Dan Carpenter among players released by Buffalo Bills Monday

Kicker Dan Carpenter and cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman headline a round of cuts the Buffalo Bills made Monday, prior to the opening of free agency this week. Also on the chopping block were long snapper Garrison Sanborn, tight end Gerald Christian, and safety Philip Thomas.

All told, the Bills freed up about $5 million in salary cap space, giving them about $24 million to work with (and five more roster spots to fill).

Carpenter is probably the least surprising of the bunch, and accounts for about half of the cap savings this year. He struggled mightily with extra points once the distance was increased to 33 yards prior to last season, and his field goal percentage cratered in 2016 at 76%…