ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Bills general manager Doug Whaley is done playing franchise tag with safety Jairus Byrd. After spending much of the past year trying to negotiate a long-term contract, Whaley preferred risking the loss of Byrd in free agency rather than applying the one-year tag on the three-time Pro Bowler for a second consecutive season. "We didnt think it was the best option for the team, for us to get better," Whaley said shortly after the NFLs deadline for teams to designate franchise players passed Monday afternoon. "The best thing for the Buffalo Bills was to try to get him signed to a long-term deal." Whaley didnt rule out the possibility of the sides negotiating a deal before the start of the NFLs free-agency period on March 11. "As they say in the movies, theres always a chance," he said. Whaley, however, did call it a "fair assessment" that Byrd is more interested in testing the market to determine his worth after being prevented from doing so last year. Negotiations reached a standstill last weekend after the Bills made Byrd what they regarded as a lucrative multiyear offer. Without revealing the full value and length of the proposal, people familiar with the deal told The Associated Press that Byrd would have been paid about $30 million over the first three seasons of the contract. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because neither side is publicly discussing the negotiations. Byrd played under a $6.9 million franchise tag last year. The price for Buffalo to apply the designation again would be about $8.4 million this season. The one-year price tag might not have scared the Bills from using it one more time. A bigger deterrent was paying that much money for a disgruntled player who missed nearly the entire off-season last year before accepting his contract a day before the Bills broke training camp in late August. "I wouldnt say those words," Whaley said, when asked if he was frustrated by a failure to reach a deal. "I would say, Hey, we worked hard. Its still not over yet. Then, when its over, Ill let the feelings seep into the equation." Byrd, selected in the second round of the 2009 draft out of Oregon, will have an opportunity to be among the top defensive backs available in free agency. He enjoyed a breakout season as a rookie, when he tied for the NFL lead with nine interceptions -- a rookie franchise record. Last year, Byrd earned his third Pro Bowl selection. He finished tied for the team lead with four interceptions, and added a sack and a forced fumble despite missing the first five games of the season because of plantar fasciitis in both feet. Byrd has 22 interceptions and 11 forced fumbles in 73 career games. The Bills could lose their top defensive back on a unit that showed considerable improvement last season. Though Buffalo struggled against the run, the defence finished 10th in the NFL in yards allowed -- its best ranking since a second-place finish in 2004. The Bills also finished second in the league with a franchise-record 57 sacks. The defence is in transition this off-season with Jim Schwartz taking over as co-ordinator. He replaced Mike Pettine, who left the Bills after one year to become the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. The Browns could be a potential landing spot for Byrd. They have plenty of space under the salary cap, and Byrd enjoyed playing under Pettine. The Bills made a roster move Monday by releasing linebacker Willie Jefferson, who was signed to a reserve/future contract in January. Jay Buhner Mariners Jersey .com) - The Kansas City Chiefs activated linebacker Joe Mays from short-term injured reserve on Saturday. James Paxton Mariners Jersey .com) - The Oakland Athletics needed to rely on a lot of young pitchers to win an American League West title this season. https://www.cheapmariners.com/2215k-tom-...riners.html.com) - Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight was carted off the field in the fourth quarter of 16th-ranked Sooners 48-14 loss to No. Donnie Walton Jersey . “Im not sure well get Melky Cabrera at all,” said Gibbons. The 29-year-old left fielder struggled all season with knee and hamstring problems. Cabrera was first on the disabled list from June 27-July 20 with tendinitis in his left knee. Ricardo Sanchez Jersey . Knapp defeated American Alison Riske 6-3, 7-5 to secure Italys victory in the best-of-five series. She held a 5-2 lead in the second set, only to let Riske tie it at five.WASHINGTON -- The Los Angeles Lakers are playing the waiting for Kobe game -- trying to stay respectable without one of the NBAs all-time greats. Los Angeles had its three-game winning streak broken, 116-111 by the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night, while Bryant, who signed a two-year contract extension on Monday, watched on television from the locker room. The Lakers star pledged his loyalty to the only team hes ever played for in his first public comments about the extension, saying before the game that Los Angeles willingness to pay him a reported $48.5 million for the next two seasons makes him want to "run through a wall" for the team. He wont play in Brooklyn on Wednesday or at Detroit on Friday as he concludes his rehab from surgery on his ruptured Achilles tendon. His teammates nearly pulled out another win against a team with two hot players, John Wall, who had 31 points and Nene, who scored a career-high 30 on 13-for-22 shooting from the field. "We have to learn how to win with this team. Its just put together and we dont have one thing that we go to all the time, but well get it straight," Los Angeles coach Mike DAntoni said. "Theyre playing hard, and theyre together and we should have won tonight." The Lakers are 7-8 but just 1-5 on the road. Wall, who was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday, has scored more than 30 points in three straight games for the first time in his career. The point guard scored 11 points in the final 4:40 to help seal the win. Washington coach Randy Wittman isnt surprised or especially pleased by Walls success in his fourth year. "No, because hes going to play better (Wednesday)," Wittman said. Washington plays at Milwaukee on Wednesday. Wall and Nene became the first pair of Wizards to score 30 or more since Dec. 16, 2009, when Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison combined to score 63 points at Sacramento. Nene had never scored more than 28 points in his 12-year NBA career. "I feel like wine. You get old. You get better," the 31-year-old Brazilian said. It didnt necessarily confound Wittman that Nene had never hit 30.dddddddddddd "Hes not a guy who looks to score every time he touches the ball. There are some players in this league that do that," Wittman said. "I could see where he hasnt, but Im glad he did it tonight." Martell Webster added 20 points with four 3-pointers. Jordan Farmar led the Lakers with 22 and Pau Gasol had 17. The Wizards took a 75-73 lead on Nenes three-point play with 2:37 left in the third quarter and led 82-77 after three. Websters consecutive 3-pointers in the fourth quarter gave Washington an 88-80 lead with 10:22 to play. Webster added another 3-pointer to give the Wizards their largest lead -- 96-87 with 7:38 to play. Thanks to Walls hot play, Washington held on. Gasols three-point play with 24.5 seconds left cut the lead to 113-111, but Wall hit three final free throws. Bryant is back practicing, but his return wont come until at least Dec. 6, when the Lakers play at Sacramento. "We dont think about it much at all. We have a job to do now, the guys who are in the lineup. Everybodys focused on their responsibility and I think weve done pretty good so far," Farmar said. "Were still learning and still trying to figure each other out. Its going to be a work in progress even when he does come back, trying to figure out everybodys role." Washington was without guard Bradley Beal, who will be out for at least two weeks with a stress injury to his right foot. Beal was replaced in the starting lineup by Trevor Ariza, who missed the last five games with a strained right hamstring. NOTES: Los Angeles C Chris Kaman missed his third straight game with a sore back. ... Washington F Chris Singleton was active for the first time all season. He missed the first 13 games with a stress fracture in his left foot. Singleton played a minute and didnt score. . Wizards F Otto Porter, who has yet to play this season due to a right hip injury, participated in his first practice on Monday and is nearing a return, Wittman said. ' ' '