1billsfan

There's nothing perfectly clear about the choice. EJ Manuel has been "raining" TDs this preseason in awesome fashion. The "reality" I saw this preseason is that EJ looked like the best QB. Not by a lot over Tyrod Taylor, but the TD totals can not be ignored. TDs are the name of the game, not long drives.

Other than "blowing out of the water" comment, I agree with you. Manuel is the very definition of the prototypical QB you are looking for life in the AFC East. While it's fun watching a small QB like Taylor running around making eye popping plays. In the back of everyone's mind is that he will be busted up one day. It will probably be on a cold and blustery day. I think that Bills fans are scared to believe in EJ right now. They've been programmed to believe the "EJ sucks and will never be good" crap coming from the local media types who seem to be casual fans with very little brain cells. I like Tyrod, but I think now is the time for the Bills to be fearless and start EJ Manuel because he earned it with his play in the scrimmage and four preseason games. He's got the size, build, arm, confidence and ability...AND he's throwing crazy good long TD passes that will no doubt lead to opening up gaping holes for McCoy to skip through. Don't be afraid Rex, start EJ Manuel!

When Matt Cassell is cut, I want every local Bills reporter like this guy, the guys on WGR and all of these idiot local media types to publicly apologize for being so gullible in believing their "inside sources". Matt Cassel literally has no chance to start and will probably be cut because this team will have a very hard time to get to that 53 number. Why would you keep and pay a mediocre #3 QB 5 million dollars and cut a promising young player in the process? The answer is you wouldn't. These guys are such idiots it boggles the mind.

What counts then? Practice, where QBs aren't allowed to get hit? Having a pro bowl appearance 5 years ago even though you subsequently got benched for Brady Quinn? You're embarrassing yourself.

IMO there is no "bad" about a game where the Bills finally look like they may have their answer to their 20 year "QB of the future" search. They just don't know whether that QB is Tyrod Taylor or EJ Manuel.

WGR and the local Bills beat reporters have been in such a free fall these last two weeks that I'm sure they're all in a state of denial. It's embarrassing how stupid they all sound sticking to their guns. They don't even realize that they collectively overrated Matt Cassel because they're a bunch of small thinkers who were apparently very impressed by a journeyman backup QB who went to the pro bowl 5 years ago...LOL

Amazing that a project QB could actually get better under professional coaching, huh?...LOL So glad he's proving the naysayers who had no patience wrong. Glad they weren't calling the shots for this team because once cut EJ would be a Jet right now.

Won't Manuel's detractors themselves be marginalized if that happens? On the flip side, the Manuel supporters will be marginalized if he looks bad. Dang, the stakes are awfully high for a preseason game!...LOL Either way, the real test will come in the real games.

Just look at what he did last week with the pressure of his knowing his Bills career was on the line and getting it done while dealing with bad snaps and no protection. I think he gained a ton of confidence in himself and from the team. I'm expecting EJ to perform well tonight. If he doesn't then no one, including the EJ supporters like myself, can complain he's not the starting QB.

Rex just came off a Jets situation where he wasn't in charge of decision making. This decision was Rex's (of course with input from Roman). I think too many media types and some fans downplayed what EJ did in the 2 preseason games which are the most real "game like" situations in all of training camp. What happens in preseason games sometimes does actually matter. IMO Rex very much liked what he saw enough in those 2 preseason games that he felt EJ deserved the start. I believe that Rex is settled on either Cassel or Taylor, but he wants to have a very confident, comfortable and "ready to turn to" EJ Manuel during the season. EJ looks to be getting there but there is no reason to force the issue right now. This is what I think Rex is thinking. I still hope that Manuel looks great out there tonight and he ends up being picked as the starter, but if they go with Taylor then I'm good with that too. Having EJ come off the bench and start winning games would be a nice bookend to his development curve. We are all hoping that either Taylor or Manuel turns out to be our franchise QB by the end of the season. IMO Cassel is not long for the job if he is the starter beginning the season. It sounds safe until he starts throwing interceptions because of his weak arm.

If EJ lights it up then the starter's seat will be a hot one whether it's Taylor or Cassel starting. All it will take is a loss that can be clearly pinned on the starting QB and away we go. Basically there will be no settling of this position until a QB steps up and beats a Superbowl contending team with his arm and overall ability. Whoever Rex names the starter is still basically only being penciled in until something like that happens.

You think these guys are so smart, yet not one of them could break out of their “groupthink” opinion bubble long enough to see what Rex saw in EJ. You do know that if everyone in a room is in agreement on a sports related topic based on predicting an outcome which is unknown, that generally there’s a very good chance everyone in that room is wrong. I don’t find an echo chamber filled with pompous snobs appealing at all. Especially one that can’t seem to find one person to put on air who doesn’t agree with the group.

WGR had a well-deserved major “faceplant” moment yesterday. They’ve collectively spent the last month overrating a journeyman backup QB who throws very weak interceptable balls and a small “run first, pass second” QB with no starts under his belt (I like Taylor, but I don’t think he should be considered THAT much better than EJ). Not one of those dopes gave EJ a shot to win the starting job and now they are all scrambling after losing credibility given how 100% dismissive they were of Manuel and the people who still liked him best in the competition The sooner Pegula cuts ties with that station the better because they are more interested in the “groupthink” “mob” mentality than real analysis. They need to have former Bills players mixed in with hosts who know what they’re talking about and can think for themselves. I listen to the “The Fanatic” in Philly over WGR because those hosts are great because they love to talk football and they welcome any and all opinions. I’d rather listen to Eagles football talk than WGR!…LOL Is it so truly amazing that Rex Ryan still likes the one QB on this team who is big, tall, athletic, clutch and throws the ball with great velocity? Is EJ off a few times? Yes, but would you rather have that or a guy who throws accurate passes all the time which are very slow and easily intercepted? WGR is a joke IMO.

Wow, imagine that! A head coach likes seeing a former 1st round QB doing things a franchise QBs is expected to do in a game. WGR's heads must be swimming today...LOL

This QB competition just got REAL!...LOL It confirms my feelings that EJ deserves this chance because above the other two QBs he has shown the most important traits head coaches are looking for in a starting QB and that's throwing TD passes and also throwing them in clutch, game like conditions. Here's EJs chance to either confirm Rex's confidence in his abilities or completely blow his golden chance. Rex said that the preseason games would be the most important thing and he didn't go back on his word. Way to go Rex! Let's see what you got EJ!

I can easily see a win or a loss in the first game. With Andrew Luck you have a guy who can look bad for most of the game and still throw 3 TDs in the 4th quarter if he got hot. Hopefully they choose Taylor (if it's between Cassle and Taylor) because if the Bills have a two score lead he can create clock draining drives in the second half by having the ability to run for 1st downs if need be. The Bills must win against the Pats if they are starting Garrapalo though. A loss there would be humiliating for this this franchise who see themselves as a playoff contender.

I think it will be a fail if Rex starts Matt Cassel when they have Taylor and Manuel, who by his own accounts are playing very well. Everyone knows that Cassel will have to be replaced by one or the other QB at some point during the season so it's stupid to start the year off knowing you will eventually put your team through that QB change offensive upheaval.

If I paid what they paid for the Bills, I'd for sure think about cutting WGR off at the knees by buying a local station and making it the Buffalo Bills station. WGR is such a downer that you almost have to do it for PR reasons. Who wants to have their 60,000 season ticket holders hearing about what a bummer life and being a Bills fan is all the time? What if the organization truly thinks that EJ might still be their future? That is doom for WGR and not because they don't like him, but because the Pegulas and the Bills would no doubt be forced to do their radio business elsewhere knowing it is not a workable situation for them PR-wise. Bet they would hire some former Bills players as hosts. That would be fun to listen to even though it was franchise owned. I'm sure they would let plenty of fans call in and vent at least to show balance.

Considering how much Pegula spent on the team, I'd politely ask the higher ups at WGR to significantly up their game. If they don't, I'd pull all interviews of players and coaches until they stop the 24/7 sadness factory. If EJ ever wins the starting job then it will be an all out airwaves war anyways. It's such an earsore. I don't understand why they wouldn't reach out to a few of all the former Bill players in the area and ask them if they wanted to do a show. Heck, I'd offer Gabe Northern his own morning radio show. What about Thurman Thomas? They don't even need to be ex-players, I'm sure there are radio personalities who are huge Bills fans who would be a thousand times better then what's on that station now. The people on that station are across the board just such a downer.

Maybe Rex just likes QBs who turn the ball over frequently? That's all he knows, so maybe it's a comfort thing.

It's irrelevant now, until the game happens and human nature takes over. I think Rex likes "gamers". If they think they are way ahead and can afford to have a clunker game then they don't know Rex.

I'd actually be happy with that too!...LOL Both Cassel and Taylor do have some pressure though because if EJ throws another TD pass or two and they don't, they had better have a real good looking TD drive in that game like the one you mentioned.

I think they're starting to feel the pressure of the Steeler game. They know that they will not feel good if Cassel and Taylor don't throw a TD pass. They will say they're fine with either QB as the starter, but it will ring hollow.

Given EJ's "drop the mic" perfect TD bomb pass against the 1st string defense to end training camp, I would think that both Cassel and Taylor will feel a little bit of pressure to throw at least one TD pass in the Steeler game. If they don't, at some point Rex and Roman are going to turn to themselves and start rethinking the QB depth chart.

It's been such a long time since Kelly left the stage that some Bills fans no longer know what a franchise QB even looks like or what he's supposed to do. So sad.