NFL: Buffalo Bills news...
Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:32 am
via Yahoo! Sports:
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK (TICKER) -- It appears that the Buffalo Bills believe that Derrick Dockery belongs in the same salary stratosphere as fellow guard Steve Hutchinson.
ESPN.com and the NFL Network are reporting the Bills signed Dockery to a seven-year contract worth $49 million.
That would make the deal identical to the one that Hutchinson, a four-time Pro Bowler, secured from the Minnesota Vikings last year.
The Bills did not confirm the financial terms, but they did confirm the signing of Dockery to a multi-year deal.
Dockery, 26, had no Pro Bowl appearances in his four years with the Washington Redskins. But he has started 61 of 64 games at left guard and helped anchor a line that enabled the Redskins to rank fourth in the NFL in rushing last season.
The Bills on Friday essentially remodeled their offensive line, signing tackle Langston Walker and guard-center Jason Whittle.
Financial terms were not disclosed for Walker and Whittle.
"Just a terrific day for us," Bills coach d*ck Jauron said. "We are delighted to get such quick agreements with three players on the offensive line."
Walker, 27, spent his first five seasons with the Oakland Raiders, starting 33 of 66 games at both tackle positions. Last season, he started all 16 games at right tackle.
In Buffalo, the 6-8, 345-pound Walker will be a major upgrade over Terrance Pennington at right tackle
Whittle, who turns 32 next week, is a nine-year veteran who started two games last season with the Minnesota Vikings.
The moves come one day after the Bills released guard Chris Villarial. They are expected to lose guard Mike Gandy, who is an unrestricted free agent.