PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — Trent Edwards shakes his head and slumps his shoulders. He knows what’s coming: Another question about Terrell Owens.

No disrespect to T.O., Edwards said, but is there anything else anyone wants to talk about?

“As much as I try to come across that I’m still excited, the questions do get to be a lot. But that doesn’t say anything about my relationship with him,” Edwards said following a recent Bills training camp practice. “It just says that in any business, if you get asked a lot about a certain individual or certain topic, it gets a little frustrating because I do feel like we have other weapons.”

Sure, but none of those Bills have a reality TV show or a section in the training camp stands reserved for “T.O. Twitters.”

There’s at least one consolation for Edwards. With all the attention Owens has drawn since arriving in Buffalo in March, there’s been far less focus on the quarterback.

“I’m not the type of person that really likes getting noticed,” Edwards said. “I’d rather just do my job the way I need to do it, and the rest will take care of itself.”

Advertisement

Edwards can only hope that’s so, because there’s plenty on the line as he enters his third NFL season and second as the Bills’ full-time starter.

Aside from having to keep the mercurial Owens happy, Edwards is being given additional play-calling responsibilities in running a revamped offense that’s expected to feature a no-huddle dimension. There’s also pressure on Edwards to deliver on the promise he’s shown since winning the starting job midway through his rookie season, and to prove he’s capable of staying healthy – he’s been sidelined by injuries in each of his first two seasons.

A few more wins would help, too, considering the Bills have endured nine seasons without making the playoffs — the longest drought in franchise history. Last year, they finished 7-9 for the third straight season.

“It’s your job to manage the game, to put points on the board, to not turn the ball over,” Edwards said. “Any quarterback in any position has to be prepared for that, whether you have Terrell Owens or any other receiver you’re throwing to.”

Owens has the potential of making Edwards’ job easier by providing the passing attack another prime target opposite Lee Evans. Last year, Owens caught 10 touchdown passes, four fewer than the entire Bills receiving corps — and that includes defensive end Ryan Denney’s TD catch on a fake field-goal attempt.

Owens and Evans are capable of going deep, which should make it more difficult for opposing defenses to double-team both receivers. And if that happens, then Edwards has the option to find his slot receivers, Josh Reed or Roscoe Parrish, or get his running backs involved.

Advertisement

Evans has liked what he’s seen so far from Edwards, who went 7-5 last year in games he took a majority of snaps. He is also impressed by how Edwards doesn’t seem distracted by the T.O.-mania.

“I don’t think you can look too deep into Terrell’s thing, that’s a completely separate entity in itself,” Evans said. “I don’t think (Edwards) gets caught up in it. He knows he has a job to do. … I think he’s handling it well.”

For his part, Owens paid Edwards a compliment, referring to the quarterback as having “a tremendous upside.”

“It’s always a work in progress, and I think with a young guy like that, he’s eager to learn,” Owens said. “I’ve heard him say it’s all about winning, and that’s why I’m here. And those are the goals we have set for ourselves.”

The two have hooked up several times for what would’ve been long touchdown passes, a sign that both are growing comfortable with each other. They’re also spending plenty of time going over plays between drills and after practice.

Owens, however, offers no apology for the attention he’s getting.

“It just happens that way,” he said.

Edwards experienced it on the opening day of camp, when he went to the stands to sign autographs. He received a few cheers, but nothing compared to the deafening roar that went up when Owens ventured nearby.

“He commands that sort of attention,” Edwards said. “To be honest, I’m not surprised that’s happening. If I were a Bills fan, I’d be doing the same exact thing up there: Cheering my butt off.”


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.