: 54  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Alan		10:28 AM
02/13/2009
I like furrey and think he is a great football player. However, I don't think that we should sign him. He is built for the...
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No.2
Amir FaSaad		10:38 AM
02/13/2009
A whole column on a 32 yr old WR/DB when we already carry George Wilson who does the same thing. Anthony ! Geeze, I'd have...
No.3
10:39 AM
02/13/2009
Nothing against Furrey but he's not what the Bills need. Because he was once a productive receiver for another NFL team does not...
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