MVN - Most Valuable Network

Bills Send Players to NFL Europe

The Buffalo Bills are sending wide receiver Chris Denney, punter Josh Brazen and wide out Daunta Peterson over to NFL Europe.

Denney (no relation to defensive end Ryan Denney), made the Bills pre-season roster before the season as an undrafted free agent.

At the University of Nebraska-Omaha, he ranks third in the team’s history with 2,445 receiving yards on 123 receptions. He’s a big target at 6-3, 219 pounds, so the Bills might be hoping he can work on his route running and develop into an option over the middle.

“He is a natural pass catcher who can adjust to the balls path. He isn’t a speed guy who can stretch the field or run away from defenders but understands how to use his body to position and can make the tough catch in traffic,” said player personnel assistant Rob Hanrahan on the team’s web site.

Josh Brazen also was with the team before the start of the season. Why they keep Brazen around is somewhat questionable, especially since Moorman is the best in the league.

“We signed Josh for training camp following a good workout back in July and while he was with us we were impressed with how he kicked in the wind as well as with the professional way that he handled himself,” said Pro Scouting Assistant Kevin Meganck.

Peterson played for Dubuque in his college career, collecting 63 receptions for 851 yards and five touchdowns. The main reason he was signed is his speed.

The NFL Europe allocation draft occurs February 23, where the three will be assigned to teams.

Thomas and Reed finalists for Canton

The finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2007 are out and Andre Reed and Thurman Thomas are on the list.

The two players are among 17 finalists for the Hall this year.

There are 94 players who didn’t make it past the first round of voting. This includes former Bills Lemar Parrish, Darryl Talley, Kent Hull, Cornelius Bennett, Fred Smerlas and coach Chuck Knox.

A 40 man panel of media members will select who actually makes it in. A candidate must receive 80 percent of the votes. The panel will vote Feb. 3.

Bills Could Play “Home” Game in Europe

The National Football League and Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson have not been getting along so well recently.

Last April, the League’s owners approved the new CBA (collective bargaining agreement), despite votes against it from Wilson and Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown.

Wilson publicly stated all year that the NFL did not plan to start up revenue sharing to help small market teams like Buffalo.

Well the relationship between the two sides may be getting worse.

Yesterday the NFL named Buffalo as one of six possible teams that could host a regular season game in either England or Germany next season.

The other teams could include Kansas City, New Orleans, San Francisco, Miami and Seattle.

The league also ruled out Mexico and Canada for possible locations. The precedent of international games began in the 2005 season when Arizona and San Francisco played a game in Mexico City.  The game made sense because both teams are relatively close to the Mexican border.

Both teams also were struggling with home game attendance.

The team released a statement Monday saying:

“While the NFL makes the decisions regarding the playing schedule, the Bills certainly are supportive of the international regular-season game initiative.  If our team is selected to participate it would be great recognition for our city in an international forum, not to mention the tremendous experience it would serve for our players, coaches and staff.”

Who are they kidding?

It would take the team away from the die-hard fans of Western New York.  It would be a slap in the face to the team and its fans.

That is 80,000 tickets worth of money, plus the concessions, parking and other items the team profits from on game day. Wilson and GM Marv Levy should be furious.

How can you count a game at a neutral site a home game?  Why would anyone in either country root for Buffalo?  Most of America does not even know where in New York the city is.

Though the international exposure would be nice, this would hurt the Bills much more than help.

I have always suspected the league does not like small market teams. If Buffalo is chosen, the team’s future could be in jeopardy.

The NFL is expected to announce the decision next week.

Moorman Named To AP All-Pro Team

Brian Moorman’s list of honors keeps getting longer.  After being voted a starter for the Pro Bowl, the Associated Press named Moorman their punter for the All-Pro team this year.

He is one of eight players to be on the squad in 2005 and 2006. The list includes tight end Antonio Gates, wide receiver Chad Johnson, tackle Willie Anderson, guard Alen Faneca, nose tackle Jamal Williams, linebacker Brian Urlacher and Moorman.