ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (March 12, 2007) -- The Buffalo Bills re-signed free-agent running back Anthony Thomas, four days after trading former starter Willis McGahee to Baltimore.
Thomas, who backed up McGahee this past season, immediately becomes the No. 1 back, at least for the time being. Shaud Williams, a third-stringer last season, is the only other experienced running back currently on the team's depth chart.
Thomas is entering his seventh professional season after appearing in all 16 games for the Bills in 2006, including making two starts. He finished with 378 yards rushing and two touchdowns, and ran for a season-high 109 yards on 28 carries in a start against Indianapolis in November.
Originally selected by Chicago as a second-round pick in 2001, Thomas set a Bears rookie record by gaining 1,183 yards rushing and seven touchdowns, and two years later recorded his second 1,000-yard season after accumulating 1,024 yards on the ground on 244 carries.
The Bills entertained free agent running backs Dominic Rhodes, a member of the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts, and Chris Brown, formerly of the Tennessee Titans, last week. Rhodes has since signed with the Oakland Raiders.
