Cornerback shuffle saves Bills money, but at what cost?

By Anthony Bialy  |   Thursday, March 05, 2009  |  Comments( 132 )

Buffalo Bills
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The Buffalo Bills have replaced one cornerback with another so a third doesn’t have to play too much right now. Latest addition Drayton Florence is basically the new Jabari Greer, as the de facto former Bill’s great range means he’s out of Buffalo’s range. Now, the franchise has to trust that the new player plus youngster Leodis McKelvin combine to equal one quality starter.

Facing his seventh campaign, Florence must attempt to improve on his sixth. After having spent his entire career as a San Diego Charger, he moved on in free agency to the Jacksonville Jaguars last year and then on into oblivion. Florence was enough of a bust that he didn’t even start between Weeks 5 and 13, as he coped with zone coverage troubles; the Bills, oops, commonly lean on restraining safeties during passing plays, so he better have not only kept his notes but plans on studying harder this year.

Still, there’s a reason why Jacksonville nabbed him before last season, namely because he was emerging as an ominous presence who was holding his own as a Charger. The Tuskegee product defended at least 10 passes in each of his final three seasons in San Diego, meaning that, if offenses were picking on him, he was at least fighting back. Plus, he brings something that can’t be learned, namely size: Listed at exactly 6 feet, he’s instantly Buffalo’s tallest cornerback.

On top of that, the 28-year-old was once fined $15,000 for making helmet-to-helmet contact with Matt Schaub of the Houston Texans during the course of an interception return by a fellow Charger. If asked whether they’d want a defender willing to risk getting fined over a free quarterback shot, most fans would answer, “No, of course not” while nodding their heads. His best hope is that a second fresh start is a do-over equivalent where he can play entirely physically; in turn, fans hope that he engages in friendly competition with safeties Donte Whitner and Bryan Scott to see who can hit which opponent the most.

Unfortunately, wishes regarding Florence won’t assuage the ensuing zero-sum loss, namely Greer now being fated to leave. Greer is speedy even by NFL corner standards and possesses an innate sense for the ball, which is why he’s going to get a contract to print his own money. At a reported roughly $7 million over two seasons, Florence is a comparative bargain to what Greer should get, although it remains to be seen if cheapening out with Shurfine instead of splurging on a true brand name is actually false economy.

As for a more youthful possible Greer replacement, the dream that McKelvin might be prepared to start in his 17th game currently looks as if it will remain fantastical. But it’s better that the Bills arm themselves with options so that McKelvin won’t have to start playing full-time this year; the alternative, expecting a cornerback to thrive in Year 2, is impractical even for a highly chosen player. In that light, the signing provides them with ample permutations: A combination of Florence, McKelvin and Ashton Youboty can battle either to start or for slot time. And McKelvin of course remains free to pleasantly surprise everyone.

At the same time, one unpleasant scenario would be Florence busting, McKelvin struggling and Youboty finding himself unable to bounce back from injury with no Greer to step in, but the Bills are willing to assume that risk. They’ve given themselves plentiful choices opposite cornerback cornerstone Terrence McGee, even if none of those respective options have yet risen to Greer’s level.

Ideally for Florence, his career arc will feature a revival under lower expectations with his third team after bombing under the weight of a fat contract at his previous stop. His ability to adapt will determine if the Bills made a wise bargain, and his desire to prove Jacksonville wrong should be enough in itself to ensure value. If they’re not retaining Greer, they may as well replace him with a player who has something to prove. Resentment might not be the healthiest motivator, but fans don’t care as long as it works for Florence.
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