Jairus Byrd and the Buffalo Bills have had an acrimonious relationship since the end of the 2012 season, but the safety never requested a trade from the team according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. Byrd signed his franchise tender with the team Tuesday, and could potentially play Week 1 of the regular season against the New England Patriots.
Jairus Byrd never requested trade from Bills, per report
The contract ordeal between Jairus Byrd and the Buffalo Bills appears to be over, mercifully.
Winners and losers from Bills training camp
Brian Galliford of Buffalo Rumblings breaks down the highlights and lowlights of Bills training camp. The contract issues between Byrd and the Bills appear to have been resolved for the moment. The Bills at one point wanted the roster exemption granted to them by the NFL to extend into the regular season. If the NFL obliged, Byrd could have missed out on a game checks, costing him $406,823.53 for each game played during his exemption. Curiously, Byrd could still practice and play during this period, and the Bills’ would be allowed to carry 54 players.
Ultimately, the NFL decided that Byrd’s roster exemption would only extend through the end of preseason, meaning the Bills will head into the regular season with 53 players including Byrd, who will likely be starting despite the posturing on both sides of the contract. In the end, it appears that Byrd simply wanted to play for the Bills, and likewise the Bills needed Byrd’s presence in the secondary.
Byrd will receive the $6.9 million he is due under the franchise tag this year, provided he shows up when needed. Byrd held out of Bills’ offseason program and training camp in hopes of garnering a long-term contract with the team. The Bills were only willing to offer the team’s franchise tag. Byrd was not docked pay for his holdout because he was not technically under contract.
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