Bills release Manny Lawson, Jerome Felton; Glenn Gronkowski appears to make team
— -- ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- In a significant surprise, the Buffalo Bills released veteran outside linebacker Manny Lawson as part of their final cuts Friday, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
The Bills also have released fullback Jerome Felton, a source told Schefter. With that move, Glenn Gronkowski apparently will make the Bills' roster at fullback.
Felton acknowledged his release in a tweet Friday.
NFL teams have to cut down to the 53-man limit by Saturday.
Lawson, 32, was expected to start opposite Jerry Hughes in the Bills' 3-4 defense until first-round pick Shaq Lawson (shoulder surgery) returns from the physically unable to perform list. The earliest Shaq Lawson is eligible to return is Week 7.
Without Manny Lawson, the Bills are expected to start veteran Lorenzo Alexander at outside linebacker.
Manny Lawson was the only projected starter who played the entire first half of Thursday's preseason finale loss to the Detroit Lions. Coach Rex Ryan said this week he wanted to give the linebacker playing time because he missed the first two preseason games as he recovered from a partially torn pectoral muscle.
Lawson remains under investigation by the NFL for a potential violation of the league's personal conduct policy. A league representative said Thursday there was "no update" in the case.
Although it remains unclear what incident for which the league is investigating Lawson, the veteran linebacker has acknowledged he was charged in Scottsdale, Arizona, with misdemeanor disorderly conduct/domestic violence in February 2014. Lawson denied there was any "physical violence" in the incident; the charges were later dropped upon the completion of a diversion program.
The Bills will save $2.35 million on their salary cap by releasing Lawson, who signed a four-year deal with Buffalo as a free agent before the 2013 season and has started 29 games over the past three seasons for the Bills in several roles under changing defensive coordinators.
Originally a first-round pick of the 49ers in 2006, Lawson played five seasons in San Francisco and two seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals before joining the Bills.
The Bills will save $1.55 million against their salary cap by releasing Felton.
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