By Mark Gaughan
News Sports Reporter
BuffaloNews.com
BUFFALO, NY (July 27, 2011) – The Buffalo Bills’ signing of Drayton Florence on Wednesday afternoon gives the team both security and intense competition at the cornerback position.
Florence announced his own oral agreement to terms with the Bills via his twitter account. “It’s official. I’m back, Buffalo. See ya at Fisher!!!!” the 30-year-old defender proclaimed. The deal is for three years and $15 million, according to terms first reported by ESPN.
The deal was important for Buffalo’s defense, particularly in the wake of Tuesday’s defection by linebacker Paul Posluszny to Jacksonville.
Meanwhile the Bills continued to negotiate at a fast pace. They were in talks with Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl right tackle Tyson Clabo, according to Clabo himself, who spoke to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta wants to retain Clabo, and other teams may be involved in talks with him.
Clabo, who made the Pro Bowl last season, would be one of the more expensive players on the free-agent market. The Bills also continued to negotiate with rookie draft picks, whom they would like to have signed by Saturday’s first training camp practice.
With Florence back in the fold, the Bills’ defensive backfield has enough experience and a margin for error.
Florence, Terrence McGee and Leodis McKelvin are the top returning veterans who will be battling for two starting spots. Florence beat out McKelvin last year to start the regular season. But then McGee was injured for much of the season and McKelvin wound up starting 14 games. McGee is fully healthy. Now the Bills are not in a crisis if one of their outside corners goes down with a minor injury.
Florence, 6-foot and 195 pounds, revived his career the last two seasons with Buffalo. He has the size to play physically and he’s a good technician.
Buffalo drafted Aaron Williams 34th overall out of the University of Texas. He adds size and a physical nature to the cornerback spot, which should be a benefit. Williams figures to push hard for time right away as the third corner in obvious passing situations. That’s a role that has been filled mostly by Reggie Corner the past two years. Corner now has major competition and stands fifth on the depth chart at the position. The Bills have a sixth cornerback they like, too, in Richmond rookie Justin Rogers, who is a strong bet to make the team, even though he’s a seventh-round draft choice.
Florence had three interceptions last season. His big game was in the win at Cincinnati, when he returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown and intercepted a Carson Palmer pass late in the game to help secure the victory.
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The Bills have announced the first training camp practice at St. John Fisher College is set for 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday.
On Sunday, the Bills will practice from 7:30 to 9 p.m. As in the past, free tickets are required for admission to the night practices, which always are roughly 7 to 9 p.m. The second night practice is Thursday, Aug. 4. Tickets for those first two night workouts are available starting today at Ticketmaster. For ordering tickets online, there is a $1.75 charge per ticket.
There will be four more night practices — Aug. 6, 10, 15 and 17. Tickets for the first three of those will be available starting Friday at three Verizon Wireless stores in Rochester (on W. Ridge Road in Rochester, on Monroe Avenue in Rochester and at the Eastview Mall in Victor).
Here’s the full camp schedule for practices that are open to the public:
Saturday, 3-5 p.m.; Sunday, 7:30-9 p.m.; Monday, 3:20-5:30 p.m.; Tuesday, 3:20-5:30 p.m.; Aug. 4, 7:15-9:15 p.m.; Aug. 5, 3:20-5:30 p.m.; Aug. 6, 7:15-9:15 p.m.
Aug. 7, 3:20-5:30 p.m.; Aug. 8, 3:20-5:30 p.m.; Aug. 10, 7:15-9:15 p.m.; Aug. 11, 3:20-5:30 p.m.
Aug. 15, 7:30-9 p.m.; Aug. 16, 3:20-5:30 p.m.; Aug. 17, 7:15-9:15 p.m.; Aug. 18, 2:20-4:30 p.m.