ORCHARD PARK, N. Torrey Smith Ravens Jersey .Y. -- The Buffalo Bills are playing the waiting game with Jairus Byrd while hoping to sign their star safety to a long-term contract extension. Byrd was the only member of the Bills not in attendance for the start of Buffalos first voluntary minicamp under new coach Doug Marrone on Tuesday. His absence was not a surprise, however, after the safety was given the franchise tag on March 1. General manager Buddy Nix said at the teams predraft luncheon that the Bills are hoping to sign Byrd to a multiyear deal, but Nix doesnt know when talks will start to pick up. "Theres been some contact and were making an effort to try to get a long-term deal done with Jairus," Nix said. "But you know -- and I dont mean this in a bad way -- I havent given it much thought. I dont mean that were not interested, because we certainly need him and eventually hell probably be here. But theres nothing we can do except try to get a contract done. If it doesnt work, then the balls in his court. He comes when basically he gets ready." The Bills could certainly use Byrd as they attempt to make over one of the worst defences in the league last season Buffalo finished 26th in the NFL in points allowed last year and 22nd in yards allowed. The 26-year-old Byrd has been Buffalos most consistent defender in recent seasons. A second-round pick in 2009, Byrd was fourth on the team in tackles in 2012 with 76 and led the team in interceptions with five. He has 18 career interceptions, tied for third most among NFL players since 2009. His breakout season came as a rookie when he tied for the NFL lead with nine interceptions. New defensive co-ordinator Mike Pettine plans on installing a hybrid defence that attacks opposing quarterbacks, which could play to Byrds strengths. Byrd excels in deep coverage and would benefit from an improved Buffalo pass rush. "Wed love to have him here yesterday, but we dont," Nix said. "So were going to work hard to get ready these guys that weve got." By giving Byrd the franchise tag, the Bills essentially gave the safety a one-year contract offer worth $6.9 million. Byrd does not have to accept the offer and is free to negotiate with other teams. The Bills have the right to match any offer Byrd receives or get two first-round picks in return as compensation from any team that signs Byrd. Byrd is one of two players in the league to remain unsigned after receiving the franchise tag. Denver offensive tackle Ryan Clady is also without a contract, while the six other tagged players signed their one-year offers. The Bills also announced a change on the depth chart behind Byrd. Aaron Williams, a second-round pick in 2011, has moved from cornerback to safety. The 22-year-old has struggled in coverage throughout his time in the pros, prompting the position switch. Roddy White Jersey . -- The Washington Redskins have released running back Ryan Torain, who started four games this season, but fell behind rookies Roy Helu and Evan Royster on the depth chart. Milan Lucic Black Friday Jersey .ca Fantasy Editor Scott Cullen and NFL Editors Mitch Ward and Ben Fisher discuss three hot fantasy football topics. http://www.thecardinalsshoponline.com/Youth-Kurt-Warner-Cardinals-Jersey/ .cas 2013 Play of the Year Showdown is the battle of the 2004 NHL entry draft. Mike Evans Black Friday Jersey . As for replacing R.A. Dickey, that will take a team effort. "I think if all five starters go out there and do their job, stay healthy, get to the goal of 200-plus innings then I think just that will fill R. wholesale nfl jerseys . The 40th-ranked Pospisil, who played his quarter-final a day earlier after treatment for a stiff neck, suffered his second career loss against Federer. He lost to Federer at Montreal in 2011. "Its not easy to play someone you basically worshipped growing up," said Pospisil.LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England -- Adam Scott, meet Jean Van de Velde. And Ed Sneed. And Phil Mickelson. With a stunning meltdown, Scott gave away the claret jug Sunday and joined an infamous list of the greatest collapses in golf history. The Aussie bogeyed the final four holes of the British Open to finish one stroke behind Ernie Els, who was almost apologetic about the way he won. "Im still numb," Els said. "Crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy. Its a crazy game." Scott missed a 7-footer at the final hole that would have forced a playoff, his knees buckling as the ball slid by the left edge of the cup. Then, after somehow composing himself and signing his scorecard, he had to return to the same green where his hopes were crushed to accept the runner-up prize. "I know I let a really great chance slip through my fingers," Scott said. Indeed, this was a blow to gut that will certainly take a while to get over, and its unlikely that Scott will ever be able to put it totally out of his mind. He played brilliantly for three straight days, building a four-shot advantage heading to the final round, and he was still up by four after what seemed a clinching birdie at the 14TH. Then he knocked one in a bunker on 15. Bogey. Then he missed a 3-footer at the next hole. Another bogey. Then he hit his worst shot of the whole tournament, an iron from the middle of the fairway that missed left and rolled into some tall grass, leading to a third straight bogey. Up ahead, Els was already done, having birdied the 18th with a clutch 15-footer. As Scott stepped to the final tee, his lead was gone. Not surprisingly, he drove it in a bunker, leaving himself no other option except to punch out into the fairway. A brilliant shot from 150 yards gave him a chance, but the tall putter that served him so well all week petered out at the end. Els celebrated on the practice green but wasnt real sure how to rect. "Ive got to figure it out still," he said. "Obviously, Im happy to have won. But Ive been on the other end more than the winning end. Its not a good feeling." Theres plenty of guys who know how that feels: -- In a historical context, Scotts flop ranks alongside Sneeds loss at the 1979 Masters. Sneed began the final round with a five-stroke lead and, despite a few wobbles along the way, was still in good position to win coming down the stretch. Three shots ahead. Three holes to play. But, suddenly, his game fell apart. Or, more specifically his putter. Sneed bogeyed the last three holes and lost to Fuzzy Zoeller in a sudden-death playoff. Sneed never came so close again to capturing a major title. -- Jason Dufner also knows how Scott feels. In the final round of last years PGA Championship, Dufner stepped to the 15th tee with a four-stroke lead on the field and a five-shot edge on Keegan Bradley. But three straight bogeys by Dufner -- hmmm, that sounds familiar -- and two straight birdies by Bradley forced a three-hole playoff. Bradley won by a stroke. "Maybe looking back in 10 or 15 years, Ill be disappointed if I never get another chance," Dufner said, in words that are fitting for the 32-year-old Scott. "But I have a feeling Ill have more chances in a major to close one out." -- Of course, Van de Veldes collapse on the 72nd hole of the 1999 British Open is onne all others are measured by. Sammy Watkins Bills Jersey. The Frenchman had the claret jug in the bag, going to the 72nd hole with a three-shot lead. Instead of playing it safe, he pulled out the driver and knocked his tee shot into the thick rough at Carnoustie. Then he hit it off a grandstand. Then a burn. After briefly considering a whack out of the creek, he took a drop. His now-fifth shot went in a bunker, and he needed a testy up-and-down for triple-bogey just to get in a playoff. Alas, he was defeated by Paul Lawrie. Like Sneed, Van de Velde never came close again. -- For pure shock value, its hard to beat Arnold Palmer throwing away the 1966 U.S. Open at Olympic Club. The games most popular player started the final round with a three-shot lead, and had stretched it to seven at the turn. Billy Casper played brilliantly on the back nine, but Palmer was still up ahead by five going to the 15th. Thats when it all fell apart. Casper birdied the next two holes. Palmer bogeyed them. Palmer made his third straight bogey at the 17th, and the lead was gone. Even though he made par at 18 to force a playoff, Casper prevailed the following day. Palmer would never get his eighth major title. -- Then theres the Mickelson stunner at the 2006 U.S. Open. Lefty threw away a chance to win his third straight major with a staggering display of errant swings and ditzy decisions. He struggled all day to control his driver, but kept pulling it out of the bag. He did it again at the 18th, needing a par to win or just a bogey to force a playoff. His drive struck a hospitality tent. He attempted to slice the next one under some trees, but caught a branch. Then he plugged one in a back bunker, leading to a double-bogey that gave the championship to Geoff Ogilvy. Leftys assessment afterward was priceless: "I am such an idiot." -- Greg Norman was feeling the same way after his performance on the final day of the 1996 Masters, and theres certainly a kinship between the Shark and Scott, who grew up idolizing his countryman. But Normans dismal showing in the final round at Augusta was an 18-hole effort in futility, not just a late choke job. Starting with a six-shot lead on Nick Faldo, he had thrown it away the time he made a third straight bogey at the 11th. When his tee shot at the 12th caught the bank and rolled back into Raes Creek, it was effectively over. The remaining holes were a coronation for Faldo, a death march for Norman. He finished with a 78, losing to Faldo by five strokes. "I let it slip away," Norman moaned. Words that Scott essentially repeated on Sunday. -- Finally, lets give a nod to Sam Snead, one of the games all-time greats but also remembered for squandering his two best chances to win the U.S, Open. In 1939, he couldve won with a par on the 72nd hole but thought he needed a birdie (hey, give him a break, the scoreboard technology wasnt what it is today). Playing aggressively, Snead made a mess of things for a triple-bogey. But 1947 might have been even worse: Snead built a two-stroke lead on Lew Worsham with three holes left in a playoff. Worsham birdied the 16th and Snead bogeyed the 17th to even things up. Then, after Worsham suddenly called for a ruling on who was away at the 18th, Snead missed a 2 1-2-foot putt. Worsham rolled in a slightly shorter one to take the victory. And, now, Scott joins the list. ' ' '