Bills notebook
Ex-Rams linebacker Tinoisamoa in for visit
The Buffalo Bills are going to take a look at a playmaking outside linebacker who could bolster their defense.
St. Louis Rams free agent Pisa Tinoisamoa (pronounced Tee-noy- SAW-mo-ah) is scheduled to visit One Bills Drive today, according to a league source.
The Bills strongly considered adding a veteran outside linebacker earlier this offseason when they brought in Cato June and Freddy Keiaho for free agent visits.
It is not known if the Bills made an offer to either player. June eventually signed with the Houston Texans, while Keiaho reportedly is close to resigning with the Indianapolis Colts.
Tinoisamoa, who turns 28 in July, would represent an upgrade over both of them. He is athletic with good instincts, speed, range and a nose for the football.
A 2003 second-round pick out of Hawaii, he led the Rams in tackles during his first three seasons and again last year. He was the first rookie to lead the Rams in tackles. He also had 10 sacks, nine forced fumbles and seven interceptions during his tenure in St. Louis.
Knee, shoulder, elbow and ankle injuries limited Tinoisamoa to 20 games over the 2006 and 2007 seasons. But he played every game last year and finished with a team-high 135 tackles.
Tinoisamoa started at weakside linebacker for the Rams, but he has played on the strong side as well. Keith Ellison was the Bills’ strongside starter last season and is currently backed up by second-year pro Alvin Bowen and rookie Nic Harris. Bowen missed all of last season with a knee injury. Kawika Mitchell is the Bills’ starter on the weak side.
In a surprise move, the Rams released Tinoisamoa last week for salary cap reasons. He was scheduled to make $3.25 million in base salary and count $4.25 million against the cap. Releasing him freed up $2.25 million in cap space.
The Rams also let Tinoisamoa go because they want to get bigger at linebacker. Though listed at 6-foot-1 and 240 pounds, he played in the 220-to 225-pound range last season.
But Tinoisamoa would make sense for the Bills, whose defensive scheme favors quickness and athleticism over size.
Because he can play either outside spot, Tinoisamoa would give the Bills more flexibility at linebacker.
•••
The Bills announced Tuesday that defensive end Jermaine McGhee and cornerback Kyle Ward were signed to free agent contracts.
The 6-2, 257-pound McGhee was signed by Kansas City as an undrafted free agent from Prairie View A&Min 2008 and spent part of last season on the Chiefs’ practice squad. Ward, a 6-1, 198-pounder from Louisiana- Lafayette, was an undrafted rookie with the Green Bay Packers last year.
In another roster move, the Bills released linebacker Vince Hall, who was signed to the practice squad late last season.
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