BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - George Saimes, a five-time Pro Bowl safety and member of the Buffalo Bills' Wall of Fame, has died after a lengthy battle with leukemia. He was 71.

Saimes' daughter, Linda Durley, said her father died Friday night at a hospital in Canton, Ohio.

He was selected by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 1963 draft. He played seven seasons with the Bills before playing three more years with the Denver Broncos. Saimes stayed in football to work as an NFL scout, including a 15-year stint with the Washington Redskins.

Saimes was a hard-hitting and sure tackler, and finished with 22 interceptions in 121 career games. In 1970, he was selected to the all-time American Football League defensive team.

Saimes played both fullback and defensive back at Michigan State