The Buffalo Bills' electric return man could be returning for another season, and the deal may be done by week’s end.Leodis McKelvin shined on special teams last year for Buffalo, a bright spot in the team’s otherwise disappointing season. General manager Buddy Nix expressed during the Combine his desire to retain McKelvin, not only as a returner but as a starting corner, as well. (photo: Matt Britt, Flickr)
McKelvin’s agent Hadley Engelhard told John Wawrow of the Associated Press Thursday that talks between the two sides could happen as early as tomorrow, but that most of the heavy lifting will be done on the first day of the new “legal tampering” period, which starts Saturday and goes until Monday.
"Things will pick up on Saturday, but I don't rule anything out until a deal is done," Engelhard said.
McKelvin has been less than impressive in his work as a cornerback with the Bills, but his value as a special-teamer may get him a second chance to prove his worth. McKelvin averaged a league-best 18.7 yards on punt returns, while also averaging a little more than 28 yards per attempt on kickoffs.
He had one interception and 20 tackles in four starts at cornerback in 2012. McKelvin was a first-round pick for the team back in 2008.
Buffalo also retained exclusive rights free agent Mike Caussin Thursday, who missed all of last season with a knee injury. The final year of the tight end’s contract will now be 2013, where he is set to make $630,000.
A James Madison product, Caussin has appeared in only six games in the NFL and was originally signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2010.
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