Archives for February 27, 2003

Orchard Park, NY – The Bills today announced that the team has released tight end Jay Riemersma and safety Billy Jenkins.

‘By releasing Riemersma, 29, the Bills created $3.5 million in cap room, an amount equal to his scheduled base salary for 2003. Buffalo must still count $1.372 million, the final segment of a previous signing bonus, against its spending limit for this year.’

It’s smart that agent Tim McGee is urging his client Peerless Price to sign the Bills’ franchise-tag offer within a week, which would pay the Bills receiver $5.01 million this season. Though Buffalo could afford that contract, it would not behoove the team to be carrying that salary cap number for a perceived No. 2 receiver, particularly when the team has other needs to fill when free agency opens Friday.

The NFL has announced that its 11-game preseason television schedule will feature the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, August 16 on ESPN. The Bills will travel to Tennessee to take on the AFC South champion Titans in an 8:00 PM kickoff.

The Buffalo Bills Booster Club has elected a new Board of Directors including a new slate of officers and trustees for the 2003 season.

What are the categories of free agency? What is the time period for free agency signings this year? Can a club decide to withdraw its franchise or transition designations on a player? Questions such as these are answered in this Q&A

‘The Bills had very preliminary contact Wednesday with the Atlanta Falcons about a trade for the veteran receiver, according to a league source.’

‘”It’s not so much a strategy as much as we have no choice,” McGee said. “If we can’t get what we want, we’ll take the bird in hand — the $5 million.”‘

”Obviously, Buffalo has granted permission to talk to other teams [about a trade],” said Price’s agent, Tim McGee, who was not otherwise specific. So, have Falcons officials spoken with McGee or Buffalo officials? ”No comment,” Ray Anderson said.’

‘McGee said he’s advising Price to sign the Bills offer to keep his options open. At the very least, the move would prevent the Bills from lifting the offer and forcing Price to become a free agent at a time when teams would have already used up most of their salary-cap room to make offers.’