Two of the Buffalo Bills' four remaining unsigned rookies have inked deals, meaning that they will be reporting to training camp on time. Third-round pick DE Chris Ellis and sixth-round pick RB Xavier Omon both signed their first NFL deals today, the team has announced.
Please use this thread as an Open Thread discussion of the rest of the day's events as players report to St. John Fisher College for 2008 training camp. We'll do our best to keep you updated as the day progresses.
Update #7: It's official; WR James Hardy has signed on the dotted line. He'll be in camp in time for tomorrow's morning practice. Jason Peters and top draft pick CB Leodis McKelvin will likely reach holdout status by midnight tonight.
Update #6: The very latest on the Jason Peters situation is that if Peters holds out, the Bills will fine him and move on without him - at least, until he reports. This situation is getting messier by the minute. My suggestion to Peters: your best chance of getting paid soonest is to show up to work. The Bills don't sound completely opposed to negotiating with him, but it's clear that they won't begin that process until he shows up. If Caleb Campbell can honor his commitment to the Army after it ripped his NFL dreams away, Peters can show up and collect his $3.25 million this season - especially if his reporting means he's likely to get a new deal sooner. Come on, Jason - show a little loyalty.
Update #5: BuffaloBills.com is reporting that Russ Brandon believes that the team is very close to reaching an agreement with second-round pick WR James Hardy, and that Hardy will be available for the team's first practice tomorrow morning at 8:30. Meanwhile, the team is still in heavy discussions with CB Leodis McKelvin and his agent, but do not appear to be as close to a deal with him as they are with Hardy. Report
Update #4: In an interview with Buffalo media at ~4:30 PM earlier this afternoon, COO Russ Brandon indicated that the organization does not expect to hear from the NFL in regards to a punishment against RB Marshawn Lynch for his transgressions earlier this off-season. In the same interview, Brandon also pointedly made it clear that the Bills had not made any trade inquiries to the Green Bay Packers in regards to QB Brett Favre.
Update #3: Players have until midnight tonight to report to camp; at that point, anyone missing will be deemed a holdout. As of 6:31 PM ET, Jason Peters is still MIA, according to WGR 550. (Anyone recognize that photo of Peters they're using?)
Update #2: Chris Brown has a quote from Derrick Dockery up about Peters' potential holdout:
"It doesn't concern me. You just have to have faith and trust in the people you play with. I haven't talked to him in a while, but if he's here, he's here. If he's not he's not. We'll just have to move forward."
Well, it concerns the rest of us, Dock. Peters could turn you into a Pro Bowl guard. Kirk Chambers can make no such claim.
Update #1: As of 12:45 PM ET, there still hasn't been any update to the potential holdout status of OT Jason Peters. With players set to begin showing up at Fisher this afternoon and into this evening, keep it locked in here for updates to Peters' status.