PITTSFORD, N.Y. (July 25, 2007) -- Linebacker Paul Posluszny signed a four-year deal with Buffalo potentially worth over $5 million, a day before the start of Bills training camp.
The two-time All-American agreed to a deal that includes $2.55 million in guaranteed money and is worth $4.75 million overall. It also includes $325,000 in incentive clauses.
Posluszny, the 34th pick overall, set a Penn State record with 372 career tackles in 44 games. In each of his last two seasons, he had 116 tackles and won the Bednarik Award as the nation's top defensive player. He also won the Dick Butkus Award -- awarded to the nation's top linebacker -- in 2005.
Buffalo also signed running back Dwayne Wright, a fourth-round pick, earlier in the day. The signings leave the Bills with one draft pick unsigned, running back Marshawn Lynch, taken 12th overall.
Also missing from camp is veteran defensive tackle Darwin Walker, who has refused to report to the Bills because of a contract dispute after being acquired in a trade that sent linebacker Takeo Spikes to Philadelphia in March. As a condition of the trade, Walker demanded the Bills restructure the two years he has left on his contract.
Negotiations remain at a standstill. Walker will be sent back to Philadelphia if a deal isn't reached by Aug. 5. Buffalo would then receive a sixth-round draft pick from the Eagles.
"Nothing to report," agent Albert Irby said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "Darwin will not report."
Posluszny has an opportunity to become an immediate starter among the young Bills linebackers after Buffalo lost starter London Fletcher to free agency and traded Spikes.
Wright was selected 111th overall out of Fresno State. He finished third in school history with 2,683 yards rushing in 28 games despite missing most of the 2004 and all of 2005 due to a knee injury.
Most of Wright's production came last season, when he had 1,462 yards rushing and scored 11 of his 16 career touchdowns. He also set a school record with 295 yards rushing against Louisiana Tech last year.
The Bills also released undrafted rookie free agents Aaron Brown, a receiver who signed with the team in May, and cornerback Duane Coleman.
