Buffalo Bills, Ryan Fitzpatrick Have Not Discussed Pay Cut

Speaking from the 2013 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Buffalo Bills team president Russ Brandon told The Buffalo News on Thursday that the team has not yet approached quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick about a pay cut - and would not guarantee that he'll be on the roster when his $3 million option bonus is due to be paid next month.

"I think it's too early to talk about that at this point," Brandon said (via Tim Graham). "Fitz is on our roster, and that's where he is right now."

Fitzpatrick, who signed a six-year contract extension in October of 2011, will reportedly count roughly $10.5 million against the team's salary cap in 2013 if he's retained, and about $10 million if he's not - meaning that they'll only save around $500,000 against the cap if he's cut. The 30-year-old signal caller is due the $3 million roster bonus on March 13; if he's cut by then, the Bills will save that, plus $4.25 million in base salary and $200,000 in a scheduled workout bonus as pure cash savings.

That means that unless the Bills approach Fitzpatrick's agent about a pay cut in short order, the Bills will have a very important decision to make about their incumbent starting quarterback within a 20-day window.