JoeF

Manish Mehta ‏@MMehtaNYDN 9m9 minutes ago Sources: Jets want to re-sign RB Bilal Powell, but think he's leaning toward a Rex Reunion in Buffalo #nyj

Huskies love Buffalo weather (Pro)...

Helping Jerry out a bit here... Pros: 1) Get to work with one of the greatest Defensive minds of this generation. A guy who puts players in a position to excel. 2) Comfort level of playing on the same line with 3 all pros 3) A team and owner committed to winning - now have a superstar RB and a serviceable QB 4) Much greater possibility of playing out the entire contract you sign -- including any back end loaded salary years 5) Coach you hated and who was not even aware your coordinator was holding you out of a game is gone Cons: 1) Less guaranteed money and salary-- by probably 10-15% 2) Agent will be pissed I went for less cash if I sign with the Bills 3) Hot girlfriend will be pissed I want for less cash if I sign with the Bills

I think this is pretty much all or nothing. Jerry goes to the highest bidder if they don't get this done tonight or tomorrow. Agents start fielding offers on Saturday.

http://espn.go.com/blog/cleveland-browns/post/_/id/12075/still-scratching-my-head-over-the-browns-signing-josh-mccown?src=mobile&rand=ref~%7B%22ref%22%3A%22http%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2F7EbMKLob4d%22%7D Interesting story filed by ESPN Browns beat writer Pat McManamon. An excerpt or two: Ponder the chronology: Ray Farmer drafts Johnny Manziel. Brian Hoyer barely wins the job out of training camp, then holds onto it by playing well early. Eventually he leads the Browns to a 7-4 record. Farmer, though, sends in-game texts to assistant coaches as early as the New Orleans game. It was the second game of the season and a win for the Browns. He continues to text during games throughout the season, some of it about the quarterback play, and only acknowledges his mistake after the season when the texting becomes public. Farmer clearly was part of the front office effort that undermined Hoyer, and had him playing while wearing a straightjacket. The more Hoyer learned the front office was not supportive, the more he pressed. So the guy who undermined Hoyer by texting during games winds up, with the full support of the owner, ushering Hoyer out of town and signing a 35-year-old to replace him. The Browns seem to be the only team that believes Manziel and McCown can be a starter. Buffalo was negotiating, but not to the effort the Browns did. What the Browns saw that 31 other teams did not is open to question. Though the draft could reduce the fuzziness, at this point it seems like Farmer simply did not want Hoyer. When McCown became available he became the most attractive quarterback to Farmer who wasn’t Hoyer. Signing a 35-year-old who went 1-10 a year ago, a guy much of the league felt was more ready to be a Matt Hasselbeck type backup than a starter, shows little long-term thinking. It seems more like the Browns are making it up as they go.

Its been a month and I still don't understand the call but for slightly different reason than conventional wisdom. I fully support that they should have given it to Lynch. However, what I really don't understand is why, with a mobile QB do you call a pass play to the exact place where the core of the defense is stacked...roll Wilson out, play action, release a FB or TE and play the corners where there is likely one on one coverage or better yet none on one...Its marginally okay to call a pass just not a slant into the teeth of the defense where you would have run. Just a total Bevell brain fart not overruled by Carroll. Its almost as if it will come out in 20 years that Darrell Bevell and Pete Carroll had 8 figure payoffs from significant bettors with money on the Pats... (Kidding okay)...

Next....

And he is now given a free pass to opt out of him because there is a new coach...what a great opportunity....who do you think gets branded with this publicly high profile Rex Ryan or quiet unassuming Doug Whaley? Keeping EJ is like putting his face on the new truck for Rex..

I heard Farmer threw in that he would give up his smart phone during games...

Unfortunately the feeling my not be mutual.....he hasn't even seen the truck yet... a very bad sign. No Bills gear...another bad sign....he knows already...

More attention than he got from Defensive Coordinators game planning against him....right CBF?

It seems like many folks on the board express definitive opinions all day long...why is this different? I admit after 2 seasons, 3 injuries, 14 starts its not a great body of work to judge from....but the poll asks you to judge. Some have said this isn't realistic--but neither is the NFL. The most important factor I considered in this poll is the new regime. If Terry/Kim, Ryan, Roman and Whaley are convinced EJ is their future franchise guy...they decide to keep him and their new regime is branded by EJ. If they decide he is not...they really can't keep him on the roster because their tenure becomes branded on them making a bet on EJ Manuel by keeping him on the roster. This is the labeling world of the NFL and all of us contribute to it..if they keep him on the roster and he sits and/or delivers an expected middling performance when called upon -- he is now their guy. If they look at film and have a better than average feeling that he will never be the franchise leader -- they let him go. They never trash him publicly or his skill set -- they just say he is not a system fit and move on...The NFL is funky world -- an owner/head coach/GM is branded by who they hire as staff and who they draft and who they keep as players. A fresh start warrants that decisions like this be made quickly particularly at the most important position on the team. I am pretty confident their answer will be that EJ is not their guy and they will move on -- no matter what they believe they can acquire. They will not want to be branded with EJ Manuel. I know its a different situation but noone had a reaction like this that I can recall when Marrone cut Fitzpatrick....Marrone/Hackett didn't see Fitz taking us anywhere even with a $7 million cap hit....new regimes move on from being branded with the previous regimes players about whom the new regime is unsure...Welcome to the NFL and its warped ways.

Roman and Ryan don't want to wait for more information. They have tape. In Ryan's case he has game planned against him. Your question is the most direct and easy one. I think their answer is No...

No....

Adam Benigni ‏@AdamBenigni 2m2 minutes ago Told at least two teams in the mix for Josh McCown. #Bills and @MaryKayCabot reports #Browns. Tweeted two minutes ago.....just want to give some hope to the many who seemingly don't want this to happen.

Lack of QBing history or NFL background hasn't stopped the Bills in the past from signing a QB...

Totally understand your perspective C...understand mine. EJ has the least feel for the position of the three. He can't improvise--he will do what the coaches ask but can't take what he has learned and apply it to a different look. Last year is a prime example. He was told not to tuck and run because they were worried he was fragile. He didn't run even when he felt like he had to and he looked even more like a robot. He can't look off, he can't read, he can't adjust....he can't play in the NFL...I know its harsh but its what I see. Do I love McCown and Locker -- no way--I want friggin Andrew Luck...but I believe both McCown and Locker are better for the Bills next year than Manuel. I have seen both Locker and McCown display at least the basic skill set of an NFL QB. Again -- my opinion... One last thing--sorry for the late addition--if Roman and Ryan believe EJ is not salvageable -- there is no better time to get rid of him than now....they are saddled with him being their guy -- even if they keep him for a year....This is actually showing me that Rex learned a lesson from his Jets tenure.

Not happy as a fan that the Bills will essentially admit wasting a first round pick on a QB...but hey we got Kiko with the extra pick received from the Rams. Buddy was hell bent on taking a QB before he semi-retired and that was all that mattered. It was a risk. They take them all the time. But lets be honest with ourselves for a minute. We have all watched the games...inaccurate, somewhat fragile (3 injuries all on scrambles or runs), a maddening inability to audible, slow reads...if I were Ryan and Roman I would be scared too...even as a back-up he is going to get game time. We have a D that is primed to win now -- and that will be fleeting. Get someone in here in whom they have more confidence. I don't feel great about cutting EJ for lots of reasons--it makes the organization appear very inept... -- but if we get two players in who give us a better chance to win right now -- I am okay with that. I have a strong feeling EJ Manuel will never come back to haunt the Bills if the Bills cut him. Flame away..but I am with Roman and Ryan on this if its the direction.

It was a disservice having Hackett be both QB coach and OC the first year. It was a disservice to have a HC who was basically a glorified OL assistant in many ways. I keep going back to Jimbo Fisher saying EJ wouldn't be a good pro QB. It might have been a slip of the tongue -- but he had him for 5 frickin' years.....

I would agree with you Yolo...but its not Rex and Roman's first time at the rodeo. If what they see on tape is slow recognition, an inability to read pre-snap, chronic knee issues and slow pick of the offense -- and they are worried this can't be overcome...its time to cut bait.

Thanks leroi....dang feel bad for the kid but its better to cut bait early. I would guess we are targeting someone early in FA then as well reading between your lines...

I will worry that we will go after the Baldwin brothers at QB if we can't secure a McCown brother...

Just shoveling the driveway my friend....at least we have power in this part of Wake Forest....stay warm. Perfect day for Hughes to sign.