BY DAN BEGNOCHE
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For those who were thinking the Buffalo Bills would shore up the services of place kicker Dan Carpenter prior to the start of free agency Tuesday afternoon, think again.
The team has yet to pull the trigger on a contract extension for the sure-footed veteran, who posted career high numbers last season in both points and field goal percentage.
According to his agent, inking a deal before tomorrow's 4 p.m. deadline is impossible.
According to his agent, inking a deal before tomorrow's 4 p.m. deadline is impossible.
"Due to the rules in the CBA (collective bargaining agreement), the Bills can't extend Dan's one-year veteran deal from 2012, so they have to wait until he's officially a free agent to get anything done with him," Carpenter's agent said via Lauren Brill of WIVB.com. "I know they really like what he did for them last year, and Dan and his family really loved the Buffalo community and being a part of the organization."
That doesn't mean the two sides won't have all but the T's crossed and I's dotted prior to that official start time. General manager Doug Whaley has said publicly he would like to keep Carpenter, who kicked his way into the Buffalo record books last year after the release of longtime staple Ryan Lindell and injury issues with seventh-rounder Dustin Hopkins.
The fact the team didn't slap the franchise tag on him, however, coupled with the young talent they have in Hopkins and an open market, will likely keep fans on edge until the official contract signing photo is snapped.
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