What Went Right: Roscoe Parrish

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)