Bills, Fitzpatrick inch toward $3 million decision

It remains unclear if the Bills will cut quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick before he earns a $3 million roster bonus.
The “when” is clear.  With a $3 million roster bonus due on the second day of the league year, the Bills have to decide whether to pay the money and keep him, or to avoid the payment by cutting him.
Option three would consist of a renegotiation that entails less money being paid to Fitzpatrick in 2013 and/or beyond.
The team’s plan remains unclear.  With Tarvaris Jackson under contract, the Bills have a fallback option, in the event they cut Fitzpatrick and don’t find anyone else.  (Then again, that fallback plan could cause the Bills to fall back to 3-13.)
Fitzpatrick also is due to earn a base salary of $4.25 million in 2013, along with a $200,000 workout bonus.
If the Bills cut him before Tuesday, they’ll carry $10 million in dead money.  If they cut him on Tuesday after 4:00 p.m. ET with a post-June 1 designation, his cap hit would drop to $3 million this year and $7 million in 2014.
Either way, the Bills would save $7.45 million in cash by moving on.

Source: PFT.com
Author: Mike Florio
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Jackson, Fitzpatrick to compete for Bills QB job

Tarvaris Jackson could be going from afterthought to Week 1 starter for the Buffalo Bills
Slated to reach free agency after failing to attempt a single pass last season, Jackson was re-signed Friday. While that transaction is hardly earth-shattering news, head coach Doug Marrone's accompanying quotes certainly registered on the Richter scale.
"I spoke with Ryan (Fitzpatrick) and Tarvaris (Jackson) and told them we will have an open competition at the quarterback position," Marrone said, "similar to what we will do at all positions on our team heading into our offseason work."
It may not be that cut and dry, however. Having already received $21 million of the six-year, $62 million contract signed during the 2011 season, Fitzpatrick is due a $3 million roster bonus in March. It will actually cost the Bills more money against the cap to retain Fitzpatrick than to release him. If he is not amenable to a pay cut, Jackson may have no veteran competition after all.
Bills fans looking for a silver lining to their underwhelming quarterback situation can take solace in the knowledge that any quarterback selected in the early rounds of April's NFL draft will have a clear path to the starting job.

Source:  Around The League/NFL.com
Author:  Dan Wesseling