Pittsburgh Steeler report: Source says trade for Bills wide receiver possible
PITTSBURGH - Could the release of Gary Russell signify something else? Like a potential draft day trade is in the works for a return man?
According to an NFL source, the Bills have been in talks about dealing wide receiver Roscoe Parrish to the Steelers.
The reason the deal would be logical, is twofold. First he is a proven wide receiver, (something the team needs with the loss of Nate Washington) but of more importance is what he can do as a return man.
Parrish not only is good, he has been the best the past two years. He led the NFL with a 16.3-yard average in 2007 and a 15.3-yard average in 2008 on punts. He also has reached the endzone and the past three seasons has scored on returns. Parrish also has a career mark of 23.7 on kickoffs.
Buffalo selected Parrish in the second round of the 2005 draft with the 55th pick. He has six starts in four seasons, catching 97 passes for 1,052 yards and five touchdowns.
If there is a downside, it’s he stands just 5-foot-9, 168 pounds, not exactly the wanted size of a starting receiver in the NFL. His career average per catch is just over ten yards, but the source said Parrish could make a good No. 3 slot man if put in the right situation.
There is also one character flaw which may come into play. On Feb. 17, 2008 he was stopped in Miami and cited for DUI. It came nearly a year prior to Browns receiver Donte Stallworth killing a pedestrian, also in Miami.
The source said the Bills are looking for a draft pick or picks for Parrish.
RUSSELL PICKED UP BY BENGALS
Gary Russell didn't stay on the unemployment line very long. On Saturday, a day after being released by the Steelers he was signed by the Bengals.
According to the Bengals
website, Cincy had pursued Russell as a college free agent after the 2006 draft before he signed with Pittsburgh. A native of Ohio, they Bengals were interested in Russell because he played in a University of Minnesota backfield that included NFL starters Laurence Maroney and Marion Barber.