Question Mark: Jauron's record against winners isn't flattering
Published: October 30, 2009, 2:18 am
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The News' Mark Gaughan answers your questions about the NFL and Bills.
Q: You know that stat that has been brought up recently, the one about Jauron's record being like 1-25 against teams with winning records or whatever? Well, is it too taboo or inappropriate for the media to bring that up to him? — George Smilanich, Williamsville
A: Let's look it up. Jauron is 6-19 against teams that had a winning record the week they faced the Bills. His last win was two weeks ago against the Jets, who were 3-2 entering the game in the Meadowlands. Last year's team was 1-6 against such teams. The win was at Denver, which was 8-6 at the time. In 2007, the Bills beat Baltimore. In 2006, they beat Minnesota, Jacksonville and the Jets, all of whom had winning records at the time.
If you count his record against teams that finished the season with a winning record, it's 2-21 the previous three years in Buffalo and 13-31 in Chicago. That's a total of 15-52.
Q: What is the purpose of the narrow bands that some NFL players wear around their arms just above or below the elbow? — Ellen Beverly, Amherst
A: The band players wear just below their kneecap is to relieve tendinitis. The band compresses the patellar tendon to help decrease the stress on the knee. Tendinitis is a common sports injury. The bands just above the elbow are purely for decoration, players report — they're usually wristbands that players cut thin.
"That's just a fashion statement," said receiver Justin Jenkins. "That little thing can't do anything for you."
Q: It seems the top five teams in the draft do not really want to pick there lately because of the huge, unwarranted contracts. Say the Bills get the third pick in the draft. It would cost tons of money. Could they just not pick? Then other teams would just keep on picking. Then say slot 11 comes up and the Bills decide that is where they want someone. Could they just hand in their draft card then and get whoever was available? Or will nobody have the guts to do it until Bill Belichick gets an early pick and becomes a genius for thinking of it first?
— Melanie Berent, Wheatfield
A: The answer is yes. A team has the option to not make a selection and then jump in and hand in its card at any later point. The Vikings actually did this unintentionally in 2003. Minnesota had the seventh pick, was trying to swing a trade and was late turning in its pick. Jacksonville and Carolina jumped ahead to make picks, taking Byron Leftwich and Jordan Gross, respectively. Then the Vikings picked defensive tackle Kevin Williams, the player they claimed they wanted all along. Given the 50-50 odds of success for any first-round pick, you could make a case for this strategy, but I don't see it happening. There would be too much of a stigma of incompetence within the league attached to a team doing it.
It's interesting how that 2003 situation worked out. Minnesota got a great player at No. 9. Baltimore wanted to move up to get Leftwich but backed off the trade at the last second. The Ravens took Terrell Suggs No. 10, and he turned out great. Leftwich ultimately wasn't good enough in Jacksonville. Carolina hit a home run with Gross.
Q: Do you think any of our starters could start, say, for the New York Giants? — Paul Miller, Clarence
A: I'd take eight Bills out of 22. They are: Lee Evans and Terrell Owens over Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon, Marshawn Lynch over Brandon Jacobs, Marcus Stroud over Barry Cofield, Terrence McGee and Leodis McKelvin over Corey Webster and Terrell Thomas, Donte Whitner over C.C. Brown, and Jairus Byrd over Michael Johnson.
Send your e-mails to the address below, or join Mark's live chat at 11 a.m. today on the BillBoard blog.
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