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Cards tackle Shelton visits Bills
By ALLEN WILSON
News Sports Reporter
2/19/2005
L.J. Shelton could fill Jonas Jennings' tackle spot.
The Buffalo Bills have begun looking at alternatives to Jonas Jennings at left tackle.
Six-year veteran L.J. Shelton of the Arizona Cardinals visited the Bills on Thursday, according to league sources.
Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe was unavailable for comment.
Shelton, 28, was given permission from the Cardinals to seek a trade earlier this month. The Bills are a possible destination because Jennings is an unrestricted free agent and is seeking a contract that would make him one of the highest paid offensive tackles in the NFL. The Bills aren't expected to meet those demands.
The 6-foot-6, 335-pound Shelton would be an appealing option for the Bills, who need a quality blocker to protect the blind side of new starting quarterback J.P. Losman.
A 1999 first-round draft pick out of Eastern Michigan, Shelton appeared in 82 games with 77 career starts. He fell out of favor in Arizona last season after showing up at minicamp in less than top condition.
First-year coach Dennis Green benched Shelton and moved former first-rounder Leonard Davis from guard to left tackle. Shelton eventually took over at right tackle, but his nine starts were the fewest since his rookie season. He ended the year on injured reserve because of a sprained knee.
The St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos are also believed to have interest in Shelton, whose father, Lonnie Shelton, played 10 years in the NBA.
The Cardinals want a high draft pick in exchange for Shelton's services, but given their need for a starting running back the Bills could offer disgruntled Travis Henry in a player-for-player deal.
Henry was given permission to seek a trade after expressing that he wants no part of being a backup to Willis McGahee. A Henry-for-Shelton trade would work out financially for both teams. Henry has one year remaining on his contract that will pay him a little more than $1 million. The Cardinals would probably sign him to a longer-term deal if the trade is made. Shelton has four years left on a contract that averages $3 million per season, but the Bills have the cap space to accommodate that salary. Also, Shelton's current deal is much less than what Jennings is seeking.
By ALLEN WILSON
News Sports Reporter
2/19/2005
The Buffalo Bills have begun looking at alternatives to Jonas Jennings at left tackle.
Six-year veteran L.J. Shelton of the Arizona Cardinals visited the Bills on Thursday, according to league sources.
Bills President and General Manager Tom Donahoe was unavailable for comment.
Shelton, 28, was given permission from the Cardinals to seek a trade earlier this month. The Bills are a possible destination because Jennings is an unrestricted free agent and is seeking a contract that would make him one of the highest paid offensive tackles in the NFL. The Bills aren't expected to meet those demands.
The 6-foot-6, 335-pound Shelton would be an appealing option for the Bills, who need a quality blocker to protect the blind side of new starting quarterback J.P. Losman.
A 1999 first-round draft pick out of Eastern Michigan, Shelton appeared in 82 games with 77 career starts. He fell out of favor in Arizona last season after showing up at minicamp in less than top condition.
First-year coach Dennis Green benched Shelton and moved former first-rounder Leonard Davis from guard to left tackle. Shelton eventually took over at right tackle, but his nine starts were the fewest since his rookie season. He ended the year on injured reserve because of a sprained knee.
The St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos are also believed to have interest in Shelton, whose father, Lonnie Shelton, played 10 years in the NBA.
The Cardinals want a high draft pick in exchange for Shelton's services, but given their need for a starting running back the Bills could offer disgruntled Travis Henry in a player-for-player deal.
Henry was given permission to seek a trade after expressing that he wants no part of being a backup to Willis McGahee. A Henry-for-Shelton trade would work out financially for both teams. Henry has one year remaining on his contract that will pay him a little more than $1 million. The Cardinals would probably sign him to a longer-term deal if the trade is made. Shelton has four years left on a contract that averages $3 million per season, but the Bills have the cap space to accommodate that salary. Also, Shelton's current deal is much less than what Jennings is seeking.