Gailey and Nix discuss NFL combine

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (WIVB) - They're the future stars of the NFL and these young players are bringing their A-game to this year's combine.

There's about 330 future stars in Indianapolis for the annual NFL draft scouting combine. They're going to be weighed, measured, poked, prodded, timed, and interviewed. They're going to be interviewed by the coaching staffs. In fact, Bills Head Coach Chan Gailey told News 4 that the interviews are great for him because it's a chance for him to get face-to-face with the NFL draft prospects.

It's a brand new brain trust for the Bills at the combine this year and after five weeks on the job, new head coach Chan Gailey knows what he wants when he interviews players. He wants guys who know football.

"The one-on-one time we have with these guys is invaluable to try to get to know them and how much football they know. Put them at the chalkboard, put film on, and say, 'What did you do? What were you thinking? What was your rules?' And does he understand the game or does he just following a rule and doing steps like he was taught to do," said Gailey.

The Bills desperately need better play at quarterback this year, but Gailey says he has not given up on Trent Edwards or Ryan Fitzpatrick. He's still trying to figure out what went wrong last year.

Gailey said, "I'll have a better idea once I talk to the guy and see where he is mentally because it's obvious he's talented. As is Fitz; Fitz has got talent."

His decision makers say don't worry about the draft. Forget about free agency. The best option at quarterback is for Edwards, Fitzpatrick or Brian Brohm to emerge.

"Our priority is to make one out of the three we got. Now if that's impossible, we'll look in another direction," said General Manager Buddy Nix.

Of course another direction means the draft or free agency, but we got a strong sense that the Bills are determined to take another long look at the quarterbacks they have on the roster last year, especially Trent Edwards. The Bills are still evaluating their own free agents, including wide receiver Terrell Owens, who becomes an unrestricted free agent next week. It doesn't appear that they're going to resign him, but they say that decision will come next week.