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WR Hardy is Bills' Choice in Round Two of NFL Draft

Boba_tiny by Brian Galliford on in NFL Draft


Hardy should start next to Evans as rookie (Photo Source)

With the fourty-first overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills have selected Indiana wide receiver James Hardy.  After passing on a receiver in round one in order to select CB Leodis McKelvin, the Bills were lucky to see no wide receivers taken in the first round, and the team had their pick of Limas Sweed, Malcolm Kelly and Hardy at this point.

Ultimately, the Bills' choice was Hardy, who at 6'6" provides precisely the big-bodied target that the Bills coveted.  Even at such height, Hardy pumped out a sub-4.5 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, proving his athleticism.  Hardy is arguably the best red zone threat in the entire draft, and immediately gives young QB Trent Edwards a possession and red zone threat with the potential to be a vertical nightmare as well.  Hardy is a matchup nightmare, and although he has some documented character concerns, they were not enough to deter the Bills from taking him.

Day One of the 2008 NFL Draft could not have worked out better for the Buffalo Bills.  The team's two biggest needs entering the day, cornerback and wide receiver, have been addressed with players (McKelvin and Hardy) who can come into One Bills Drive and start from day one.  The team currently has no more day one picks, but have eight more selections to make tomorrow at this point.  For now, this 2008 draft has to be considered a roaring success for Buffalo, with a first-round gamble paying off in a big way.

Stay tuned to Buffalo Rumblings for the remainder of day one's picks in this open thread.  We'll be right back here tomorrow for much more Buffalo Bills draft coverage!

Receiving Kickoff Returns Punt Returns
G Rec Yds Y/G AVG Lng TD KR YDS AVG Lng TD PR Yds Avg Lng TD
13 79 1125 0 14.2 0 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 recs | Comment 170 comments

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Would have preferred Sweed

I never heard anyone quesiton his work ethic or maturity, two concerns for Hardy. Still, he is big.

by Ron From NM on Apr 26, 2008 7:19 PM EDT   0 recs

Red Zone Threat

Points in the paint. Can’t just load up versus Lynch inside the 20.

by Fort Worth on Apr 26, 2008 7:19 PM EDT   0 recs

Smoke!!!

Gotta billeve, that’s who they wanted all along!!!

by Cinga on Apr 26, 2008 7:19 PM EDT   0 recs

Yikes, he's huge.

Seven inches taller than the next Bills reciever.

by Krenn on Apr 26, 2008 7:20 PM EDT   0 recs

Marv

If Marv was there he would not have taken the guy with character questions.

by Benaconda on Apr 26, 2008 7:20 PM EDT   0 recs

Surprised at the Bills board

I’m surprised that a guy with issues in his past was higher on the Bills’ board than Kelly and Sweed. I can understand being higher than Kelly if they are really worried about his knees but higher than Sweed?

by Ron From NM on Apr 26, 2008 7:21 PM EDT   0 recs

Can't ignore

a 6’7 guy in the red zone

by Crizal on Apr 26, 2008 7:21 PM EDT   0 recs

Not my first choice

I really wanted Limas Sweed. But, obviously, there is something other teams don’t like about him.

Time to start doing my research on James Hardy.

by RabidBuffalo on Apr 26, 2008 7:22 PM EDT   0 recs

But

Ron… We had our choice… Gotta Billeve, the FO was happy with him… Had their choice after all…

by Cinga on Apr 26, 2008 7:22 PM EDT   0 recs

Yep

They had their pick and chose Hardy. I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt as they know far more about talent evaluation than I ever will. With that said, I’ll be royally pissed if he winds up getting suspended for doing something stupid—particularly if Sweed and Kelly become productive players as well as model citizens.

by Ron From NM on Apr 26, 2008 7:25 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Hardy

I guess beating women is considered ‘intensity’.

by Benaconda on Apr 26, 2008 7:22 PM EDT   0 recs

Is

for me!!!! (Just kidding….)

by Cinga on Apr 26, 2008 7:23 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Interesting

Hardy will make us a better Red zone team, but we MUST get a pass catching TE who can stretch the seam and take the load off of Lynch a little bit.

Fear the mighty helmet wearing gopher, he is coming for your soul....

by WABillsfan on Apr 26, 2008 7:22 PM EDT   0 recs

THis is a great pick

You should all be very excited. Go watch some of this guys games. Awesome. I wanted him at 11. 3 yr college production, red zone production, catches, goes over the middle, and is big. Great pick.

Dont forget the same rumors surrounded Jim Kelly back in the day.

by Berg79 on Apr 26, 2008 7:24 PM EDT   0 recs

Bad pcik by the Broncos here

They should have grabbed Sweed or Kelly

Fear the mighty helmet wearing gopher, he is coming for your soul....

by WABillsfan on Apr 26, 2008 7:25 PM EDT   0 recs

Sweed, Kelly

You mean it’s not apparent to you people yet that the posters here, including yourself, value Kelly and Sweed more highly than all of the other thirty two franchises in the NFL?

by Metzelaars on Apr 26, 2008 8:37 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I think he was conveying surprise, Metzelaars. Relax.

by Brian Galliford on Apr 26, 2008 8:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

What exactly is your beef today man?

All I was remarking is that I thought Sweed or Kelly would be a better value at that pick than the guy they took. Especially after the injury to Brandon Marshall that may linger into their season. And, last but not least man, you need to CHILL OUT. All we are doing here was bouncing ideas off the wall that we thought the other teams might make a move on. If you can’t handle that style, go lurk ona message board and be a troll, we don’t need your type here.

Fear the mighty helmet wearing gopher, he is coming for your soul....

by WABillsfan on Apr 26, 2008 8:44 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Ideas?

ll we are doing here was bouncing ideas off the wall that we thought the other teams might make a move on.

And making criticisms and critiques based on your [royal you] preconceived notions that have been dashed at every point thus far. At some point one would think you [royal you] would step back and reassess, rather than bludgeoning the same wrong idea over each other’s heads.

Step back, learn from what’s going on, and realize that “draft gurus” are that for a reason – they can’t find work with NFL teams.

by Metzelaars on Apr 26, 2008 8:57 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Similarly, you may consider adding something constructive to the discussion once in a while, rather than merely ripping on other people. You have to relax…

by Brian Galliford on Apr 26, 2008 8:59 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Seriously, who are you?

If you want to pick a fight here, it’d be in your best interests to sharpen your verbal machete…

by krytime on Apr 26, 2008 9:06 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't disagree about the comment on draft gurus

But none of us here are claiming to be anything of the sort. All we were trying to do today was enjoy the experience and share it with the other members of our community who are like minded. Honestly, the majority of us were approaching this the same way many of us would if we all had met up at a local bar, gathered around a tv, and started shooting the breeze while watching the draft.

If you have/had an issue with that specifically, why didn’t you start your own thread in a fan shot, or fan post and invited people like minded like you? None of us here keep score, because that is no fun for us. All we want to do is have some fun, and some talk, and yet there are people like you who suddenly decide to make it personal. Like I attacked your mother or something during a post.

Fear the mighty helmet wearing gopher, he is coming for your soul....

by WABillsfan on Apr 26, 2008 9:14 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Fort Worth

If you ever doubted this guy watch that INdiana/PSU game. I am a PSU alumni and said at that game he was great. Fort Worth: I will see if I have it and see if their is a way to put it on the site, but I dont think I taped it. He destroyed Justin King.

by Berg79 on Apr 26, 2008 7:25 PM EDT   0 recs

Thanks!

I would love to see it!

by Fort Worth on Apr 26, 2008 7:27 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Trade back into the 2nd?

Davis is still on the board as are Kelly and Sweed….. It shouldn’t cost much…

by Ron From NM on Apr 26, 2008 7:26 PM EDT   0 recs

Agreed....

Filled 2 of our biggest needs…. Time to wheel and deal, get a TE and a Center….

by Cinga on Apr 26, 2008 7:28 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

BTW....

I’m w/Skycap…. Take a flier on Bowman, later in the draft…

by Cinga on Apr 26, 2008 7:29 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

wow

sweed, kelly, jackson passed on for royal

by Crizal on Apr 26, 2008 7:26 PM EDT   0 recs

if we could

move up and get another wr or fred davis that would be amazing

by Crizal on Apr 26, 2008 7:27 PM EDT   0 recs

We could move up to grab Kelly by using one of our 4ths

And then grab Davis maybe in the 3rd?

Fear the mighty helmet wearing gopher, he is coming for your soul....

by WABillsfan on Apr 26, 2008 7:28 PM EDT   0 recs

i was hoping for Sweed

I will reserve judgment on Hardy, but a woman beater won’t get a honeymoon. I like the size, buth the character? like i said, i will reserve judgement.

any possibility of a trade back into the second for a TE (Davis?)

John I.

by jri111 on Apr 26, 2008 7:28 PM EDT   0 recs

Hardy

Dpn’t compare his situation to Lynch’s. Totally different. Read the Indianapolis Star articles and compare it to Lynch’s situation. Hardy’s Pacman Jones on offense.

Never forget 56-10. Revenge.

by SuperFan82 on Apr 26, 2008 7:30 PM EDT   0 recs

do you

have a link for it

Bills Fan in PA

by BILLS on Apr 26, 2008 7:31 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I'll look

I read it back in January when I was looking back on his issues because I liked his size.

Never forget 56-10. Revenge.

by SuperFan82 on Apr 26, 2008 7:33 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

i agree

not the same situation AT ALL. I will give the bills the benefit of the doubt, but i am skeptical

John I.

by jri111 on Apr 26, 2008 7:32 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I don’t think we can pigeon-hole Hardy here as a terrible human being. His character concerns got a pass from the Bills. That’s way more than enough for me to give him the benefit of the doubt. Kids make mistakes. Buffalo has some solid leadership. You have to believe he’ll clean his act up and just play ball.

by Brian Galliford on Apr 26, 2008 7:34 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Matt Forte

how can you go wrong with a Tulanne star/

by Benaconda on Apr 26, 2008 7:31 PM EDT   0 recs

SuperFan, you're on a mission.

Fact is, he is a Bill, so, let’s hope the fact he has not been in trouble since 06 is a good sign. Buffalo goes character and if they evaluated him and deemed him alright, I think I will trust their judgment over yours.

by BeastMode on Apr 26, 2008 7:31 PM EDT   0 recs

From Bills Brass

Bills scout Tom Roth said, “I think he had a rough upbringing. I don’t think he’s a bad kid at all. He just had a rough upbringing and that’s the way I see it. You can’t knock him for that. You have to give him some credit just for what he’s been through. I wouldn’t say he’s a character risk.”

by BeastMode on Apr 26, 2008 7:33 PM EDT   0 recs

Read that already

Titans said the same thing a few years back.

Never forget 56-10. Revenge.

by SuperFan82 on Apr 26, 2008 7:35 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Giving lousy people money...

...usually makes them worse. I’m really angry with this pick and if I still had season tickets, I’d drop them tomorrow…how many people that beat women do you know that have changed their life around? I don’t think you should get a second chance three years later in my book and especially not at that salary…way to sink to a lower level, Buffalo. Nobody around here better make any McGahee jokes again while supporting this loser.

Never forget 56-10. Revenge.

by SuperFan82 on Apr 26, 2008 7:46 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Everyone disagrees with you, man. We appreciate the fact that you have concerns, but you’re starting to sound like an anti-Hardy troll. We do have rules expressly set against spamming hate comments against one player…

by Brian Galliford on Apr 26, 2008 7:48 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Do you work for the Bills?

Herd metality disagreement isn’t really a valid measurement of truth: http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=94583

This isn’t the worst one, but I’ll keep looking for the Star article…Glad to see you have rules against “spamming” but maybe you should look at your guidelines against making light of domestic violence. Really sad way to look at this pick, man by forcifully curbing all dissent about this criminal’s character.

Never forget 56-10. Revenge.

by SuperFan82 on Apr 26, 2008 7:56 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Look… I’m not talking about truth. I’m talking about the fact that you’ve made your point several times. My point about everyone disagreeing with you was not that you’re wrong, it’s that you’re not going to sway any opinions. Just relax… we’re here to have fun.

by Brian Galliford on Apr 26, 2008 8:01 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

True Story

When I was in college, my girlfriend had a little to much to drink and got into a fight with another girl in the bathroom. She got hit in the lip and was bleeding pretty good. I took her back to my place to clean her up. Then, she wanted to go to an after hours party to look for her. I told her she was not going anywhere. She started yelling at me and tried to force her way past me. She even scratched my face by accident. The cops showed up and cuffed me on the spot. If she had decided to lie, I would have been arrested.

Maybe the Hardy situation is different. Maybe not?

by Joe P. on Apr 27, 2008 12:28 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

In

your way of thinking when is it ok, three years is not enough time what is right? We all get second chances in life the key is to not repeat the mistakes of the past and what does his salary have to do with it? If he made less would that be better. So I assume that you’ve never been given a second chance?

Bills Fan in PA

by BILLS on Apr 26, 2008 8:05 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Hardy

I think everyone is concerned because the league is coming down hard on character risks -

blaming it on a rough upbringing is ricockulous! Lots of kids came from rough backgrounds and didn’t beat women.

(so Sweed and Kelly must really have injury concerns for them to fall like this!)

by Benaconda on Apr 26, 2008 7:34 PM EDT   0 recs

its no coincidence

that no names have been taken over sweed and kelly. there must be something we dont know.

by thejimbo on Apr 26, 2008 7:36 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

plus

he will be surrounded by a ton of high character guys. i don see any problems. though we could get bowman later, on of them ought to be able to stay out of jail (jk)

by thejimbo on Apr 26, 2008 7:34 PM EDT   0 recs

OK GUYS: I'll Post Indiana Game Torrents... YOU ALL NEED TO SEED

... since I’m the Big10 guy on this board… i’ll post all the Indiana torrents that I have in the FanShots page in a few min… Everyone needs to seed as long as possible… especially the PennState vs Indiana game where Hardy puts up 141yrds and 2TDs.

FortWorth….Give me a few mins.

by osmanBAE on Apr 26, 2008 7:36 PM EDT   0 recs

Davis

If Davis is still around when pick 55ish rolls around I’m hoping the Bills offer their 3rd, 4th and a 4th next year until someone accepts or until someone takes him off the board.

by Ron From NM on Apr 26, 2008 7:36 PM EDT   0 recs

Stewart Mandel

from CNN/SI says that James Hardy was the most underrated WR in the draft.

“All I know is, for a league obsessed with size, the NFL, you would think, couldn’t go wrong with a guy who’s 6-foot-5 1/2, racked up 1,125 yards last season and scored 36 touchdowns in three years. Hardy was an absolutely dominant performer for the Hoosiers and there’s no reason to think he won’t become a go-to NFL receiver.”

by RabidBuffalo on Apr 26, 2008 7:37 PM EDT   0 recs

anybody think bennett will slip to the third?

i doubt it, but maybe to the bottom of the second where we could get him.

by thejimbo on Apr 26, 2008 7:39 PM EDT   0 recs

Hardy

nobody is degrading his skill level – but does his character risk outweigh his redzone production?

I’m a little concerned that people can just say he was young and made a mistake – it’s not like he just smoked a little weed or stole something – it was way worse. But he caught some tds so it’s all good.

I’m just saying Marv would not have approved.

by Benaconda on Apr 26, 2008 7:39 PM EDT   0 recs

Stupid interviews

They’re interviewing Henne now and asking how he’s staying relaxed. I’d think it was hysterical if some player, instead of giving the standard stock answer, said that his girlfriend was just below camera view making sure he was relaxed and feeling no pain.

by Ron From NM on Apr 26, 2008 7:40 PM EDT   0 recs

wow

jerome simpson in the 2nd?

by thejimbo on Apr 26, 2008 7:41 PM EDT   0 recs

Higher than I expected

but I like Jerome Simpson very much. I was hoping that the Bills would be able to pick him later.

by Fort Worth on Apr 26, 2008 7:45 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

me too

much later

by thejimbo on Apr 26, 2008 7:46 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Again

I have been sick with a sinus infection and am now drinking heavily in celebration of McKelvin my #1 CB and Hardy my #1WR. Great day to be a Bills fan. Hardy made mistakes when he was young. So did McFadden. If he interviewed well, stayed out of trouble for 2 years now and the Bills checked him to have solid character then we just stole the best WR with the 41st pick. As i have said for the last 2 months this is the best compliment to Evans. Lets get them signed together for the next 5 years. Throw Parrish in the slot a solid O-line, 1 stud RB, 1 good backup RB and your offense is starting to look dangerous.

by Berg79 on Apr 26, 2008 7:43 PM EDT   0 recs

Be honest here..

Did you really call Leodis at 11, and Hardy in the 2nd? If you did….I tip my hat.

by krytime on Apr 27, 2008 3:34 AM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Who would have thunk it?

Avery, Nelson, Hardy, Royal, and Simpson all came off the board betore Sweed and Kelly. Kelly’s knees must really be bad and Sweed must have shown deception when Mike Shanahan hooked him up to a polygraph and asked, “Did you ever kill a man in Reno just to watch him die?”

by Ron From NM on Apr 26, 2008 7:43 PM EDT   0 recs

DOES ANYONE WANT THE INDIANA GAMES?

first off, does anyone use bittorrent?.. secondly, i’m not going to waste my bandwidth if nobody wants these games.

by osmanBAE on Apr 26, 2008 7:44 PM EDT   0 recs

I'll pass.

The front office obviously thought he was the best WR in the draft (unless they had Nelson rated higher).

by Ron From NM on Apr 26, 2008 7:45 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs