Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘Fitzpatrick is more than capable of beating the Bills, and all we have to do is look at his record for proof. He beat Buffalo in 2014 playing for Houston, and he did it twice last season playing for the Jets when he threw for a combined 584 yards. But it looks like he won’t get the chance.’

‘“It’s definitely a badge of honor for me,” Fitzpatrick said via phone Wednesday, and even without a Skype hookup, you knew he was smiling on the other end.’

‘ That’s kind of his grandson’s method of operation, too, slipping into an opponent’s secondary undetected to make a big catch, going about his backup role as quietly and professionally as one can, not seeking the spotlight.’

‘“I don’t necessarily hear it,” Taylor said Wednesday. “I stay away from the media. I’m a focused guy and I know what it takes to get myself mentally prepared for a game, so I’ll continue to do that each week.”’

‘Fitzpatrick, who may play Sunday at New Era Field against the Bills if injured Bucs starter Jameis Winston can’t go, is the ultimate NFL survivor. He was picked in the seventh round of the 2005 draft by the Rams, the 250th player selected that weekend, and since then has played for the Bengals, Bills, Titans, Texans, Jets and now the Bucs.’

‘“We know how he’s so competitive, you never know what he’s going to do, he’s kind of a wild card, but we’ve got guys in the locker room who have played with him, and we played against him a lot of years; Houston, the Jets,’’ linebacker Preston Brown said. “It seems like we’ve played against him every year, so we’ve got to find a way to stop him.’’’