Vinaccia

LOL! I thought I was the only one who loved the "sal capacCIO sal capacCIO" intro tune. It literally stays with me throughout the day and makes me laugh. Also the fact that every single person even at WGR mispronounces his last name is hysterical. It's pronounced "capa-CHO" not "capa-CHI-OH".

Having read these posts, I stand corrected. I really like EJ and think he's a great guy, but I wasn't really aware of how he contributed to the community. With all of you Bills junkies on this forum, I am well aware that you guys would know if he really was connecting with the fanbase. The other upside is that I think its great to have a 6'5 and now 250 lb QB who has refined his throwing pattern and accuracy at age 25.

This is not a post about whether he has the skills or has improved enough to be the starting QB for the Bills. This is a post about EJ's complete lack of sticking around Buffalo to show he is the true leader of not only the team but of the Bills community. In Buffalo, the Bills mean everything and you can see how Jim Kelly really became the leader not only on the field but by his connection to the fan base. I don't see it in Manuel. He takes vacations for long periods of time and is barely here on the offseason. How often are EJ sightings in WNY seen in the offseason outside of scheduled practices? Rarely. LA and NYC, Florida State sightings? Quite often in the offseason. He always posts about Florida State and is down there as much as he can be. He's always connecting with the Florida State fanbase, and never energizes Bills fans about how he is ready to take this team to the playoffs. I am not an EJ basher. I think he is a hardworking and humble great athlete with a great character. It remains to be seen whether or not he has taken his game to the next level, but I think with the new QB coach and the private QB coaching he has received on the offseason, there is a great possibility that we will see a refined EJ on the field next season. My only issue is the fact that he rarely says the things starting QBs need to say or expresses his happiness to be in Buffalo. I realize the city is lacking a bit, but a franchise QB is supposed to keep any feelings of negativity quiet and blatantly lie about his excitement to be in whichever town he is in, if need be. EJ lacks the fiery passion for the Bills fanbase and I really just don't get that feeling he is realizing what an honor it is to be the face of a franchise in a sports town like Buffalo, or at the very least realizing that no matter what his true feelings are, he better talk as if he is honored and proud. I am not saying that he shouldn't travel a lot or that he should forget his college alma mater, but he should make it quite obvious his first priority besides family, honing his QB skills and connecting with teammates, is energizing the fanbase and proving to Bills fans that he wants to be here and become franchise QB that is a leader also in the WNY community. Rex Ryan has done it successfully and has restored faith, confidence, and pride in this Bills fanbase again.

Won't be much of a problem because it's really never on despite 8 am and 4:30 pm.

We all know we have one of the best defenses in the league, and I know we have Nigel Bradham and Preston Brown who are quite good young linebackers. That being said with Brandon Spikes signing with the Patriots and Kiko Alonso being traded is anybody worried about depth at the linebacker position? To be quite honest, I am. I really thought re-signing Spikes was a must for this defense. Before Brandon Spikes came along we struggled against the run -- even with Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams on the line. With both Kiko and Brandon gone, I am actually apprehensive about this part of our defense. I have faith in Rex Ryan with the defense, but this position leaves me scratching my head at this point -- only because of the recent signing. With the signing of Michael Buchanan, it points me to the belief that Rex Ryan doesn't believe the Bills have good depth at the position. Anybody else concerned?

Look nobody is more critical on the Bills QB situation than me, but this forum has taken it to a whole different level. Look I know as Bills fans we have had a rough ride for the last 20 years, but honestly sometimes it's better to accept the fact that these coaches who are experienced professionals working in the game and dealing with football players for more than 20 years, have a better idea than you about who should be the starting QB. I'll be honest and say I was hoping the Bills were going to grab some young QB that wasn't on anybody's radar. I want that QB like everyone else that will be the face of the franchise for the next 10 years. But I've accepted that these coaches (Rex Ryan and Greg Roman) know more about football, judging players, and making football roster decisions better than me and everybody on this forum ever has or ever will. If they decided by September that Cassel is the QB, then so be it. What most people fail to realize is beyond acceptable athletic talent and arm strength (which Cassel has), the QB position is cerebral. It takes intense studying. An offensive coordinator and head coach know these playbooks in and out and can judge whether a player has mastered the playbook and is executing the right steps, reads, and mastery of the playbook. Although I want a young QB like other poor quality NFL teams in the league now have (like a Tannehill or Carr for the Buffalo Bills) it doesn't seem like that's going to be the case. Greg Roman wanted Cassel and from what some former Bills alumni told me, Roman thinks he can win with him. Cassel is a hell of a lot better than Orton and has a desire to play the game and be the starter (which Orton didn't have and stated again just recently in an interview). If that heartless Orton who had no appreciation for this franchise and its fan base could get a winning record with a total buffoon for a coach and less offensive talent, then Cassel can do it as well and win more. Stop worrying guys, we have the edge over the Patriots right now and have a coach and finally an owner that is ALL in on winning now.

LMFAO hahaha that was a good one.

If he leads, by his play alone, us to the Superbowl, he's the savior and best QB in our history and the franchise QB. What else would be expected?

I hope that doesn't reflect the sentiment at OBD, because I believe Tyrod Taylor would be electrifying on the field come September. I'm holding out hope Rex will go in Tyrod's direction and stop thinking about how OBD wants to justify their first pick of the 2013 draft.

The die is cast, Tyrod Taylor will be the starting quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. This comes from Ryan's interest in him plus many teammates (on and off the Bills) like Graham and Lewis that have seen him play. They believe he isn't just a mobile quarterback, but one that has quite an elite arm. And you know what? I will be happy when he is named the starter. Tyrod is the only hope as he got years to sit behind an elite quarterback and LEARN. Something that Cassel had the ability to do, but could not show consistency when he had the chance. Tyrod hasn't gotten that chance, so it really remains to be seen how he will play at the professional level come the season. I for one have been very nervous this off season regarding the QB situation and after considering a lot of different possibilities I have finally come to the conclusion that Tyrod is the Bills best bet. He is a young guy that has quite a lot of fans from professional defensive players that say he can read a defense and throw in comparison to people suggesting he is just a runner. Manuel had his chance and blew it. Until proven otherwise throw Tyrod in there, and I think that is what they are going to do. I'm crossing my fingers that this is the big break for that team and that Taylor is the starter for many years.

Look guys, I am no fan boy of this player, and I had no knowledge of him. I absolutely couldn't understand why they didn't at least bring in a free agent to replace him, but after watching the tape, the kid has got a good arm. My question is, if he was brought in, why isn't he at least getting a fair shot?

I just happened to watch a lot of Jeff Tuel highlights from both college and the one game he played in the NFL. Having been scratching my head as to why he was on the roster, I honestly have changed opinion after watching and have completely changed idea now thinking that he is a great player. In the NFL game I see a TON of dropped passes by receivers, and in college I see a lot of impressive passing with a horrible offensive line. I just want to know if there are any insiders in here that can explain why Jeff Tuel isn't getting more consideration for the starting role? He's young with a prototypical QB size and seems to have intelligence. I think he could be franchise quality if given the chance and experience especially with this team and the amount of weapons it offers him. Rex Ryan keeps forgetting to mention him in the QB competition and downplays his talent whenever asked about it. It really makes me wonder.

It's comments like these that are not facilitating to the discussion in any way whatsoever, but I will follow up. Tell me how a quarterback like Glennon, that had a terrible offensive line in front of him with very little weapons yet still came up out with an 83.7 quarterback rating and 29 tds with 15 interceptions over 19 starts, could be beat out by a 3rd string QB with a 45.1 passer rating with 1 td and 3 interceptions over one game?

Watch this footage: :23, 1:26, 1:58, 2:07 for athleticism and throwing on the run and placing the ball carefully in spots where only the receiver can grab it. All the GMs say that until a dire need is available in a trade and then that talk goes out the window

He would only cost 3.1 million against the cap and he does a great job avoiding pressure pretty athletically for a 6'6 pocket QB. He has all the tools to be a great QB on the Bills being able to make all the throws with lots of various weapons on the Bills offense. This is the trade to make with Winston being the starter for the Bucs next year. The Browns and Jets got their young QBs now after draft week. I REALLY hope the Bills are going to get this guy.

Bo Wallace -- looks like the best QB available. We have enough athletic mobile QBs on the team. Bring in a young QB that stands tall in the pocket and see how he competes with the others -- you might just be surprised finding a diamond in the rough.

I am totally sick of the typical Buffalo Bills trashing. Look I get it, as much as we all respect Ralph Wilson, for all intents and purposes he was cheap at the worst possible times. But this is a new era and the media needs to get it in their head that the Bills are a totally different organization under Terry and Kim Pegula. This record prediction is conceptually and plausibly BANKRUPT.

This is our guy hopefully.

Sean Mannion would be an absolute steal in the 5th round and a very smart decision for the Bills. I think he would be a better version of Glennon in the NFL. He would start immediately and beat out every QB on the Bills easily. He is very accurate and won an accuracy challenge which was impressive. The upside to Mannion is that the type of weakness he has -- can be coached out quite easily (tendency to carry the ball low in the pocket which can be swatted out by defenders). This guy is a leader and very mature. He is EASILY the best QB in this draft class with the ability to make every throw required in the NFL and be able to command the huddle. The best part of all is if you get him in the 5th, there isn't too much pressure and hype that comes with a 1st rounder, so if he does well everybody is going to be labeling the Bills front office geniuses. If not, there isn't too much criticism. Just watching videos on him play and talk with the media, he seems to be a great fit.

I personally believe this would be the best option for the Buffalo Bills at this stage of the game. Trade either EJ or Bryce Brown and a draft pick for Glennon. He certainly is a great pocket passer that can make all the throws -- something we haven't had since Bledsoe. I really wish this would happen and I would be even more excited for next season. I say he is the best option for the Bills for a few reasons. 1. He's the best QB that is on the trade market. 2. He did surprisingly well for a young pocket QB with a horrible offensive line. 3. We have elite WRs and a very good TE that can benefit greatly from a guy who can make the throws. 4. He's young enough to be a franchise QB if he improves. 5. He's actually quite a smart QB that can read defenses well. With the guys in the backfield that we have now, he would offer a unique offensive weapon with ground and pound and the pressure wouldn't constantly be on him. 6. If he is a franchise QB, he doesn't count much against the cap and that would continue until 2017. 7. If he isn't the guy, it didn't cost the Bills much at all and the Bills have genuinely tested a good pocket passer -- something they haven't done in a long time. 8. Instead of testing an unproven QB in the draft, bringing in Glennon still affords the Bills a rookie contract that doesn't commit to too much and allows the Bills to work on the most important weakness of the Bills: The Offensive Line.

The point of this thread is to point out the fact that no matter how many offensive options you put on the field, your team will never get respect until two things happen: 1.) Your younger QB Produces. 2.) You bring in a veteran QB like we have done that has respect from NFL players. I hope EJ has progressed, but I really don't believe he had any chance in his first year, and perhaps that has tainted his career. Nobody knows how Manuel has progressed but I hope he wins in training camp. That would be the best thing for this franchise, even if EJ just improved to average starter quality quarterbacking. Manuel is tall to see the field good, strong, and has great mobility for his size. He also is a hardworking respectful mature young man. These are all GREAT traits. And despite what some critics say, he also has an arm on him. His past highlights showcase this, it just is a matter of consistency and if he has the ability to continue that consistency under game conditions. (We have seen him do it once before in the Panthers game). However, bringing in a Pro Bowl QB, that has been to the playoffs numerous times makes teams factor in a QB that can make the plays and execute the correct motions no matter what. Despite inconsistency, it makes teams realize that there is a QB who has done it before with less talent surrounding him, so it's more likely than not he probably can do it again. This is NOT a thread about if Manuel is better than Cassel or vice versa. The person in charge, Rex Ryan, doesn't even know that. The point is to emphasize various POSITIVE points about each quarterback, in an offseason sentiment of pessimism because of our QB situation. Manuel has A LOT of support from his teammates and that is a great sign. But even if he struggles (which I emphasize is NOT his fault as he was a project QB without any mastery of the professional level of play, thrown to the wolves) we have a veteran QB that is RESPECTED by all the various teammates on the teams he has played with a proven track record of NFL success despite inconsistency.

http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/_/id/8990/cassel-brady-maintain-close-friendship In this article you will see the benefits of having worked with the greatest of our time at the QB position, Tom Brady. To keep this post short, it boils down to the fact that veteran guidance forces a player to learn the correct motions and puts him in his place at the most crucial time of a QB's career to avoid learning bad habits. When Cassel was a rookie, he had Brady correcting him every step of the way. Brady said it best: "Look, you can’t be a guy and seen as a leader if you’re making mistakes, simple mistakes, on the field. You can’t be a guy that goes up and tries to get after somebody else if you’re making those mistakes." EJ was thrown to the lions his first year. No veteran presence, and no QB coach. How could anybody expect him to thrive without that guidance and under the leadership of some pig like Doug Marrone? CJ noted that EJ was too buddy buddy with his players. This really boils down to EJ being confused and not having a mastery of the offense rather than him not being able to have that mental edge to call out other players. He downright KNEW that he wasn't going through the motions correctly, he wasn't reading defenses well, and most importantly putting that ball in the right place. Look we all know after Cassel left the Patriots, his career has been met with inconsistency. But at the very least we have a competent veteran quarterback that has played with the best team and learned under the best QB and has made a playoff run on two different teams. We haven't had a QB that has done this since Drew Bledsoe. Cassel knows the Patriots and openly admitted following them even when he was a Viking. If anybody knows how to beat them it would be either Matt Cassel or Rex Ryan. Cassel is still friends with Brady, and Brady respects him as a good quarterback. Perhaps Cassel is the piece that brings this team respect along with the other offensive options we have on the field, so that teams don't just mentally put themselves over us and lock in a win in their mind, as Brady has done the last decade.

I agree it's time for EJ to step up to the plate. Nobody really knows what to expect at this point from EJ. I am hoping it's his breakout year. If not the game manager Matt Cassel steps in.

Look, I get the optimism for a veteran QB, but I don't see Cassel being a starter and if he is, I don't see them going better than 10-6 with the Bills if he is named the starter. I say 10-6 because he has a fantastic supporting cast around him. I don't sincerely believe 10-6 is enough to make the playoffs when you have Tom Brady and the patriots in your division. 10-6 is also not enough to get the wild card either. Furthermore Cassel is not a clutch player and his 66% completion rating on play action passes is abysmal when you have a great back like Adrian Peterson in the backfield. When you are a run heavy team you need a QB that can do play action well. This is where EJ comes into play and we get to see how much he has improved. Although EJ did not know how to read defenses well and did not master the offense well, he is really good at play action and he is more mobile than Cassel. That being said Cassel can be a good game manager, and a strong positive influence in the locker room. He has the charisma and charm to deal with the media well and be a leader for his teammates. Ask any of his former teammates about him and they can't say enough good things about him. It all boils down to being a leader, and this alone in my opinion was a good reason to trade for him. Cassel can teach EJ how to lead a team, how to scold players when they don't run the right plays, and how to inspire your teammates to play better.

Look I get the optimistic outlook on Taylor, but he is simply just not of the prototypical size or accuracy percentage required for a QB to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. I like the guy and admire his competitive nature but I can't see Rex Ryan starting Tyrod Taylor over EJ Manuel who is going into his 3rd year and is largely untested as a starting QB. EJ Manuel wins in accuracy, size, and experience as he played more regular season games at a younger age.