It took roughly 30 seconds from the time it was learned Green Bay Packers running back Ryan Grant would miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury for the Marshawn Lynch trade rumors to start circulating in Buffalo.
The rumors fueled further early Wednesday afternoon when Packers starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a former teammate of Lynch at the University of California, had this to say to the Green Bay media about Lynchs talent and character issues.
Hes a great player, Rodgers said to reporters. And any character issues the team might see, I think in a situation like that, and I think youve seen that with other players across the league, when you give a guy a change of scenery and a guy like that who feels he might have something to prove, and surround him with two guys, (Desmond) Bishop and myself who played with him. I think that can only help him feel comfortable and see a lot of production.
Next, factor in oft-injured Bills inside linebacker Paul Posluszny being out for at least a couple of weeks with a knee injury, Keith Ellison being forced into his starting spot, and reported news that Packers inside linebacker A.J. Hawk wants a trade, and the whispers of a potential Lynch for Hawk deal began spreading like wild-fire.
Its not happening, folks nor should it.
The Bills have no good reason to trade for Hawk. The grounds for him being disgruntled in the first place is because he didnt see a snap last Sunday in their opener at Philadelphia. The reason he didnt is because the Eagles forced the Packers into nickel and dime packages for the entire game. Hawk comes off the field on passing downs, so he was rendered useless.
How could that possibly help the Bills? Buffalo already has a linebacker whos stout against the run but comes off the field when defensive coordinator George Edwards feels the opponent is going to throw the ball.
His name is Andra Davis.
Dont get me wrong Hawk is a hard-nosed grinder that would give the Bills more toughness and bring an attitude that fans would certainly embrace. The bottom line, however, is hes a flat-out liability in pass coverage and Bills linebackers covering backs and tight ends as it stands is anything but a strength . Had the team not signed Davis to fill the role Hawk would bring, things would be different, but if you didnt see Davis blow a third down or long distance pass coverage assignment against Miami on Sunday it was for good reason -he wasnt on the field.
As for Lynch, there may not be another person who writes about the Bills that has wanted him gone over the past several months for than myself. I felt and still do that behind the scenes hes a selfish teammates thats never truly accepted being an afterthought in the teams running back plans. Two years ago it seemed like hed run through a wall to pick up a first down. After he lost his job to Fred Jackson it became clear, at least to me that hes more interested in dancing around the line or getting out of bounds than running a defender over for an extra needed yard.
Also, while I know the personal conduct a player demonstrates off the field should bear little relevance to how much hes wanted on it, its no secret Lynch at best is a shady figure and at worst; a menace to the Western New York society. If youre willing to forgive his sins and actions, which we wont rehash yet again, then all the power to you. But aside from all the reported stuff, if even a small percentage of alleged negative encounters with various fans are true, then the man has a worse attitude than any of us think.
Even in a town starving for a winner like Buffalo, his attitude is mostly unacceptable. Lynch doesnt agree and a small percentage of fans are on his side, but in this town its a players obligation to at least be courteous to the fans that support him.
Personal attitudes aside, its probably a moot point. If Buddy Nix wanted Lynch out of town and wouldve gotten any value for him in a trade, hed have been long gone. I reported several months ago based on sources I trust that Lynch was on the trading block and expected to get dealt. It never happened, therefore I was wrong. The reason was simple; Nix never got an offer he felt represented fair value.
Do you think the Packers will offer that now? Anything is possible, but Im not betting on it.
At this point of the season Lynch has more value as an insurance policy to Jackson and C.J. Spiller than a future fifth-round draft pick would fetch. The Bills showed last Sunday they dont have many offensive strengths, so its even more doubtful that Nix would deal one of his few assets; one that like Hawk in Green Bay is nearly useless with the depth ahead of him.
But even if by chance Lynch does get moved to Green Bay over the next 24-48 hours, expect it to be for a draft pick, not for Hawk. Nix is fond of draft picks and not fond of giving them up. In fact, hed rather have multiple root canals minus the anesthesia than surrender a draft pick.
As for Hawk, hes a blue-collar guy that would be well received in Buffalo. Its also not about the money. Despite what many critics say, Ralph Wilson would have no problem taking on his $4-million salary this year if he were a good fit.
But thats the thing hes not a good one.