Published: June 01, 2009 11:05 pm      

BILLS: Corner not afraid of competition

ORCHARD PARK — Good thing Reggie Corner isn’t afraid to come back clawing and scratching after getting picked on.

As a National Football League cornerback, it’s a trait he’ll put to good use when matched up against some of the AFC East’s high-profile receivers. But the second-year Buffalo Bill has taken a few shots from his own organization, too.

After a productive second half of last season — one in which he saw the field in a dozen games, starting two — the Akron product was rewarded with the signing of free agent Drayton Florence. With stiff competition already expected in Terrence McGee, Ashton Youboty and Leodis McKelvin, the addition of Florence was just another blow Corner had to shake off.

But if his performance in the first two weeks of organized team activities are any indication, Corner is ready to battle.

“He’s a great effort player, has high energy and a lot of toughness. He’s a very competitive young guy, so he doesn’t play significantly different than he did in college and he comes to play,” coach Dick Jauron said.

Corner’s play comes at a time when McKelvin — last year’s first-round selection — is sidelined with a mysterious finger injury. That’s given Corner more reps against top talent, and given the fourth-round pick a chance to shine.

“I come out here every day to compete against everybody,” Corner said. “We’re all a team, but at the same time, I come out here to do what I have to do to get better.”

And that he has. Coming from the Mid-American Conference, Corner might not have gotten the same respect as those from bigger conferences, and his small stature — he’s listed at 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds — probably didn’t help.

But Jauron and his coaching staff have been pleased with his progress, and he’ll likely battle Youboty and Florence, who signed a two-year, $6.6-million contract, for the nickel position.

“Reggie is another one of those players that we talked about somewhat in the past that when you look at his college tape, you do wonder to some degree if it will translate to the NFL,” Jauron said. “And when he got the NFL, he’s the same player that plays all the time. He’s a great effort player, has high energy and a lot of toughness.

“He doesn’t have any fear. I don’t think he doubts himself, I don’t think he’s a braggart by any stretch of the imagination. He just competes on every down. It’s a huge advantage. He focuses on what he’s supposed to do and he tries to do it hard and fast.”

For now, Corner insists he’s simply trying to continue his development as a pro.

“It’s not to compete against the other guys, but for myself. It’s doing the little things I need to do to improve,” he said.

“It’s very beneficial, just competing and getting better.”

Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.