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The Buffalo Bills have had themselves a day. This afternoon, general manager Doug Whaley added his third free agent signing on Wednesday and fifth of the new league year when he added New York Giants outside linebacker Keith Rivers. ESPN's James Walker had the story first, and the Bills have officially announced the signing.
Filed to ESPN: Free-agent LB Keith Rivers has agreed to a two-year, $5 million contract with the Buffalo #Bills.
— James Walker (@JamesWalkerNFL) March 12, 2014
Rivers is an outside linebacker, meaning that this move will not affect the role Kiko Alonso will play next season. Rivers remains a solid two-down linebacker. SB Nation's New York Giants blog said Rivers "had a quiet, but pretty effective season. He played 16 games for the first time in his injury-riddled six-year career."
Originally drafted ninth overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2009, Rivers is another former first rounder the Bills hope they can squeeze production out of. He has only played 62 games in his six-year career, including zero in 2011. Still, it's a solid upside signing for a part time player.
The Bills had also been linked to linebackers Jameel McClain and Jasper Brinkley in the past few days.