JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) – Eric Wood was eager to finally start
practicing to put an end to the “miserable” mood the Buffalo Bills
rookie guard was in while waiting to sign his contract.
For Jairus Byrd, the wait continues. The rookie safety needs
about two weeks to recuperate from surgery to repair a sports
hernia.
With far different perspectives, Buffalo’s two high-round draft
picks were on the field – Wood practicing, Byrd watching – at
training camp in suburban Rochester on Thursday, a day after both
signed their respective contracts. Wood, drafted 28th overall out
of Louisville, signed a five-year contract worth about $12 million.
Byrd, selected 42nd out of Oregon, signed a four-year deal worth
about $4.5 million.
Their signings leave the Bills with only one unsigned draft
choice, first-round pick Aaron Maybin, a defensive end who was the
11th overall selection out of Penn State.
“It’s been absolutely miserable. … It was like a bad dream,”
Wood said of spending the past two weeks waiting in Buffalo. “I was
even telling people, ‘Can’t I just go to Rochester and be a part of
it?’ And they’re like, ‘You can’t be there if you don’t sign a
contract.'”
He’s here now, and raring to go after taking part in a morning
walkthrough, followed by a full-contact evening practice.
“Tonight’s going to be fun, working off the rust,” Wood said. “I
might have some bad plays here and there, but that’s all part of
the process. Come New England, Week 1, I should be ready to
go.”
The Bills certainly hope so. They’re counting on Wood to start
at right guard this season as part of a revamped offensive line
when the team opens the regular season at the Patriots on Sept.
14.
The ever-enthusiastic Wood is up for the challenge.
“I think my goal of starting this year is realistic,” said Wood,
who primarily played center in college. “I missed seven practices
and that’s a whole lot and I realize that. It’s my responsibility
that when there’s time off, I have to be putting in extra
time.”
Time is all Byrd has, because his development and chances to
compete for a staring job at free safety have been further delayed.
It didn’t help that, aside from attending a three-day rookie camp
in early May, Byrd was not allowed to take part in the Bills
veteran minicamps that followed because of Oregon’s late exam
schedule.
He’s already missed seven practices since camp opened on
Saturday, and will also miss at least two of the team’s preseason
games.
“I’m just here getting my feet wet, so I’ll be ready in due
time,” Byrd said. “I’m learning patience through this process.”
Byrd played with a groin injury through most of his last
collegiate season, and it continued bothering him this spring. The
Bills were aware of the injury and suggested the player have an
operation when Byrd met with the coaching staff in Buffalo in
mid-June. Byrd, however, waited to have the operation about two
weeks ago.
He declined to discuss the matter on Thursday.
Byrd said he’s eager to start proving himself, and hopes he can
still compete for a starting job once healthy.
“Everything happens for a reason,” he said. “I’m just going to
work hard and go about my business as if I’m competing to
start.”
Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said Byrd’s surgery was
unavoidable because the injury would’ve hampered him during the
season.
Fewell is taking a wait-and-see approach, though he acknowledged
it’s unrealistic to expect Byrd will have enough time to compete
for a starting job by the start of the season.
“I’m going to let the player let me know if it’s realistic,”
Fewell said. “I’m going to keep my expectations high, and I’m going
to let the player dictate whether that expectation goes higher or I
have to scale back.”
