ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - With big-bodied Marcus Stroud now
securing the middle of the Buffalo Bills defensive line, it'll be
much tougher for opponents to push them around.
"It helps us out tremendously," Bills defensive coordinator
Perry Fewell said Saturday, shortly after the Bills acquired the
three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle in a trade with Jacksonville.
"He's a guy that will take on two people on offense, so you
definitely have to game-plan against him."
That's the type of player the Bills haven't had since losing Pat
Williams to free agency in 2004.
Stroud's addition becomes the Bills' latest and most significant
move to revamp a porous defense that finished 31st in the NFL in
yards allowed last season.
To acquire Stroud, who had Jacksonville's permission to seek a
trade, Buffalo gave up an undisclosed number of draft picks.
FoxSports.com is reporting they will be a third- and fifth-round
selection in this year's draft.
Listed at 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, Stroud immediately solidifies
what had been an undersized defensive line that was manhandled last
season and unable to take the pressure off star pass-rushing
defensive end Aaron Schobel.
The Bills also signed former Minnesota defensive tackle Spencer
Johnson to a five-year contract, a day after signing former New
York Giants linebacker Kawika Mitchell to a five-year deal and
releasing veteran defensive tackle Larry Tripplett.
"It certainly has been an exhilarating 36 hours," Bills chief
operating officer Russ Brandon said. "We're thrilled. We're
excited to add to our football team, add to our defense."
For Jacksonville, Stroud's departure frees up the seventh-year
player's hefty salary - Stroud is scheduled to make $16.5 million
in base salary over the final three years of his contract. And it
allows the Jaguars to continue retooling a team that finished 11-5
last season, before losing to New England in the AFC divisional
playoffs.
The Bills are coming off their second consecutive 7-9 finish and
have missed the playoffs eight straight years - the longest drought
in franchise history.
Stroud arrived in Buffalo on Friday to meet Bills executives and
take a physical. It's not clear whether Stroud's contract will be
restructured as part of the deal.
"I had a great run in Jacksonville, but everything runs its
course," Stroud said. "Now, it's time to start fresh, having a
new beginning, and I want to do it right here in Buffalo."
Stroud is coming off a troubled season that he finished on
injured reserve. He missed the final three games after re-injuring
his surgically repaired right ankle, an injury that hobbled him at
the end of the 2006 season.
Stroud also served a four-game NFL suspension for violating the
league's steroids and related substances policy. He acknowledged
taking supplements to help recover from the ankle operation.
"That's all last year, it's already in the past," Stroud said.
Jacksonville's 2001 first-round draft pick out of Georgia,
Stroud played an integral role in helping the Jaguars defense
become one of the stingiest - especially against the run - over the
past few years. Stroud had three sacks last season and 22 overall
in 100 games.
This marks the second straight year the Bills have made a
significant splash in free agency. Last year, Buffalo focused on
bolstering its offensive line, signing guard Derrick Dockery and
tackle Langston Walker to contracts worth a combined $74 million.
"Adding Kawika and Marcus and Spencer, it fills some spots that
were critical for us to fill," coach Dick Jauron said. "We're
excited about the whole thing."
Stroud will take over for second-year starter Kyle Williams,
while Johnson will compete with John McCargo to fill the starting
spot vacated by Tripplett's departure.
Johnson's signing was overshadowed by Stroud's arrival.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 286 pounds, Johnson has spent the past
four seasons with the Vikings. He played in all 16 games this past
season, finishing with 24 tackles and three sacks. In 49 career NFL
games, Johnson has 108 tackles and four sacks.
The Bills might not be done adding players, yet. Free-agent
receiver Bryant Johnson and tight end Ben Troupe are both scheduled
to visit with the Bills on Sunday, according to their agent, Joel
Segal.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)