Now with Buffalo, 'Piggy' Hangartner returns to face former team

By Darin Gantt - The Herald

CHARLOTTE -- There are a number of things Geoff Hangartner’s still getting used to about Buffalo. There’s the weather, a long lost nickname, and the sad fact that no one asks him about his return abilities any more.

Hangartner, the former Carolina Panthers sixth-man of the offensive line, signed with the Bills this offseason to become their starting center. He got a four-year, $10 million deal and the promise of a starting job, which was too much to turn down despite the fact he fit here so well.

Current Panthers still grin about the guy they called “Piggy,” and some of them tried to seed the clouds in Western New York to see if the nickname might latch on there.

“It really hasn’t followed me here,” Hangartner said. “There are a few guys around here that heard about that. (Jake) Delhomme was trying to spread the word. He told one of our trainers about it and it kind of spread the word a little bit, but it didn’t really catch on here. I had to learn to respond to people calling me Geoff again.”

And to being called on every week.

Hangartner was a valuable reserve here, starting 27 games in four years at center and both guard spots. The 47 (of a perfect 50) he scored on the Wonderlic coming out of Texas A&M was nearly as impressive as his athleticism on kickoff returns. He returned three kicks in 2007 (for a whopping 42 yards), something his old co-workers still laugh about.

“Old Piggy,” Panthers defensive tackle Damione Lewis said of Hangartner. “He did a good job of catching, didn’t he? He’s a good athlete, man, to be a big guy. The smart thing for him to do was take the knee, but he didn’t do that, he tried to run with it, get his knees blew out. Everybody thinks they can do something with the ball when they get it in their hands.”

Of course, his primary job is to have it in his hands every snap, and lend some stability to the Bills’ young line. They started three rookies last week (including first and second-round pick guards Eric Wood and Andy Levitre), and part of Hangartner’s job is to get those kids schooled up and in the right place.

“I’m not certain we could be happier with Geoff,” Bills coach Dick Jauron said. “Obviously we’d like to have more wins but he’s performed the way we thought he would. He’s come in and he’s fit right in with us and who we like to think we are.

“He’s been terrific with those young players because as you know he’s smart, he’s a communicator and that’s what they need. They need somebody that understands the game and can help them up on the line and makes the calls and makes the adjustments, so he’s just been terrific for us.”

Hangartner said he still talks to a lot of his old teammates here (he and left tackle Jordan Gross routinely vacation together), and he’s renting his old house here to defensive tackle Nick Hayden. But he saw the opportunity in Buffalo as a chance to grow, and now he’s viewed as a leader instead of a reserve. That takes as much getting used to as snow in October.

“I really like the guys that we have on this team,” Hangartner said. “We’ve got a bunch of young guys playing which is interesting for me because I went from being a younger guy to being the oldest guy on our line pretty quick so that’s definitely been a transition for me.”

INJURY UPDATE: Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis (hamstring) was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game, after missing his second straight day of practice. Panthers coach John Fox, as is his custom, didn’t elaborate on the injury.

The rest of the Panthers injury report is listed as questionable after working Friday. Kicker Rhys Lloyd (ankle) worked for the first time Friday, and running back Jonathan Stewart (Achilles), fullback Brad Hoover (back) and linebacker Na’il Diggs (ribs) all worked the last two days after taking Wednesday off.

Buffalo enters the game much more banged-up.

Quarterback Trent Edwards (concussion) won’t play, leaving the reins to backup Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Also out are starting safeties Donte Whitner (ankle) and Bryan Scott (ankle), along with right tackle Jonathan Scott (ankle). Defensive tackle Kyle Williams (shoulder) is listed as questionable, though he missed the entire week of practice.

BILLS GO IVY LEAGUE: Fitzpatrick has played in the league since 2005 and has 15 starts, yet he’s still best known as “the Harvard guy.”

Since Jauron’s a Yale man, there could even be some conflict on their own sidelines.

Lewis played with Fitzpatrick in St. Louis, and said the quarterback defies some of the stereotypes of the prestigious school.

“He’s a good guy, sounds like a regular guy,” Lewis said. “Just talking to him, you wouldn’t know he went to Harvard. He kind of hides it a little bit. Being in the locker room, it’s not like he’s trying to be smarter than everybody. He’s not one of those.” True to form, Lewis said Fitzpatrick plays a smart game, despite the fact he has 13 touchdowns to his 24 career turnovers (18 interceptions, six fumbles).

“I don’t see it as a drop-off, not that Edwards isn’t good, but because Fitz is experienced enough to step in and do a good job,” Lewis said. “He’s not a big turnover guy. He’d rather take a sack than throw a pick type of guy. He’s going to make good decisions with the ball, so we have to get after him and try to rattle him a little bit.”