Chargers owner Dean Spanos recently explained that, by not re-signing receiver Vincent Jackson, the team was able to bring in multiple additional free agents.

The Chargers have now added their third receiver since Jackson left.

Per a league source, the Chargers have agreed to terms with former Bills receiver Roscoe Parrish on a one-year deal.

Primarily a return specialist, Parrish had spent all seven of his NFL seasons with the Bills after joining the team via round two of the 2005 draft.  He appeared in only two games last season, missing the remainder with an ankle injury.


(profootballtalk.com)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Roscoe Parrish heads the 2012 class of the Miami High Hall of Fame that was announced Friday.

A 2001 Miami High graduate, Parrish joined the Bills in 2005 after a successful career at the University of Miami. Parrish caught the attention of college scouts following his accomplishments at Miami High, where he played receiver and also took snaps as the Stingarees’ quarterback.

Joining Parrish in the new Miami High Hall of Fame class are basketball players Gimel Martinez (1990) and Steven Edwards (1992). Martinez and Edwards played collegiately at Kentucky and Miami, respectively.

The rest of the Hall of Fame class consists of girls’ basketball player Latonda Adderley (1996), baseball players Bob Gustafson (1963) and Rudy Arias (1975), football player Joe Gonzalez (1971) and track athlete Carl Vereen (1953).

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be April 21 at the Miami High Auditorium. The ceremony also will include a special acknowledgement to Miami High’s state football championship teams of 1960 and 1965 and their respective coaches, Ottis Mooney and Bobby Carlton. Arnold Tucker, a 1943 graduate who had a successful career at Miami and later quarterbacked the famed Army teams of the mid 1940s, also will be recognized during the ceremony.

Tickets for the event, which includes a pre-ceremony dinner on the school patio, are $35 per person and $300 for a table of 10. For information, call 305-238-4271.


(miamiherald.com)

The Buffalo Bills are not expected to re-sign impending free-agent WR Roscoe Parrish this offseason because he has been injury-prone over the last few years.




(kffl.com)

His last two seasons have ended prematurely on injured reserve, but fully healthy now, Roscoe Parrish hopes to be back with the Bills in 2012.
Parrish, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, wants to re-sign with the club that made him a second-round draft choice in 2005.

“Yeah I would love to be back here,” he said. ”I’ve been with this team my whole career. Most definitely I’d love to be back here. I just want to play football and get the opportunity again. Seize the moment and take advantage of it.”

Parrish is back in town running agility drills and working out in the team’s weight room. He’s expecting to be medically cleared within a week and knows the importance of heading into the offseason healthy.

“You don’t want to think about the negative things, you just want to think about the positive,” he said. ”The good thing about it is I’ll be cleared before the season is over. Today I ran agility drills and ran some routes pretty good. I’m just trying to get back in shape now.

“You break the film down and you can see my return skills and what I can do in the slot. So I can bring that to a team. It’s been unfortunate with the injuries, but it’s up to them. We’ll see what they’re going to do. On my end I have to continue to work out and build my base and get back in shape.”



(buffalobills.com)

The Buffalo Bills took a hit to their receiving corps Tuesday. Veteran receiver and return specialist Roscoe Parrish will be out for the remainder of the 2011 season with an ankle injury, a league source tells ESPN.com's AFC East blog. Parrish was hurt in the second quarter of a 38-35 win over Oakland last weekend. He stumbled awkwardly after making a 16-yard catch, and remained in the game for the next play before collapsing on the sideline. Noted for his dynamic speed, Parrish was being counted on to play in the slot, where he showed signs of flourishing last season. He had a career-best 400 yards receiving and two touchdowns in eight games before sustaining a season-ending broken wrist injury.

• This isn't a big surprise as Parrish was carted off the field Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. Things looked grim from the start. But Bills coach Chan Gailey said he was holding out hope Parrish would be able to return at some point this season.

• More than anything, this hurts the team's depth. The Bills run a lot of three- and four-receiver sets. So they need healthy players. Parrish only had one reception for 16 yards in two games. But he would have received more opportunities in the event another receiver went down. Starting receiver Steve Johnson also is dealing with a groin injury. He expects to play Sunday against New England. But Buffalo cannot afford more injuries at an important position for the Bills.

• This is the second straight year Parrish suffered a significant injury. He missed the second half of 2010 with a wrist injury. He's played 10 games the past two seasons.

• The Bills also will need to add help for punt returns. Parrish returned five punts this year for 46 yards. His longest punt return was for 28 yards.

Click here to order Roscoe Parrish’s proCane Rookie Card.


(espn.com)

ORCHARD PARK — Roscoe Parrish made his first catch of the season on a 16-yard completion midway through the second quarter. After the next play, Parrish hopped off the field in a panic, unable to bear weight on his left leg. He was later carted into the locker room.

Coach Chan Gailey said Parrish is likely going to be out “a while.”

“Guys that weren’t exactly playing a lot are going to have to come on and play,” Gailey said. “I feel like we got a system that allows a guy to be successful if he’ll be at the right place at the right time and can win some one on one’s.”

Click here to order Roscoe Parrish’s proCane Rookie Card.


(tonawanda-news.com)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) Bills receiver Roscoe Parrish is out indefinitely after hurting his left ankle in a 38-35 win over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

The Bills also lost starting right guard Kraig Urbik, who will miss a few weeks with a left knee injury, coach Chan Gailey said after the game.
Gailey wouldn't provide any further details, except to say Parrish's injury was still being evaluated and that he would be out for "a while."

Parrish was carted off from the sideline after getting hurt in the second quarter while blocking on teammate Stevie Johnson's 19-yard catch. He lay on the Bills sideline for several minutes, where he was treated by team trainers, before being carted to the locker room.

It's the latest setback for the seven-year veteran, who missed the second half of last season with a broken wrist.

Urbik did not return after he was hurt later in the same series.

Raiders cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke limped off the field after hurting his left knee later on that drive. After being examined on the sideline, he was escorted by a trainer to the locker room for tests.

Coach Hue Jackson provided no injury updates after the game.

Click here to order Roscoe Parrish’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nationalpost.com)

Update:
Parrish (hamstring) is not listed on the Bills' initial injury report for Week 1 and considers himself a full-go for Sunday's game in Kansas City, BuffaloBills.com reports. "Yeah I’m ready to go," said Parrish. "I feel healthy. I was fighting a hamstring during the whole process of preseason but I stayed on top of my rehab and been out there moving around. I’m feeling good and am ready to go."

Recommendation:
The Bills played it safe with their slot receiver, who now hopes to pick up where he left off in a promising 2010 season in Chan Gailey's offense before he suffered a broken wrist that required surgery. Parrish is also listed as the No. 1 punt return man on the Bills' initial depth chart.

Click here to order Roscoe Parrish’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotowire.com)

Last year, C.J. Spiller was the Bills’ primary kick returner, and was pretty average in that capacity save for one touchdown jaunt. He'll be joined back deep by free agent acquisition Brad Smith, who returned 50 kicks at 28.6 yards per return - with two touchdowns - for the New York Jets last season. However, with the NFL's kickoff rules leading to a lot more touchbacks this season, who returns kicks may quickly become irrelevant.

At punt returner, Roscoe Parrish remains one of the best in the game, and he'll continue to hold down that role. He'll be backed up by Spiller, as well.

Click here to order Roscoe Parrish’s proCane Rookie Card.


(buffalorumblings.com)

The Bills have approached receiver Roscoe Parrish about a contract extension, a league source tells The News.

Parrish is in the last year of a deal that averaged $3.3 million a year. Parrish just turned 29 and revived his receiving career under coach Chan Gailey last season with 33 catches in eight games. Parrish, in his seventh season out of Miami, likes playing for Gailey.

Click here to order Roscoe Parrish’s proCane Rookie Card.


(buffalonews.com)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Two years ago Roscoe Parrish wanted out of Buffalo. This season, the Bills receiver can’t wait to get back on the field.

All it took to inspire Parrish’s change of heart was the arrival of a new coach in Chan Gailey, who provided Parrish the chance to prove, once and for all, that he can be more than a bit player on offense.

And not even a left hamstring injury that’s wiped out much of Parrish’s preseason can dampen his eagerness.

“I’m ready. I’m fired up,” Parrish said, after returning to practice this week for the first time since Aug. 10. “I’m just appreciating every moment.”

He expects to be ready once the Bills open the regular season at Kansas City on Sept. 11. And he has every reason to be upbeat.

For the first time in his seven-year career, Parrish enters a season with a clearly defined role, having already secured the slot receiver’s job. He has a quarterback who trusts him, and a coach who believes in him as a receiver, and not merely a dynamic, but one-dimensional, punt and kickoff-return specialist.

And the 2005 second-round draft pick finally has the production from last year to prove it, even though his season was cut short after breaking his right wrist in November.

“Man, I’m very confident,” Parrish said. “Last year was a privilege. I was able to play wide receiver and show some of my skills.”

His numbers last year might have been modest by NFL standards: a career-best 400 yards and two touchdowns. And yet, Parrish did that in only eight games before getting hurt.

It was still good enough to finish third among Bills receivers in yards, and also more than doubled the production he had in his previous two seasons combined. That includes a career-worst 34 yards receiving in 2009, when he opened the season being the odd-man out behind Terrell Owens, and was then left to ride the bench after losing the trust of former coach Dick Jauron.

Parrish wanted out after 2009.

“I’m a competitor,” he said. “Any competitor would rather go somewhere else to compete, because if you’re not a competitor, you’ll just sit back and be complacent with it. And that’s not me.”

Parrish didn’t get his trade wish granted. What he got instead was the arrival of an offensive-minded coach in Gailey, and a real shot to shine.
Awarded the slot receiver’s job out of training camp, Parrish wound up blossoming, particularly after Ryan Fitzpatrick took over as starter three weeks into the season.

In Fitzpatrick’s first game, Parrish had five catches for a season-best 83 yards — the most he had since a career-best 104 in 2006. He then added another 25 catches for 233 yards and a touchdown in his final four games before getting hurt in the fourth quarter of a 22-19 loss to Chicago.

“I don’t want to be selfish and say it was enjoyable,” Parrish said, referring to his production in a season the Bills got off to an 0-8 start and ended with a 4-12 finish. “But at the same time, it was a good feeling to be a permanent wide receiver and not just be a package guy.”

The Bills are counting on getting even more out of Parrish this season, and not only because he’s now the team’s senior receiver after Lee Evans was traded to Baltimore three weeks ago. Parrish is small, generously listed at 5-foot-9, and yet fast and shifty. He’s capable of stretching defenses and also cutting off routes short to find open spots.

“He’s got another gear than everybody else. The quickness that he has definitely adds another element,” Fitzpatrick said. “Today, he was out there running around a little bit, and you almost forget how talented he is because the last few weeks he’s been nursing back to health.”

Gailey has such trust in Parrish that he’s held the slot spot open for him all preseason.

“I’m confident he can do it,” Gailey said. “If I wasn’t confident in that, I would’ve been working some other people really hard to take that spot.”

Click here to order Roscoe Parrish’s proCane Rookie Card.


(ap.com)

Bills WR Roscoe Parrish (hamstring), WR Donald Jones (head), and RB Johnny White (head) all returned to Monday's practice.

Parrish had been out since August 10, but he's likely to remain Buffalo's top slot option to open the season. Jones was a projected starter, but Marcus Easley is making a push with a big preseason showing. White is locked in as the Bills' No. 3 running back behind Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller.

Click here to order Roscoe Parrish’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Bills WR Roscoe Parrish (hamstring) has been ruled out for a second straight preseason game.

Parrish has been out for eight days now. The veteran slot receiver knows coach Chan Gailey's offense, so the injury shouldn't be a major setback if he can get healthy by the end of the month.

Click here to order Roscoe Parrish’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

Buffalo Bills WR Roscoe Parrish will miss the team’s first preseason game Saturday at Chicago with an injured left hamstring.

Parrish missed two practices earlier in the week with the same injury, then re-aggravated it Wednesday night. The Bills don’t want to take any chances with Parrish, who’s coming back from a fractured wrist last season.

Before he was hurt, he proved to be a valuable piece to Chan Gailey’s offensive puzzle. He set a career high with 400 receiving yards in just eight games, providing the Bills with a speed option at slot receiver.

Parrish came up limping after running a fly pattern. Don’t expect to see him back at practice until he’s fully healthy, so that the injury doesn’t linger.

Click here to order Roscoe Parrish’s proCane Rookie Card.


(sportingnews.com)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Roscoe Parrish left practice Wednesday night after an apparent leg injury and was ruled out of the team's first preseason game this Saturday in Chicago.

Parrish was running a fly pattern during a full-field drill when he came up limping and grabbing his left leg. Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey expects him to miss extended practice time.

Click here to order Roscoe Parrish’s proCane Rookie Card.


(ap.com)

Buffalo Bills

WR Roscoe Parrish — The Bills had a breakthrough wideout last season (Stevie Johnson), and it's possible that Parrish could fit that description in 2011. He has been a steady slot receiver for six seasons in Buffalo, but 2010 was his best, and he played in just eight games, catching 33 passes for 400 yards and two touchdowns. A broken wrist cost Parrish the second half of the season. The Bills turned into a pass-happy offense last season, especially because they often played from behind. With more attention heading in the direction of Johnson after his 82-1,073-10 campaign, and with veteran Lee Evans' production steadily decreasing, the speedy Parrish is primed to have a bigger role. There is competition, as David Nelson had a solid season in the slot last season, and young WRs Marcus Easley and Naaman Roosevelt should see more time on the field. But Parrish is the veteran, and if the Bills' passing offense improves, he could be a big reason for it. If he stays injury-free, he could finally put it all together for a big season.

Click here to order Roscoe Parrish’s proCane Rookie Card.


(profootballweekly.com)

Denver Broncos
D.J. Williams, linebacker: Williams was a first-round pick in 2004, and the Broncos paid handsomely to keep him a couple of years ago. He is appreciated in Denver, but this athletic, smart linebacker doesn’t get much national notice. He has never been to a Pro Bowl, yet Williams is a tackle machine. He has had at least 119 tackles in three of the past four seasons. He is versatile and has played virtually every linebacker position possible.

Buffalo Bills
Roscoe Parrish, receiver/punt returner: For five years, Parrish practically begged to be thrown the ball. He made the most of his touches, becoming one of the most dangerous punt returners in the NFL and setting franchise records.

But his listed position was wide receiver, and in the Bills' passing game under head coaches Mike Mularkey and Dick Jauron, the undersized Parrish always seemed to be an afterthought.

That changed last year under new coach Chan Gailey. He played just eight games because of a broken wrist, but Parrish caught 33 passes for 400 yards and two touchdowns. The yardage was the most of his career. His touchdowns tied a career high. Two more receptions would have matched a career high.

Houston Texans
Chris Myers, center: A team with a good deal of flashy names and stars needs quality players in support roles to be effective. The Texans don’t have enough of them, but Myers is certainly one. I’ve heard from scouts he’s underrated and good at what the Texans ask their line to do. He worked as the man in the middle for the line that helped a guy who wasn’t drafted, Arian Foster, to the NFL rushing title in 2010. Most fans couldn’t name a single Texans lineman, but Myers deserves more recognition. He'll be hard-pressed to get it, though, while Jeff Saturday is still playing center for the rival Colts.


(espn.com)

Before several young, undrafted Buffalo Bills wide receivers showed glimpses of playmaking potential in the second half of the 2010 regular season, one of the more intriguing stories was the resurrection of slot receiver Roscoe Parrish. Playing under head coach Chan Gailey for the first time, Parrish was quickly re-inserted into Buffalo's offensive lineup - even earning a few starts over Stevie Johnson early in the season - and after eight games, he'd already set a career high in receiving yards (400) and tied a career high in touchdowns (two).

During his best game of the season - a seven-catch, 60-yard performance with a touchdown in a loss to Chicago - Parrish suffered a broken wrist that cut his promising season short.

It's going to be an interesting year for Parrish. Younger talent like David Nelson, Donald Jones and perhaps even Marcus Easley could push him for playing time. That could severely hamper his ability to land a new contract, as he's entering the final year of his current deal. Parrish will turn 29 this fall, and is the eldest receiver on the team not named Lee Evans. As has always been the case, he'll need to fight tooth and nail not just to keep his role as the team's third receiver, but to land that coveted new deal, as well.

Click here to order Roscoe Parrish’s proCane Rookie Card.



(buffalorumblings.com)

Welcome to our 1st annual and long overdue proCane Rankings where we look back at the 2010 NFL season and rank the 43 proCanes that took snaps in 2010 (except for Sinorice Moss who was placed on IR before the start of the season).

Stay tuned as we countdown from number 43 to number 1. Our rankings are based on each player’s performance last year. In August we’ll go ahead and re-rank the player’s based on our 2011 expectations. For now read our review of each player’s 2010 season and where they rank overall. Enjoy!

To read our rankings of players 43-35, click here.

34. Tavares Gooden LB Baltimore Ravens: The knock on Gooden since his college days has been his inability to stay healthy and 2010 unfortunately was no exception as Gooden played in 10 games, he did not start any and only tallied 18 total tackles last season. He was used by the Ravens on obvious passing situations because of his speed and coverage skills, but missed six games due to injury and was not able to secure a starting spot. At one point the Ravens saw Gooden as Ray Lewis’ successor but his inability to stay healthy has put that in doubt. It would be great to see him be able to play an entire season, hopefully 2011 will be the year.

33. Kelly Jennings DB Seattle Seahawks: Jennings under new Head Coach Pete Carroll had a solid mini camp which translated to him starting 14 games for the Seahawks and tallying a career high 13 pass deflections. Jennings also had his first interception since his rookie season in 2006, was far more consistent this year and wasn’t pushed around as much by opposing receivers. Jennings will be a free agent, but look for him to draw interest from teams including the Seahawks.

32. Rashad Butler LT Houston Texans: Butler who has been activated for all 16 games the last two years for the Texans started four games this past season and performed quite well at left tackle. Butler as a matter of fact opened the eyes of opposing coaches with his solid play and most probably will be snatched up by a team in need of a starting left tackle this offseason.

31. Phillip Buchanon DB Washington Redskins: In his first year with the Redskins, Buchanon, who played in all 16 games and started 5 had a career high in pass deflections (18) and recorded two interceptions. Overall, Buchanon had a solid year, but was at times inconsistent and found himself in Shanahan and Co.’s doghouse on several occasions. Buchanon didn’t contribute as much as was anticipated on punt returns but is still a threat on special teams as well. With one year under his belt with the Redskins look for Buchanon to have a bigger impact in 2011.

30. Calais Campbell DE Arizona Cardinals: There were high expectations coming into the 2010 season for Campbell as he was expected to record double digit sacks and more than adequately replace free-agent departee Antonio Smith. Unfortunately in 15 games Campbell only recorded six sacks, 1 less than the 2009 season though he did have more total tackles (60). The 2011 season will be an important one for Campbell to prove that he can be an elite pass rusher in the NFL, because most expected him to already be one.

29. Darryl Sharpton LB Houston Texans: Sharpton in his rookie season with the Texans was a surprise contributor on defense as he started 6 of the 12 games he was active for before sustaining an injury which ended his season prematurely. When playing though, Sharpton was solid both on special teams and defense where he accumulated 34 tackles and a sack. Look for Sharpton to work his way up the Texan depth chart and eventually become a full-time starter, if not in 2011 then 2012.

28. Vernon Carey RT Miami Dolphins: Carey battled a knee injury for most of the 2010 season but still started 12 games for the Dolphins before being put on injured reserve. Carey playing with a below average Dolphins offensive line was one of the few bright spots. Carey has been solid throughout his career and talk of him moving to the guard position is unfounded. Carey, though still recovering from his knee injury should be 100% by the start of the season.

27. Roscoe Parrish WR Buffalo Bills: Parrish was having the best season of his six-year career as through eight games he had career-high receiving yards, rushing yards and receiving touchdowns. Parrish was the Bills’ #2 wide receiver after finally being given opportunity to shine on offense while he continued to be a threat on punt returns as well. Unfortunately his season was cut short in week 8 after he sustained a season-ending wrist injury, but look for him to return as a starter to the Bills’ offense despite the emergence of Steve Johnson last season.

26. Frank Gore RB San Francisco 49ers: Gore was on pace to have another stellar season for the 49ers with their new-found dedication to the running game. Through 11 games Gore had 853 yards on the ground and over 450 yard receiving along with five touchdowns before fracturing his hip and being placed on injured reserve. It was the fourth consecutive season that Gore was unable to play in all 16 games, but when Gore is healthy, there are few in the league that are better than him especially with how involved he has become in the passing game as well.

Check back tomorrow to see which proCanes were ranked 25th through 16th!

Bills WR/PR Roscoe Parrish had the pins removed from his wrist a month ago.

Parrish fractured his left wrist during Week 9 and was placed on injured reserve. He's confident that he'll be ready for full participation in whatever OTAs there are this offseason. Parrish was flourishing as a slot receiver under Chan Gailey before going down and will be fine to pick up where he left off.

Click here to order Roscoe Parrish’s proCane Rookie Card.



(rotoworld.com)

When it came to the 2009 NFL season, the only drama surrounding Roscoe Parrish each week would be waiting to see if his tenure in Buffalo would officially come to an end via a pink slip.  After all, unofficially it already pretty much over.

Parrish was inactive for four games in 2009 and hardly mattered when he did get to suit up.  In fact at times Parrish would be listed active only as the team’s emergency third quarterback. For the entire season Parrish had three receptions for a whopping 34 yards. Once one of the premier punt returners in football, Parrish was a disaster there as well.   He had a mind-blowing five fumbles last season, including two in one game, both lost against Cleveland as the Browns dealt the Bills an embarrassing 6-3 loss.

Naturally, it led to Parrish’s benching and endless speculation that then-head coach Dick Jauron was getting ready to drop the hammer on his uninspiring Buffalo career.

Certainly this wasn’t what Tom Donahoe envisioned when he plucked the University of Miami product in the second round of the 2005 draft with the first pick the Bills had.  Parrish entered the league with the expectations of being one of the game’s most dangerous return men (he has been at times) as well as a game-changing receiver capable of generating six points on the board any time he touched the ball.
It didn’t exactly work out that way.

Parrish only caught 15 passes his rookie season and hauled in 23 his second year.  In his third season with the club he finally got more chances to exhibit big play potential; catching 35 passes for 352 yards while averaging 16.3 yards per punt return with a touchdown.  Unfortunately the receiving numbers would go on to be his career-best.

That is, until 2010.

The hiring of Chan Gailey as the Bills head coach unquestionably shot energy through the body of Parrish, who was disgruntled about his lack of playing time under Jauron’s watch but seldom involved himself in public lamenting.

One of the first things Gailey discussed when taking over the job was his aspiration to find better ways to utilize Parrish.  It sounded like a broken record to Bills fans, who heard similar sentiments echoed by Jauron time and time again.

Only this time, Gailey was resolute in his words.

From day one of training camp it was noticeable Parrish would be afforded every opportunity to substantiate his worth to the new coaching staff… he did that and then some.

When the season opened with a home game against Miami, Trent Edwards was the starting quarterback.  As we all know by now, it also became the foundation for the end of the Edwards era.  He did nothing right that game with the exception of one play.  Facing fourth and 11 in Dolphins territory in the fourth quarter, Edwards dropped back and hit a streaking Parrish over the middle for a 31-yard touchdown strike.  It was the Bills lone touchdown score of the afternoon.

After another uneventful performance the following week in Green Bay by Edwards in which Parrish caught two passes for 34 yards, Edwards’ journey as the starting quarterback became officially defunct.

Ironically, it took only two weeks for Parrish to surpass his entire 2009 offensive output.

Ryan Fitzpatrick took over the offense in week three at New England and by no coincidence the offense started to gel.  It was also no accident that Parrish took his play to another level.  In the 38-30 loss Parrish was one of the best players on the field; catching five passes for 83 yards as he caught a pass for at least 21 yards for the third straight game. It was also the most yards he had in a game since 2006 when having 104 yards against the New York Jets.

Parrish had four receptions for 58 yards two weeks later against Jacksonville and following the Bills bye had a career-best eight catches for 57 yards at Baltimore.

Two weeks later Parrish was having arguably his finest game of the season before one play brought everything to a screeching halt.  By the time the fourth quarter came Parrish already had seven catches for 60 yards and a touchdown as the Bills struggled overall offensively.  Fitzpatrick put up a pass near the right sideline in Bears territory that Parrish leaped for.  He couldn’t come down with the high pass inbounds and on the way down, fell awkwardly on his wrist and broke it.

Just like that, his storybook comeback crusade was over.

At the time of the injury, which amounted to exactly a half season of play for Parrish, he had far exceeded his best single-season receiving numbers. He finished with 33 receptions for 400 yards and a pair of touchdowns.  For those mathematically challenged, Parrish was on pace for over 65 receptions and 800 yards.  Those are outstanding numbers for any team’s third wide receiver.

He was also back to being a threat in the punt return game.  Three of his 12 returns went for at least 20 yards and he was averaging 10.9 per attempt.

While Parrish deserves the credit for turning his career around through all the hard work put in, he’s quick to deflect praise towards the head coach who gave him the opening to illustrate his skills.

“If you take this in a way that we had a defensive-minded guy as our head coach for four years here,” Parrish said.  ”Now, you’ve got an offensive-minded guy as our head coach. So, he’s able to see talent even more from the previous coaches that we’ve had. He was more of a prototype guy who every position on offense had to be six [foot] one to play receiver and a certain size to play running back. With [Chan Gailey] it doesn’t matter. If you prove yourself that you can do it and know your job and your assignment you’ll get your opportunity.”
Despite what could be measured as magical compared to previous struggles in Buffalo, Parrish will have to prove himself all over again.  Stevie Johnson and barring a trade, Lee Evans are established as the Bills starters at wide receiver.  David Nelson had a lot of success as a rookie and both Donald Jones and Naaman Roosevelt proved they’re capable of breathing down anyone’s neck for a roster spot.  Plus, the team invested a fourth-round pick last year in Marcus Easley, who missed the entire season with a knee injury. He’s sure to get a long look from Gailey this summer.  To summarize, it’s a congested position and most will have little room for error.

Gailey confirmed his confidence in Parrish during a press conference immediately following the season, saying he expects the same from Parrish as he got in 2010.

“I expect him to be back 100-percent and picking up right where he left off,” Gailey said.  ”That’s what I expect.”

In fact, it’s guys like Parrish that get Gailey keyed up about the offensive potential as a whole.

“To be honest with you, I’m looking forward to it very much so,” Gailey said. “And I think our offensive line is going to be a lot better next year. I think that we’re going to be able to do better things with C.J. Spiller next year. I’m really looking forward to what I think our offense can be this coming year. If we can have a good offseason and get everybody working together, I’m looking forward to it.”

Click here to order Roscoe Parrish’s proCane Rookie Card.



(buffalosportsdaily.com)