Thomas

	Smith

"It's a sad day, a very sad day," an emotional Smith, 36, told the Associated Press after his release, which was first reported by ESPN The Magazine's John Clayton.

"I thought I would have finished my career in Buffalo and had an opportunity to go back and win a championship in Buffalo," the 15-year veteran said.

Instead, Smith, Thomas and Reed -- none of whom are ready to retire -- will test the free agency market.

Several other high-profile veterans were cut on Thursday, Clayton reported. These cuts included Miami tight end Troy Drayton, Minnesota guard Randall McDaniel, Denver defensive ends Alfred Williams and Neil Smith, New England tackle Bruce Armstrong, Oakland cornerback-kick returner Darrien Gordon, Dallas offensive lineman Everett McIver and San Diego quarterback Erik Kramer.

Several other players were designated their teams' "franchise players" on Thursday. This group included Miami tackle Richmond Webb, Washington running back Stephen Davis, Seattle wide receiver Joey Galloway and Detroit defensive end Robert Porcher.

	NFL franchise players
	The following players, who would have been unrestricted free agents, were designated as franchise players:
	Player	Pos.	Team
	Tony Brackens	DE	Jacksonville
	Stephen Davis	RB	Washington
	Joey Galloway	WR	Seattle
	Norman Hand	DT	San Diego
	Mo Lewis	LB	N.Y. Jets
	Robert Porcher	DE	Detroit
	Simeon Rice	DE	Arizona
	Will Shields	G	Kansas City
	Richmond Webb	OT	Miami
	NOTE: Franchise players are offered one-year contracts for the average amount paid to the five highest-paid players at their positions. Teams retain the right to match other offers and would receive compensation if the player signs elsewhere.

In Buffalo's case, the "Bills felt squeezed by 'cap-onomics,"' said agent Leigh Steinberg, who represents Smith and Thomas, referring to the NFL's $62.2 million salary cap. "Neither of these players wanted to leave. It was their intention, since they both had long and illustrious careers, to stay."

Pressured to trim more than $10 million from their payroll by Friday's salary cap deadline, the Bills were unable to make 12-year veteran Thomas an offer and offered Smith about half of the $4.6 million he was slated to make, Steinberg said.

Reed, meanwhile, had wanted to go. While becoming the No. 2 receiver in NFL history last season, he had grown increasingly disgruntled with his diminished role in the Bills' offense. He was told by coach Wade Philips on Wednesday that his 15-year career with the Bills was over.

"Today was the big day I've been waiting for," Reed said afterward on his Internet site. "The Bills released me. Isn't it something? Most people don't want to be released, but I wanted this so bad. My wife even said, 'We're free agents now! I'm so happy for you.' It's a big sigh of relief that it's over with."

Reed, Smith and Thomas, who have come to be known as the Big Three, have spent their entire careers in Buffalo.

Running back Thomas, 33, rushed for more than 1,000 yards eight straight seasons beginning in his second year in 1989. He had his best seasons in the Super Bowl years of 1990-93 and holds NFL playoff records for games (20), touchdowns (21) and yards gained (2,114).

He accepted a reduced role in the offense last season when he stepped aside for Antowain Smith.

Reed, 35, passed Art Monk with 945 catches to trail only Jerry Rice in career NFL receptions. Reed also passed Steve Largent and took over fourth place on the NFL's yards receiving list with 13,095.

In his final season in Buffalo, Smith led the Bills defense to a No. 1 ranking for the first time in franchise history.

"I wanted to be (in Buffalo) more than anything," said Smith, who named the city's fans and coaches among the things he'll miss.

"These are strong ties built over the course of 15 years and now it's gone," he said. "My father always told me in the midst of adversity, in the midst of a struggle, 'It builds character. Stay strong, be positive, look ahead, don't look back.'

"I can do that," he said, "but I'll never forget the fans of Buffalo and the people I've grown to love."

Denver's moves were also based on finances. Neil Smith's 2000 base salary would have been $2.5 million, while Williams' would have been $1.6 million. The Broncos were hoping to sign both players to incentive-laden contracts that would have helped with the salary cap. They now are eligible to test the free-agent market.

Smith, 33, is a six-time Pro Bowl selection with 104.5 career sacks and two Super Bowl appearances in 12 NFL seasons. A former first-round draft pick by Kansas City, Smith spent nine seasons with the Chiefs before signing with the Broncos before the 1997 season.

Williams, 31, an All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection in 1996, has 59.5 career sacks in nine seasons. The former Colorado standout was taken in the first round of the 1991 draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

He played in seven games for the Broncos last year before rupturing his right Achilles tendon in Week 8.

In another development, ESPN's Ed Werder reports that Broncos quarterback Chris Miller was placed on the reserve/retired list.

Miller, 34, likely would not have returned to the Broncos next season, regardless of salary. He announced in January that he was retiring for the second time because of a concussion.

Thursday's cuts followed a high-profile release on Wednesday that saw the Patriots cut tight end Ben Coates.