With free agency under way and the NFL entering an uncapped year, teams in the AFC East are

losing no time in declaring their intentions to compete for a Super Bowl.

The Dolphins signed Karlos Dansby, a free agent linebacker from Arizona, to a five-year,

$43 million deal. The Jets acquired cornerback Antonio Cromartie for a conditional third-round

draft pick.

The Patriots re-signed nose tackle Vince Wilfork and linebacker Tully Banta-Cain, pulling

back two defensive stalwarts from the unrestricted market.

Meanwhile, the Bills were deep in talks with marginal offensive linemen. On Saturday, they

entertained Wade Smith, a backup guard. On Monday, they signed Cornell Green, who started for

the Raiders at right tackle last season.

Something tells me Bills fans won't turn any ankles dashing off to purchase their tickets.

By the way, the first payment for season tickets is due Friday.

OK, free agency just started. Buddy Nix might have more up his sleeve. After all, he "knows

what a football player looks like." I wonder what he sees in Green, 33, who has played for

four NFL teams. Green committed 12 penalties in 12 games last year. For that, he got a three-

year, $9 million deal from the Bills.

Oh. Last May, Green received 12 months probation after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor

charge of battery against the mother of his two children. Green reportedly slammed Teriyonal

Flowers against a wall and struck her on the arm with a mop handle.

I'm not here to judge. Anyone could fly off the handle and use it on his girlfriend. Green,

speaking with the Buffalo media on a conference call Monday, called the incident

"unfortunate," as if it were a stroke of bad luck. Green said he has reconciled with the

woman.

Still, it's another reminder that "character" is so much lip service with this

organization. And I was naive enough to think Nix might get rid of Marshawn Lynch (who is,

evidently, less of a menace than Ben Roethlisberger).

Nix was supposed to bring a fresh approach. The Bills needed a right tackle when Brad

Butler retired. But another Raiders retread? Does the name "Langston Walker" ring any bells?

Green said the Bills are "a couple of pieces" away from being a playoff team. Perhaps, if

the pieces were named Peyton Manning and Julius Peppers.

The Bills have a multitude of needs. They need another offensive tackle, defensive ends,

linebackers, a quarterback, a nose tackle. If they're a borderline playoff team, they should

have been a tad more active at the start of free agency.

Word is, they like the guys they have. Sorry, but Marcus Stroud and Spencer Johnson at the

starting defensive ends is no cause for celebration. There's still a couple of viable

defensive ends out there in free agency, most notably Dwan Edwards and Adewale Ogunleye.

You couldn't expect the Bills to make a run at Anquan Boldin. But they need a second

receiver, in the likely event that James Hardy struggles. Chris Chambers was out there until

Monday, when he re-signed with the Chiefs. The Chiefs are a bad team. You'd think he might

have been interested in the Bills if they were actually on the fringe of contention.

The draft is the real hope of the franchise. Still, the Bills ought to bring in a quality

free agent or two to show their fans they mean business in the short term. They might take a

run at Joey Porter, a rush linebacker on the down side of his career, if the price is right.

Don't hold your breath waiting for Ralph Wilson to break the bank. He's been operating with

his own salary cap for a few years now. The Bills spent $10 million under the cap in real cash

a year ago. He's not about to shower free agents with money because the cap went away.

Bills fans should prepare for the uninspired. They've had a lot of practice.