Bills QB Edwards learning to deal with T.O.-mania

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- 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 has 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."

Edwards only can 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 to make 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.

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.