and NHL Sabres has hired Christopher Schoepflin to oversee its dealings with federal http://www.thebillslockerroom.com/authe … ine-jersey , state and local governments.The hiring on Tuesday comes at a time the Pegula Sports and Entertainment-owned teams will be seeking public financial support to upgrade their facilities, including the possibility of the Bills building a new stadium.Schoepflin has extensive connections at the state level by having spent the past eight years working in the administration of New York Gov. Andrew CuomoHe also has nearly 16 years of experience at Empire State Development, New York's economic development agency, which provides financial assistance to companies looking to settle or expand in the state.In 2012, Empire State played a role in negotiating the Bills' 10-year-lease, which included $227 million in taxpayer funds committed to renovations and annual expenses.Last month, Bills and Sabres co-owner Kim Pegula told The Associated Press the NFL team has yet to determine whether to renovate its existing 46-year-old facility or build a new one. Pegula said formal discussions won't begin until after the gubernatorial race is settled in November.The Sabres are also expected to seek public assistance in preparing plans to make significant upgrades to KeyBank Center, which opened in 1996. The Buffalo Bills gave long snapper Reid Ferguson a contract extension this week. Set to become an Exclusive Rights Free Agent, Ferguson couldn’t sign with another team if Buffalo tendered him at the league minimum for a player with two accrued seasons. Ferguson spent 2016 on the practice squad Phillip Gaines Jersey , so he has two accrued seasons from 2017 and 2018. The league minimum for third-year players is $645,000 and would go up to $735,000 in 2020 during his fourth NFL season. If Buffalo allowed him to become a restricted free agent in 2020, his tender would have been more than $2 million. Mike Rodak provided us with the contract numbers this week, and Ferguson got a raise. Buffalo paid him slightly above the league minimum, but was able to tack on another year of team control to the deal for the cost of the $375,000 signing bonus. So it’s a pro-active deal for Buffalo and a way to get some extra cash up front for Ferguson.Ferguson starts with a $375,000 signing bonus and another $75,000 guaranteed in 2019 in his $700 Womens Marshall Newhouse Jersey ,000 salary. He will make more than a million dollars in 2019.His $850,000 cap hit in 2019 is 17th in the NFL among long snappers. Here are the yearly cap breakdowns:2019Pro-rated signing bonus: $125,000Workout bonus: $25,000Salary: $700,000 ($645,00 is minimum)Cap hit: $850,0002020Pro-rated signing bonus: $125,000Workout bonus: $25,000Salary $750 http://www.thebillslockerroom.com/authe … ips-jersey ,000 ($735,000 is minimum)Cap hit: $900,0002021Pro-rated signing bonus: $125,000Workout bonus: $25,000Salary: $845,000Cap hit: $995,000