NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said it's "ridiculous" to reward untested rookies with lucrative contracts, and wants the issue addressed in contract talks.

"There's something wrong about the system," Goodell said yesterday. "The money should go to people who perform."

Goodell referred to Michigan tackle Jake Long's five-year, $57.75 million contract — with $30 million guaranteed. Long was the first overall draft pick by the Miami Dolphins in April.

"He doesn't have to play a down in the NFL and he already has his money," Goodell said during a question-and-answer period at the end of a weeklong sports symposium at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. "Now, with the economics where they are, the consequences if you don't evaluate that player, you can lose a significant amount of money.

"And that money is not going to players that are performing. It's going to a player that never makes it in the NFL. And I think that's ridiculous."

Goodell said he favors lowering salaries offered to rookies, but allowing a provision for those players to renegotiate their deals after proving themselves on the field.

Meanwhile, Goodell dismissed fears the Buffalo Bills will relocate to Toronto, adding he believes the franchise's future is more secure with the additional revenue it generates from playing an annual game north of the border.

The Bills will be paid $78 million — more than double their calculated 2006 operating income — for the eight-game series in Toronto, starting Dec. 7 when Buffalo plays Miami at the downtown Rogers Centre.

BILLS

LYNCH LOSES LICENSE OVER HIT-AND-RUN

Bills running back Marshawn Lynch had his driver's license revoked in traffic court yesterday after saying he didn't know he hit someone while driving on a Buffalo street last month.

Administrative Law Judge Thomas Gagola found Lynch's behavior on May 31 "constituted a reckless disregard of human life or property." He also imposed the maximum $100 fine and $50 surcharge after Lynch pleaded guilty to failure to exercise due care toward a pedestrian.

During the hearing, Police Officer Allan Kasprzak said the 27-year-old woman Lynch struck, Kimberly Shpeley, of Ontario, bruised a hip and required seven stitches for a cut on her thigh.

JAGUARS

DE SPICER INKS $8M, 2-YEAR EXTENSION

Defensive end Paul Spicer signed a two-year, $8 million contract extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars yesterday, giving him a chance to end his career with the team.

Spicer, who led the Jaguars with 7 1/2 sacks last season, skipped Jacksonville's first eight voluntary workouts last month in hopes of getting a new deal.

Spicer, 32, was in the final year of a contract that would have paid him about $2.5 million this season.

ELSEWHERE

Raiders: A man charged with kidnapping, beating and robbing Javon Walker this month after the Oakland wide receiver spent a night club-hopping in Las Vegas was held yesterday on bail totaling $86,000. Arfat Fadel's lawyer, public defender Shane Emerick, said outside court he doubted Fadel, 30, of Las Vegas, could make bail. Emerick said Fadel intended to plead not guilty to charges that he and an unidentified second man followed Walker from club to club before enticing him into their vehicle and robbing him.

Bengals: The trial of former Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry will continue Monday, but the wide receiver will be facing one less charge. Henry, who had been accused of punching a man in the face and breaking his car window with a beer bottle, had been charged with assault and criminal damaging. Yesterday, an Ohio municipal court judge dismissed the criminal damaging charge. Henry testified yesterday that he swung at his accuser in self-defense.