Question: From what I hear and read from experts, the Bills' offensive line depth is just horrible. If so, why wouldn't the Bills bring in some free-agent talent to help their QBs and offense? -- John Africano, Snyder.

Answer: The question of what the Bills could have or should have done on the offensive line might turn out to be the big second-guess of the season. A lot will depend on how well second-year man Jamon Meredith plays when called upon. General Manager Buddy Nix has pretty fully explained the team's rationale on the No. 9 overall pick.

What were the best options available in free agency or trade? The pickings were very slim at left tackle. Obviously, the Bills picked their man, Cornell Green, at right tackle.

The Bills probably could have acquired New Orleans' Jammal Brown for a third-round pick. He went to Washington for a third- or fourth-rounder and is starting at RT. He can play LT. Baltimore RT Jared Gaither was on the trade block but has been out since Aug. 5 with a thoracic disk injury in his back. Dallas acquired RT Alex Barron via trade. He's a backup but will start the opener. Cleveland signed journeyman Tony Pashos. He's strictly at RT and is a backup. Pittsburgh signed RT Flozell Adams. He's starting but he definitely can't play LT any more. Journeyman Adam Terry was signed by Indy, released and picked up by San Diego. He has chronic knee issues. Ex-Bill Mike Gandy still is out there. That's about it.

Q: What was the scouting report on the Bills' new lineman, Kraig Urbik? -- Charles Horton, Chicago.

A: He started 50 games at Wisconsin, 16 at right tackle and 34 at right guard. At 6-foot-5, 323, he has good size. Good run blocker and walls off defenders well. He's tall and strong and was hard to bull rush in college. Not real quick. Scouts felt because of his height, he needed to learn to play a little lower at times. He was the 79th player drafted and the third guard taken.

Q: I read that Jim Kelly hosted Tim Tebow at his home a little before the NFL draft. It made me think the Bills were going to make a big play for him. While we might not know for a long time, I suspect the team might come to regret not drafting him. So what was behind the dinner? -- Greg Nichols, Kissimmee, Fla.

A: The Bills had a group of draft prospects in, and Kelly joined the dinner, for good reason. He's an impressive ambassador for the team. The dinner was at a local steakhouse, and Kelly no doubt spent a lot time with Tebow. The Bills utilize Kelly, when he's available, on visits by free-agent prospects, too. When appropriate, they will have Thurman Thomas, Steve Tasker or others involved in visits, as well. I think the Bills had admiration for Tebow before the draft. But they viewed him as too much of a gamble to take in the first round. They believed they needed the surest-fire hit they could get with the ninth overall pick. Even Tebow's fans would have to admit C.J. Spiller is more of a sure-fire hit than Tebow. The Bills might have passed on Tebow in the second, as well.

Q: How much do practice-squad players make? -- Ed Humbert, New York.

A: The salary is $5,200 per week. A player on the practice squad all 17 weeks would get $88,400. How many people straight out of college earn that kind of cash? Not many. And the practice-squad guys don't have any college loans to pay off, either.

Biills 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 11:20 a.m. on the BillBoard blog.

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