Q: Does the way Dick Jauron runs his training camp lead to more injuries, which we seem

to have seen during his tenure in Buffalo? - Bill Austin, Buffalo

A: I don't know enough about medicine to give an answer, and I don't know if it's

possible to draw a direct connection between a lack of intense hitting in August and injuries

in September. I can tell you the track record.

In 2008, the Bills tied for the 12th most games by starters lost to injury, according to

the Dallas Morning News. In 2007 they were No. 1 in the league in games lost by starters. They

had 19 players on the injured reserve list that year. In 2006, they ranked 18th. In 2005, Mike

Mularkey's last year, they were 17th.

Here's where New England has ranked in terms of most injuries, starting with last season:

fourth, 24th, tied for 11th, third. So the Bills have not had more injuries, overall, than the

Patriots the previous four years.

Here are my conclusions. No. 1: Every team has injuries, and to a large degree, they are

hard to control. The fact Paul Posluszny broke his arm two out of three seasons is simply bad

luck, in my opinion.

No. 2 (and most important): A team can control the quality of its depth. Having undrafted,

undersized Marcus Buggs as the backup middle linebacker is an example of poor roster

management by the Bills' front office and coaching staff.

Q: What number did Fred Jackson wear at Sioux City? - A.B.

A: Jackson reports that he wore No. 5, and that's the number he wore at Coe College,

too. He'd like to wear No. 5 for the Bills, too, if the NFL let running backs wear single

digits. Sioux City, of course, is the team in the United Indoor Football League for whom

Jackson starred in 2004 and 2005. And you can still get a No. 5 Sioux City jersey (it's black

with red trim) at www.scbandits.com. A game jersey costs $100. You can get a Sioux City cow

bell, however, for just $5.

Q: In the closing minutes of an NFL game, the losing team is on defense and in an attempt

to save time, uses a timeout just before the two-minute warning knowing the clock will stop

after that play no matter the result. Why do that and save, say eight seconds, then lose 40

seconds on the play after that? Why not let the eight seconds expire? - Liz Smith,

Lackawanna

A: The reason is you're certain to save eight seconds. If you don't call timeout,

regardless of whether it's first, second or third down, you still have to use the same number

of timeouts in getting the ball back. Once you get the ball, you're not losing 40 seconds

every play because you're hurrying up.

Q: What terrible crime has Ken Stabler committed that the Pro Football Hall of Fame

journalists feel that he does not deserve to be inducted? - Dennis Mazza, Harker

Heights, Texas

A: You're preaching to the choir. Stabler won a Super Bowl. He led his team to five

straight AFC title games. He was the decisive figure in two of the most memorable AFC playoff

games ever. He completed 58.3 percent of his passes in an era when 50 percent was common. His

yards per attempt average is better than Bob Griese's or Terry Bradshaw's.

Unfortunately, in his first few years of eligibility, he ran up against unbelievable

competition to get elected. Some question his consistency. I don't think it's right. If you

had to win one game in 1976, who would you want at QB: Stabler, Griese or Fran Tarkenton? I

say it's no contest. Stabler. He will always get my vote.

Bills beat reporter Mark Gaughan answers your football questions every Friday, online and

in the paper. Send your e-mails to mgaughan@buffnews.com, or join his live chat at 11 a.m. on

the BillBoard blog.