Does anyone else find it interesting that the Bills have three starting running backs on their roster and no starting quarterbacks?

I get C.J. Spiller’s role – he was the team’s No. 1 draft pick in April that the Bills have high hopes for.

I get Fred Jackson’s role – he rushed for 1,062 yards last year while averaging 4.5 yards per carry behind an inexperienced offensive line.

I get Marshawn Lynch’s role – he…

Actually, I don’t get what Lynch’s role is in Buffalo. Why is he still on the Bills’ roster? Furthermore, why wasn’t he traded a millisecond after Spiller’s name was called in April?

I’m a little confused as to what Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey’s game plan is here. Having two running backs is the norm now in the NFL. But the No. 3 back on the depth chart is usually a change-of-pace option or a developmental project for down the road. He’s not a former No. 1 pick that has embarrassed the franchise on several occasions by running into trouble with the law and whose trade value is dwindling by the day.

I could see if Gailey was going to use all three backs in some hybrid triple-option attack. But he called only 17 running plays in the team’s 15-10 loss to the Dolphins last Sunday and I highly doubt we’re going to see much variation off that in the upcoming weeks.

Why pay Lynch first round money to only carry the ball three times when Jackson has earned the right for more carries (he only received four carries last week) and Spiller is the future? It makes zero sense.

The Packers just lost Ryan Grant for the season. Nix should pick up the phone and get Ted Thompson on the line immediately. If Thompson is willing to part with a fifth or sixth round pick for Lynch, then the former Cal product should be on a one-way trip to Green Bay tonight.

If the Packers aren’t interested, then Nix needs to find a team that is. It makes you scratch your head when the Patriots were able to ship Laurence Maroney (another former first round running back) to Denver in exchange for a fourth round pick, while Lynch continues to rot in Buffalo for no reason.

Merry training camp season, everyone. It’s been a long offseason, but football is finally gearing up again and to celebrate I’m rolling out a new series on TSR entitled “2010 NFL Question Marks,” where I discuss one or two of the biggest concerns that teams have heading into the new season. Granted, some teams have more issues than others, but I’ll primarily be focusing on the biggest problem areas. Today I’ll be discussing the Bills, who, as you may imagine, have a couple of issues on their plate.

Ugh. I think I had the Bills in mind when I first thought about doing this series, as there’s no limit to the number of issues going on right now in Buffalo.

Actually, that’s not fair because the Bills are moving in the right direction and the hiring of GM Buddy Nix is proof of that. Nix has 14 years of NFL experience and previously spent 26 years coaching in the college ranks. The guy knows how to scout and for a team that desperately needs to re-stock their roster with talent, that’s huge.

Whether or not Chan Gailey was the best choice for head coach is debatable, but at least a) he has experience and b) isn’t Dick Jauron. For the time being, let’s give Gailey a chance and take solace in the fact that the Bills actually have people in their front office who don’t base their decisions on simulations in “Madden.” (“Madden says that the Cowboys would be willing to take Marshawn Lynch, a fourth, and a seventh for Tony Romo, so get Jerry Jones on the phone and let’s see if we can wrap something up by lunchtime.”)

That said, things still look bleak for this team, especially compared to the rest of the AFC East. Defensively, the secondary is deep and the team devoted a lot of time this offseason re-tooling the line for new coordinator George Edwards, who will implement the 3-4. It’s going to take time for the new scheme to take shape, which is why I’ll leave the defense alone for now.

The offense, however, is another story.

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I’m playing in nine or ten leagues this year, and one thing I’m noticing as I get deeper and deeper into my drafts is that Marshawn Lynch is consistently undervalued this preseason.

Here’s what I wrote as part of our fantasy preview:

Marshawn Lynch, Bills (4.08)
Lynch’s ADP is depressed because he’s going to miss the first three games due to suspension. Last year, we saw two players – Steve Smith and Brandon Marshall – tear it up after returning from suspension, and they were both big values on draft day. If you can combine Lynch in the late 3rd or early 4th and his backup, Fred Jackson, in the 8th or 9th, you’re essentially getting a borderline first round RB, which will pay dividends throughout the season. Plus, the Terrell Owens acquisition should take the pressure off the running game and open things up a little for Lynch and Jackson, even though the loss of Jason Peters (one of the league’s best left tackles) may offset this advantage.

Then I had to choose amongst Lynch, Ryan Grant and Reggie Bush in Round 4 of my Industry Insiders Draft…

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Buffalo Bills:
Marshawn Lynch’s three-game suspension has been upheld. Lynch won’t be able to play until Week 4 and Fred Jackson will start in his place. (Buffalo News)

Atlanta Falcons:
Holdout receiver Roddy White apparently wants more money than Packers’ receiver Greg Jennings got. Jennings’ contract was for three-years and $16 million. The Falcons aren’t likely to go much more above that, but they need White in their offense if they’re going to make another postseason run this season. (NFL.com)

Carolina Panthers:
The Panthers received a huge blow on Monday when defensive tackle Ma’ake Kemoeatu tore his Achilles’ tendon and will likely miss the entire 2009 season. Kemoeatu’s backup is undrafted free agent Marlon Favorite, so one would think that Carolina would add a street free agent to beef up its thin line. But don’t forget that Julius Peppers is soaking up a ton of cap space thanks to his one-year franchise tag. (Panthers Insider)

Cincinnati Bengals:
Bengals tight end Reggie Kelly ruptured his Achilles’ tendon (what’s with players going down with Achilles’ tendon injures?) and is likely to miss all of the 2009 season. Kelly isn’t much of a pass-receiving tight end, but he’s a fantastic run blocker and will certainly be missed. (Bengals.com)

Philadelphia Eagles:
Eagles will lose middle linebacker Stewart Bradley for the entire season after tearing his ACL in practice on Sunday. Bradley was emerging as a good young linebacker and this is a big blow to Philly’s defense. Omar Gaither will likely to start in the middle now. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

According to ESPN’s Michael Smith, Bills’ running back Marshawn Lynch has been suspended three games by the NFL for violating the league’s conduct policy.

Lynch was arrested near Los Angeles Feb. 11 and later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge. In searching a parked car carrying Lynch, Culver City police found a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun inside a backpack in the trunk.

Prosecutors said the backpack contained other items belonging to Lynch. Police said they also found four marijuana cigarettes in the car, but no drug charges were filed.

After pleading guilty to having a concealed firearm in a vehicle, Lynch was sentenced last month to 80 hours of community service and three years’ probation. The Bills’ 2007 first-round draft pick also issued an apology.

It was Lynch’s second brush with the law in less than a year. Last June, Lynch pleaded guilty to a traffic violation and admitted driving off after striking a female pedestrian with his car near Buffalo’s downtown bar district May 31.

I don’t want to hear any Bills fans crying foul over this because Lynch hit a woman with his car in May of last year and just freaking left her there. He got a slap on the wrist ($100 fine, plus had his driver’s license and car registration revoked) and nothing else.

He deserves the three game suspension.

CBSSports.com is reporting that Bills’ running back Marshawn Lynch is expected to be suspended one to two games next season.

Lynch earlier this month pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge stemming from a Feb. 11 arrest in Culver City, Calif. According to the police report, Lynch was one of three men seated in a parked Mercedes Benz when he was questioned.

At the time, he was charged with possession of a concealed firearm. But the felony gun charge later was reduced to three misdemeanors — with two of them dropped. Lynch was sentenced to three years of probation and 80 hours of community service.

He also agreed to submit to police searches at any time.

Now that he’s a Bill, maybe T.O. could help this kid get his life on track…

…wait, what happened? I blacked out for a second.