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Orchard Park, NY - The Buffalo Bills signed linebacker Paul Posluszny Wednesday.

The 34th pick overall last April, Posluszny was Penn State’s all-time leading tackler and won the 2005 Butkus award as the nation’s top linebacker in 2005 and the Bednarik trophy as the nation’s top defender in both 2005 and 2006.

Posluszny is expected to take the starting middle linebacker role for the Bills this season.

The Bills also signed their fourth-round pick, running back Dwayne Wright, and released rookie free agent cornerback Duane Coleman.

Philadelphia, PA - The Philadelphia Eagles signed rookie quarterback Kevin Kolb to a four-year contract Wednesday.

A second round pick out of Houston (36th overall) and the Eagles’ first pick overall, Kolb completed 292 of 432 passes for 3,809 yards, 30 touchdowns and just four interceptions as a senior at Houston.

Kolb was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year and ranked fifth in the nation in passing efficiency (162.72 rating) and sixth in passing yards (3,809). He was also a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award, which is given annually to the best senior quarterback in the nation.

Indianapolis, IN - Indianapolis Colts offensive tackle Tarik Glenn announced his retirement Tuesday.

Glenn, a 10-year veteran and the Colts’ starting left offensive tackle since 1998, started 154 regular season games for Indy and missed just six contests during his career.

“It was really difficult,” Glenn said. “There are obviously a lot of emotions and relationships tied to the decision. I had to make sure that I weighed all my options and understood how serious the decision was.”

The 31-year-old Glenn was the second-longest tenured player on the team and appeared in the last three Pro Bowls. Indianapolis originally selected Glenn with the 19th overall pick in the 1997 draft.

Oakland, CA - The Oakland Raiders released veteran offensive lineman Adam Treu on Tuesday.

Treu, who also was the team’s long snapper on field goals and place kicks, played 10 seasons with the Raiders.

“In the excellence of the Oakland Raiders over the last 10 years, Adam certainly made an indelible contribution,” said team owner Al Davis.

The Raiders originally selected Treu out of Nebraska in the third round of the 1997 draft. He went on to play in 155 straight games before suffering an injury in 2006.

Baltimore, MD - The Baltimore Ravens signed three of their 2007 draft picks on Tuesday, including Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith.

The Ohio State star quarterback — selected in the fifth-round of the draft — received a three-year deal, as did third-round choice Yamon Figurs and sixth- round selection Prescott Burgess.

That leaves first-round pick Ben Grubbs and Le’Ron McClain, a fourth-round choice, as the only two Raven picks that remain unsigned.

Lake Forest, IL - The Chicago Bears and cornerback Charles Tillman agreed to terms on a six-year contract extension on Tuesday.

Terms of the deal, which will run through the 2013 campaign, were not disclosed.

A second-round draft choice by Chicago in 2003, Tillman tied a career high with five interceptions last season. He is second on the active roster with 14 career interceptions.

The Texas native has also racked up 325 tackles since coming into the league.

Atlanta, GA - Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank held a press conference on Tuesday in regards to the Michael Vick situation, and said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asked the team not to take any action until a review was complete.

“After a lot of conversations and give and take by all parties involved, yesterday, as you know, the commissioner notified Michael that he was not to report to training camp while the commissioner was completing the review of this situation,” Blank said.

“Prior to this action, the Falcons were pursuing the maximum discipline that we could under the CBA — a four-week suspension — and had gone as far as to draft a suspension letter. The commissioner asked us not to take any action until he completed his review of the situation, and we agreed to his request.

“Our preference was for the club to take an action, but after reviewing all options, I do believe that this is the best approach for all involved at this time.”

Vick is facing charges stemming from a dogfighting ring that allegedly was conducted at Vick’s house in Virginia.

In response, Goodell ordered Vick not to report to the team’s training camp, which starts Thursday.

Goodell noted Vick won’t be allowed into training camp until the league completes a review of Vick’s recent indictment by a federal grand jury for allegedly participating in an interstate dog-fighting enterprise.

He is scheduled to appear in federal court Thursday for a bond hearing and arraignment. The court date coincides with the first day of training camp for the Falcons in Flowery Branch, Georgia.

The NFL said Vick will not forfeit his preseason pay during his excused absence from training camp.

“To our fans and all fans of the NFL, we want to emphasize that this team and the entire organization is committed to doing the right things both on and off the field,” Blank said.

“No one will compromise what we stand for.”

Vick and three others were indicted with travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture.

If convicted of the travel part of the conspiracy charge, it carries with it a statutory maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and full restitution. If convicted on the dog fighting charge, the defendants could face either one-year in prison, a $100,000 fine or both.

Should Vick remain off the football field, the quarterback duties as of now would likely fall on the shoulders of Joey Harrington.

This was not the scenario that first-year coach Bobby Petrino envisioned when leaving the University of Louisville to assume head coaching duties in Atlanta. Petrino says, however, that he has no regrets.

“I absolutely have no regrets of taking the job,” Petrino said. “This is a big obstacle …but I do believe this is the best job.”

New Orleans, LA - The New Orleans Saints announced Tuesday that the club has signed wide receiver Robert Meachem, their first round draft pick, to a five-year contract.

Meachem, a 6-foot-2, 214-pound wideout out of Tennessee, was the last of the Saints’ 2007 draft class to sign. The Saints will open camp this Friday at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.

The 27th overall pick in the April draft, Meachem was a first team All- American in 2006 as a junior at Tennessee, catching 71 passes for 1,298 yards and 11 touchdowns.

After redshirting in 2003, the Tulsa, OK, native went on to become only the sixth Volunteer ever to eclipse 2,000 receiving yards for his career. Meachem also ranks fifth all-time on the UT career touchdown catch list.

New York, NY - New York Jets running back Curtis Martin is expected to announce that he will retire from football when the Jets open up training camp.

According to a report in the New York Post, the NFL’s fourth all-time leading rusher, who hasn’t played since the 2005 season, will announce his decision when the Jets open camp on Friday.

Martin underwent surgery in December 2005. It was originally supposed to be an arthroscopic procedure, but more damage than expected was found in the knee.

The 34-year-old, who has a degenerative bone-on-bone condition in his surgically repaired right knee, was on the physically-unable-to-perform list since the start of last season’s training camp. However, after he agreed to void the 2008 and 2009 seasons of his contract and reduce his salary to the veteran’s minimum, the Jets activated him from the physically-unable-to- perform list so he could begin the retirement paperwork.

Martin played 11 seasons in the NFL - three with the New England Patriots and eight with the Jets - and rushed for 14,101 yards and 90 touchdowns. His 3,518 rushing attempts is the third highest in league history. Martin also had 484 receptions for 3,329 yards.

In 2004, Martin won the rushing title with 1,697 yards and joined Hall of Famer Barry Sanders as the only players to begin their careers with 10 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.

A five-time Pro Bowler, Martin was signed as a restricted free agent by the Jets in March 1998. He is the franchise’s all-time leading rusher with 10,302 yards.

New York, NY - NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has ordered Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick not to report to the team’s training camp, which starts Thursday.

Goodell noted Vick won’t be allowed into training camp until the league completes a review of Vick’s recent indictment by a federal grand jury for allegedly participating in an interstate dog-fighting enterprise.

The charges stem from a dogfighting ring that allegedly was conducted at Vick’s house in Virginia.

He is scheduled to appear in federal court Thursday for a bond hearing and arraignment. The court date coincides with the first day of training camp for the Falcons in Flowery Branch, Georgia.

Goodell informed Vick that the review would be completed as soon as possible and that the quarterback’s full cooperation is expected.

“While it is for the criminal justice system to determine your guilt or innocence, it is my responsibility as commissioner of the National Football League to determine whether your conduct, even if not criminal, nonetheless violated league policies, including the Personal Conduct Policy,” Goodell wrote in a letter to Vick.

The NFL said Vick will not forfeit his preseason pay during his excused absence from training camp.

Goodell also told the Falcons not to discipline Vick until the NFL review is finished.

Vick and three others were indicted with travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture.

If convicted of the travel part of the conspiracy charge, it carries with it a statutory maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and full restitution. If convicted on the dog fighting charge, the defendants could face either one-year in prison, a $100,000 fine or both.

The indictment was brought about in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District in Richmond, VA.

According to the indictment, the defendants were involved in an ongoing animal fighting business based out of Vick’s property located in Smithfield, VA from early 2001 through sometime in April of this year. Since Vick purchased the property in June 2001, the defendants formed a dog fighting enterprise known as “Bad Newz Kennels” and used the property for housing and training pit bulls used in dog fights. From at least 2002, the defendants and others sponsored dog fights on the property and bringing dogs from several states to participate in the events. During the fights, the participants would place bets ranging from the hundreds to thousands of dollars. The fights would last until either the death or surrender of the losing dog, which would then sometimes be put to death by drowning, hanging, gunshot, electrocution or other methods.

Also, the indictment said the defendants participated in dog fights in North and South Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and elsewhere in Virginia.

The dogfighting affair was first brought to light when Vick’s home was raided on April 26 when authorities seized 54 dogs, along with several other pieces of equipment associated in dogfighting.

The property was again searched on June 7 by federal officials, who uncovered the graves of several pit bulls on the property.

Vick denied any involvement in dogfighting conducted on his property when the case first broke, and has blamed family members for taking advantage of his generosity.

The indictment could affect Vick’s playing status for the upcoming season under the guidelines of the NFL’s new player conduct policy.