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Losman staying put

Losman staying put

By David Naylor

Despite requesting a trade at the end of last season, Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman apparently isn't going anywhere.

At least that was the message from Bills chief operating officer Russ Brandon at yesterday's NFL predraft meeting session with reporters in Orchard Park.

Losman, a four-year veteran who opened last season as Buffalo's starter but completed it playing backup to rookie Trent Edwards, requested a trade after the season.

But the Bills are mindful that the vast majority of NFL teams - including Buffalo - needed more than one quarterback last season. And though the coming draft weekend (April 26 and 27) in New York might be the ideal time to move Losman, the Bills don't appear intent on doing that.

"J.P. is on this roster and part of this organization and we anticipate J.P will be on the team," Brandon said. "There were 64 quarterbacks who started NFL games last season, and we need two good ones."

What the Bills will try to do on draft weekend is ensure Losman and Edwards have better targets to throw at this season than they did in 2008, when Buffalo ranked 30th in the NFL in offence and passing yards.

A year ago, the Bills used their first pick to stabilize their running game, taking running back Marshawn Lynch out of the University of California, Berkeley with the No 12 pick overall. And this current off-season has been focused mostly on upgrades to the defence.

All of which is why many anticipate the Bills may use the 11th pick in this year's draft to grab a receiver. But doing so might require the Bills to choose between the best player available and filling a need since most predraft rankings have no receivers listed among the top 15 prospects.