New York Jets safety Jim Leonhard will be facing his former team Sunday, and he's excited

about it.

Leonhard played three seasons for the Buffalo Bills from 2005 through 2007 but left in free

agency in 2008.

"It's one of those things like playing your brother or something," Leonhard said this week

on the Jets' Web site. "You want to go in and do your best because I know a lot of guys still

and am friends with a lot of guys there."

Leonhard admitted he was a little disappointed the Bills did not make an effort to re-sign

him after 2007. Leonhard had started six games that season. But the Bills had to make a

decision: Were they going to give him a chance to start or not? The Bills had two draft

choices playing safety in first-rounder Donte Whitner and fourth-rounder Ko Simpson. They

decided Leonhard was not going to vault either one of them on the depth chart and they did not

want to give him a sizable pay raise to be a backup. (Simpson never panned out and was traded

this summer.)

Leonhard signed a one-year deal to be a backup with Baltimore.

"I was surprised," Leonhard said of the Bills' stance. "I expected to have some

conversation with them and they basically said, "We're moving on.' You don't forget something

like that."

Leonhard was behind three draft choices in Baltimore last summer, but injuries forced him

into the lineup. He excelled at free safety, starting 13 games and three playoff contests. He

averaged a healthy 11.6 yards on punt returns.

After the Jets hired coach Rex Ryan from Baltimore, Ryan brought Leonhard to New York on a

three-year deal worth about $2 million a season.

"He is a class person, a great athlete ... a short, great athlete," Ryan told Buffalo

reporters this week. "He won two slam dunk contests at the University of Wisconsin. He was a

great pitcher in high school baseball. He's just a great athlete. I really wanted him when he

came out of Wisconsin. As a free agent we tried to get him, but he chose Buffalo. ... He's

smart, he's tough, he's durable and just a heck of a football player.

"When he came to our place in Baltimore, it was actually on a two-day tryout. And then I

told Ozzie [Newsome, the Ravens GM] I really liked him and how much we really needed him. ...

Ozzie said, "You can have him, but you've got to cut three players [laughing].' So we cut

those three guys and Jim's now playing with me and the Jets and doing a great job."

. . .

The injury report from the Bills after Friday's practice: Starting linebacker Keith Ellison

did not practice due to a sore knee and is questionable. Rookie Nic Harris would start in his

place if Ellison can't play. That's expected to be a game-time decision. Right tackle Jonathan

Scott (ankle) did not practice and was ruled out by coach Dick Jauron. That means rookie Jamon

Meredith will start in his NFL debut. Safety Bryan Scott also is out.

Linebacker Paul Posluszny and safety Donte Whitner both practiced fully and should play.

Cornerback Terrence McGee (knee) practiced fully and is probable. Receiver Roscoe Parrish

(thigh) was limited and is probable. Receiver Josh Reed was excused for personal reasons and

is probable.

Jets starting receiver Jerricho Cotchery (hamstring) is doubtful and likely will be replaced

by David Clowney. Receiver Brad Smith (quadriceps) is doubtful. Tackle Damien Woody (foot) and

DE Shaun Ellis (knee) both are expected to play despite not practicing this week.

. . .

Ryan is a fan of Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel.

"I really like Schobel," Ryan said. "I like the way he plays. You can ask Schobel, I worked

him out actually when he came out of TCU. He can tell you how heavy I am because the first

thing he said was, "My God, how much do you weigh?' when I was trying to leverage him. What a

tremendous player he is. I've just got a lot of respect for him."