BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Cornerback Will James' attempt to get a
fresh start with the Buffalo Bills ended Saturday when the
seven-year NFL veteran was among 22 players cut.
James, who signed a two-year contract in March, had a solid
training camp as Buffalo's nickel cornerback, but proved to be the
odd man out.
Instead, Buffalo kept Ashton Youboty as part of a deep defensive
backfield that will also include two rookies: first-round draft
pick Leodis McKelvin and fourth-rounder Reggie Corner, playing
behind starters Terrence McGee and Jabari Greer.
Youboty, the Bills' 2006 third-round draft pick, opened training
camp on the bubble after two disappointing years, but had a solid
preseason in which he finished with a team-leading two
interceptions and a sack.
James, formerly known as Will Peterson, spent the past two
seasons with Philadelphia and was attempting a comeback after he
had been bothered by chronic back problems.
The cuts came as the Bills reduced their roster to an
NFL-maximum 53 players in preparation for their season opener
against Seattle next weekend.
Among the other notable players released by the Bills were
running back Dwayne Wright, Buffalo's 2007 fourth-round draft pick
who appeared in 14 games last season, and linebacker Donnie
Spragan, a seven-year NFL veteran who signed with Buffalo earlier
this month after rookie Alvin Bowen sustained a season-ending knee
injury.
Wright's release came after he had three fumbles in four
preseason games. He was beaten out for the No. 3 job by Xavier
Omon, the rookie sixth-round pick, who had team-leading 109 yards
rushing and a touchdown in four preseason games.
The Bills kept only three tight ends after cutting veterans
Courtney Anderson and Tim Massaquoi, who both signed as free agents
this offseason. That leaves the team little depth behind starter
Robert Royal as backups. Derek Fine and Derek Schouman are both
nursing injuries.
Fine, a rookie fourth-round pick, is out indefinitely after he
had surgery to repair an injured thumb last week. Schouman is
expected to resume practicing soon after missing two weeks with a
knee injury.
Buffalo also kept four offensive tackles, including rookie
seventh-round pick Demetrius Bell and backup Matt Murphy, who has
missed three weeks with a partially separated left rotator cuff. By
making the team, Murphy is expected to hold off having surgery
until after this season.
The Bills have no experience at tackle behind starters Langston
Walker and Kirk Chambers, because Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters
remains on the team's reserve-did not report list because of the
player's ongoing holdout over a contract dispute. Peters wants the
final three years of his contract restructured and has been fined
more than $15,000 for each day he's missed since training camp
opened July 25.
That penalty will rise significantly this week, when Peters
would begin losing more than $191,000 - or one-seventeenth of his
$3.25 million base salary - for each week he misses during the
regular season.
Bills chief operating officer Russ Brandon said Thursday he'd
had no contact with Peters this summer. The Bills aren't budging
from their position of demanding Peters play this year under his
existing deal before they consider opening talks in the offseason.
Peters and his agent, Eugene Parker, have not commented on the
holdout, leaving it unclear as to when the player might report to
the team.
Also released by the Bills were linebackers Jon Banks, Marcus
Buggs and Blake Costanzo; offensive linemen Dustin Dickinson,
Patrick Estes, Robert Felton, Christian Gaddis and Nevin McCaskill;
defensive linemen Jason Jefferson, Derrick Jones, Corey Mace and
Teraz McCray; running backs Jonathan Evans and Bruce Hall;
cornerback Dustin Fox and receiver Felton Huggins.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)