‘Crowell was coming to the end of a three-year contract he signed as a rookie. He would have been a restricted rights free agent in March, meaning the Bills could have locked him up for 2006 with a minimum offer of about $700,000. Now he is locked up with a multiyear contract. Crowell has played middle and weak-side linebacker for the Bills. Should Spikes encounter any problems in his return from his injury, Crowell has showed he can fill the weak-side role.’