The Bills long wait for their top draft pick to arrive is over. Defensive end Aaron Maybin has agreed to terms with the club on a multi-year contract.
"I'm overly ecstatic that the business part of it is over," Maybin told Buffalobills.com. "I'm just so happy about the fact that I get to join my teammates again and get back on the field. I've got a lot of catching up to do. I've got a lot of things that I have to get accustomed to, but I'm anxious to get started."
Some steady dialogue between the two sides on Wednesday led to significant progress in contract negotiations leading to Thursday's breakthrough.
Maybin was in touch with several of his teammates during training camp to keep himself sane as not being on the practice field had him climbing up the walls.
"I can't really speak about how important that was to me," said Maybin. "Being able to have their support and have them stand by me when I was going through this process was crucial. As a young guy coming into this league it's difficult when you're faced with the business aspect of the game in such a dramatic fashion. Not a lot of people really understand what the players go through during that process. To hear from guys that have been through it before and understand the business, to have their support and encouragement meant a lot."
Maybin was the third to last first-round pick to sign with his club. Only Cincinnati's Andre Smith and San Francisco's Michael Crabtree remain unsigned. He realizes he has missed a lot of time, but is not going to change the goals he has set for himself because of it.
"Nothing has changed," said Maybin. "My goals are still set very high and I intend of reaching every single one of them."
The defensive end will not travel with the team to Green Bay this weekend and will not play in Buffalo's Saturday night preseason game against the Packers.
To make room for Maybin on the roster Buffalo waived DB Antwain Spann. In another roster move DE Ventrell Jenkins was released from I-R.
More details will be provided here on Buffalobills.com as they become available.
