Penn State LB Signs with Buffalo Before Camp

Posted by Russell Loede on July 25th, 2007 filed in News

Former Penn State Nittany Lion Linebacker Paul Posluszny signed a four-year deal with Buffalo that is worth around $5 million on Wednesday, a day before the start of Bills training camp. The two-time All-American agreed to a deal that includes $2.55 million in guaranteed money. Posluszny, the 34th pick overall, set a Penn State record with 372 career tackles in 44 games. In each of his last two seasons, he had 116 tackles and won the Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defensive player. He also won the Dick Butkus Award — awarded to the nation’s top linebacker — in 2005.

Buffalo also signed running back Dwayne Wright, a fourth-round pick, earlier in the day. The signings leave the Bills with one draft pick unsigned, running back Marshawn Lynch, taken 12th overall.

Also missing from camp is veteran defensive tackle Darwin Walker, who has refused to report to the Bills because of a contract dispute after being sent over to Buffalo in a deal that brough linebacker Takeo Spikes to Philly in March. As a condition of the trade, Walker demanded the Bills restructure the two years he has left on his contract. Negotiations remain at a haltl. Walker will be sent back to Philadelphia if a deal isn’t done by Aug. 5. Buffalo would then receive a sixth-round draft choice from the Eagles. “Nothing to report,” agent Albert Irby said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. “Darwin will not report.” On the other hand, Paul Posluszny will get the opportunity to become the starting Middle Linebacker from the get-go, (Day 1) playing exclusively right away as there is no competition coming from the young Bills ‘backers that include SLB Angelo Crowell. This coming after Buffalo gave up on lost starter London Fletcher to free agency and they traded away former star Takeo Spikes to get younger and free up some cap room.