Bills give Byrd franchise tag

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Bills were not about to let Jairus Byrd get away this offseason. Buffalo designated Byrd as the team's "franchise player" today.

Buffalo used the non-exclusive franchise tag, which means another team can still sign him to an offer sheet. However, the Bills would then have an opportunity match the offer.  If they choose not to match it, the Bills would receive two first-round picks from the team that made the offer.

As a franchise player, Byrd will make the average salary of the top five players at his position last year - set for $6.916 million for a safety.

Byrd is a two-time Pro Bowl selection, with 18 interceptions in his four years with the Bills.

He is the first player since Nate Clements in 2006 to receive the franchise tag from Buffalo.

The move still leaves several key decisions to be made with the team's other free agents - a group that includes starting guard Andy Levitre and kick returner/cornerback Leodis McKelvin, among others.

The NFL's free agent period begins March 12th at 4pm.