Two Bills Drive

‘Linebacker Jeff Posey agreed to terms with the Buffalo Bills on Friday, the first player to change teams on the first day of the 2003 free-agent season. Posey, a five-year veteran, appeared in 16 games and started nine with the Houston Texans last season. The agreement was confirmed by a source within the league who requested anonymity.’

‘Posey, 27, emerged as legitimate playmaker for the expansion Houston Texans last season. He was a marginal player with San Francisco from 1998-2000 and split the 2001 season between Carolina and Jacksonville.’

‘Striking quickly in the wee hours of Friday morning, the Bills reached a four-year agreement with linebacker Jeff Posey, who played for the Houston Texans in 2002.’

Rest assured, Buffalo Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe has constructed a plan of attack for free agency. "The one thing you do is establish a plan before free agency begins, and we like to think we've got a pretty good plan," said Donahoe earlier this week.

‘They have about $7.55 million of room under the salary cap to do their spending.’

‘Buffalo starts the free agent signing period today roughly $7.5 million to $8 million under the ceiling.’

‘”The one thing you do is establish a plan before free agency begins, and we think we’ve got a pretty good plan,” Donahoe said. “But 48 to 72 hours into free agency, it could be blown to smithereens, the whole plan, and then you have to regroup.’

‘If the Bills don’t get a free agent defensive linemen they like at a price they like, there is always the April draft, which is top heavy with quality players at tackle and end. “It’s extremely deep,” Donahoe said.’

‘Riemersma, a seventh-round draft pick in 1996 from the University of Michigan, has started 64 of 90 career games, catching 204 passes for 2,304 yards and 20 touchdowns.’

‘Riemersma, who ranks second behind Pete Metzelaars as the Bills’ most accomplished pass-catching tight end, had completed the third of a four-year deal which was to pay him $3.5 million next season. His release did not come as a surprise after Bills president Tom Donahoe said he was prepared to cut Riemersma if he failed to take a significant pay cut earlier this month.’

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.