With training camp just weeks away, Jairus Byrd reportedly is no closer to signing a long-term deal with the Buffalo Bills.
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport noted in early June there was "nothing happening" on the contract front. On Friday, a source told ESPN.com's James Walker that all remains quiet between the team and last year's starting free safety.
Byrd and Denver Broncos offensive tackle Ryan Clady are the only two players yet to sign their one-year franchise tender offers. Rapoport has reported that contract talks are underway between Clady and the Broncos' front office, but Byrd is a different story. If no deal is struck and he refuses to sign his one-year, $6.9 million tender by July 15, the fifth-year safety would be out of the picture for training camp. The Bills and Byrd reportedly are $2 million apart annually.
Chris Brown of the team's official site wrote Friday that he believes the Bills"would prefer to keep" Byrd around long-term, but he didn't rule out the possibility of a sign-and-trade deal. Buffalo traveled down that road before in 2003, when they sent franchise-tagged receiver Peerless Price to the Atlanta Falcons for a first-round draft pick.
Keep in mind there's still time to hammer out a deal with Byrd, who missed the entire offseason program. If the sides can't marry their interests, the void in the Bills' secondary will be hard to fill. Byrd recorded a team-high five interceptions last season and stands out as one of the only playmakers in the back of this defense.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
