Lee Evans Fills Mould's Void
PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Buffalo receiver Josh Reed notices himself sneaking glances around the practice field, looking in vain for the once-familiar sight of Eric Moulds roaming the sideline.
"It's weird," Reed said. "It's kind of like he's maybe away for a little while."
Moulds is away and not coming back after a contract squabble ended with him forcing a trade to Houston in April. The closest the Bills will come to seeing him is when they travel to play the Texans on Nov. 19.
Otherwise, no Moulds means major changes for a passing attack that previously revolved around the big-play threat, who became the second-leading receiver in franchise history during his 10 seasons in Buffalo.
"You hate to lose a guy like that. But you can only wish for the best," Reed said. "I'm not going to say it's a hole we've got to fill -- that's how most people would put it -- but it's just more opportunities for more guys."
Much of the load falls on Lee Evans, Buffalo's first-round pick in the 2004 draft out of Wisconsin, who's taken over Moulds' spot at split end.
The 5-foot-10 Evans lacks Moulds' size. At 6-2, and 210 pounds, Moulds used his frame, strength and speed to beat defenders. Evans, however, possesses great speed and soft hands, and showed promise in two seasons as the No. 2 receiver.
Evans has led the Bills in touchdowns receiving the last two seasons, with seven last year and an NFL rookie-leading nine in 2004. But some of that success came because opponents keyed on Moulds.
That attention will now go to Evans, who must show he's capable of taking on a bigger role. He's yet to make 50 receptions or break the 900-yard plateau in a season, his best year coming as a rookie when he had 48 catches for 843 yards.
"It's enormous shoes to fill," Evans said. "But I think right now it has to come from the whole unit. You can't necessarily just throw one person into the position just to fill those shoes."
Evans will have help after the Bills restocked their receiving corps through free agency this offseason.
Peerless Price, who enjoyed a career year in 2002 playing alongside Moulds in Buffalo, is back after spending three disappointing seasons split between Atlanta and Dallas. The Bills also signed Andre' Davis, who is with his third team in five years and attempting to regain the promise he showed as a rookie with Cleveland in 2002.
The Bills also have a relatively unknown quantity in the small but speedy Roscoe Parrish, whose development was hampered as a rookie last season because of a serious wrist injury.
