Bills likely to lose Greer and Crowell

"Don’t expect cornerback Jabari Greer or linebacker Angelo Crowell back with the Buffalo Bills next season.

Those are two of the team’s veteran players set to hit the free agent market. NFL sources said both are expected to sign with other teams once the free-agency shopping season starts on Friday.

The news is no surprise.

Greer, who started 13 games for the Bills in 2007 and 10 in 2008, is poised to strike it rich on the market. Cornerback has been one of the highest priority positions in free agency in recent years and salaries at the position have skyrocketed.

Indianapolis this week signed cornerback Kelvin Hayden to an $8 million-a-year deal.

It’s believed the Bills have made a substantial offer to Greer. However, Greer has been waiting five years for the chance to be an unrestricted free agent. Given the demand for cornerbacks, Greer can’t afford to not see what offers are out there for him.

Greer missed the last six games of the Bills season with a sprained knee but is healthy now.

Russ Brandon, Bills chief operating officer, had this to say about Greer on Friday:

“I think Jabari knows how we feel about him. We’ve been in constant communication with his representatives as well. We’d love to have Jabari back in the mix. We’ll do everything within our power to have him in the mix. He certainly knows our feelings bout him.”

The Bills, however, are positioned to replace Greer since they drafted Leodis McKelvin with the 11th overall pick in last year’s draft.

Crowell has been with the Bills six seasons. He missed all of 2008 after being abruptly placed on the injured-reserve list days before the season opener. Crowell decided to have knee surgery after the final preseason game of the summer, and the Bills were not happy with the timing of the decision. Crowell subsequently had an extensive clean-up of the knee.

Crowell stated at the end of the season he would be open to returning to the Bills. However, league sources said he will draw some interest in the open market, and he is expected to start fresh with another organization. "