Marrone: Poor performance _ not arrest _ was bigger factor in Bills decision to cut DT Branch

Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone says veteran defensive tackle Alan Branch's future with the team was in jeopardy even before the player was arrested and charged with drunken driving.

Marrone says the main factor in cutting the eighth-year player was Branch not performing well throughout training camp.

Branch missed the start of camp after failing his conditioning test. Once cleared, Branch spent much of the preseason working with the third-stringers.

Marrone provided the update after practice Monday, a day after Branch was released.

Branch was held out in a 27-14 preseason loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday, about 14 hours after state police say the player failed a field sobriety test outside Buffalo.

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