BUFFALO, N.Y. >> Greg Salas knows better than most that the NFL often means “not for long,” since players rarely remain with the same team for any extended period of time.

That’s because the former University of Hawaii receiver is playing for his sixth different team, Buffalo, since St. Louis drafted him in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. The Bills signed Salas to an extension in March, allowing him to spend multiple seasons with the same team for just the second time in his career. It didn’t hurt that the Bills are coached by Rex Ryan, whom Salas played for with the New York Jets.

“It wasn’t too big of an extension (one year, $785,000), it was just peace of mind knowing you’re going to be going to a squad with OTAs and be with them the whole offseason, which is huge,” said Salas, who set a UH single-season record for receptions (119) and yards (1,889) in 2010. “It was great for my peace of mind, knowing I’m not out of football and I don’t have to worry about where I’m going.”

However, no matter whether he’s been a Ram, Patriot, Eagle, Jet, Lion or now a Bill, he never let the constant upheaval that comes with changing teams affect him. Instead, the former Warrior remembered that no matter his circumstances, he was still in a position many would love to be in — getting paid to play football at the highest level.

That explains why someone who grew up in California and played in Hawaii doesn’t complain about playing in one of the NFL’s coldest cities.

“Yeah, you got to keep everything in perspective. Let’s just be real about that, I’m living a dream basically,” Salas said. “This is what I dreamed about when I was a kid, and to be able to come out here and compete and play against the best football players in the world, that’s everything. Yeah, I don’t take a day for granted and know that it could end at any moment with an injury, so I take it day by day and really count my blessings.”

Now 28, Salas is about to begin his sixth NFL season. As someone who has bounced around the league quite a bit, he has learned plenty of lessons, some on the field and some off, sage advice that he never hesitates to pass on to his younger teammates.

“I’ve seen every side to this league that there is — the business side, the good side, everything. I feel like I can pass that knowledge down to guys even though I feel like I’m still a young person and a young player in the league,” Salas said. “I feel like I just got in here, but yeah, it’s hard to believe this is going to be year six.”

And since stability has been almost a foreign concept for Salas through most of his pro career, he’s savoring the chance to stay in Buffalo and play for Ryan, someone he has immense respect for and someone who holds him in similar high esteem, both as a player and a person.

“Well, I feel like Rex knows me and the coaching staff knows what sort of player I am. Sanjay Lal, the receivers coach, they’ve had me for two years and they liked me coming out of the draft, so I think that helps me stick around,” Salas said. “With every other team, it’s been people who maybe not necessarily gave me the best chance. Here, they let you compete and earn the position, and that’s what I’ve done.”