The Buffalo Bills said the team offered him a restructured version of the six-year, $59 million contract he signed in October 2011, but Fitzpatrick declined.

The team released him after the NFL free agency opened Tuesday afternoon.

"He did some great things as our starting quarterback, but difficult decisions often have to be made," said Bills GM Buddy Nix. "And so we are moving forward. Our focus remains on adding another quarterback to the roster."

The Bills made the move in time to save themselves from paying him a $3 millionroster bonus. Releasing Fitzpatrick means that the Bills are likely to add multiple quarterbacks to the roster to compete with Tavaris Jackson for the starting job.

Fitzpatrick spent most of the last four seasons as the Bills starter. He topped 3,000 yards three times, and completed 59.75 percent of his passes, with 80 touchdowns and 64 interceptions.