Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Bills cut ties with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix viewed quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick as a backup. Fitz will need to be a backup somewhere else.

The team announced Tuesday afternoon that they released the maligned signal-caller, who was due to make $3 million Wednesday if the Bills were to keep him on board. (photo: Doug Kerr, Flickr)

“We kept every possible option open right down to the wire when we had to make a decision on whether to keep Ryan," Nix said, via the team's website. "In the end, we had to do what we feel is best for our football team and it was a very difficult decision."

With that, the Bills will absolutely take a quarterback early in the 2013 draft to compete with the recently-re-signed Tarvaris Jackson in a training camp positional battle.

Fitzpatrick signed a big extension midway through the 2011 season but regressed from them on.

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