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Earlier today I announced that I will be doing “The Ultimate Guide to the 2011 NFL Training Camps.” That’s why you are here. The Buffalo Bills are the first team to be put under my careful microscope.

Here we go….

Location: The Bills have spent their training camp at St. John Fisher College, near Rochester, since 2000. The Bills would like to go there again, but Bills CEO Russ Brandon called the training camp location a “fluid situation.”

FFToolbox Start Date: July 29th.

Team Needs: Quarterback, Tight End, Offensive Tackle, Outside Linebacker, Inside Linebacker, and Safety.

Quarterback: The Bills will need to replace Brian Brohm, who will not return. The Bills could replace him with an undrafted free agent, but more than likely they will try to get some more experience behind Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Tight End: The Bills probably use a tight end less than anybody in the NFL, and I wouldn’t be shocked if they don’t add an upgrade here. Shawn Nelson has not been the stud people thought he would be out of college, and everyone else is just ordinary.

Offensive Tackle: The Bills have Demetrius Bell at left tackle, where he is average, but at right tackle they have some mysteries. Mansfield Wrotto could move inside to guard if Eric Wood moves to center, and he probably wouldn’t beat out Erik Pears anyway. Pears did his job last season, but the Bills would like to groom Ed Wang and Chris Hairston into starters.

Outside Linebacker: The Bills would like for Aaron Maybin to step up, but it seems unlikely now. More help will likely be added here because of Shawne Merriman’s injury, which could keep him out of a lot of training camp.

Inside Linebacker: Keith Ellison, Paul Posluszny, and Akin Ayodele are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents. Ayodele started last season, but he will probably be replaced. The Bills would like to re-sign Posluszny, but that may be too hard. The Bills did draft Chris White and Kelvin Sheppard, and former Browns star Andra Davis is still under contract.

Safety: Donte Whitner is a free agent, and he will probably not return. Da’Norris Searcy is not ready to replace him yet, so a veteran will be brought in.

Training Camp Battles: Wide Receiver, Tight End, Center, Guard, Right Tackle, Defensive End, Inside Linebacker

Read the rest…

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