Gildon on the road to success with the Buffalo Bills.

The Buffalo Bills signed free-agent linebacker Jason Gildon to a one-year deal days after they had reached a verbal agreement. Pittsburgh cut Gildon in June for salary-cap reasons. He was considered one of the top veterans still available on the market. Financial terms of the contract were not released. Gildon, who will turn 32 on July 31, started for the Steelers since 1996. He was drafted by Pittsburgh in 1994 by Tom Donahoe, Buffalo's current general manager. Gildon is familiar with Bills coach Mike Mularkey, who worked for the Steelers for the past eight years. "It always helps to see a familiar face," Gildon said. "Someone you know just to ease the transition." Jeff Posey, London Fletcher and Takeo Spikes already make up the Bills' linebacker corps. Because of that, Gildon more than likely will be a situational pass rusher, his forte. Buffalo had the second-best defense in the NFL last year, but ranked ninth in sacks. Gildon has 77 career sacks in his 10-year career and was selected for the Pro Bowl the past three years. His best season was 2000, when he recorded a career-high 13½ sacks and 87 tackles. Gildon had narrowed his choices to Buffalo, Green Bay and Cincinnati. He chose Buffalo not only because of his familiarity with Mularkey and Donahoe, but also because he thinks the Bills can make the playoffs this year despite their disappointing 6-10 mark last season. "I think (we) have the potential to definitely challenge for a championship," Gildon said.

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