Report: Bills eye fight between Hangartner, Wood at center

Geoff Hangartner has started 28 games in the middle of Buffalo's offensive line over the past two seasons, but the veteran center now finds himself in a battle to keep his starting role at that spot with the emergence of Eric Wood.

Veteran Geoff Hangartner might face stiff competition from Eric Wood for the Bills' starting center spot. (Paul Abell/Associated Press)

When Hangartner went down with a sprained knee late last season, two-year veteran Eric Wood shifted over from his right-guard spot to start the final four games at center -- and turned heads within the organization.

"We think Eric Wood was the best center in the draft coming out," Bills general manager Buddy Nix told The Buffalo News at the Senior Bowl in January. "Obviously he wasn't (fully) healthy. But when he gets healthy, there's a good chance that's where he'll be. We'll just see. We'll play the best ones."

The Bills are enamored with the physicality of Wood, who fought his way back in 2010 from a severe leg fracture. They also treasure Hangartner's intelligent play -- he scored 47 out of 50 on the Wonderlic before the 2005 NFL Draft -- and he has brought consistency to a position long in flux for Buffalo.

Hangartner, who has appeared in 83 games for the Carolina Panthers and Bills in six seasons, plans to continue as the Bills' starter.

"That's my mind-set, yes," Hangartner told The News this week at the team's player-only workout in Elma, N.Y. "I haven't spoken with anybody about it. But that is my mind-set.

"I talked to (offensive line coach Joe D'Alessandris) for a little bit. And (switching positions) never come up in our conversations. There's always speculation on this and that in the offseason. So we'll see how it shakes out."

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It's a nice problem to have for coach Chan Gailey, who relishes competition along the offensive line, knowing both will find a way into the lineup if they continue their solid play.

Hangartner this week also addressed the subject of players encountering serious financial problems during the NFL lockout, saying it was hardly indicative of a league-wide epidemic.

"I think you're just hearing more about the problem that guys have dealing with money in this league," Hangartner said Tuesday. "I don't think it's just a problem with the lockout. It's an underlying problem, regardless. I don't think a whole lot of guys have missed money at this point."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Browns center Mack questions Harrison's 'dirty' tactics

BEREA, Ohio -- Two of the nastier hits that Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison delivered on Cleveland Browns players last Sunday are receiving all the publicity.

Browns center Alex Mack said there were more.

"If you watch the game film, (Harrison) was doing that to everyone on every play," Mack said Thursday. "People would be on the ground, and he would try to spear them. There's a play on film where (running back) Peyton Hillis is tackled, and he (Harrison) comes up and spears him. It's like you're being cheap, you're being dirty."

Harrison was fined $75,000 for his hard, helmet-to-helmet hit on Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, one of several devastating blows on an unusually violent Sunday of head-high collisions around the NFL. Harrison's hit on Massaquoi -- and one that knocked out Browns Pro Bowl receiver Josh Cribbs on a running play -- helped prompt NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to crack down and impose significant fines on players for hits to the head and neck.

Neither of Harrison's hits drew penalties during the Steelers' 28-10 victory. Ironically, Mack was flagged for delay of game for kicking the ball out of bounds on the play when Massaquoi was injured. Massaquoi and Cribbs sustained concussions and haven't practiced this week, although Browns coach Eric Mangini said both players could be medically cleared for practice Friday.

Harrison returned to practice Thursday, one day after he threatened to retire because of the league's crackdown on dangerous hits.

Mack said Harrison didn't just hurt the Browns. He did damage to himself.

"The helmet-to-helmet with Cribbs is a little more innocent, to some extent," Mack said. "You're still leading with your head. It's a dumb move no matter what you do. First of all, you're ruining your own brain and you're damaging other people. It's your brain."

Mack is the first Cleveland player to publicly denounce Harrison as "dirty" and question his tackling tactics. In fact, a few of the Browns, including Cribbs and Hillis, said they didn't believe Harrison's hits warranted any punishment.

On his Twitter page, Cribbs wrote that he didn't believe Harrison, a former teammate at Kent State, was trying to hurt him.

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"I have no bad will towards LB James Harrison," Cribbs tweeted. "That's what he's supposed to do: knock people out. It's what makes him one of the best. ... He is still my boy ... It is unfortunate, but our sport is brutal. We will both bounce back & compete again real soon. ... Oh yeah & we play each other twice!"

Browns coach Eric Mangini said Cribbs and Massaquoi have improved. Mangini hopes both players will practice Friday. The Browns play at New Orleans on Sunday.

Tight end Evan Moore, who sustained a concussion earlier this season against the Kansas City Chiefs, believes players should be reprimanded for leading with their helmets. He doesn't believe Harrison was headhunting the Browns but said his tackling style is unwarranted.

"He was just playing his game," Moore said. "I'm not trying to say that his game is dirty. I'm just saying he's made a habit of hitting like that. I don't think launching into a guy's head makes you a tough player. Harrison is a good, strong, tough player, but that's not what makes him tough, and that's something I think is unnecessary."

Mack, a 2009 first-round draft pick from California, is pleased with the media attention being given to the violent hits, especially the ones on defenseless players. Mack believes the league should do all it can to protect and educate its players.

"A lot of the arguments right now are people are taught from Pee Wee football that this is how you play," Mack said Thursday. "Well, we need to change that. You can't be breaking your head. There are better ways to tackle. We're taught you're not supposed to spear with the top of your head."

On Wednesday, Goodell sent a memo and video to all teams explaining the reasons for the increase in penalties against offenders. He said players are expected to play within the rules, and that coaches and teams also will be subject to penalties.

Several players said they were confused about the changes, with some on the defenders' side saying they were being unfairly targeted.

"Unfortunately, defensive players look like the bad guys in this," Browns linebacker Scott Fujita said. "But there's a lot of guys on those offensive lines who are dirty, too."

Mack said it will be difficult for many coaches and players to change their ways after years of conditioning. However, in light of medical studies linking head injuries to long-term medical conditions like dementia, Mack, who hopes to play 10 years in the league, understands the urgency.

"When you're taught a certain way, you're going to keep doing it," Mack said. "It needs to change, though. I saw that 'Real Sports' show with the connection between Lou Gehrig's Disease and concussions. That is scary. I was watching and thinking, 'Why am I playing this game when I could be physically handicapped for the rest of my life.'

"It's a scary thing. It's good to see there's some progress to try and protect people."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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