Buffalo Bills, Rian Lindell Agree To Contract Extension, Per Report

We've known for months that the Buffalo Bills were making it a priority to re-sign impending free agent kicker Rian Lindell, and according to WGR 550's Joe Buscaglia, the two sides have agreed to the parameters of a new contract. Rodney McKissic of The Buffalo News reports that the deal will pay Lindell about $3 million annually, but that the length of the deal is currently unknown.

Lindell, who turned 35 just a couple of weeks ago, missed half of the 2011 season with a shoulder injury that he suffered while covering a kick in a home game against the New York Jets. Though he could still kick, the team was reticent to activate him lest he do further damage to his shoulder. When replacements Dave Rayner and Brandon Coutu went a combined 10-of-16 on field goal tries in Lindell's absence, the team likely only got more urgent to lock Lindell in for 2012.

In the past week, the Bills have now locked up Lindell and long snapper Garrison Sanborn to (what we believe to be) considerable contract extensions. That puts the special teams focus back on punter Brian Moorman for a while; Moorman, who will turn 36 tomorrow, is entering the final year of his contract.