This one stings a bit, as he was forced into early retirement this offseason due to a neck injury. However, former Pro Bowl center Eric Wood was a mainstay on the Bills’ offensive line for nine seasons. He was selected by the Bills No. 28 overall in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Louisville.
Wood appeared in and started in 120 games in his nine years with the Bills. Though highly touted as one of the best center prospects in his draft class, Wood would spend his first two years starting at guard along with Andy Levitre, while Geoff Hangartner would handle the center position.
Even after breaking his leg as a rookie, Wood would reclaim his role at starting guard before making the switch to center full-time in 2011 as a third-year player. In 2015, Wood earned the only Pro Bowl of his NFL career.
This was the first year that Buffalo had Tyrod Taylor at starting quarterback and LeSean McCoy at starting tailback. Let’s just say the Bills knew how to pound the rock under former head coach Rex Ryan.
Along with guard Richie Incognito and tackle Cordy Glenn, the Bills would make their first appearance since 1999 in the 2017 AFC Playoffs. Sadly, this would be the last season that trio played in Bills uniform.
Glenn was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals along with the Bills’ No. 21 overall pick this year to move up to No. 12 in the draft. Wood retired due to medical reasons. Incognito contemplated retirement, but has agreed to return to Bills camp in 2018.