"About 30 Buffalo Bills players convened at Sahlen's Sports Park in Elma on Monday morning to renew acquaintances, and more important, get in a good workout.

This organized activity is about all the players can do for now because of the NFL-imposed lockout that shows no signs of ending any time soon.

Of all the Bills, perhaps no one is more anxious to get the season started than Lee Evans. He posted career lows in catches (44) and yards (612) in 2009, and was worse last season. The veteran wide receiver finished with 37 catches for 578 yards and four touchdowns and missed the last three contests due to an ankle injury.

"It's the first time I've really been injured and missed a game, so there is a desire to get back and play again because I feel like I missed a part of it," Evans said. "It's good to get back into this, it's good to get that competitive spirit back amongst the guys and try to hope for the best that things work out."

Evans isn't one to let his frustrations show, but his numbers the past two seasons bother him. He doesn't need critics telling him that his performance has not been equal to his contract ($8.2 million a year) or status as the Bills' No. 1 receiver. He already knows.

There are some people who think Stevie Johnson has surpassed Evans as the team's best wideout. Sorry, but I can't go there.

While I respect what Johnson did last season, Evans is still the guy defensive coordinators game plan to stop. Even Johnson would admit he benefited from Evans drawing coverage away from him.

But two years of declining production raises questions about where the 29-year-old Evans is as a player. The upcoming season -- if there is a season -- is a big one because he wants to prove he can elevate his game to where it used to be.

"I go into every year with high expectations for myself and try to give myself the best opportunity to be at the level I know I can be at," he said. "Every year is the same for me, and this year is no different. I'm going to come in and attack the season and try to make the best of the opportunities I get."

The key word there is opportunities.

Evans is one of the NFL's best deep threats; his great speed stretches defenses to their vertical limits. But that skill has been a blessing and a curse."