In less than six months running back Dominic Rhodes went from an important addition to the

Buffalo Bills' backfield to someone they deemed was a luxury they couldn't afford.

Rhodes was the biggest name among the 18 players cut by the Bills, who got down to the

NFL-mandated 53-man roster Saturday.

Rhodes, who spent seven of his eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, was signed in the

spring to provide depth while starter Marshawn Lynch serves a three-game suspension for

violating the league's personal conduct policy. Fred Jackson will start while Lynch is out.

Rhodes had 64 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, four catches for 21 yards and returned

four kickoffs for 87 yards in four preseason games. He also fumbled twice, losing one.

But money may have been a bigger factor in Rhodes' release than his performance. The Bills

save more than $2 million in cutting him. He was due to make base salaries of $750,000 this

year and $1.25 million in 2010 as part of a two-year contract, which included a $200,000

signing bonus. He also was scheduled to get a $150,000 roster bonus by making the team.

Cutting Rhodes is still a surprise because his departure leaves the Bills dangerously thin at

running back. Xavier Omon, who appeared in only two games as a rookie last season, is the lone

backup to Jackson for the first three games. Fullback Corey McIntyre, who re-signed in

February, also made it even though the Bills don't use the fullback much in their no-huddle.

Other notable cuts were offensive lineman Kirk Chambers, defensive end Copeland Bryan and

tight end Jonathan Stupar.

Chambers was a valuable backup the last two seasons, playing in 32 games and starting at

tackle five times (four in 2008). Bryan had a solid preseason with two sacks and a couple of

fumble recoveries, but he was the victim of a numbers game at end. Stupar has a strong

preseason that saw him lead the team with 22 catches, but the Bills opted to go with three

tight ends ... Derek Schouman, Derek Fine and rookie Shawn Nelson.

Here is how the Bills' roster breaks down: quarterback (3), running back (2), fullback (1),

wide receiver (6), tight end (3), offensive line (8), defensive line (9), linebacker (7),

cornerback (6), safety (5) and special teams (3).

Lynch does not count against the 53-man roster during his suspension. He is eligible to

return in Week Four. Wide receiver James Hardy, who is still recovering from a knee injury,

was placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, which means he will be unable to

practice until the end of Week Six at the earliest. Justin Jenkins claimed the sixth receiver

spot because of his special teams prowess.

Jonathan Scott won a spot as the fourth tackle behind starters Langston Walker and Brad

Butler and swing tackle Demetrius Bell. Keeping Scott over Chambers is a little curious

because Chambers offers more flexibility because he can play tackle and guard. Seth McKinney

is the only interior backup behind center Geoff Hangartner and rookie guards Eric Wood and

Andy Levitre.

Chris Ellis beat out Bryan as the fifth defensive end. Ellis, a 2008 third-round draft pick,

had a much better training camp than before his rookie season. There was speculation that

eighth-year veteran Ryan Denney was in danger because of his age (he turned 32 in June) and

his contract. He is due to make $2.75 million (including $2.4 base and a $300,000

likely-to-be-earned bonus) in the final year of the deal. But the Bills apparently decided

they needed more experience and depth at the position.

The Bills cut second-year outside linebacker Alvin Bowen, who was outplayed by undrafted

rookie free agent Ashlee Palmer. Bowen is eligible for the practice squad, though. Marcus

Buggs made it as a backup middle linebacker.

The Bills kept seven linebackers, one more than a year ago, because Orchard Park native Jon

Corto was too valuable on special teams to let go. The concern at linebacker is that none of

the four backups behind starters Paul Posluszny, Kawika Mitchell and Keith Ellison has taken a

defensive snap in the NFL.

There were no surprises at cornerback as Terrence McGee, Leodis McKelvin, Reggie Corner,

Drayton Florence and Ashton Youboty were pretty much locks. Rookie Ellis Lankster earned the

sixth spot because of an excellent spring and summer.

Trading Ko Simpson to Detroit cleared the way for the Bills to keep five safeties for the

third straight year. Like Simpson, John Wendling was also on the bubble, but was helped by his

play on special teams.

The Bills' roster is subject to change if they decide to go after someone cut from another

team. They can put together their eight-man practice squad after noon today.

In other roster moves Saturday, the Bills placed center Brandon Rodd on the waived/injured

list. Rodd, who worked with the second team offense through the preseason, suffered a sprained

knee in the preseason finale against Detroit. Also, linebacker John DiGiorgio was

waived/injured. He was already on the injured reserve list.

Go to the BillBoard blog to comment on the moves.

Click here for latest league updates.

For a list of transactions sortable by team, click here.

Bills roster/cuts

x — Players exempt from 53-man roster

Quarterbacks

5-Trent Edwards

14-Ryan Fitzpatrick

10-Gibran Hamdan

16 Matt Baker

Running backs

23-Marshawn Lynch, RB — x

22-Fred Jackson, RB

33-Dominic Rhodes, RB

38-Corey McIntyre, FB

44-Xavier Omon, RB

42-Bruce Hall, RB

Wide receivers

81-Terrell Owens

83-Lee Evans

82-Josh Reed

13-Steve Johnson

84-James Hardy — x

11-Roscoe Parrish

17-Justin Jenkins

15-Felton Huggins

18-C.J. Hawthorne

Tight ends

80-Derek Schouman

86-Derek Fine

89-Shawn Nelson

88-Jonathan Stupar

87-Tyson DeVree

Offensive line

68-Langston Walker, LT

70-Eric Wood, LG

63-Geoff Hangartner, C

67-Andy Levitre, RG

60-Brad Butler, RT

77-Demetrius Bell, T

66-Seth McKinney, G/C

73-Kirk Chambers T/G

79-Jonathan Scott, T

62-Brandon Rodd, G

61-Christian Gaddis, G

74-Nick Hennessey, T

Defensive line

94-Aaron Schobel, DE

99-Marcus Stroud, DT

95-Kyle Williams, DT

90-Chris Kelsay, DE

58-Aaron Maybin, DE

91-Spencer Johnson, DT

97-John McCargo, DT

93-Chris Ellis, DE

65-Derrick Jones, DT

71-Ataefiok Etukeren, DE

75-Corey Mace, DT

92-Ryan Denney, DE

96-Copeland Bryan, DE

Linebackers

55-Kawika Mitchell, SLB

51-Paul Posluszny, MLB

56-Keith Ellison, WLB

54-Nic Harris, SLB

50-Alvin Bowen, WLB

57-Jon Corto, WLB

53-Marcus Buggs, MLB

61-Ryan Manalac, LB

64-Ashlee Palmer, WLB

Defensive backs

24-Terrence McGee, CB

28-Leodis McKelvin, CB

20-Donte Whitner, FS

43-Bryan Scott, SS

27-Reggie Corner, CB

29-Drayton Florence, CB

31-Jairus Byrd, SS

26-Ashton Youboty, CB

46-Ellis Lankster, CB

37-George Wilson, FS

21-John Wendling, SS

30-Ko Simpson, FS (traded Friday)

47-Cary Harris, CB

Special teams

8-Brian Moorman, P

9-Rian Lindell, K

69-Garrison Sanborn, LS

Wide Receiver James Hardy was placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list.

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