The retirement of defensive end Chris Kelsay clears $5 million in cap space for the Bills. But his cap number had nothing to do with the end of his career.
“As far as an offer to restructure my contract, that was never even brought up,” Kelsay told the team’s official website.
Kelsay said that the presence of a new coaching staff “played a role” in his decision, but that it wasn’t a “deciding factor.”
“It is always tough to have to come in and reestablish yourself,” Kelsay said. “Earn the respect, the trust and confidence of your coaching staff. Obviously that is something I have had to do in prior years. It’s something that I am proud to say that I was able to do. It weighs into it. A whole new system. A whole new scheme. Kind of a hybrid defense; 4-3, 3-4 mix. There is no question that I feel like I could play in it, but at the same time I am just very happy with where I am at and looking forward to retirement.”
Kelsay also said there’s “no way” he’s coming back, and that he wanted to make the decision now in order to allow the Bills to plan accordingly, via free agency and the draft.
