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Bills Remain Busy In Free Agency
Bills Still In Good Cap Shape: After adding up some of the latest contracts the Bills remain in good cap shape. We have them about $11 Million under, not including the signings of Josh Reed, Matt Bowen, Mario Haggan, and Josh Stamer. With those deals they are probably around $8 Million under but the details of those signings are not available at this time. Haggan and Stamer already counted $712,000 against the cap for their tenders, so chances are their new deals won't effect the cap number greatly. Salary Cap Page.
Saturday March 18, 2006
Idonije Signs Offer Sheet: The Bills now have two offer sheets out to restricted free agents of other teams. The Bills have reached an agreement with Bears DE Israel Idonije. ESPN reports the deal is worth $1.6 Million a year and has a $1.8 Million bonus. The Bears have a lot of cap room and are expected to match it. If they don't then they will receive no compensation since Idonije was not drafted by the Bears. Yesterday the Bills tendered an offer to another restricted free agent, G Reggie Wells of Arizona.
Bills Lose Out On Fabini: Jason Fabini won't become the first big name free agent to sign with the Bills. He has chosen to sign with the Cowboys. He visited with the Bills on Thursday, the Patriots were also in the running for his services.
Reed, Haggan Re-sign: The Bills kept two of their won yesterday. unrestricted free agent Josh Reed re-signed with the team. Restricted free agent Mario Haggan also agreed to terms. The team continues to use salary cap space to give long term deals to their up and coming restricted free agents. The re-signing of Reed was a surprise as it was widely thought he would be gone, especially when they signed Andre' Davis as his possible replacement. Reed has been a very inconsistent player for the Bills but the new management must have liked something they saw. He got a 4 year contract worth $10 Million with a $2 Million signing bonus. The move may setup the release of Eric Moulds. He has asked for a trade or his release.
Wells Tendered An Offer: The Bills did tender an offer to Cardinals restricted free agent Reggie Wells. The Arizona Guard was in for a visit on Tuesday and would immediately challenge for a starting spot. Arizona has seven days to match the offer and keep Wells. If they don't, the Bills will have to give them their sixth round pick in April's draft. Arizona's GM has said that they will match any offer Wells gets unless it is too outrageous. The Bills offer is reportedly a five year deal worth $17.6 Million including a $3 Million signing bonus and a $2 Million guaranteed roster bonus. This would be a big raise for Wells and may fall into the category of outrageous for Arizona to match.
Friday March 17, 2006
Five More Visit Today: The Bills have five players in for visits today in free agency, they are all lower level free agents. The only name here is RB Anthony Thomas. Also visiting are LB Paris Lenon, QB Craig Nall, G Stephen Neal, and DL Israel Idonije. We reported Nall's impeding visit yesterday. Thomas is a former 1,000 yard rusher in Chicago, Neal played for the Patriots last year and has four years experience. Lenon was with the Packers in his first four years in the league. He was used mostly as a backup and is a solid special teams contributor. Idonije has played both defensive end and tackle in his career. He came in the league in 2003 as an undrafted free agent.
Milloy Joins Falcons: After a few days of negotiating, Laywer Milloy has found a new home. He has signed a three year deal to join the Falcons.
Bowen Deal For Two Years: AP reports that the deal signed by Matt Bowen is for two years and is worth $2 Million with a signing bonus of $300,000. He is the fourth free agent signed by the Bills, all of them have been 2nd and 3rd tier guys at best. Front Office Page.
Thursday March 16, 2006
Bills Sign Bowen: The Bills inked one of three visitors today. The newest Bill is former Redskins strong safety Matt Bowen. He will have a chance to earn the starting strong safety job vacated when Lawyer Milloy was released. Bowen has started 30 of 72 career games over his six year career.
Bills Confirm Fabini Visit: The Bills confirmed that Jason Fabini is also visiting today but have not confirmed a visit by Craig Nall. Fabini joins Matt Bowen and Jared DeVries has visitors today.
Bowen, DeVries Visit: The Bills have announced two visitors today, but neither is Jason Fabini or Craig Nall as reported by the Buffalo News. Visiting today is Washington DB Matt Bowen and Detroit DE Jared DeVries. Bowen plays strong safety and is a possible replacement for Lawyer Milloy. He has six years experience with St. Louis, Green Bay, and the last three years with the Redskins. He has four career interceptions, including three in 2003 which was his best season. That year he also had a career high 83 tackles. He had 14 tackles in 13 games last year for Washington. He played mostly as a reserve last year and is considered a good special teams player. DeVries is a seven year veteran, all with the Lions. He has eight career sacks, including three last year to go along with 22 tackles. He is also a solid special teams performer.
Fabini To Visit Today: The Bills may be looking to finally address the problem at offensive tackle. Former Jet free agent Jason Fabini is scheduled to visit today according to the Buffalo News.
Bills May Look At Nall: A report out of Milwaukee says the Bills will bring in Packers free agent QB Craig Nall for a visit today. The Bills have not confirmed the visit at this time. Nall is a player that the Packers think highly of and saw decent playing time in the preseason. He is also being pursued by a couple of other teams. The Bills are looking for a third quarterback that can compete for at least a backup job, if not the starting position.
Wednesday March 15, 2006
Bills Lose To Packers: Ryan Pickett will not be coming to the Bills despite his connection with the DL coach and the defensive coordinator. This afternoon he agreed to a deal with the Packers. Green Bay also hosted the Bills other visitor from yesterday. Reggie Wells left Green Bay without an offer sheet.
Wells Likely To Stay With Cards: No word yet on if the Bills will sign restricted free agent guard Reggie Wells to an offer sheet. Even if they do it is likely he will remain with Arizona. The Cardinals have said they will likely match any offer he gets unless it is a really outrageous offer. Arizona has room under the cap to easily match any offer Wells receives. If the Bills do give him an offer sheet and the Cardinals do not match, they will receive the Bills 6th round draft pick.
Tuesday March 14, 2006
Bills Re-sign Schneck: The Bills signed another one of their unrestricted free agents. Long Snapper Mike Schneck remains with the team. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. He made the Pro Bowl last year as a coaches need pick after snapping flawlessly last year after coming over from Pittsburgh the week of the season opener.
Cards Could Match Any Offer For Wells: Free agent Guard Reggie Wells said it's good to get back in this kind of weather since he grew up in the Pittsburgh area, after playing in Arizona. He sees talent in Buffalo but there are area of needs and he feels this is a good fit for him. Wells is a restricted free agent so the Cardinals would be able to match any offer he gets. He says Arizona has been very good to him but he is making a few visits. His visit has been very professional and the reputation of OL coach Jim McNally precedes him. The other visitor today, Ryan Pickett, didn't have time to visit with the media due to scheduling conflicts.
Two Visitors: The Bills are entertaining two players at One Bills Drive today. Rams free agent DT Ryan Pickett and Cardinals Guard Reggie Wells are in town. Pickett is very highly sought after and will not come cheap. He led all defensive linemen in tackles last season with 65 and has two sacks. He's a former first round pick just coming into his own. He was coached last year by Bills defensive line coach Bill Kollar. The Rams are trying to re-sign him, he also had a prodcutive visit with the Packers. Wells was a sixth round pick in 2003 and has 26 career starts under his belt. He has played some left tackle in his career but his natural spot is left guard.
Williams Lands In Jacksonville: Former Bills offensive lineman Mike Williams has landed in Jacksonville and has signed a contract with the Jaguars. He says his goal in Jacksonville is to become a dominant tackle but he may start the season as a backup on their depth chart.
Moulds Wants Out: Eric Moulds has asked the Bills to either trade him or release him. His adviser said they are down to option Z and that is to ask for a release. Greg Johnson called it a sad day and he wishes things could have worked out to keep Moulds in Buffalo. Moulds twice rejected a pay cut. Marv Levy said in a statement that the team's intention is to keep Eric on the team which can happen if they don't try to reduce his cap figure that is close to $11 Million.
Monday March 13, 2006
Bills Keep Jerman: The Bills lost one unrestricted free agent but kept another. OL Greg Jerman re-upped with the team for two years worth about $1.27 Million. He was a quality backup last year that had three starts at right tackle. He adds some depth at a position the team has very little depth at.
Davis Deal For One Year: ESPN's John Clayton reports the deal signed by Andre' Davis is for just one season and it's worth $1.3 Million. $500,000 is the signing bonus and $800,000 is his base salary. Front Office Page.
Bills Lose Bannan: The Bills lost their first unrestricted free agent late yesterday. Justin Bannan has signed a deal to join the Baltimore Ravens. His new deal with the Ravens includes a $3 Million signing bonus. Bannan was a guy that always gave his all with the Bills but he was just an average player. He didn't distinguish himself when given the starting job late last year in place of Sam Adams.
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