This time around the ax did fall on Jay Riemersma.

In a move anticipated since the end of the season, and which almost occurred last spring, ESPN.com has learned that the Buffalo Bills have released starting tight end Jay Riemersma.

The seven-year veteran, a starter for the past four seasons, is expected to garner solid attention in the free agent market.

The Bills also released safety Billy Jenkins, who was scheduled to make $750,000 next season, the final year of his contract.

By releasing Riemersma, 29, the Bills created $3.5 million in cap room, an amount equal to his scheduled base salary for 2003. Buffalo must still count $1.372 million, the final segment of a previous signing bonus, against its spending limit for this year.

A former Michigan standout, Riemersma was a solid receiver, but his role was dramatically reduced in 2002 under new coordinator Kevin Gilbride, whose design calls for more passes to the wide receivers. By an unofficial count, Riemersma had 30 fewer passes directed toward him in 2002 than he did the previous season.

Clearly, under quarterback Drew Bledsoe, the Bills passing game was much more vertical. Bills officials debated last spring whether to cut Riemersma, but decided to retain him. But team president Tom Donahoe announced last week that Riemersma would not be with the club in 2003 unless he agreed to a salary reduction.

Riemersma was a seventh-round choice in the 1996 draft but spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad. He became a starter in 1999 and in the ensuing four-year span, Riemersma averaged 38.3 catches, 452 yards and three touchdowns.

His best season was in 2001, when he had 53 catches for 590 yards and three touchdowns. For his career, Riemersma appeared in 90 games and started 64 of them. He had 204 catches, 2,304 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.