Troy Vincent IR'd

[Leonard Tose]

Looks like it could be a career-ender for Troy. From Buffalobills.com:



Vincent placed on I.R.; Leonhard Signed to Roster
by Chris Brown, Lead Journalist Last Updated: 9/13/2006 1:13 PM ET


Troy Vincent's hamstring injury in Week One has brought an abrupt end to his 2006 season. The Bills starting free safety was placed on injured reserve as his injury left Buffalo with just three healthy safeties on their roster.

Vincent's injury left the Bills with only Ko Simpson, Coy Wire and Donte Whitner available as veteran Matt Bowen is still on the mend. Bowen did not practice with the team Wednesday and is listed as questionable.

"We talked about it after the doctor's evaluation on Monday," said Vincent. "We discussed how long it would be. Would it be one week, two weeks, three weeks? And we're thin especially with Matt being down. The team needs to bring in some fresh bodies that can perform on Sunday."

What makes it more difficult is that it's been a recurring injury for Vincent who initially experienced a hamstring problem in training camp.

"The decision with Troy was a difficult one," said head coach Dick Jauron. "It really came down to the fact that it's so hard to tell how long a hamstring will take, particularly one in this situation. We thought it was in the best interest of our team in the short term knowing Matt is not going to available, we don't think. We needed to get another healthy safety in here. The bottom line was the uncertainty as to how long it was going to be and how long the healing was going to take."

"It hurt me enough on Sunday to obviously come out," said Vincent. "It was pretty tender and there were a lot of unknowns. It's been lingering. I've been able to get through it."

Vincent himself admitted it could be a while, but wouldn't put a timetable on it.

"Right now what we need to do is what's best for the team," Vincent said. "And that's healthy bodies, it gives the young guys the opportunity to come in and play. This is what is best because you need healthy bodies, especially a team in transition that's trying to learn a new system."

The 15-year veteran didn't express any frustration about the decision, saying he knows why the move had to be made.

"I understand the nature of the business," said Vincent. "I'm a big boy and I know the ins and outs and what's best for the team and to not be selfish. I know my role is to continue to get number 30 and number 20 ready to perform at a high level. They're in a Buffalo Bills uniform and the expectations are for them to play well."

To fill the void Buffalo signed safety Jim Leonhard to their 53-man roster to replace Vincent. Leonhard was the only undrafted rookie free agent to make the team's roster in 2005 and appeared in 10 games last season working mostly on special teams. He was expected to arrive at One Bills Drive in time for player meetings Wednesday afternoon.

"He'll be back and will be out at practice (Thursday)," said Jauron.

Leonhard was in Buffalo's training camp this past summer, but didn't make the final cut and wasn't eligible for the practice squad. He played at both strong and free safety in the camp setting, but will likely work at free safety full time now.

Even though Leonhard has more experience than Simpson, it's anticipated that Buffalo's rookie safeties, Whitner and Simpson will start Sunday at Miami.

Both played three quarters of last week's game together and didn't give up much to Tom Brady and the New England offense. Whitner finished with seven tackles and his first career interception. Simpson finished with six tackles.

For Vincent the injury could potentially signal the end to a fabulous career that began in Miami when he was taken by the Dolphins with the seventh overall pick in the 1992 NFL Draft. However, Vincent hasn't thought that far ahead to this point.

"I don't know if it's a career decision," Vincent said. "But I'll sit back and think about it and decide where I go from here."

Vincent went to the Pro Bowl five consecutive years from 2000-2004 as a cornerback. He's played in 199 NFL games in his career and entered the 2006 season as the NFL leader in interceptions among active players with 47. He tied for the team lead in interceptions in 2005 with four and set a career high with 102 tackles for Buffalo last season.

[statler]

It's a shame he's just one game shy of 200!

[leifdawg]

They never gave an actual timetable for recovery but it seems like that if was only going to be for 5-6 weeks they could have put him on the PUP list. But maybe I'm missing some rule here...

[Zepster]

They never gave an actual timetable for recovery but it seems like that if was only going to be for 5-6 weeks they could have put him on the PUP list. But maybe I'm missing some rule here...

Here ya go Leifdawg, this may clear it up. From PFT.com


POSTED 7:01 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 11:10 p.m. EDT, September 13, 2006

BILLS DUMPING TROY?

Our friends at WGR in Buffalo tell us that Bills safety Troy Vincent has said on the air that he is on "minor" injured reserve, and that he can play again in four to six weeks, but with another team. (The interview can be heard right here.)

Though Vincent was being vague, it sounds to us as if the Bills have reached an injury settlement with the 15-year veteran.

Here's the way it works. A player who passes a physical at the outset of the season can't be cut for a subsequent football injury. In many cases, the team and the injured player work out an injury settlement, which pays the player for an agreed number of weeks under the assumption that, at the end of the period covered by the settlement, he will be healthy.

After the expiration of the time period covered by the injury settlement, the player may sign with another team, but not with the team that released him.

As we understand the relevant rules, the first step in the process is the placement of the player on injured reserve, even though his official designation is "waived-injured." Then, there is a finite period of time within which the team and the player must reach an injury settlement. If no settlement is reached, the player is waived and may file an injury grievance.

In this case, our guess is that Vincent and the Bills currently are haggling over whether his hamstring injury will require four weeks or six weeks to heal.

If we're right, he'll likely receive anywhere from $612,000 to $918,000 -- based on his 2006 salary of $2.6 million.

Of course, Vincent also would have the option to receive the balance of his 2006 salary as termination pay, since he was on the roster for the initial game of the season. But since the Bills likewise have the option to park him on IR for all of 2006, it could be that Vincent has decided to take what he can get by way of an injury settlement, and then join a team that is in contention for the playoffs later in the year.

Then again, we could be interpreting all of this incorrectly. If any agent or front-office type out there can make any sense of Vincent's comments, please let us know (they begin at 7:50 of the spot).

[leifdawg]

They never gave an actual timetable for recovery but it seems like that if was only going to be for 5-6 weeks they could have put him on the PUP list. But maybe I'm missing some rule here...

Here ya go Leifdawg, this may clear it up. From PFT.com


POSTED 7:01 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 11:10 p.m. EDT, September 13, 2006

BILLS DUMPING TROY?

Our friends at WGR in Buffalo tell us that Bills safety Troy Vincent has said on the air that he is on "minor" injured reserve, and that he can play again in four to six weeks, but with another team. (The interview can be heard right here.)

Though Vincent was being vague, it sounds to us as if the Bills have reached an injury settlement with the 15-year veteran.

Here's the way it works. A player who passes a physical at the outset of the season can't be cut for a subsequent football injury. In many cases, the team and the injured player work out an injury settlement, which pays the player for an agreed number of weeks under the assumption that, at the end of the period covered by the settlement, he will be healthy.

After the expiration of the time period covered by the injury settlement, the player may sign with another team, but not with the team that released him.

As we understand the relevant rules, the first step in the process is the placement of the player on injured reserve, even though his official designation is "waived-injured." Then, there is a finite period of time within which the team and the player must reach an injury settlement. If no settlement is reached, the player is waived and may file an injury grievance.

In this case, our guess is that Vincent and the Bills currently are haggling over whether his hamstring injury will require four weeks or six weeks to heal.

If we're right, he'll likely receive anywhere from $612,000 to $918,000 -- based on his 2006 salary of $2.6 million.

Of course, Vincent also would have the option to receive the balance of his 2006 salary as termination pay, since he was on the roster for the initial game of the season. But since the Bills likewise have the option to park him on IR for all of 2006, it could be that Vincent has decided to take what he can get by way of an injury settlement, and then join a team that is in contention for the playoffs later in the year.

Then again, we could be interpreting all of this incorrectly. If any agent or front-office type out there can make any sense of Vincent's comments, please let us know (they begin at 7:50 of the spot).

Thanks for the heads up; if Lito can't go do we bring Troy in for a look?

[IMK]

I can't see how Troy could possibly contribute as a cornerback anymore. He was a step slow and starting to become a liability when he left more than three seasons ago. And we certainly aren't in the market for a safety.

[fanofthegame76]

If Lito misses more than 8-9 weeks, then Troy as a nickel corner should be okay - he is a veteran and will know how to position himself in the slot.

But I am pretty confident that by the time Troy comes back from his injury, Lito should be back starting with Hood coming at the nickel situations.