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Troy Vincent got his wish Thursday when the Buffalo Bills released the veteran defensive back.
The 15-year NFL veteran said he's fully recovered from a left hamstring injury that led the team to place him on injured reserve four weeks ago.
Vincent is prepared to seek offers from another team.
"I'm ready to go," the 35-year-old Vincent said. "To be fair, it was the right time for me. ... Now's the time for me to look at where I'm at. And I still want to play some football."
While Vincent said he enjoyed his two-plus seasons in Buffalo, he's not pleased with how the team handled him after he was hurt in the season-opening loss at New England. Citing their depleted depth at safety, the Bills placed Vincent on IR even though his injury was considered relatively minor.
Vincent, who has three years left on his contract beyond this season, believes the move was a way for the team to cut him by taking the unusual step of placing him on what's known as IR-minor.
While the designation means Vincent is guaranteed his $2.6 million salary this season, it also allows the team to release the player once he's healthy.
"That was a front-office decision and you live with it," Vincent said. "When they put me on IR-minor, it's clear that's a decision they made that tells me they don't want you around. ... You don't want to be in a place where you're not wanted."
Vincent was surprised by the move, particularly after he made the season-opening roster and after he initially hurt his hamstring in training camp.
A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Vincent is coming off a strong season in which he made a career-high 102 tackles and led the Bills with four interceptions in 16 starts. He entered this season with 47 interceptions, most among active players.
He's one game short of appearing in his 200th career game. Miami's first-round pick in the 1992 draft, he played four seasons with the Dolphins before signing with Philadelphia as a free agent in 1996.
Vincent played the next eight seasons with the Eagles before signing with the Bills as a free agent in 2004. After spending his first 12 seasons as a cornerback, Vincent made the switch to free safety in his first season with Buffalo following the emergence of CB Terrence McGee.
Vincent was also re-elected last spring as the NFL Players Association president.
The 15-year NFL veteran said he's fully recovered from a left hamstring injury that led the team to place him on injured reserve four weeks ago.
Vincent is prepared to seek offers from another team.
"I'm ready to go," the 35-year-old Vincent said. "To be fair, it was the right time for me. ... Now's the time for me to look at where I'm at. And I still want to play some football."
While Vincent said he enjoyed his two-plus seasons in Buffalo, he's not pleased with how the team handled him after he was hurt in the season-opening loss at New England. Citing their depleted depth at safety, the Bills placed Vincent on IR even though his injury was considered relatively minor.
Vincent, who has three years left on his contract beyond this season, believes the move was a way for the team to cut him by taking the unusual step of placing him on what's known as IR-minor.
While the designation means Vincent is guaranteed his $2.6 million salary this season, it also allows the team to release the player once he's healthy.
"That was a front-office decision and you live with it," Vincent said. "When they put me on IR-minor, it's clear that's a decision they made that tells me they don't want you around. ... You don't want to be in a place where you're not wanted."
Vincent was surprised by the move, particularly after he made the season-opening roster and after he initially hurt his hamstring in training camp.
A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Vincent is coming off a strong season in which he made a career-high 102 tackles and led the Bills with four interceptions in 16 starts. He entered this season with 47 interceptions, most among active players.
He's one game short of appearing in his 200th career game. Miami's first-round pick in the 1992 draft, he played four seasons with the Dolphins before signing with Philadelphia as a free agent in 1996.
Vincent played the next eight seasons with the Eagles before signing with the Bills as a free agent in 2004. After spending his first 12 seasons as a cornerback, Vincent made the switch to free safety in his first season with Buffalo following the emergence of CB Terrence McGee.
Vincent was also re-elected last spring as the NFL Players Association president.
