The man they call "Game Day"

Football Digest, Nov, 2005 by Barry Wilner

WHEN TERRENCE MCGEE gets his hands on the ball, he's a dynamic threat to score points. Not bad for a guy who doesn't play offense.

The Buffalo Bills cornerback and kick-return specialist is one of the NFL's brightest young stars. Last season, he ran back three kickoffs for touchdowns, including a 104-yarder against the Miami Dolphins, and averaged 26.3 yards per return. He also had three interceptions and two sacks. While he's not a great cover man yet, he's only in his third pro season after playing college ball at Northwestern (La.) State and being selected in the fourth round of the 2003 draft.

The Sporting News recognized him in 2004 as the league's best kick returner. Only nine other players in league history have run back three kickoffs for touchdowns in one season. And he's already got a cool nickname: "Game Day."

"We called him 'Game Day' because we've never seen a guy like that," line-backer and special teams player Angelo Crowell says of McGee. "He limps around all week in practice, and then the game comes, and it's like he's never been hurt."

McGee also is making key contributions in the secondary, where he became a starter when Troy Vincent got hurt. Talk about pressure: He was replacing one of the best defensive backs of the last decade.

"I think I've shown I'm a good all-around player," he says. "I love to return kicks, but I like it even more when I am on the field every play on defense."

Still, he's at his best when he has the ball in his hands, and that's usually on special teams.

"All he needs is a seam," linebacker Mario Haggan says. "He really doesn't break stride. If he gets a block, he's gone."