The Bills got one of their two first-round draft choices under contract as offensive lineman Eric Wood signed his contract and headed straight to training camp late Wednesday afternoon.
"It's been a long few days," Wood told Buffalobills.com. "My intentions weren't to hold out, but that's just kind of the way it happened. That's not my style, but it is what it is. I just want to thank Mr. Wilson and Jim Overdorf for all their hard work to get me into camp, even if it is a few days late."
After missing seven practices the Louisville product is eager to get going as he was crawling up the walls knowing his team was practicing without him.
"It was like the worst feeling ever," said Wood. "It was like a bad dream reading about my own team on the internet. It's something I never wanted to have happen. But at this point there's not a whole lot I can do other than go out there and start working (Thursday)."
Wood is expected to participate in team's scheduled walk through session Thursday morning before taking the field for practice Thursday evening at 7:10pm. He's confident he can make up for lost time pretty quickly.
"At this point it's my responsibility to make up the time I've missed," Wood said. "I had a playbook that I was looking through and I've been working out like crazy trying to get right. But it's all about work from here on out and I'm sure the coaches will help me make up the time I've missed and I'm ready to put in the effort."
The first-round pick is widely regarded as the odds on favorite to start at right guard, but Wood is not expecting anything to be handed to him.
"Nothing is given to you in this league and I'm ready to go in and try to take the job," said Wood. "It's something I'm going to work for. I've been working out and preparing for this time and now it's finally come. It's time to hit the practice field and get to work."
Wood is expected to be rotated in with veteran Seth McKinney at right guard in much the same way as fellow rookie Andy Levitre has been rotated in for reps at left guard with the first unit since he arrived at camp on Monday.
