Bills' Draft is back on the job again
Published: October 28, 2009, 12:08 am
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Chris Draft found himself in an unusual position when football season started in September — at home. An 11-year veteran, Draft was without a team.
"I've been playing football since I was 10 years old, so pretty much you know where you're going to be in September. Unfortunately, I was at home for a little bit of that time," Draft said. "I was telling my girlfriend, "I'm not supposed to be here.' ... I live in the offseason in Atlanta. Offseason. Not during the season, you know?"
Draft doesn't have to worry about that now, as he's found a new home in Buffalo. He joined the Bills on Oct. 13 after linebackers Kawika Mitchell and Marcus Buggs were placed on injured reserve.
Draft made his debut against the New York Jets on Oct. 18, recording a sack. He then moved into the starting lineup Sunday in a 20-9 win at Carolina.
Having been in the league for more than a decade, Draft said he was comfortable with the basics of the Bills' defense. But it's not like he had a choice.
"If you want to be able to get picked up during the season you've got to know that you've got to be able to learn very quickly," Draft said. "This game is about trust. They have to be able to trust that you can go out there and execute a defense. It won't matter how strong, fast or quick you are, if you don't know where you're supposed to go, you can't play."
Two weeks and two wins isn't bad, even if the game tapes won't be sent to the Hall of Fame any time soon.
"In the last couple weeks we've given up quite a bit of yardage, so if you just look at the game stats, you definitely don't really see the game," Draft said. "When it comes right down to it, the No. 1 goal is to win as a team."
With the return of Paul Posluszny and the addition of Draft, the Bills' linebacking corps went from woefully green to rich with experience seemingly overnight.
"I really like Chris Draft. He's a very smart veteran," Bills coach Dick Jauron said. "He brings additional leadership — and we don't lack for leadership now out there at the linebacker position — but he brings additional leadership. He's a very savvy player so there's a great comfort with him on the field."
With Draft in the lineup, the Bills shifted Keith Ellison to the weak side. The moves paid off, as the Bills went from allowing 318 rushing yards against the Jets to just 116 against the eighth-ranked running offense of the Panthers, 18 yards under Carolina's average.
"We're working together, and if you're doing that, you've got a chance to get better," Draft said."
Draft has started 78 games in his career, including all 16 in 2006 with the Carolina Panthers, when he recorded 107 tackles and a career-best 5.5 sacks. That made Sunday's win all the more satisfying. It was also a chance for him to reunite with some old friends from his Chris Draft Family Foundation.
"We still bring students to home games through an initiative I'm doing with the Panthers," Draft said. "It was the first time I got back [to Carolina], so it was great."
Draft's foundation — the motto of which is "Empowering Families to Live Healthy Lifestyles" — is active in every NFL city in which Draft has played: Atlanta, San Francisco, Chicago, Carolina and St. Louis. His list of community service projects and awards numbers in the dozens and includes the NFL Alumni Spirit award for 2007.
Bills safety Donte Whitner can avoid a criminal record if he completes an intervention program, according to an article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Judge Angela Stokes placed Whitner in the program Monday, a day before he was to have a scheduled hearing in Cleveland Municipal Court to face charges of aggravated disorderly conduct and resisting arrest stemming from an incident April 11 at the House of Blues in Cleveland.
Whitner was stunned with a Taser after a fight broke out at the birthday party for Miami Dolphins wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. Whitner and Ginn were high school and college teammates.
Lt. Thomas Saco told the Plain Dealer that Whitner pushed officers who tried to restrain him and took a "fighting stance."
Whitner is due back in court Jan. 26.
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