Bills Sign Lineman Hangartner

Orchard Park, NY (AP) - Free agent offensive lineman Geoff Hangartner has signed with the Buffalo Bills, becoming the first addition to what will be a revamped line this season.

    The deal was announced by the Bills on Saturday after the former Carolina Panthers player spent the day meeting with team executives and coaches. A fifth-round draft pick out of Texas A&M in 2005, the 6-5, 315-pound Hangartner will play center for the Bills.  He'll replace Melvin Fowler and Duke Preston, who manned the position last seasons.

"I played some guard," said Hangartner, "but center has always been my primary position and that’s what I played in college. I played it in high school. I played a little bit of tackle here and there, too. But center is definitely my preferred position and what I’m most comfortable at because I’ve done it the most and have been playing it the longest."

Hangartner appeared in 16 games, including eight starts last season.  The Carolina Panthers were the NFL's third-leading rushing team.

Hangartner knows he faces some big challengesin the nose tackles of the AFC East, including the Jets Kris Jenkins, Hangartner's former teammate in Carolina.

"Playing in the division is going to be a challenge every week because like we’ve talked about there are some great nose guards. But I really like the challenge of playing against guys that are Pro Bowlers. And I know Kris (Jenkins) really well from our three years in Carolina together. He’s a heck of a player and I know the other guys are too. But it’s just something I’m looking forward to, the challenge. It’ll be fun."

The signing, the Bills second of free agency, still leaves them with a hole to fill at left guard.  They released last year's starter Derrick Dockery.

Friday, the first day of free agency, the Bills signed backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.