Sign Seven to Futures Contracts
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – The Buffalo Bills today announced that CB Mario Butler, RB Mike Gillislee, WR Greg Salas and P Colton Schmidt have signed contract extensions with the team. In accordance with team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Butler saw action in 13 games, starting one, while accumulating five tackles and five passes defensed this season for the Bills. The 6-1, 187-pound Georgia Tech product entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 2011 and spent portions of the 2011 and 2012 seasons on the Practice Squads of the Cowboys and Denver Broncos in addition to spending time on the Bills practice squad in 2013.
Gillislee emerged on the scene this year for the Bills playing in five games, starting one, and running for 267 yards and three scores on 47 carries. In back-to-back games this season against the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys this season Gillislee broke 50-yard-plus touchdown runs—becoming the first Bills running back to produce 50-yard rushing touchdowns in consecutive games since Antowain Smith in 1997. The 5-11, 219-pound Florida product originally entered the NFL in 2013 as a fifth round pick (164th overall) of the Miami Dolphins. Gillislee has also spent time with the Arizona Cardinals during his three-year career.
Salas joined the Bills prior to Week 16 and went on to see action in the team’s final two games while catching three passes for 41 yards. The 6-2, 210-pound Hawaii product has appeared in 27 career games (two starts), totaling 46 receptions for 615 yards, as well as two carries for 28 yards and one touchdown. Salas originally entered the league in 2011 with the St. Louis Rams as a fourth round pick (112th overall).
In two seasons with the Bills, Schmidt has solidified the punting position for the Bills since originally joining the team after spending the 2014 preseason with the San Francisco 49ers. Schmidt set a Buffalo Bills franchise record in 2015 with an average net punt of 41.3 yards. The 5-11, 224 pound UC Davis entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2013 with the 49ers.
The Bills also announced the team has signed the following seven players as reserve/future signings from the team’s practice squad:
TE
Annen, Blake
DB
Dowling, Jonathan
TE
Maxwell, Jacob
C
Patrick, Ronald
DE
Reed, Cedric
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Richardson, Cyril
S
Thomas, Philip
Annen has been with the Bills since joining the team’s practice squad on December 15. Annen originally entered the NFL in 2014 as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles. In addition to Philadelphia, the 6-4, 247-pound Cincinnati product has spent time with the Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers. Annen appeared in five games for Chicago in 2014, playing primarily on special teams. Annen, 24, is a native of Upper Arlington, Ohio.
Dowling joined the Bills practice squad on December 23. Dowling originally entered the NFL in 2014 as a seventh round pick (247th overall) of the Oakland Raiders. He appeared in seven games during his rookie campaign for the Raiders. In addition to the Raiders, the 6-3, 190-pound Western Kentucky product has spent time on the Miami Dolphins practice squad. Dowling, 23, is a native of Bradenton, Florida.
Maxwell was signed the team’s practice squad on December 22. Maxwell originally entered the NFL in 2014 as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions. In addition to Detroit, the 6-4, 240-pound Louisiana-Lafayette product has spent time with the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins. Maxwell appeared in 50 games during his collegiate career, catching 36 passes for 377 yards and six touchdowns. Maxwell, 24, is a native of Slidell, Louisiana.
Patrick was added to the Bills practice squad on December 9. Patrick originally entered the NFL in 2014 as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys. In addition to Dallas, the 6-1, 310-pound South Carolina product has spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns. Patrick started 25 career games during his collegiate career as a Gamecock.
Reed spent the season on the Bills practice squad after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent following the 2015 NFL Draft and then being released prior to the start of the regular season. The 6-5, 269-pound Texas product started 32-of-46 career games played during his four years with the Longhorns, racking up 201 tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 18 sacks and six forced fumbles. Reed earned Second-Team All-Big 12 honors in 2014.
Richardson spent the 2015 season on the Bills practice squad. The 6-5, 343-pound Baylor product originally entered the NFL as a fifth round pick (153rd overall) of the Bills. Richardson spent the 2014 season on the Bills 53-man roster, appearing in 12 games while starting four. Richardson started 42-of-51 games played during his collegiate career at Baylor.
Thomas, who was signed to the Bills practice squad on December 30, spent portions of the 2015 with the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Redskins. The 6-0, 223-pound Fresno State product originally entered the NFL in 2013 as a fourth round pick (119th overall) of the Redskins. During the 2014 season, Thomas appeared in eight games, with four starts, racking up 26 tackles (18 solo) for Washington.
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