The Buffalo Bills moving on without Aaron Schobel. GM Buddy Nix made the following statement to the media this morning:
“Aaron has been contemplating retirement for the past seven months, but we are at the point where we are moving forward and have informed his agent of our plans. Aaron has been a very good player for the Bills and we wish him and his family the best, but there comes a point where we have to move forward and that point is today. We are focusing on the team’s best interests.”
Things seemed in place for Schobel to return as of late last week. NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora first reported that Schobel was seeking out rental space in the Buffalo area, and later we reported that Schobel was going through the same real estate company that originally sold his home last April.
Nix Says Bills Moving On Without Schobel – continue reading…
Aaron Schobel sold his Orchard Park home in April of this year. According to a source from the same real estate company involved in the transaction, the same company that was involved of the sale of the house we reported in detail on May 10, Schobel has contacted them about leasing a rental home for six months.
According to the source, Schobel isn’t looking for something large to rent. That would likely mean his wife and two school-aged children would remain behind in Texas while Schobel played the 2010 season in Buffalo.
I’m not ready to go on record as reporting that Schobel is returning to the Bills, because I haven’t heard it from Schobel’s mouth or any reliable source close to him. But it certainly seems that’s the way Schobel is going—- and I can say the source involving the real estate company is solid.
Schobel originally closed on his 2,400 square foot Orchard Park home in April and was on the market since December 2009, though it wasn’t listed in the transactions page of the News until May 10.
It’s unknown if the shoulder injury Chris Kelsay suffered at practice Thursday has anything to do with the process speeding up, but regardless, it’s strongly looking like Schobel will be back with the Bills in 2010.
Jason LaConfora of the NFL.com first reported Schobel looking for a rental home. We’re merely confirming. Send the credit his way.
Back in early June, Buffalo Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel told The Buffalo News “I don’t think I’m going to play” (in 2010). A little over a month later, on the eve of his Bills teammates reporting to St. John Fisher College for training camp, Schobel has changed his stance. Slightly.
“I would say I’m leaning more towards doing it than I was a month ago,” Schobel told WKBW’s Jeff Russo. “At this point I’m thinking about it. At that point I didn’t want to even consider it.”
Schobel also told WKBW that he has been following a diet and working out as he continues to ponder his playing future. He is still undecided as to whether or not he’ll return, but Russo reports that Schobel plans to make a final decision within the next 10 days.
Report Says Schobel Thinking About Return – continue reading…
Buffalo News columnist Bob DiCesare feels that Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch is undermining his own value.
Matt Rich Warren of Buffalo Rumblings wrote an interesting Buffalo Bills article about 1970, when Jack Kemp and Billy Shaw both retired within a matter of days.
Reporter Joe Buscaglia from WGR550 feels that Aaron Schobel is looking to get traded after his statements late last week.
Skunkpost.com takes a look back at Patrick Kane’s Stanley Cup-winning goal and compares it to other big moments in sports history involving Buffalo-born athletes.
The Daily Links – June 14, 2010 – continue reading…
◊ John Wawrow of the AP writes that stopping short of announcing his retirement, Buffalo Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel said that he’s prepared to inform the team to move on without him.
◊ The Bills completed the final two steps in getting the back half of their 2010 draft class under contract as sixth-round pick Arthur Moats and seventh-round pick Levi Brown both signed their rookie contracts Thursday morning at One Bills Drive, writes Chris Brown from Bill.com
◊ Windsor head coach and former Sabre Bob Boughner still has confidence in talented but troubled Sabres prospect Zach Kassian in his Windsor Star article by Dave Waddell.
The Daily Links – June 11, 2010 – continue reading…
Mark Gaughan and Allen Wilson at The Buffalo News spoke with Buffalo Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel on Thursday, and the nine-year veteran informed the two reporters that he’s unlikely to return to the only NFL team he’s ever played for.
“At this point I don’t think I’m going to play,” Schobel told Gaughan and Wilson.
Schobel also indicated that he’d be open to returning to the team at some point during the 2010 season if he was needed, but that he would understand if the team wanted to move on without him. The veteran end will not be participating in the team’s mandatory mini-camp, which starts June 23, nor does he have plans to return at any point. He is not, however, referring to this decision as a retirement.
Schobel: “I don’t think I’m going to play” – continue reading…
(We’re counting down our list of the best 20 Buffalo Bills draft picks of all-time. Take note- this is not a rundown of the best 20 players. Where the player was drafted is often a major factor in determining his value and ranking. Today is No. 15 our list, Aaron Schobel)
Aaron Schobel, DE (Second round pick, 46th overall in 2001 NFL draft)
If you’re a Buffalo Bills fanatic and haven’t resided under a rock over the past decade, you’ll know that Tom Donahoe didn’t exactly revitalize this franchise when he took over as general manager for John Butler in 2001. During his five-year tenure as the Bills primary and often lone decision maker, Donahoe’s blunders, predominantly during the NFL draft are too many to mention.
But we will anyway—at least a few of them.
Top 20 Bills All-Time Draft Picks: Aaron Schobel (#15) – continue reading…
Maybe Marshawn Lynch was telling the truth when he told Michael Silver of Yahoo Sports last weekend that was ready to come to Buffalo Bills camp and attend workouts and fight for his job. However, it didn’t happen on Tuesday.
Lynch along with retirement contemplator Aaron Schobel was the only two veterans of note absent as the Bills began voluntary practice today. There is no word on if Schobel is close to a decision.
A number of players didn’t participate because of injury but were still in attendance. They include Demetrius Bell, Eric Wood, Derek Schouman and Nic Harris.
The starting offensive line consisted of, from left to right, Jamon Meredith, Andy Levitre, Geoff Hangartner, Kirk Chambers and Cornell Green. Of course, Bell and Wood are out with injury but still, that just sounds very bad.
While it doesn’t automatically mean his career in Buffalo is over, I can confirm that Buffalo Bills defensive star Aaron Schobel has sold his Orchard Park home.
The Buffalo News listed the property on their transactions page Monday and I can confirm through a representative at the real estate firm that sold the house that the property belonged to Schobel and has been sold.
According to my source the house was put on the market in late December of 2009 and was purchased and closed on in early April of this year, even though it wasn’t listed in official transactions until today. The source also said that Schobel hasn’t asked about the availability of any homes in the area to purchase.
Another source very close to Schobel insists that the Buffalo Bill truly still hasn’t decided if he’s going to play again or not in 2010.
“His wife and three kids lived in the Orchard Park home and are moving back to Texas. If Aaron plays the family is going to stay behind in Texas.”
Aaron Schobel has sold his Orchard Park home – continue reading…
Now that it’s common knowledge the Philadelphia Eagles are at least entertaining trade offers for Donovan McNabb, it’s only logical for the Buffalo Bills to be linked to rumors. The Bills are one of the few teams in the league with a completely unsettled quarterback situation, so much that as of now Chan Gailey claims there will be an open competition come training camp.
It’s being reported the Eagles could part with McNabb for a second round pick. It’s also been reported that the St. Louis Rams have already offered their second round pick (33rd overall) to the Eagles, though both sides have denied such an offer.
Buffalo owns the ninth pick of the second round, the 41st overall.
An Examination of Bills Second Rounders – continue reading…
According to Adam Caplan of Scout.com, barring a trade it looks Chris Kelsay will be back with the Buffalo Bills in 2010.
Caplan said in his Scout.com blog Sunday that the team paid Kelsay his $500,000 roster bonus that was due on March 5.
Kelsay will earn $3.7 million this season in base salary.
Report: Bills pay Kelsay $500,000 roster bonus – continue reading…
(Admitted hot head fan/blogger Joe Pinzone AKA “JoeFromNYC” has a blueprint to solve the Buffalo Bills woes. Many won’t agree with his views–and we probably won’t either. But they’re still interesting enough to publish. This is the fourth in a series of moves he would like to see the Bills make to return to respectability)
If you were to look at the premiere dynasties in NFL history, the majority of those franchises started from the bottom of the barrel. Before the Pittsburgh Steelers dominated the 70’s; they were being dominated in the 60’s. Before Joe Montana was guiding the 49ers to four championships in 8 years; they were the joke of the 70’s. Before the Bills were circling the wagons in the 90’s; they were circling down the drain in the mid 80’s. You can include the Cowboys of the 90’s in that conversation as well.
Playing Bills GM- Volume IV – continue reading…
It remains to be seen if the Buffalo Bills will soon be more competitive or descend even further into oblivion, but one thing about this team is certain; the roster turnover is going to be extreme.
There’s a slew of pending free agents, led by Terrell Owens and a cluster of mid tier to lower tier players the club won’t bring back.
Some players will get cut simply because they either don’t fit or underachieved. John McCargo, Nic Harris, Chris Ellis and Roscoe Parrish are among those prime candidates.
The following are six players that could be dealt this offseason. All contain a reasonable amount of value to other teams; even if they’re no longer needed here.
Six players the Bills could trade – continue reading…
They say that the lifeblood of the 3-4 defense is a gap-plugging nose tackle and athletic playmakers at the pass-rushing outside linebacker positions. Unfortunately for the Buffalo Bills, the team is lacking just as severely in the pass rusher department as they are in the nose tackle department.
Well, it’s not that bad, I suppose. The Bills actually have solid options here, and if things fall right this off-season, will have two guys that can at least take the field as starters. But the pass rush has long been an issue in Buffalo, and the team’s inability to find athletic young players at the position in the draft now has a negative effect on their transition to the new scheme.
After the jump, we’ll talk about the four players currently on Buffalo’s roster that fit the mold of a 3-4 pass-rushing outside linebacker. Unfortunately for the Bills, only two of those players are natural fits; the other two names on the list probably don’t belong at all. Add this to the needs list, folks!
Bills Roster Review: Rush Linebackers – continue reading…
The Buffalo Bills could potentially have another hole to fill in 2010. Star defensive end Aaron Schobel told a pair of Associated Press reporters following practice today that he will at least consider retirement when this season ends.
According to John Wawrow’s AP report, Schobel says he’s not sure what he’s going to do.
“”I don’t know my future really, what I’m going to do,” Schobel told two reporters, including The Associated Press”
Schobel still has three more years left on his deal after this season. His 75 career sacks is second in franchise history behind only Bruce Smith.
Schobel 32, fears that he’s slowing down in his ninth NFL season, according to the AP report. Stats show otherwise. He leads the team with seven sacks.
Chris Kelsay has returned to practice for the Buffalo Bills today after missing yesterday with a knee bruise. It was expected he would miss at least one week after suffering the injury right before halftime Monday night, but his recovery has went well. However, Aaron Schobel is not practicing today. He was forced to watch with a sore back. Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com confirms this.If Schobel misses any playing time on Sunday it could be devasting for the Bills defense. Schobel looked like his old self this past Monday, with a sack and interception return for a touchdown against Tom Brady. He nearly picked off a second pass late in the fourth quarter.
Check back later as we’re working on updates and if anything becomes available we’ll pass it along immediately.
