Released NFL Players Must Sign Before March 3

by Brian Galliford on Feb 23, 2011 9:30 AM EST in Buffalo Bills News

It was reported on Monday night, and then confirmed by the Buffalo Bills themselves on Tuesday evening - free agent safety Bob Sanders spent Tuesday afternoon and evening paying a free agent visit to One Bills Drive, spending the majority of his time with defensive coordinator George Edwards.

This was Sanders' second free agent visit of the week, having already visited the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday. According to Jason La Canfora of NFL.com (via his Twitter account), Sanders is done making free agent visits this week. Beyond the Jaguars and Bills, La Canfora reports that Sanders might consider making another visit or two next week.

If Sanders does plan more visits next week, he'll need to move quickly. BuffaloBills.com reported last night that even though Sanders is free to sign anywhere because he was released by the Indianapolis Colts, he only has until March 3 to do so. Like all other impending free agents, if Sanders remains unsigned before the CBA expiration date of midnight on March 4, he will not be able to sign with a new team until after a new CBA is in place.

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and this mini FA period could be the only one this year, or at least for a while.

glad to see OBD is at least kicking the tires. I would like to see some more visits.
is their a link to all the released players available??

Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.

by jbbillfan on Feb 23, 2011 9:51 AM EST reply actions

Put me in the camp of not interested. Having Merriman is enough, don’t need another injury plagued player on an already injury plagued team.

I’d rather have OJ from STL. But hey, that’s just me.

Follow Me here: http://twitter.com/Michael_Necci

by Michael_Necci on Feb 23, 2011 9:55 AM EST reply actions

I would like Atoguwe myself, and honestly, I would consider asking Bob if he wanted to be an Ast. Coach for the DBs

He was a violent hitter for sure, but he also had really really good tackling form, the issue with him was his size. He was just too small to play as big as he did.

abayarde- "All off the pain will vanish The Whagonblaster will return and with a new MOTOR and attitude even BIGGER AND stronger THE EYE of the Tiger , will knock our enemies to the next Galaxy , WE the BUffalo Nation DO not know defeat , We do not know Surrender , We only know that if we fall we get up stronger , faster, better WE have the Technology to BUILD IT"

by WABillsfan on Feb 23, 2011 1:25 PM EST up reply actions

Jeremy Shockey was also released.

He’s only 30, and he’s a baller. We should get him.

by The Adam Bomb on Feb 23, 2011 10:12 AM EST reply actions

He’s too much of a headache on WINNING teams, let alone a team still in rebuilding mode. Id rather go after boss.

by bizarro bills on Feb 23, 2011 10:39 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Sanders could also sign with the Colts again. Dungy said they might try to re-sign him for a much lower salary than he was due to make, just waiting to see what the market is like for him.

by Krenn on Feb 23, 2011 10:26 AM EST reply actions

So,

If he signs before next Thursday or by Thursday, he will have the opportunity to work out at team facilities and get to develop repore with coaches and teamates. The alternative is to wait until the CBA is finished and then sign with another team and resume the above benefits.

YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde

by VanScottM on Feb 23, 2011 10:47 AM EST reply actions

If the players are locked out on 3/3 Sanders wouldn’t be able to work with coaches or at the facilities.

The incentive for Sanders to sign before the lockout is that he’ll get a signing bonus now as opposed to who knows when.

by Pistol on Feb 23, 2011 1:02 PM EST up reply actions

must sign before march 3rd!....

The only reason I can think of for him wanting to sign by march 3rd (as opposed to waiting for the CBA to be signed) is that there is a real good chance of him getting hurt and knocked out for the season between now and then….

- He might havta sneeze or somethin’

I imagine Sanders looking just like Homer J when he was trying to sign health insurance forms while having a heart attack…

- it was a riot! The Simpsons were so funny….

gobills!

by podunkowego on Feb 23, 2011 10:56 AM EST reply actions

I could see him playing for Buffalo

it is an hour and a half from his home town of Erie, they love him here. He also just helped build a new stadium for his old high school. At 30, this is prob his last contract, might make sense to kinda come home.

"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-

by billsoferie on Feb 23, 2011 11:40 AM EST reply actions

Interesting, that means a team can possibly snag a player by being willing to spend a little more cash up front

On the signing bonus to get someone in now, and thus the player has some financial security that way, rather than living off whatever they set aside and hoping games get played this year.

That does mean the Bills actually have a better chance than usual to get some players we might not otherwise this season since we have a considerable amount of money under the cap as of yet.

by WABillsfan on Feb 23, 2011 1:23 PM EST reply actions