Yesterday the Buffalo Bills announced they were releasing veteran defensive lineman Marcus Stroud. Since the Saints are obviously in the market for just that - a Shaun Rogers visit was announced yesterday - it seems plausible they would be interested in kicking the tires on Stroud as well.
Here's a quick background of Stroud's recent career from the good folks at Buffalo Rumblings:
Acquired by the Bills via a trade with Jacksonville prior to the 2008 season, Stroud appeared in 46 games with Buffalo, recording 150 tackles, 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in that time frame. Stroud, 33 in June, agreed to a four-year, $28 million extension with the Bills less than two years ago, and was due to make $4.5 million in the 2011 season. That contract may ultimately be viewed as one of the most misguided deals in the history of this franchise.
Stroud's play declined throughout the 2008 season, then again in 2009, and then dramatically in 2010, when the Bills switched to a base 3-4 defense.
What do you guys think? Is there anything left in Stroud's tank? Did his play suffer more from a change in scheme or a decline in talent?
Stats and stuff after the jump.
| Tackles | Interceptions | ||||||||||||
| Year | Team | G | Comb | Total | Ast | Sck | SFTY | PDef | Int | TDs | Yds | Avg | Lng |
| 2010 | Buffalo Bills | 15 | 49 | 29 | 20 | 3.0 | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | 0.0 | -- |
| 2009 | Buffalo Bills | 15 | 56 | 38 | 18 | 2.0 | -- | 8 | -- | -- | -- | 0.0 | -- |
| 2008 | Buffalo Bills | 16 | 45 | 29 | 16 | 2.5 | -- | 7 | -- | -- | -- | 0.0 | -- |
| 2007 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 9 | 22 | 19 | 3 | 3.0 | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | 0.0 | -- |
| 2006 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 11 | 21 | 19 | 2 | 2.5 | -- | 1 | -- | -- | -- | 0.0 | -- |
| 2005 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 16 | 42 | 31 | 11 | 1.0 | -- | 4 | -- | -- | -- | 0.0 | -- |
| 2004 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 16 | 54 | 38 | 16 | 4.5 | -- | 3 | -- | -- | -- | 0.0 | -- |
| 2003 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 16 | 65 | 47 | 18 | 4.5 | -- | 3 | -- | -- | -- | 0.0 | -- |
| 2002 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 16 | 45 | 38 | 7 | 6.5 | -- | 6 | -- | -- | -- | 0.0 | -- |
| 2001 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 16 | 25 | 21 | 4 | 0.0 | -- | 3 | -- | -- | -- | 0.0 | -- |
| TOTAL | 146 | 424 | 309 | 115 | 29.5 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | 0 | |