Bills lock up OT Pears

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills have signed offensive tackle Erik Pears to a contract extension.

Pears is a seven-year NFL veteran who is in his first full season with the Bills. He's started 13 games at right tackle this season, and is part of a line that's allowed a league-low 17 sacks. He's provided stability to a position that had been in flux before he signed with Buffalo as a free agent last December.

Listed at six-foot-eight and 314 pounds, the Colorado State product broke into the NFL in 2005 with Denver as an undrafted free agent. Pears played five years with the Broncos before spending the 2009 season in Oakland.

The Bills (5-8) are in the midst of a six-game skid and prepare to host Miami (4-9) on Sunday.