Bills use variety of ways to reach final 53

The Bills made a few surprising moves in order to get down to the NFL mandated 53 man roster this afternoon. Among them was a trade, placing one player on Injured Reserve and releasing another six players.

The trade was of free agent pick up and back up running back Olandis Gary to the Detroit Lions for an undisclosed draft pick. Gary became expendable inpart because of the emergence of second year back Joe Burns who impressed many in training camp this year as well as the drafting of Willis McGahee. The Lions had shown interest in Gary in free agency but passed on him when they signed former Bills running back Shawn Bryson.

Meanwhile backup quarterback Travis Brown was placed on the season long Injured Reserve list.

The Bills could be in line to sign a quarterback as fourth string quarterback, Jason Johnson, was among the six released today. Though the biggest name cut was defensive end Marcus Jones, who was expected to start at Left End this year. Though he never seemed like the player of old as he seemed slowed up from a knee injury that caused him to miss the entire 2002 season. The others players cut were: DE Grant Irons, RB Ken Simonton, DB Scott Turner and WR Rodney Wright.

Simonton is the most likely of the six to be named to the practice squad tomorrow though Johnson could as well.