Price’s value lies in being second best

By Anthony Bialy  |   Monday, August 06, 2007  |  Comments( 22 )

Buffalo Bills
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The moment that sums up Peerless Price's first stint in Buffalo was in 2002 during Week 16's game against the Green Bay Packers. The luster was already wearing off the Drew Bledsoe era, and the recently enfeebled offense would be shut out that day. On the play that demonstrated what kind of afternoon it was for the Bills, Bledsoe threw an interception in the end zone on a pass intended for Price. As the defensive back, who chose to return the ball, ran downfield, Price obliviously turned to the official and made an upward motion with his hand from his waist, the universal "Where's the flag?" gesture.

Peerless Price, Bills Version 1.0, was more concerned with getting an interference call than trying to tackle the opposing ball carrier, hurting the team in the pursuit of his own objectives. But his unfulfilling attempt to be a No. 1 receiver and make the corresponding higher salary didn't pan out anywhere near the way he hoped it would, and the difference his second time around in Buffalo is that he would be grateful to hold the job of The Other Receiver.

Last season, Price showed only brief glimpses of the skills that at one time made him a borderline superstar, but at least his acceptance of his complementary spot is a good sign for a team that needs that second receiving threat. The story about Price and the less-than-glamorous but still crucial role is sounding familiar, but this time there's a different ending.

While Price's tale is laden with themes of redemption and personal growth, the one thing that keeps it from being made into a movie is that he hasn't rocketed back to his previous playing level. His 49 catches for 402 yards last year is a disturbingly underwhelming stat line, one glaring enough to lead to whispers about whether he is physically declining.

The most unsettling number pertaining to Price's 2006 was his 8.2 yards per catch average. By comparison, Lee Evans racked up 15.8 in that category last year, in the neighborhood of nearly twice as much distance per grab. One would like to see more ground gained each reception for a player like Price, especially considering he's built more for speed than for life as a possession receiver. Price needs to accumulate more yards both every catch and overall if he is going to be a legitimate outside threat.

Still, Price had a handful of impressive moments during the first season of his second spell as a Bill. Everyone cites the win against Houston as his best moment: He only caught two passes that day, but he gained 21 very important yards, including that fantastic, falling, toe-dragging touchdown reception near the clock's end which brought victory.

Price's 40 yards and touchdown against Minnesota were essential contributions toward that win, and the 73 yards he gained from seven catches in the Bills' Christmas Eve loss to the Titans helped keep the team's playoff hopes alive during an ultimately disappointing afternoon.

He did have three games where he only had one catch, but it seemed by the end of the season that Price's rapport improved with J.P. Losman. That would be a good combination to cultivate this camp and preseason, not merely to pump up Price's numbers but more importantly to ease the burden on Evans and aid the offense as a whole. It's part of that whole Price as a good teammate theme.

Price did complain he wasn't getting the ball enough partway through last season, comments that surprisingly and refreshingly didn't sound self-centered. It seemed less of a case where a wideout was upset that some people believed the Earth didn't revolve him and more like a player who wanted to help and be integrated into the offense. Price still is slightly ostentatious, as he likely will always be, but he doesn't come across as obnoxiously brash as he once had a tendency to do.

Instead of drawing media attention his way, Price seems to have grown as an individual since his less-than-spectacular time as a Falcon and Cowboy. His decision to take secondary billing is advantageous for both himself and his team. It's certainly difficult to acknowledge that you're not your team's positional superstar: Nobody plays air rhythm guitar, especially not wide receivers. But Price is playing along.

He's not going to be the top priority of opposing defensive coordinators, but Price is at his best when he is one of several options. He still needs to show more of the speed and timing he displayed the first occasion he was a Bill, but his willingness to complement the offense instead of expecting to serve as its hub is a reflection of Price's new, refreshing attitude.

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CommentsComments: 22  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Rickie		02:18 AM
08/06/2007
Excellent analysis of Price's season last year, not just x's & o's but a little bit of "inside story" too. I likey leekey. I...
No.2
Nate		10:01 AM
08/06/2007
It's nice to see Peerless Price has matured as a person. Unfortunately he's at a point in his career where he is at best a #3...
No.3
Ron		10:04 AM
08/06/2007
Without a legitimate #2 (and Price wasn't last year) Evans will again see coverages rolling his way. As we've previously...
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