Edwards confident in reclaiming Bills QB job

Football Betting Lines

09/07/2010 -

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - Shortly after Buffalo Bills coach Chan Gailey finished discussing how much Trent Edwards has improved this preseason, the quarterback in question walked by and took a spot on a bench outside the locker room.

``I think he's gotten better, and that's the best way I can judge somebody,'' Gailey said after practice Monday, providing his first in-depth insight on Edwards since naming him the starter two days earlier. ``I've seen a light at the end of the tunnel. And that's what you're looking for.''

However bright that glimmer is - or how much Edwards might have overheard - is not entirely apparent.

So when it was Edwards' turn to speak to reporters, the quarterback wasn't prepared to acknowledge he's accomplished anything just yet by having won a three-way, offseason-long competition for the job.

``I'm fortunate to be in the position I am,'' Edwards said. ``But I can't sit here and be proud of myself by any means.''

What does mean something to Edwards is the insight he's drawn from the few ups and many downs he's endured in three previous seasons in Buffalo. He's gone from being a fan-favorite as a rookie starter to having many of those same supporters derisively label him ``Captain Checkdown'' and ``Trent-ative'' a year ago before being benched midway through last season.

``I feel like I've been through a lot in my career here. I feel like I've seen it all,'' Edwards said. ``I've seen the highs and lows and I'm still standing here.''

With a newfound perspective, Edwards prepares to make the most of his second chance in leading the Bills as they get ready to host Miami in the season-opener on Sunday.

It's a fresh start for the former third-round draft pick out of Stanford, who spent the past three seasons struggling to find his rhythm in a conservative attack employed by defensive-minded coach Dick Jauron, who was fired in November.

That's all changed under Gailey, an offensive specialist who has introduced a more aggressive approach.

Edwards refuses to dwell too much on what happened in the past.

``I know we want to sit here and try to find reasons on why we're working better, and why we weren't last year,'' Edwards said. ``For some reason, we're clicking right now.''

What's evident is the increase in production the offense enjoyed this preseason when Edwards led the starters to score five touchdowns in four games. That was a switch from last year, when the Bills starting offense was limited to two field goals in five preseason games.

Just as important, Edwards has begun shedding the checkdown label by showing he is, in fact, capable of completing deep passes.

This preseason, he connected on four passes of at least 25 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown to Lee Evans. In seven regular-season starts last year, Edwards completed just 11 passes over 25 yards - and that was despite the Bills offense featuring the one-two receiving tandem of Evans and Terrell Owens.

Evans is impressed by what he's seen from Edwards, who has proven to be more assertive on and off the field.

``You see him taking control of the quarterback position. And what I mean by that, he's understanding what defense are trying to do and making adjustments,'' Evans said. ``From his point of view, people can't be telling him what (the adjustments) are, he has to see them. And so that's where he's grown.''

Bills defenders have even seen a change in Edwards.

``He's carrying himself like a veteran quarterback,'' defensive end Marcus Stroud said. ``Despite what everybody was saying and writing him off and everything, he still came in here like he was the leader, like he was the starting quarterback. And everybody took notice of that.''

Edwards was conscious to make sure he carried himself with more confidence in a bid to lead by example.

``I'm carrying myself the way I want to see my teammates carry themselves,'' he said. ``That's what I want out of my teammates and that's the attitude and approach I'm taking.''

As impressed as Gailey's been, so far, he's aware there will be challenges ahead. One key to Edwards' success is getting protection from an offensive line that hasn't been healthy this preseason. Another key is Edwards continuing to develop.

``He's got a chance to have a very good year,'' Gailey said. ``But we've got to keep progressing.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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Super Bowl 2009 Betting

Super Bowl 2009 Betting propositions

Underdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder.

Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while.

Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books.

If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl.

Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX.

By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI.

In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite.

So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs.

While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl.

There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog.

In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl:

SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots.

XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired.

XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers.

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