Updating the NFL Demons

It was a very good Sunday outing for former Demons Terrence McGee and Demetrius Bell, playing for the Buffalo Bills in a 20-7 exhibition win over the Indianapolis Colts.

McGee scooped up a fumble and raced 68 yards for a touchdown and a 17-0 lead in the third quarter. The Bills' starting cornerback has been sharp all preseason.

Bell, the rookie offensive tackle, is one of only four healthy tackles in Buffalo. That number dropped to three early in the second quarter when the starting left tackle suffered an arm injury that fortunately wasn't a fracture as was first feared.

Bell was going to get a lot of snaps anyway, but got to hit the field earlier and play longer, which is golden for a relative football neophyte. In only his third season as an offensive tackle and his fourth year of football overall, the 2007 Demon All-American seems to continually improve.

I've searched and searched for any "official" comments on how well he's doing, to no avail, but note this: after he entered the game, the Bills had a 10-minute offensive series. Even if it came against the Colts' backups, that's not something you see very often in the NFL -- or any level, really -- and it is a sign that the rookie left tackle must be holding his own.

The first round of cuts, from 80 to 75 players, went on around the NFL this week. Next Monday, the hard decisions get made when opening day rosters must be sliced to 53 by Labor Day.

The expectation entering camp was that Bell was, at best, going to be cut and resigned to the Bills' practice squad, which means he gets to work out with the team and can be added to the active roster. Practice squad players get about a third of an active player's salary, which still isn't chicken feed.

But now, with his apparent progress and the Bills' personnel situations at tackle, perhaps D-Bell may make the active roster, at least at the outset of the season, which would be a great reward emotionally as well as financially.

Meanwhile, the other active NSU alum in the NFL is coming off a foot injury with the Baltimore Ravens. Cornerback David Pittman was on the shelf last week but resumed workouts Monday.

Also, there's some speculation that veteran safety Mike Green might get picked up by the New Orleans Saints. Green was let go by Seattle as camp opened last month, and his chances of playing an eighth NFL season are up in the air. However, a smart, tough, veteran safety could be a valuable commodity as the regular season nears or gets underway.

As we hear, we'll keep you posted!