Kyle Moore, a surprise performer last year on a disappointing
defensive front, signed a one-year contract Monday with the Chicago Bears.
Moore, despite being inactive the first four games, started
seven straight games in November and December. Moore made 24 tackles, three for losses. He
notched the first three sacks of his career.
Analytics website ProFootballFocus.com rated Moore 25th in pass-rushing
among all 4-3 defensive ends who played at least 25 percent of their teams'
snaps. The site tallied 23 quarterback hurries for Moore, tying him for 30th in the NFL.
Moore
was a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fourth-round draft choice in 2009 and eventually
landed on the Detroit Lions' practice squad, from where the Bills plucked him in
November 2011.
An update accounting of the comings and goings on Buffalo's roster in free agency:
Players who have re-signed
• Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson
• Running back Tashard Choice
• Tight end Dorin Dickerson
• Colin Brown
• Linebacker Bryan Scott
• Cornerback Leodis McKelvin
Players whose rights have been retained
• Tight end Mike Caussin
• Safety Jairus Byrd
Players who have joined
• Quarterback Kevin Kolb
• Defensive tackle Alan Branch
• Linebacker Manny Lawson
Players who have departed
• Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (Tennessee Titans)
• Wide receiver Donald Jones (New England Patriots)
What an honor it was to get a tour around the facilities at
One Shredd and Ragan
Plaza and then sit down
for an hour in studio with "The Rich Gaenzler Show" on Sports Radio
1270 The Fan.
We reviewed all the Buffalo Bills' recent moves, including
the re-signing of linebacker Bryan Scott and Shawne Merriman's retirement. We analyzed
the Ryan Fitzpatrick situation, previewed next week's start of free agency,
haggled the best and worst jobs in sports and even pondered the World Baseball
Classic.
The audio files are in two parts, about 16 minutes each. Give
a listen and learn new ways to tap into the secrets of life.
Scott was fifth on the Bills with 64 tackles last season and
was perhaps the Bills' best big-play defender with six takeaways, including an
interception return for a touchdown.
He tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles, was
second to safety Jairus Byrd in interceptions with four and second to
cornerback Stephon Gilmore in pass breakups with eight.
Pro Football Focus tweeted an amazing stat this afternoon.
Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller last season missed one
tackle on 576 passing snaps and one tackle on 339 running snaps. The average
distance downfield that Miller made a tackle was 0.25 yards away from the
line of scrimmage.
Here is a breakdown of the Buffalo Bills' 2013 free-agent class
and what their designations mean.
Unrestricted free agents (13)
Teams have exclusive negotiating rights, but once
free-agency begins, players are free to negotiate with other clubs. Original
team receives no compensation if the player signs elsewhere.
The original team has the option to place a franchise tag on
one unrestricted free agent (a guaranteed one-year salary at the average of the
five highest-paid players at the position or a 20 percent raise, whichever is
greater) or one transition tag (a guaranteed one-year salary at the average of
the 10 highest-paid players at the position).
"Exclusive" franchise tags prohibit the player from negotiating
with other clubs. A team that uses a "nonexclusive" franchise tag on a player and
then declines to match an offer sheet from another club will receive two
first-round draft choices from that team. Transition tags offer no such
compensation.
• Jairus Byrd, safety
• Tashard Choice, running back
• Tarvaris Jackson, quarterback
• Spencer Johnson, defensive end
• Andy Levitre, left guard
• Ruvell Martin, wide receiver
• Corey McIntyre, fullback
• Leodis McKelvin, cornerback
• Shawne Merriman, defensive end
• Kyle Moore, defensive end
• Chad Rinehart, offensive lineman
• Bryan Scott, linebacker
• Tyler Thigpen, quarterback
Restricted free agents (3)
The player may negotiate with other teams. But if the original
club extends a qualifying offer to the player, then it retains right of first
refusal to match any outside contract offer. There are three types of qualifying
offers, offering different levels of payment and draft compensation if the player leaves.
ERFA's are free agents in name only. They are players with
two years of NFL experience or less and have expiring contracts. They may not
negotiate with other clubs. If they are extended a contract offer, they must accept
or not play at all.
Tim Graham returned to The Buffalo News in 2011 after covering the NFL for three years at ESPN and for one year at the Palm Beach Post. Before that, the Cleveland native spent seven seasons on the Buffalo Sabres beat for The News and was president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Buffalo native Mark Gaughan started working at The News in 1980 and has been covering the Bills exclusively since 1992. He is president of the Pro Football Writers of America, and he is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee.
Jay Skurski joined The News in January 2009. The Lewiston native attended St. Francis High School before graduating from the University of South Florida. He writes a weekly Fantasy column in addition to his beat writing duties.
