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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, September 8, 2009

NFL: Bills release starting LT Langston Walker


By JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Another day, another big shake-up to the Buffalo Bills offense.

The team’s release Tuesday of starting left tackle Langston Walker, announced in a three-paragraph statement, comes as the Bills make their final preparations to open the regular season at New England on Monday. And the move comes after offensive coordinator Turk Schonert was fired on Friday, and veteran running back Dominic Rhodes was cut a day later.
The changes are regarded as the ongoing fallout from a Bills new no-huddle attack that struggled this preseason. The Trent Edwards-led starting unit was limited to 3 points in 15 series, while the offense as a whole failed to score a touchdown in its final two preseason games.
Bills players had the day off Tuesday and return to practice Wednesday.
Walker’s release means another change to an offensive line that was completely retooled this offseason. A two-year starter at right tackle in Buffalo, Walker was taking over on the left side after the Bills traded two-time Pro Bowl selection Jason Peters to Philadelphia in April.
Geoff Hangartner, acquired in free agency this offseason, is the center while Brad Butler is switching from right guard to right tackle. Buffalo’s line also will include two rookie guards, first-round pick Eric Wood and second-rounder Andy Levitre.
In cutting Walker, the Bills re-signed veteran offensive lineman Kirk Chambers, who was among the team’s final cuts last weekend. Chambers has experience playing tackle.
Another starting candidate is Demetrius Bell, who had begun splitting time with Walker in practice before hurting his back on Aug. 24. Bell has began working out on his own, and was expected to be cleared for practice this week.
Drafted in the seventh round by Buffalo last year, Bell was regarded as a raw project and did not appear in one game last season to allow him time to develop. Bell is the estranged son of former basketball great Karl Malone, and switched from playing basketball to football after his freshman season at Northwestern State University in Louisiana.
So much for the Bills’ high-priced line they began assembling in free agency in March 2007 under former general manager Marv Levy. Walker was signed to a five-year, $25 million deal, the same day the team signed left guard Derrick Dockery to a seven-year, $49 million contract.
Dockery was cut in February.
Walker was scheduled to make a base salary of $3 million in each of the final three years of his contract, including this season.