Report: Bills' Byrd wants trade
Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd might not be in uniform Sunday because of a foot injury, and he's not certain he wants to wear the Buffalo Bills colors much longer based on a lingering animosity over his contract.
The Buffalo News reported Thursday that Byrd wants to be traded. Byrd missed almost the entire training camp and did not play in the preseason due to a contract squabble, and has a sore foot.
Designated the Bills' franchise player on March 1, Byrd had not taken part in training camp and missed the team's first two preseason games.
With Byrd accepting the $6.916 million franchise tender, contract negotiations will be placed on hold until the conclusion of the 2013 season.
In four NFL seasons, Byrd has 18 interceptions and 308 tackles. He has not missed a game the past three seasons.
Byrd, 26, never reported to training camp in the midst of the protracted squabble over his contract
With a new coaching staff, one of Byrd's first tasks was acclimating himself to different defensive schemes. That remains an issue given his lingering foot injury.
"It's a new system, and it's an intricate system," Bills general manager Doug Whaley said. "Safeties do make a lot of calls, so he's missed that. ... So he's going to have some ground to make up, but he's a professional."
