IN BRIEF : Bills Match Bronco Bid to Smith

The Buffalo Bills today matched the five-year, $7.5-million contract offer All-Pro defensive end Bruce Smith received from the Denver Broncos.

The Bills notified Smith and the NFL that they accepted terms of the deal offered Smith by Denver, team spokesman Denny Lynch said. The Bills had until Thursday--seven days from when the offer was tendered--to match it or lose Smith. Smith is expected to be in Buffalo early next week to take a physical exam before signing the contract.

Smith, 25, will become the Bills’ second-highest-paid player. Quarterback Jim Kelly, who is to make $1.3 million in base salary this year and $1.4 million in 1990, has been No.1 on their payroll since 1986.