ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (March 1, 2006) -- Defensive tackle Sam Adams was one of three players released by the Buffalo Bills in a significant salary-cap purge.
Safety Lawyer Milloy and tight end Mark Campbell also were released. The team has not determined whether to release veteran receiver Eric Moulds, who rejected the Bills' offer to restructure his contract earlier this week.
The cuts occurred before the start of the NFL free-agency period, which will be March 3.
"It's that time of the year where all teams are involved in making some -- to a degree -- painful decisions," general manager Marv Levy said.
Levy said the team still wants Moulds to return, but the moves were not specifically made in order to help fit his multi-million-dollar salary-cap number in under the estimated $95 million cap figure.
"It goes beyond just the Eric Moulds situation," Levy said. "We hope something can be worked out with him. We'd like to keep him and we'll continue to make our efforts to do so."
Though the moves were influenced by the salary cap, Levy added that there were other issues involved in the decision to release the three starters.
"The style of offense and defense we will be running were factored in," he said. "We know you can't have everybody on your team that you'd like to have."
Adams is a 12-year veteran and three-time Pro Bowl selection who was entering the final year of his contract since joining the Bills in 2003. He was scheduled to get a roster bonus March 3.
"I feel the organization did what they felt was best," the 12-year veteran told The Associated Press. "Playing in Buffalo was one of the greatest experiences for me. I hope it works out for everyone."
Adams, who was entering the final year of a four-year contract signed in 2003, said he was told of the move by new head coach Dick Jauron earlier in the day.
Adams' production slipped in last year, only one season after his third Pro Bowl appearance following the 2004 season. Adams finished 2005 with only 12 tackles, the lowest number of his career, and three sacks.
Adams, 32, has played in two Super Bowls, winning one while a member of the Baltimore Ravens in 2000.
Milloy is a four-time Pro Bowl selection who was entering his final year of a four-year deal signed a week before the 2003 season opener. Milloy was the Bills' second-leading tackler in 2005 with 170 stops.
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