NFL Confirms Bills Have 11 Impending Free Agents

by Brian Galliford on Jul 26, 2011 8:45 AM EDT in Buffalo Bills News

With the NFL lockout now a distant memory, teams can begin negotiating with free agents today, but won't be able to sign them until Friday. Those players also won't be able to practice until August 4 at the earliest. Last night, the NFL confirmed that the Buffalo Bills will have 11 free agents free to negotiate with other teams.

Tendered RFA: One name, tight end Scott Chandler, fits this description. The Bills tendered Chandler prior to the lockout in March, meaning that the Bills have right of first refusal should Chandler get an offer elsewhere. He carries fourth-round compensation should the Bills let him walk.

Non-Tendered RFA: Three names fit this description - all four have fewer than four years of accrued NFL experience, and none of them were tendered by the Bills pre-lockout. Those players are quarterback Brian Brohm, running back Quinton Ganther and tight end Jonathan Stupar.

Unrestricted: Seven Bills from the 2010 season are unrestricted free agents, and free to negotiate with any club. Those players: defensive tackle John McCargo, linebackers Akin Ayodele, Keith Ellison and Paul Posluszny, cornerbacks Drayton Florence and Ashton Youboty, and safety Donte Whitner.

Let the games begin.

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Comments

Starting at 10:00am right?

When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for everyone telling you you're nuts.

by J2 on Jul 26, 2011 8:48 AM EDT reply actions

Yes.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Jul 26, 2011 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions

I could see the Bills signing and having them all in camp. With 90-man preseason rosters it will definitely be a circus.

Year two is upon us.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Jul 26, 2011 8:49 AM EDT reply actions

Is it possible that a player agrees to a contract today with Team A, but on thursday gets a better offer from Team B and changes their mind. So on Friday when you can sign, Team A loses because of the waiting period? How does that work.

by mquintieri on Jul 26, 2011 8:54 AM EDT reply actions

Yes, that’s possible.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Jul 26, 2011 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Can we sign Marcell Dareus Today?

"Big Gulps Eh, Well See ya later" - Lloyd Christmas
" You Gus ready To Let The Dogs Out" "What?" " you Know, Who Let the dogs out rough rough rogh rough" - Zack Galifinakis - The Hangover

by PaullyPforPrez on Jul 26, 2011 8:59 AM EDT reply actions

yes

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison

by HurricaneJay on Jul 26, 2011 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Like legitimatly sign him

Where he actually signs the contract and he is officlally on our roster?

"Big Gulps Eh, Well See ya later" - Lloyd Christmas
" You Gus ready To Let The Dogs Out" "What?" " you Know, Who Let the dogs out rough rough rogh rough" - Zack Galifinakis - The Hangover

by PaullyPforPrez on Jul 26, 2011 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Yes

We can also sign undrafted rookies today.

"I don't think I'm better than you, but I don't think that I'm worse" ~ Ani Difranco

by killerokapi on Jul 26, 2011 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Yes they can.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Jul 26, 2011 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions

That should be at the very bottom of our priority list

Dareus and the other picks can’t go anywhere, Agents and teams shouldn’t even waste their time with them until undrafted players and free agents have been dealt with.

by Stephen Schmidt on Jul 26, 2011 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t understand why there’s a priority list. Everything’s happening at the same time, ergo, everything needs to be accomplished at the same time. I promise you, signing the drafted rookies is a priority.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Jul 26, 2011 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions

It's a priority, but not one that will be acted on right away

These teams are under the gun with UFA’s, I’m sure we’ll see them finalizing those soon. Then we’ll likely see a rush on veteran free agents, and we probably won’t here about a single drafted player being signed in that time period. As the week wears on, I’m sure things will slow down and the draftees will start to be signed, but there is no way agents are going to spend a ton of time on those contracts and let the bus go by on their free agents.

by Stephen Schmidt on Jul 26, 2011 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions

They can’t sign veteran free agents until Friday, just negotiate with them. Trust me: they’re going to sign drafted rookies over the next couple of days. Perhaps all of them, if they’re lucky.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Jul 26, 2011 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions

one great thing about the new CBA – it’s almost like holdouts are a thing of the past (hopefully) – it’s great!

When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for everyone telling you you're nuts.

by J2 on Jul 26, 2011 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Any other year and I might agree with you, but the Bills are going to need their rookies to contribute this season if they plan on being successful (Dareus, Williams, and Sheppard). They have to get these guys into camp, so getting a deal done quickly is essential to the teams potential success.

GET TO THE CHOPPA!!!

by hoosier3 on Jul 26, 2011 10:10 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

The sooner he’s signed, the sooner he’s on the field. The Bills’ top picks have demonstrated why it’s imperative they be in camp as soon as possible.

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

by TheAfghanTwilight on Jul 26, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Today is gonna be fun! I have a felling Brian is going to be a busy man today!

by Jason Holodook on Jul 26, 2011 9:14 AM EDT reply actions

*feeling

by Jason Holodook on Jul 26, 2011 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions

In 41 minutes...

It’s about to get STOOOOPID!!

by telka on Jul 26, 2011 9:19 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Now we REALLY see how important Posluzny is to this team. Somebody out there is gonna make him a pretty good offer (Giants maybe) and the Bills are going to have to match it or beat it to keep him around.

by The Adam Bomb on Jul 26, 2011 9:39 AM EDT reply actions

Not Necessarily

The Giants have Kiwi, Bradshaw, Kevin Boss, Cofield, and I’m sure others I’m forgetting that they also have to make decisions on. With the cap back in play, it’s not like they can empty the bank for Poz without implications on their ability to re sign those other guys.

They can kill you, but the legalities of eating you are quite a bit dicier.

by cjf4 on Jul 26, 2011 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Are you all prepared to lose John McCargo?

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

by TheAfghanTwilight on Jul 26, 2011 11:07 AM EDT reply actions

He’ll get released outright, I would think. Why haven’t the Bills announced any of those like the other teams are doing, I wonder?

by ChuckBuffInFlo on Jul 26, 2011 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

A) Teams aren’t announcing those releases, because they can’t, because they’re not official until 4PM Thursday.
B) The Bills don’t have to release McCargo, because he’s a free agent, and therefore not under contract.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Jul 26, 2011 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions