August 28, 2006, 2:03 pm

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Aaron Gibson's attempt to revive his career with the Bills ended today when the mammoth offensive lineman was among nine players waived by Buffalo.

Gibson, drafted 27th overall in 1999 by Detroit, was out of football for two years before signing with the Bills in April. The 6-foot-6, 375-pound guard showed little progress in practice.

After seeing limited time in Buffalo's first two preseason games, Gibson did not play in a 20-17 loss to Cleveland on Saturday.

Offensive tackle Dylan McFarland, the first of Buffalo's two 2004 seventh-round draft picks, was also released. He was placed on the waived-injured list after missing most of training camp with a knee injury.

The Bills also waived defensive end Joshua Cooper, defensive backs James Bethea and Rob Lee, kicker Nicholas Setta, receivers Chris Denney and Martin Nance, and fourth-string quarterback Kliff Kingsbury.

The moves came a day before all NFL teams have to trim their roster to 75 players. The Bills, who close their preseason at Detroit on Thursday, have 22 more players to cut by Saturday.

Nance's release was considered a mild surprise after he made several strong receptions during training camp.
Nance signed with Buffalo in May as an undrafted free agent out of Miami (Ohio), where in 2003 he was the favorite receiver of Ben Roethlisberger.

The Bills, however, have a deep receiver corps led by Lee Evans, Peerless Price, Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish. Veteran free-agent addition Andre' Davis and returning backups Sam Aiken, Jonathan Smith and George Wilson are left to compete for the final spots.

-- Associated Press