Pettigrew could assault, batter foes for Bills

By Anthony Bialy  |   Sunday, April 05, 2009  |  Comments( 130 )

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All the Buffalo Bills need to know about Brandon Pettigrew is that he’s a tight end who can catch. Their history of great players of the type reads Ernie Warlick, Pete Metzelaars, maybe Paul Seymour, and that’s it. A quality end who contributes both some protection and many receptions is a necessity for Buffalo squad that has perpetually coped with moribund production from the spot. Draft candidate Pettigrew, who has already visited the team, would add a threat that’s historically unique to this franchise, as long as they’re convinced he’s ready to behave.

The Oklahoma State product stands at 6’5” while weighing 263 pounds, which means he already sounds like a tight end. His physical measurements are more impressive than his football stats: he amassed 112 receptions for 1,450 yards over his university career, which is pretty good but not unbelievably so.

By comparison, the first tight end selected in 2008 was Dustin Keller at 30th overall by the New York Jets; he caught 142 passes for 1,882 yards over his career at Purdue. The difference is where Keller started his career, namely as a wide receiver; even though he was changed to tight end, he’s since flourished basically as a wideout who doesn’t line up wide out. On the other hand, Pettigrew has been scouted a great pass catcher who can also flatten opponents when he doesn’t have the ball; he conforms to what’s supposed to be the job’s description.

His early training helped him long-term. Oklahoma State’s coaches didn’t use him much as a passing target early in his career, preferring to make the young grasshopper develop his fundamental skills. While it’s good that Pettigrew has blocking experience, it’s even better that he was willing to block: some talented divas would consider it beneath them to impede pass rushers or run defenders, but he played along despite the fact his hands are good for more than shoving.

Unfortunately, he’s got criminal numbers, too, namely a couple of misdemeanors. Pettigrew pleaded guilty to assault and battery plus public intoxication last June. It stemmed from an incident the previous January where he allegedly elbowed a police officer who was responding to a fight. Was the player sidetracked on his way to the library for a group study session? We’ll never know.

Pettigrew can try to write off the affair as drunken collegiate idiocy. He could additionally point out that he only misbehaved slightly worse than recent arrestee Ko Simpson, although the younger player was far less amusing in doing so. In his defense, “I am Brandon Pettigrew with the Oklahoma State Cowboys. I am worth hundreds!” wouldn’t have provoked as many giggles. Tipsy improv with the cops isn’t a skill evaluated at the combine.

It’s the player’s responsibility to demonstrate that his first inebriated encounter with authorities is also his only and last one. If the Bills are convinced that it was an aberration and not the beginning of a trend, Pettigrew is worth grabbing with a first-round pick; best, they could possibly trade down from the 11th overall selection and still get their man. Pettigrew would offer something novel to this franchise: he has a shot not at being the next great Bills receiving tight end but rather one of the first.
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CommentsComments: 130  |  Sign Up  View all comments
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No.1
Polish Lover		06:54 AM
04/06/2009
Tasteful article title AB... I think Pettigrew is a smoke screen for the Bills. They will go either DE or LB with the number 11. ...
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No.2
ddd		07:02 AM
04/06/2009
Had the Bills not signed TO, I think the prospects of drafting Pettigrew at #11 were pretty high. I fully expect them to draft ...
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No.3
flda-dennis		07:27 AM
04/06/2009
If Dickie POO would open up the offense a TE @ 11 wouldnt be a bad pick. But he wont so the Bills pick @ 11 will be Jenkins fCB ...
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