Should the Bills go after Levi Jones?
I think this sums up the Levi Jones situation really well:
1) No indicated interest from OBD, but they wouldn't make this public, so "no interest" is really not substantial.
2) Injury/durability issues a big concern.
3) When healthy he is a very athletic blocker.
Should the Bills go after Levi Jones?
The answer appears to be in the affirmative with a lot of Bills fans. Jones was released by the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday. The veteran left tackle became expendable when the Bengals drafted Alabama left tackle Andre Smith.
There is no indication that the Bills have interest in Jones. Of course, they wouldn't make those feelings public anyway. For the moment, they are commited to Langston Walker as the replacement for Jason Peters at left tackle. But emails, blogs and chat rooms are filled with fans who believe the Bills would be better served at left tackle with Jones, who appeared in 94 games for the Bengals.
The big concern with him though is durability. He has missed several games in recent years (including the last six in 2008) with various leg and knee injuries. When healthy, he's very athletic blocker. But can he stay healthy?
We'll keep an eye out for any Jones sightings at One Bills Drive, just in case.
---Allen Wilson
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I’ll be totally honest. I’d be all for signing Jones if I thought that he could stay healthy. But I don’t think that he can stay healthy. The type of injuries that Jones has on his legs are often re-occuring injuries that you never really fully recover from. For that reason, I think we should pass on him.
by CanadianBillsFan on May 10, 2009 9:42 AM EDT reply actions
Yeah. Agreed. Short term incentive laden contract if anything. The guy does do something well that we don’t normally do well, which is pass block. But there are several ifs.
by WhyBillsWhy on May 10, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
I’ve got to say that I wouldn’t mind signing the guy as a backup, as long as his contract reflects the fact that he’s a backup. But I am VERY worried about him hindering Bell’s development by limiting the amount of game snaps that Bell would have if we’d bring in Jones. To me Bell’s development is more important.
by CanadianBillsFan on May 10, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d much rather bring in a guy we know can play in the NFL than worry about a guy like Bell’s developmental potential.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
But the difference is that Bells potential for this year alone is almost a great as what Jones would bring to the table, and his long term potential is MUCH larger then anything that Jones could bring us. I’d much rather we develop Bell properly then bring in another veteran OT that would most likely end up being a backup for us.
by CanadianBillsFan on May 11, 2009 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions
I would rather take a chance on a proven LT in Jones, if healthy, this year
than someone completely unproven in Bell. Maybe it would only be for one season, but it would give time for Bell to prove himself, maybe at RT, before we are forced to start him at LT.
Why is developing Bell = rushing him into service? We didn’t even do that to the “Great” Jason Peters? It is not going to hurt Bell’s long term development to ride the bench for one more season.
It was once said that a black man would be president when pigs fly - Sure enough 100 days in Obama's presidency - swine flu :-)
Oh agreed, it wouldn’t hurt it, but it would not help it either. Personally I’d like to see Bell only get 20% of the snaps this season, MAX. I honestly don’t want to rush him and I deffinatly don’t want him to start, at any position, until 2010. That being said, I do see him as our starting LT by the end of the 2010 season.
As for Jones, he is a good LT when healthy. My question is: Is he he type of LT that we want in our new O-Line that OBD has built. TO me it looks like OBD put a lot of effort into building a line composed of tough, mean and smart playrs that never give up and always give their all. Jones has been know to give up on plays and is a very passive type LT. Would he really fit the attitude that we want out of our O-Line? Personally, I don’t think so.
by CanadianBillsFan on May 11, 2009 8:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Who’s to say Bell will be able to contribute this year, or ever?
Let him develop at his pace instead of setting an arbitrary playing time requirement. If he can contribute this year, great, but if not, I’d rather have a proven LT (if healthy) that can contribute and start for us. If we sign Jones, there’d be a good chance Butler plays Guard, which puts Bell in the same position he’s in now anyways.
I just don’t know how you can say you see Bell as our starting LT in 2010. He’s never played a snap and has proven as much as you and I have. I don’t want to expect good things out of players like that without having seen them play….ever.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
What type of injuries had he had with his legs/knees?
"It's that time of the year where all teams are involved in making some, to a degree, painful decisions." - Marv Levy
by Jason from OH-IO on May 10, 2009 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions
in 2006 he busted his ACL/MCL (not sure which n of the two, but it was a total tear) and in 2008 he suffered a still undisclosed lower back injury (and lets be honest, all back injuries are serious). He missed 6 games last year to an undisclosed leg/knee injury to the same leg that he suffered an injury to in 2006. I highly suspect that it’s a re-occuring knee injury. And his back has been giving him constant trouble since his injury.
Just google “levi jones injuries” and check out the first 5 to 10 sites if you want sources.
by CanadianBillsFan on May 11, 2009 12:56 AM EDT reply actions
Good info, but you are purely speculating
about his current condition. I am not saying Jones back injury was not serious, but all back injuries are not serious. They can heal given time. If McCargo can recover from his back problem, then why can’t Jones?
I would like to know more about the knee injury. Another serious tear in his ACL/MCL would be troubling, but it is something I would be willing to let the Bills medical staff make a decision on. I am only interested in signing a healthy Jones.
It was once said that a black man would be president when pigs fly - Sure enough 100 days in Obama's presidency - swine flu :-)
This is the best I could find on his latest knee problem
“Bengals released LT Levi Jones.
Jones is only 29, but probably has the body of a guy in his mid-30s. Back, hamstring, and knee issues cost him 17 of the Bengals’ last 48 games. His latest injury is to his leg, where heavy scar tissue buildup caused the appendage to go numb. Jones had surgery this winter and is out until June. He’s mentioned Arizona as a possible fit, but needs to get healthy first.” http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NFL&id=2551
I really don’t know how serious numbness caused by scar tissue is, and whether surgery to remove it is usually successful. Anyone???
It was once said that a black man would be president when pigs fly - Sure enough 100 days in Obama's presidency - swine flu :-)
I would like to know more about the knee injury. Another serious tear in his ACL/MCL would be troubling, but it is something I would be willing to let the Bills medical staff make a decision on. I am only interested in signing a healthy Jones.
Entirely agree. ANd I am not a doctor so I will admit that I was speculating on information available and comparing it to simular injuries on other players. Not all back injuries are serious, but generally speaking the ones that require surgery are. But the Bills’ doctors are a lot better suited tthen me o decided whether the knee and back injuries are serious or not. But personally, the types of injuries do worry me.
by CanadianBillsFan on May 11, 2009 8:29 AM EDT up reply actions
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