Bills Host Free Agent OG Chester Pitts

by Brian Galliford on Jul 26, 2010 4:32 PM EDT in Buffalo Bills News

The Buffalo Bills have announced that the team hosted free agent guard Chester Pitts on a free agent visit to One Bills Drive on Monday.

Pitts, 31, started 114 consecutive games for the Houston Texans from 2002 through 2009, but landed on IR last year with a knee injury. He has experience at left tackle and left guard, though his 6'4", 323-pound frame is much better suited to guard play.

Without considering Kirk Chambers, who is technically a tackle by trade, Buffalo's most experienced interior offensive lineman is Christian Gaddis, who has appeared in just two games in his NFL career. The Bills could really use a player with Pitts' skill set, as many of the team's backup guards - including Jason Watkins, Andre Ramsey and Cordaro Howard - were also tackles in college, and played tackle just a year ago.

Buffalo's roster currently stands at 79 players (including Aaron Schobel), and with two rookies unsigned, it's likely that a player would need to be cut should Pitts be signed.

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Watkins

Brian, I thought at one time you were high on Watkins at least making the PS for depth.

CC Infantino

by lostlasvegan on Jul 26, 2010 4:37 PM EDT reply actions

I was until I heard he was playing guard. His best shot at sticking in this league is a tackle.

@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Jul 26, 2010 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

hooray for depth

Buffalo, that's where it's at baby. - Adam 'Pacman' Jones
To us winning is a tradition. We are victors and need not explain. You may hate us, but your girlfriends love us. - BC
One more than Shaq. - Kobe answering how it felt to win Championship number 5

by silverstreak3k on Jul 26, 2010 4:49 PM EDT reply actions

Solid potential addition. We really need depth here. Aside from injuries, if the line really blows it’d be nice to at least have the option of moving Woods to center sooner rather than later, and plugging someone in his spot. Hopefully it won’t come to that until a future offseason.

by paxon on Jul 26, 2010 5:16 PM EDT reply actions

let’s sign him!!!

by Dana H on Jul 26, 2010 5:17 PM EDT reply actions

It would be a great depth signing.

Personally I`m very uncomfortable with the idea that our top two guard backups are Gaddis and Calloway. Signing Pitts would deffinatly go a long way to the depth of the interior line.

Dear God,
If we give you the Jonas Brothers, can you please give us back Jimi Hendrix?
Amen

by CanadianBillsFan on Jul 26, 2010 5:26 PM EDT reply actions

I like Gaddis, I haven't seen Calloway versus grown-men yet...

but Pitts is twice the player that Chambers is.

Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford

by NorCal BillsFan on Jul 26, 2010 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Finally

Pitts is no world beater, but i was waiting for this to happen. We seriously need quality depth along the line…any where we can get it.

After many years of laborious pains, Dr. Goodell stepped back and said "Buddy, Chan, Buffalo, congratulations! It's a Lombardi!!!

by MonStarr_716 on Jul 26, 2010 5:35 PM EDT reply actions

I would modify that to “We desperately need quality depth in the interior o-line.” If Pitts checks out medically we should make every effort to sign him.

by Macktruck on Jul 27, 2010 1:15 AM EDT up reply actions

This would be good depth

and if he recovers well from the injury, we could possibly move him to RG and Wood to C.

"Hold ya chin up...nuh nuh nuh...gone" -Marshawn Lynch-

by billsoferie on Jul 26, 2010 5:46 PM EDT reply actions

I like the way you think!

by paxon on Jul 26, 2010 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Thats alotta Beef.......

Chan Gailey's #1 Fan!

by norcaliangelsfan on Jul 26, 2010 6:15 PM EDT reply actions

I'm not going to say it ;)

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a opening drive
Where the Bills fans of tomorrow dream of TDs
And wins for a change

by Joe P. on Jul 26, 2010 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions

TWSS!

Dear God,
If we give you the Jonas Brothers, can you please give us back Jimi Hendrix?
Amen

by CanadianBillsFan on Jul 26, 2010 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't be gun shy...

Providing he passes a physical we need more depth,he has experience and lots of it .So mgmt needs to pull the trigger on this one,don’t let him leave until the deal is done.

by Barry Leveritte on Jul 26, 2010 6:43 PM EDT reply actions

If he’s the same guy he was before the injury, i’m going to go out on a limb and say (without igniting the tackle discussion again) that our interior line would be better served as Levitre – Wood – Pitts. If I correctly remember the Texans from 08 when Slaton was actually good, Pitts was what I would describe as a good offensive guard. In my opinion, he was a better guard than Hang is a center. That said, knee injuries are tough on an ~30 year-old, 330 lb dude, and we still don’t know how wood will play after that circus accident. at the very least we can all agree this would be excellent depth.

Enjoying my annual three months of optimism.

by Trashplate on Jul 26, 2010 7:16 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Good post...

I like your thinking.

I worry about pushing Wood back too early and Pitts is a great insurance policy for him. DOnt move to Wood to Center until next year, when he has had another year in the NFL and a year of recovery time under his belt.

Sign him!

Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford

by NorCal BillsFan on Jul 26, 2010 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I've always respected his game

If he’s healthy let’s do it.

by telka on Jul 26, 2010 7:45 PM EDT reply actions

Good depth...

and potentially, the end of Chambers playing career in Buff… Or anywhere else in fact… One “minor” problem though to some of the comments… By the OP of Brian’s, Pitts has experience on the LEFT side folks, at both tackle and guard… He would be insurance on the LEFT side, not Woods spot, or Hangman’s spot….

The draft dawns a new year for Buffalo Bills fans, so let optimism reign supreme!!! After all, we are now, UNDEFEATED!!!!

by Cinga on Jul 26, 2010 8:07 PM EDT reply actions

So your saying that he would bring no value, or depth, at the right side? I kinda find that hard to believe. It’s not all that difficult to make the transition from LG to RG.

Dear God,
If we give you the Jonas Brothers, can you please give us back Jimi Hendrix?
Amen

by CanadianBillsFan on Jul 26, 2010 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Let's see....

Most on here think 31 is “old”… Take it from me, I’m a little older, and sorta set in my ways… Are you gonna ask me, after all these years, to learn a totally new position, while another club will let me stay on the left side??
LOL!!!! Darn!!! Your good!!! I haven’t laughed so hard since my ole lady told me she was leaving….. again!!!!

Bwaaaaaaa!!!!! Luvin’ the humor on this board lately!!!!

The draft dawns a new year for Buffalo Bills fans, so let optimism reign supreme!!! After all, we are now, UNDEFEATED!!!!

by Cinga on Jul 26, 2010 8:47 PM EDT up reply actions

He’d already be signed by the time something would theoretically happen on the right side requiring his filling in. If he can’t BACK UP a right guard position he probably wouldn’t be in the league.

by paxon on Jul 26, 2010 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions

sorry to hear it did work out

On the plus side, football starts soon :-)

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a opening drive
Where the Bills fans of tomorrow dream of TDs
And wins for a change

by Joe P. on Jul 26, 2010 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions

at this point Pitts just wants a job. Teams have backed out of his personal workouts and his list of suitors has shrunk considerably. Pitts needs a gig.

"I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly"

by poz on Jul 26, 2010 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions

i trust ol buddy nix

to do the right thing….

he has yet to let me down….

and that includes giving the 32 qbs a crack at it again

by simonpure on Jul 26, 2010 9:27 PM EDT reply actions

3 qbs

correction on the qbs….

i am hoping for a veteran tackle to come in, another one…..

then i will be happy

by simonpure on Jul 26, 2010 9:28 PM EDT reply actions

I took 32 as sarcastically accurate.

@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Jul 26, 2010 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I know it made me laugh.

I also though that if he would have had the chance to give 32 “quality” QB’s a chance to ty out, he would have.

Dear God,
If we give you the Jonas Brothers, can you please give us back Jimi Hendrix?
Amen

by CanadianBillsFan on Jul 26, 2010 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with Brian, I thought that was a perfectly planned and executed sarcastic exaggeration!

I agree though that Pitts would be a very solid depth signing and if he is close to what he was, we could then have someone reliable on the interior and need be starter if someone stumbles or is hurt, again.

abayarde- "I SAY this get ready cause the BUFFALO BILLS ARE COMING TO TOWN and I dont mean like Santa clause. WE will not Surrender this is were you all FALL The WHAGON BLASTER IS TAKING OFF AND YOU PUNKS are in our way, This wagon has no BREAKS so get ready for the ride of the life time"

by WABillsfan on Jul 26, 2010 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Ditto

On subject and text

by paxon on Jul 26, 2010 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Pitts?

How severe was his knee injury? I know the proposed signing looks good on paper but in the past the Bills have signed Seth McKinney, Jason Whittle and Bennie Anderson that were touted in the same manner and had injury issues. Plus, isn’t the Texans O-line noted for being porous on pass protection?

All I’m saying is “Buyer Beware”….

Jimmy McGinty: You know what the difference is between a winner and a loser?

Shane Falco: The score.

by Goose22 on Jul 27, 2010 8:35 AM EDT reply actions

Good point, but it’s probably worth taking a calculated risk here because the depth is atrocious. The starting oline has potential to be good (or bad), but if there are injuries it is going to be next season all over again. They positively need someone who can keep the line from falling apart in the case of injuries, assuming they were playing well in the first place.

by paxon on Jul 27, 2010 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions