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ESPN's reports from Chicago indicate the latest labor proposal would allow players to become unrestricted free agents after four seasons.

That would clarify the market whenever it opens. Rules for the uncapped 2010 campaign didn't allow for unfettered free agency unless a player had been in the league six seasons. Any player with an expired contract and fewer than six years of experience was a restricted free agent, allowing teams to place qualifying tenders on them and receive compensation if another club tried to sign them.

Now it looks like players will be up for grabs -- with former teams receiving no compensation -- after four seasons.

Here are the AFC East players who would've been restricted with the six-year threshold but unrestricted at four years:

Buffalo Bills

• Keith Ellison, linebacker
• Quinton Ganther, running back
• John McCargo, defensive end
• Paul Posluszny, inside linebacker
• Donte Whitner, safety
• Ashton Youboty, cornerback

Miami Dolphins

• Tony McDaniel, defensive tackle
• Quentin Moses, outside linebacker
• Tyler Thigpen, quarterback

New England Patriots

• Logan Mankins, guard (franchise tagged)
• Quinn Ojinnaka, tackle
• Jarrad Page, safety

New York Jets

• Kellen Clemens, quarterback
• Drew Coleman, cornerback
• Antonio Cromartie, cornerback
• Nick Folk, kicker
• Santonio Holmes, receiver
• James Ihedigbo, safety
• Lance Laury, linebacker
• Brad Smith, kick returner
• Eric Smith, safety
• Steve Weatherford, punter

Mankins' situation remains uncertain because we don't know if franchise-tag rules will remain in place under the next CBA. They probably will, meaning Mankins should be back with the Patriots in 2011.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- With some sexy players still on the board at No. 34, the Buffalo Bills went with another safe defensive pick Friday night, taking Texas cornerback Aaron Williams.

Why the Bills took him: In a division with Tom Brady and some big, play-making receivers, Bills general manager Buddy Nix wanted to upgrade coverage skills with the 6-foot defensive back. Some scouts projected Williams as a safety, but Nix said they would keep him at cornerback.

How it affects the roster: Right cornerback Drayton Florence and backup Ashton Youboty are free agents. Although Nix wouldn't rule out re-signing Florence, the odds don't look good. Terrence McGee, Leodis McKelvin and Reggie Corner (nickel) are back, which will put Williams in a competitive mix.

Scouts Inc. says: Inconsistent but talented and most weaknesses can be improved. High in backpedal. Can allow some separation out of breaks and recovery burst is just average. Can give receivers too much of a cushion. Too quick to open and turn on comeback routes. Not as physical in press coverage as in run support and doesn't always re-route receivers with powerful stab at the line of scrimmage. On the other hand, has fluid hips. Can open and run with receivers in press-bail coverage. Quick feet and changes directions well for size. Closes quickly when receivers catch the ball in front of him and can limit production after the catch.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey and Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland have completed their media responsibilities at the NFL scouting combine.

Here are some quick highlights from Gailey's gathering, with an Ireland report to follow. I'll elaborate on the more interesting issues later:

• How Gailey would describe the roster: "I think we're on the right track. I do. I believe we have character on the team. I believe they understand. Hopefully, we're going to get better in each phase. You've just got to get them to understand how to win that close game."
• On the No. 3 overall pick, Gailey said the general philosophy was to "take care of immediate needs and, at the same time, take care of the long-term franchise good. You have to consider all scenarios."
• Gailey said that includes possibly trading up or trading down: "We don't turn our phone off at night."
• He is "anxious" to see Auburn quarterback Cam Newton work out in Lucas Oil Stadium and called him "a big athlete that's in that Wildcat mode, but obviously has the ability to go to the dropback-passer mode."
• Gailey claimed he wasn't concerned with Newton being a one-year starter at Auburn.
• Ten years ago, the NFL dictated to colleges how quarterbacks should play. In the next decade, Gailey foresees college football dictating how the NFL uses the quarterbacks who emerge from whatever offenses are popular.
• Gailey also declared he's "extremely confident" in incumbent starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and admitted he made a big mistake in not going with him instead of Trent Edwards last year: "Shoot, yeah! If I knew then what I knew now, I wouldn't do that. But you do what you can with the information you have, make a decision, hope you learn from it quickly and rectify the situation."
• Gailey noted he's never been on a team where he thought he had too many good cornerbacks, there's always room for more. Drayton Florence and Ashton Youboty are about to become free agents. Gailey bluntly added former first-round pick Leodis McKelvin "left something on the table," but still has the chance to be a top-notch cornerback. I hope he'll commit to what he needs to commit to," Gailey said.
• Reports on outside linebacker Shawne Merriman's recovery from Achilles surgery have been "all positive."
• Last year's first-round pick, running back C.J. Spiller, needs to become better with ball security and pass blocking: "It didn't work out like anybody planned -- he planned, I planned, any fan out there planned. I still think he's going to be a very good to great player for the Buffalo Bills. I'll do better at finding ways to use him more."
• The Bills consider their defense neither 3-4 nor 4-3, but a mixture: "If we are a hybrid, which I think we will be, it allows you to take Chris Kelsay and shift all the 3-4 over and now Kelsay or Merriman is a rush guy. We feel like we can massage that as we need to, getting the best football players on the field."
• The Bills plan to draft defensive linemen based on talent more than positional fit and then find ways to use them.
• New assistant head coach Dave Wannstedt, who has overseen great 4-3 defenses, will have wide-ranging roles as Gailey's top consultant on both sides of the ball.
• Free-agent safety Bob Sanders visited the Bills while Gailey was out of town and he didn't have an update on where that stands.
• The Bills have made an organizational decision not to comment on the NFL labor situation.

New York Jets

• New York Post reporter Mark Cannizzaro writes "if the Jets are preparing to call [Darelle] Revis' bluff on holding out of camp, they'd better prepare for him to be a no-show."
• Jenny Vrentas of the Newark Star-Ledger notes a few roster moves, including rookie running back Joe McKnight's placement on the active/non-football injury list for failing to pass his conditioning test.

Buffalo Bills

• Fan apathy was apparent when the Bills opened training camp Thursday, writes Allen Wilson of the Buffalo News.
• Ben Hayes of NBC affiliate WGRZ has a story on receiver Steve Johnson, who has emerged as the leading candidate for No. 2 receiver -- and an aspiring rapper at cornerback Ashton Youboty's recording studio.

Miami Dolphins

• South Florida Sun-Sentinel columnist Ethan J. Skolnick outlines Dolphins under the most pressure as training camp opens Friday.
• Miami Herald reporter Jeff Darlington notes three of the Dolphins most important players got married recently, a possible sign of maturity.

New England Patriots

• Owner Robert Kraft tells New York Times reporter Judy Battista that Tom Brady will stay a Patriot "one way or another."
• Boston Herald writer Karen Guregian checks in with the players about Bill Belichick's decision to whitewash the past at Gillette Stadium.

The Miami Dolphins were the lone AFC East club not to distribute a news release on the qualifying offers they tendered to their free agents.

After the free-agency signing period began at midnight, the NFL posted the official list.

So, for the record, I give you the Dolphins' tenders.

If another team signs one of the following restricted free agents to an offer sheet and the Dolphins decline to match, then these are the draft considerations the Dolphins would receive as compensation:

• Running back Ronnie Brown, first-round pick
• Tight end Anthony Fasano, second-round pick
• Outside linebacker Quentin Moses, third-round pick

Also, the Buffalo Bills announced the players they tendered Thursday, but didn't reveal the picks. Here they are, courtesy of the NFL:

• Safety George Wilson, second-round pick
• Tight end Derek Schouman, second-round pick
• Cornerback Ashton Youboty, third-round pick
• Linebacker Keith Ellison, sixth-round pick

The Buffalo Bills announced they've tendered qualifying contract offers to four free agents, but didn't reveal what levels.

• Linebacker Keith Ellison
• Tight end Derek Schouman
• Safety George Wilson
• Cornerback Ashton Youboty

Buffalo News writer Mark Gaughan reports the Bills gave Wilson a second-round tender.

Buffalo Bills

Potential unrestricted free agents: DE Ryan Denney, LB Chris Draft, DB Todd Johnson, G Seth McKinney, WR Terrell Owens, WR Josh Reed, S Bryan Scott, G Kendall Simmons, LB Josh Stamer.

Potential restricted free agents: LB Keith Ellison, QB Gibran Hamdan, G Richie Incognito, TE Joe Klopfenstein, TE Derek Schouman, T Jonathan Scott, S George Wilson, CB Ashton Youboty.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: The Bills are in a rebuilding mode and shouldn't be in too much of a hurry to sign their free agents. In fact, they took the unusual step of publicly announcing they wouldn't offer Owens, Reed or Denney contracts. The most attractive players are Incognito and Wilson. Most of the rest were bit players and injury replacements.

Miami Dolphins

Potential unrestricted free agents: NT Jason Ferguson, CB Nate Jones, QB Chad Pennington, OLB Jason Taylor.

Potential restricted free agents: RB Ronnie Brown, TE Anthony Fasano, OLB Quentin Moses.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: The Dolphins have a tough decision to make on Ferguson. He'll turn 36 during the 2010 season and is coming off a serious quadriceps injury. Without him, however, the Dolphins have a massive void in their 3-4 defense at a position that's difficult to replace. Pennington, Jones and Taylor all could be gone.

New England Patriots

Potential unrestricted free agents: OLB Tully Banta-Cain, CB Leigh Bodden, OLB Derrick Burgess, RB Kevin Faulk, DE Jarvis Green, P Chris Hanson, G Stephen Neal, ILB Junior Seau, TE Benjamin Watson.

Potential restricted free agents: K Stephen Gostkowski, G Logan Mankins, OLB Pierre Woods.

Franchise player: NT Vince Wilfork.

What to expect: Several starters are about to go up for bids, and the Patriots can't keep them all. Expect Faulk to be re-signed without much fuss. Neal, Bodden and Banta-Cain comprise a group they'd have trouble replacing. All three could fetch offers the Patriots would rather not match. Don't count on Watson coming back.

New York Jets

Potential unrestricted free agents: LS James Dearth, DE Marques Douglas, K Jay Feely, LB Ryan Fowler, TE Ben Hartsock, LB Larry Izzo, FB Tony Richardson.

Potential restricted free agents: QB Kellen Clemens, CB Drew Coleman, WR Braylon Edwards, DT Howard Green, T Wayne Hunter, WR Brad Smith, S Eric Smith, RB Leon Washington.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: As a "final eight" team, the Jets have to window shop until one of their UFAs sign elsewhere. General manager Mike Tannenbaum is creative. Don't be surprised if the Jets use trades to upgrade. The key restricted free agent to monitor will be Washington, who received a second-round tender. His agent has been tweeting alarms the Pro Bowler could sign an offer sheet and dare the Jets to match.

An uncapped year in 2010 would affect 212 players who ordinarily would have become unrestricted free agents, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.

Players can't become unrestricted free agents in an uncapped year unless they have six years of NFL experience. The usual minimum is four years.

NFC South dean Pat Yasinskas obtained the list, which includes 19 from the AFC East. The New York Jets have the most with eight.

Buffalo Bills

• Linebacker Keith Ellison
• Quarterback Gibran Hamdan
• Guard Richie Incognito
• Tight end Joel Klopfenstein
• Strong safety George Wilson
• Cornerback Ashton Youboty

Miami Dolphins

• Running back Ronnie Brown
• Tight end Anthony Fasano

New England Patriots

• Kicker Stephen Gostkowski
• Guard Logan Mankins
• Outside linebacker Pierre Woods

New York Jets

• Quarterback Kellen Clemens
• Cornerback Drew Coleman
• Wide receiver Braylon Edwards
• Defensive tackle Howard Green
• Tackle Wayne Hunter
• Wide receiver Brad Smith
• Safety Eric Smith
• Running back Leon Washington

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Conditions at Ralph Wilson Stadium are cold and gray for Sunday's game between the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills.

But at least the snow that has socked in the rest of the Northeast has stayed away.

In watching the doppler Saturday night, I found it amusing how this gargantuan white sheet was covering five states, but as it approached Buffalo, some mystical force field on the eastern rim of Lake Erie seemed to be batting it away with ease.

So no snow here, folks. Based on the flags atop the stadium and the streamers on the goal posts, the wind seems tolerable for now.

The Patriots already announced all the surprises from their inactive list Saturday night.

Particularly noteworthy about the Bills' inactive list is that receiver Terrell Owens isn't on it. Owens missed practice Thursday and Friday with an illness.

The complete rundown of scratches reads thusly:

New England Patriots

• Receiver Isaiah Stanback (third QB)
• Running back Fred Taylor
• Right guard Stephen Neal
• Right tackle Nick Kaczur
• Nose tackle Vince Wilfork
• Defensive end Ty Warren
• Defensive end Myron Pryor
• Cornerback Terrence Wheatley

Buffalo Bills

• Quarterback Brian Brohm
• Receiver Steve Johnson
• Receiver James Hardy
• Tight end Joe Klopfenstein
• Tackle Jamon Meredith
• Defensive end Chris Ellis
• Cornerback Ashton Youboty
• Cornerback Cary Harris

TORONTO -- An hour before kickoff for the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills at the Rogers Centre, and the atmosphere is almost as lively as a board meeting. What a comedown from the Superdome.

The inactive lists were just distributed with no surprises. Cornerback Terrence McGee is back after missing three games following minor knee surgery, but Reggie Corner will start on the left side anyway.

New York Jets inactive list

• Quarterback Erik Ainge (third QB)
• Quarterback Kevin O'Connell
• Offensive lineman Robert Turner
• Defensive end Ropati Pitoitua
• Linebacker Kenwin Cummings
• Linebacker Ryan Fowler
• Cornerback Dwight Lowery
• Cornerback Donald Strickland

Buffalo Bills inactive list

• Quarterback Brian Brohm
• Receiver Steve Johnson
• Receiver James Hardy
• Left tackle Demetrius Bell
• Defensive tackle John McCargo
• Defensive end Chris Ellis
• Defensive back Cary Harris
• Cornerback Ashton Youboty

Even at first glance, the Buffalo Bills team photo simply didn't look right. Without serious examination, something is out of kilter.

Upon closer inspection, several items are amiss -- and one notable person is a-missing.

Before Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins, the Bills gave away team photos as fans passed through the turnstiles at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Former head coach Dick Jauron, fired two weeks ago, was removed from the team photo as though he never existed.

Jauron evidently was seated to owner Ralph Wilson's right when the photo was snapped in mid-September, but Jauron was erased and the rest of the row altered to fill in the vacancy. Interim head coach Perry Fewell is stationed on a back row with the rest of the assistants.

Bills fan Matt Irving grabbed a few of the freebies Sunday. Friend and fellow Bills loyalist Joshua Fitzgerald scanned a copy and posted it on the fan message board at TwoBillsDrive.com.

The Bills' team photo was taken between Weeks 1 and 2. Terrell Owens posted personal pictures from the shoot on his Twitter page Sept. 19.

Besides, there are several lapses of logic to indicate the rubout.

Players acquired before Jauron was fired (tackle Jamon Meredith, linebacker Chris Draft, defensive back Todd Johnson) aren't in the photo. Players cut before Jauron was fired (running back Xavier Omon, linebacker Alvin Bowen) are present.

More telling is the visual evidence Jauron was erased like he was Leon Trotsky.

Other players seemingly were jockeyed around to keep the numerical-order motif, with the player on the left in the first row wearing the lowest uniform number and running through the highest number to the right of the fifth row.

The sequence was interrupted only by Wilson in the center and chief operating officer Russ Brandon to his left in the second row.

So who was depicted in the prominent spot to Wilson's right? Rookie cornerback Jairus Byrd, a fine player. He's tied for the NFL interceptions lead and could be defensive rookie of the year. But he didn't start a game until Week 3.

Furthermore, there's a phantom khaki pant and sneaker underneath Byrd in the team photo. The players are in jerseys and game pants. Coaches are in khakis.

And there's more. Defensive backs Terrence McGee and Ellis Lankster, on the left of the second row, have the same torso. The shadows and wrinkles on their jerseys are identical. The only difference is a doctored digit.

At the right end of the second row is defensive back Cary Harris, who looks like he has been amputated from the left knee down. It appears McGee was sitting in front of him, but was moved up to the second row so everyone could slide toward center and fill in the big blank.

Various body parts have been copied and pasted to fill in spaces that had been covered. Cornerbacks Ashton Youboty and Leodis McKelvin have the same left arm, noticeable by the six-fingered hand dangling from it. Their hands are resting on imaginary legs.

The Bills declined to comment on the photo.

If only Bills fans could wipe Jauron from their brains as easily as he was removed from the picture.

With a game on Thursday night, the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills have released their final injury report.

Already ruled out for the Jets are cornerbacks Dwight Lowery (ankle) and Donald Strickland (concussion) and guard Robert Turner (knee). The Jets don't list any players as doubtful or questionable.

Listed as probable are quarterback Mark Sanchez (knee), left tackle D'Brickshaw Ferguson (hamstring), defensive end Shaun Ellis (knee), outside linebacker Calvin Pace (shoulder) and safeties Jim Leonhard (thumb) and Eric Smith (back). All six participated fully in Wednesday's practice.

For the Bills, left tackle Demetrius Bell (knee), defensive tackle John McCargo (calf) and cornerback Ashton Youboty (ankle) are out.

The only other Bills on the injury report are cornerback Terrence McGee (knee) and safety Jairus Byrd (groin). Both are listed as questionable and were limited in Wednesday's practice.

Here are the lineup scratches from Sunday's game between the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills in Ralph Wilson Stadium:

Miami Dolphins

• Quarterback Tyler Thigpen
• Fullback Kory Sheets
• Receiver Patrick Turner
• Center Jake Grove
• Tackle Lydon Murtha
• Defensive end Lionel Dotson
• Defensive end Ikeaika Alma-Francis
• Linebacker Erik Walden

Buffalo Bills

• Quarterback Brian Brohm
• Receiver Steve Johnson
• Receiver James Hardy
• Left tackle Demetrius Bell
• Defensive tackle John McCargo
• Defensive end Chris Ellis
• Cornerback Terrence McGee
• Cornerback Ashton Youboty

Here are the inactives for Buffalo Bills interim head coach Perry Fewell's first game:

Buffalo Bills

• Quarterback Brian Brohm
• Receiver James Hardy
• Receiver Steve Johnson
• Tight end Joe Klopfenstein
• Left tackle Demetrius Bell
• Defensive tackle Marcus Stroud
• Cornerback Terrence McGee
• Cornerback Ashton Youboty

Jacksonville Jaguars

• Receiver Tiquan Underwood
• Guard Paul McQuistan
• Offensive lineman Maurice Williams
• Offensive lineman Tra Thomas
• Defensive tackle Derek Landri
• Defensive tackle Greg Peterson
• Linebacker Justin Durant
• Cornerback Rashean Mathis

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

New York Jets

• Rich Cimini of the New York Daily News writes Mark Sanchez "gave a Southern Cal-like performance in the annual Green and White game at SUNY Cortland."
• J.P. Pelzman of the Bergen Record notes that Sanchez's performance would have been even better had receivers not dropped four of his passes.
• The New York Times' Greg Bishop takes a look at how the defense has been dominating the offense throughout camp.
• New York Post reporter Mark Cannizzaro writes outside linebacker Vernon Gholston is trying to transform perceptions established in his rookie year.
• Newark Star-Ledger reporter Dave Hutchinson writes coach Rex Ryan considers his secondary one of the NFL's best.

Buffalo Bills

• Buffalo News reporter Allen Wilson finds grill marks on second-year cornerback Leodis McKelvin's skin.
• Toronto Globe & Mail reporter David Naylor writes about the expectations quarterback Trent Edwards is facing.
• For years, cornerback Ashton Youboty has been trying to figure out whether he belongs, writes Kevin Oklobzija of the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle.

Miami Dolphins

• South Florida Sun-Sentinel columnist Dave Hyde checks on rookie Pat White, who never listened to those who said he couldn't play quarterback.
• Palm Beach Post reporter Edgar Thompson writes rookie receiver Brian Hartline is having an impressive first training camp.
• Jeff Darlington of the Miami Herald shares the advice Sam Madison imparted to rookie cornerbacks Vontae Davis and Sean Smith.

New England Patriots

• Christopher L. Gasper of the Boston Globe breaks down the Derrick Burgess trade.
• There's a reason new cornerback Leigh Bodden has picked up the Patriots' defense so quickly, writes WEEI.com's Christopher Price.
• Boston Herald reporter Ian R. Rapoport looks at how director of player personnel Nick Caserio is approaching Vince Wilfork's contract situation.
• Providence Journal reporter Shalise Manza Young writes about long-shot receiver Terrence Nunn's perseverance.