Archives for December 13, 2016

'Besides Taylor, Ryan's only other options over the team's final three games would be EJ Manuel and Cardale Jones. Manuel failed to win the starting job against Taylor in 2015 and Jones is thought to be a project at quarterback. Although he's been far from perfect, Ryan says nothing has changed in his stance about which quarterback gives the Bills the best chance of winning on Sunday against the Cleveland.'

'"I'm not looking at it, guys," Ryan said. "I'm assuming I'm going to be the coach, but this is what's in front of us is the Cleveland Browns. I think for me to answer the question, not that I'm trying to dodge them, but I haven't thought about it for a second. This is what's in front of us. Nobody likes to hear the word focus, but that's where you have to be. It doesn't get passed this. Everything is about this one team and getting our team ready to play this game."'

'Buffalo should explore all quarterback options in the offseason, but a 36-year old quarterback with a history of back injuries probably isn't the route the Bills will take next season.'

'The Bills currently sit in 11th place. There are still four teams between them and the second wild-card spot. The Bills would not only need to win their final three games but get a lot of help to make the postseason. The Ravens would need to lose to the Patriots, Steelers and Bengals. The Dolphins would need to lose to the Patriots (in addition to the Bills beating them in Week 16). The Broncos need to lose to the Raiders and the Patriots. Then the Titans and Colts would both need to lose another game.'

'So the two most important positions on the football field, the coach and the quarterback, need to be replaced. Now Pegula, along with his co-owner and wife Kim, have to face their toughest task since buying the Bills in the fall of 2014. It stands to reason they could use some help hiring the next head coach, but should they trust general manager Doug Whaley and team president Russ Brandon to provide input?'

'No matter what the Bills do, it seems like 'Groundhog Day' in Western New York.'

'According to fivethirtyeight.com, the Bills have a three-percent chance to make the playoffs currently. Is that three percent worth $27 million?'

'Six times in Bills history the team has allowed a 200-yard rusher. It’s happened twice in 2016.'

'In reality, the Bills have limited options. Manuel hasn't been much more productive in 27 appearances, including 16 starts, over four seasons, although his 298 yards against Jacksonville in Week 4 last season represent the highest total by a Bills quarterback in the last two years. He is 6-10 as a starter, while Taylor is 13-13. Jones hasn't attempted a pass in a regular-season game.'

'"I really don't know what to feel," Ryan added when asked if he feels he's on the hot seat. "I've been in this game a long time. And I know one thing, to do the very best job that I can do, I have to focus on what's right in front of me, and that's the Cleveland Browns.'

'With the Bills now out of playoff contention for the 17th straight year, all indications point to Ryan being fired at the end of the season with three years and $16.5 million left on his contract. If he is dismissed, it's another colossal failure by the Bills' organization, a team that has had seven head coaches (counting Perry Fewell, who served as an interim head coach in 2009) during its playoff drought.'

'The Bills gave Taylor a five-year, $90 million extension in training camp, but it included an interesting out clause. There's an option for the Bills to walk away from the contract when the new league year begins in March, and the dead cap hit would be only about $2.8 million. If they choose to stick with Taylor and pick up the option, they would have to pay Taylor $27.5 million in salary and bonus in 2017, plus another $3 million bonus that is due in 2018 becomes active.'

'"I'm assuming I'm gonna be the coach [in 2017" target="_blank">," Ryan said Monday. Both CBS Sports and The Buffalo News reported Sunday that Ryan could be fired before the end of the season.'

'Ryan went on to say there has been no input from ownership or General Manager Doug Whaley as to who should start at QB this weekend, but added, “well that’s my opinion when you ask about my opinion, but I have the final say on who’s out there or whatever. That doesn’t mean I don’t take input, but clearly this is…that’s my decision.”'

'Playing for their playoff lives, if not also Rex Ryan's job, the Bills got outclassed in just about every way imaginable. How bad a day was it? They even made a mess of trying to clear snow from the field at halftime, making mounds of rubber pellets around the boundaries and delaying the start of the third quarter.'