Matt Barkley on the sidelines

[dollars 2 donuts]

7 hours ago, Mark Vader said:

It would be difficult for him to get a starting job in the league.

 

I think it would be great for the Bills to sign him to a 2-3 year deal.

 

 

Exactly, Vadar.

 

He is a reasonable back up solution.  Give this guy a couple of million or so per, and let's been done with the back-up position.

[klos63]

9 hours ago, BillsRdue said:

 

They gave McCarron 5m per. . It's the going rate for a top notch backup who could be a starter. And it would keep him here for the foreseeable future.

are you saying Barkley is a top notch backup who could be starter? AJ too?  That may be the going rate for these 2, but I wouldn't consider them top notch.

[WhyteDwarf]

1 minute ago, klos63 said:

are you saying Barkley is a top notch backup who could be starter? AJ too?  That may be the going rate for these 2, but I wouldn't consider them top notch.

 

Is Joe Flacco a top notch backup?   What do you consider "top notch"?

Edited December 17, 2018 by WhyteDwarf

[klos63]

7 hours ago, Dr.Sack said:

Barkley has found a home in B’lo. He needs to embrace the Frank Reich role. Like Reich Barkley is a evangelical Christian who appears to have God given ability to mount comebacks. He’s best suited as a teams #2. We will need him the way Allen plays.

1 good game against the Jets and he's the next Frank Reich?

[WotAGuy]

11 hours ago, stevewin said:

I noticed that during the game - love to see it

 

When I saw him cheering my first thought was he bet the Bills on the money line. ?

[klos63]

Just now, WhyteDwarf said:

 

Is Joe Flacco a top notch backup?   What do you consider "top notch"?

Someone who has had a fair amount of success as a backup QB over time, not just 1 game, like Barkley.

[WhyteDwarf]

Just now, klos63 said:

Someone who has had a fair amount of success as a backup QB over time, not just 1 game, like Barkley.

 

Well, if Allen is oft injured, then things are not going to plan anyways.  Ideally a backup just needs to be in QB meetings etc.  I guess, fans should not care so much about backup players IMO. 

[blacklabel]

I definitely think they should make a nice offer to keep Barkley here as the #2. Definitely has the traits that "the process" looks for. 

[WhyteDwarf]

3 minutes ago, blacklabel said:

I definitely think they should make a nice offer to keep Barkley here as the #2. Definitely has the traits that "the process" looks for. 

 

They should have just kept McCarron.

[blacklabel]

5 minutes ago, WhyteDwarf said:

 

They should have just kept McCarron.

 

I think they planned on it... what they didn't plan on was Oakland calling and offering a 5th round pick. McCarron is just another guy, not that difficult to replace, so they traded him and took the extra pick which they can use in the draft on a player or as part of a deal to move around the board. And now they have their replacement for him plus the extra pick. Win win.

[WhyteDwarf]

1 minute ago, blacklabel said:

 

I think they planned on it... what they didn't plan on was Oakland calling and offering a 5th round pick. McCarron is just another guy, not that difficult to replace, so they traded him and took the extra pick which they can use in the draft on a player or as part of a deal to move around the board. And now they have their replacement for him plus the extra pick. Win win.

 

Yeah, I mean sure, but what is a 5th rounder though?

[Hapless Bills Fan]

17 minutes ago, WhyteDwarf said:

 

Well, if Allen is oft injured, then things are not going to plan anyways.  Ideally a backup just needs to be in QB meetings etc.  I guess, fans should not care so much about backup players IMO. 

 

I explained this viewpoint to the Philly Eagles. 

 

They glanced at their SB rings and smiled.

[WhyteDwarf]

Just now, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I explained this viewpoint to the Philly Eagles. 

 

They glanced at their SB rings and smiled.

 

Pretty rare case there...

[blacklabel]

6 minutes ago, WhyteDwarf said:

 

Yeah, I mean sure, but what is a 5th rounder though?

 

It's draft capital. McCarron didn't exactly light it up in preseason so it's not like they suffered a major loss in moving him. They gained an extra pick and replaced him with a player on about the same skill level with a cheaper contract. 

 

And a 5th rounder could be Kyle Williams... or Matt Milano... or Isiah McKenzie... you never know where you're going to find talent.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

Just now, WhyteDwarf said:

Pretty rare case there...

 

Maybe because all the teams that fall apart when the starting QB goes down, take your viewpoint.

 

But there are other teams that haven't....the Bengals when Dalton went down, for example.

[WhyteDwarf]

Just now, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Maybe because all the teams that fall apart when the starting QB goes down, take your viewpoint.

 

But there are other teams that haven't....the Bengals when Dalton went down, for example.

 

Foles really could have went out and got a starting job, but he seems much more laid back in that regard.  That's why I think it's rare.  Most players in his situation would have demanded a trade etc.

[BillsVet]

It's nice that people are getting emotional and talking about a guy's reaction.

 

Still, that doesn't factor into whether it's best for the team to keep someone.

 

Barkley had one start where, a few weeks before, he was out of the NFL.  If he's good enough to mentor Allen and, if necessary backup, then sure, sign him.

 

His celebration on the sideline doesn't matter.

[MrEpsYtown]

He's the perfect backup to have. I'd extend him now if possible, but it makes sense for him to wait and see if another team will give him a chance to be a bridge guy, or compete for a starting job (ala AJ McCarron this year). I think he has been a huge positive, and from all accounts he is a great guy who is a man of faith and you know how much McDermott loves those. He seems like a good guy to have around for Josh. 

[Jerome007]

Nice! Very great to see.

 

And overall, since McD has been the coach, the team spirit has been awesome. With the 3 blowout in a row last year, and the "out of the playoff race in October" this year, it's not a given or easy to do.

[dpberr]

Retaining Barkley as the backup is a no-brainer to me if Daboll is the OC next season.  

 

If I'm the Bills, I try not to outthink the room on this one.  With the abandon Allen plays with, it's likely Barkley will see some playing time.  

[Kaenon]

12 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

I noticed this a few times during the game yesterday.

 

Quite refreshing to see!

[Matt_In_NH]

He wants an NFL job so he kind of needs to be all in.   The guy was out of the league.   Based on the Jets game,  I think he would make a decent backup option moving forward.

[YoloinOhio]

8 minutes ago, mattynh said:

He wants an NFL job so he kind of needs to be all in.   The guy was out of the league.   Based on the Jets game,  I think he would make a decent backup option moving forward.

He was with the Bengals all preseason and took an injury settlement after he hurt his knee. He was signed by the Bills as soon as he was cleared to play. He’s not great by any means but he wasn’t necessarily out of he league like say, Sanchez was.  

Edited December 17, 2018 by YoloinOhio

[ndirish1978]

11 hours ago, PIZ said:

The team obviously loves Barkley too.  In McDermott's speech, he says "where's our 260 lb. QB" and someone yells "yeah Barkley" and the whole team chuckled.  That's a good sign that Barkley is all in.

 

I loved that, I also like that they stopped the chant at the end so everyone could turn around to look at Milano on FaceTime 

[wppete]

13 hours ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

Hopefully a long term back up here

 

Yes I agree. We need to sign him make Derrek Anderson QB coach next year.

[Albany,n.y.]

There aren't many openings for backups to get a starter's job next year.  The most likely 2 QBs on the market who can get a starting job are Foles & Flacco.  Other than those 2, I doubt any other backups will be able to get starting jobs.  Let's look at teams looking for a new starter next year, there aren't many.

 

Washington-If Smith is done and Jacksonville,  That's about the only teams who will be looking to sign a new starter via free agency.  Teams like the Giants will be looking to have a rookie who will sit in what will most likely be Eli's final season.  They won't be signing another team's backup to replace Manning. 

 

The following teams have no interest in signing a new starter via free agency:

Bills, Jets, Patriots, Dolphins, Ravens, Steelers, Browns, Texans, Colts, Titans, Chiefs, Raiders, Chargers, Cowboys, NYG, Eagles, Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings, Falcons, Panthers, Saints, Cardinals, Rams, 49ers, Seahawks.

 

That leaves only the following teams after Jacksonville & Washington:  Cincinnati if they decide to try to improve on Dalton, Tampa Bay if they've had enough of Winston, however they're more likely to be drafting a QB than signing a FA, Arizona-if they go the route that Marrone went with EJ & give up on a 2nd year QB without giving him more time-this is a highly unlikely scenario.

 

So, it will be very slim pickings for FAs looking for a starting job.  Teams with older QBs like the Giants, Saints and even NE may go for a rookie to be a backup for a year or 2.  They won't be in the Flacco/Foles market.  Good news for the Bills is Barkley won't be getting a starting job anywhere. 

[LabattBlue]

14 hours ago, stevewin said:

I noticed that during the game - love to see it

Me too.  If Barkley can continue to show that he can step in when needed, and play at a competent level, I'm all for bringing him back as a #2 next season.

[BillsSB2020]

14 hours ago, 4BillsintheBurgh said:

Maybe as a qb coach or some type of offensive quality control assistant

I just don't get the mentor thing with Anderson. He isn't particularly bright and he seems like kind of a jerk. I know he doesn't really want to play anymore, but I also sort of question his commitment to the sport. It seems like he gained the reputation as mentor by virtue of being Cam Newton's backup for so many years. I could be wrong and McDermott knows a heck of a lot more than I do about what's going on, but I don't see it.

 

Barkley appears to be the perfect back-up QB for this team and this situation.

Edited December 17, 2018 by BillsSB2020

[formerlyofCtown]

13 hours ago, klos63 said:

Not with Josh Johnson, Mark Sanchez and Cody Kessler out there .

$5m? that seems high. He's never been a very good NFL QB.

That is about right for a backup QB now days.

[dave mcbride]

3 hours ago, BillsVet said:

It's nice that people are getting emotional and talking about a guy's reaction.

 

Still, that doesn't factor into whether it's best for the team to keep someone.

 

Barkley had one start where, a few weeks before, he was out of the NFL.  If he's good enough to mentor Allen and, if necessary backup, then sure, sign him.

 

His celebration on the sideline doesn't matter.

He played well in the preseason for Cincy and got hurt at the end of it. That's why he wasn't kept and had to wait to sign. He's an ideal backup. 

[Bing Bong]

Gentlemen, get ready for the Barkley GOAT backup QB crusade.

[Kelly the Dog]

That's great to see and a terrific reaction and teammate.

 

He's a terrible backup QB despite his very good game.

[dave mcbride]

10 minutes ago, Kelly the Dog said:

That's great to see and a terrific reaction and teammate.

 

He's a terrible backup QB despite his very good game.

Why is he a terrible backup? What is your evidence? By all accounts he played well for Cincy in preseason. Successful backups tend to be guys who've been around the block and have had time to learn the pro game. He seems to be at that point now. No one is saying he's a starter. 

[John from Riverside]

4 hours ago, WhyteDwarf said:

 

Yeah, I mean sure, but what is a 5th rounder though?

Matt Milano

Winning culture

[Pirate Angel]

The way Allen likes to run  ...we need a dependable backup, it's not out of the question that he will start 2-5 games a year

[Kelly the Dog]

3 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

Why is he a terrible backup? What is your evidence? By all accounts he played well for Cincy in preseason. Successful backups tend to be guys who've been around the block and have had time to learn the pro game. He seems to be at that point now. No one is saying he's a starter. 

In preseason, guys like him can excel because it's at 3/4 speed. He's Peterman plus. He's terrible because he has a rag arm that cannot succeed over time in the NFL. That is why he wasn't on any team. That is why he has been cut numerous times. That is the only reason he was drafted in the fourth and not the first round.

 

That is why his stats suck and he throws a ton of interceptions. Guys like Barkley are teases and they cannot play. Nobody wanted him. He is capable of lobbing the ball, getting lucky and having good halves or good games, which he did. He's not a guy you can count on in any way.  

 

You cannot learn to not have a rag arm. He even showed that rag arm in the Bills game. It wasn't that he needed time to learn the game, he couldn't get the ball consistently downfield fast enough

[dave mcbride]

7 minutes ago, Kelly the Dog said:

In preseason, guys like him can excel because it's at 3/4 speed. He's Peterman plus. He's terrible because he has a rag arm that cannot succeed over time in the NFL. That is why he wasn't on any team. That is why he has been cut numerous times. That is the only reason he was drafted in the fourth and not the first round.

 

That is why his stats suck and he throws a ton of interceptions. Guys like Barkley are teases and they cannot play. Nobody wanted him. He is capable of lobbing the ball, getting lucky and having good halves or good games, which he did. He's not a guy you can count on in any way.  

 

You cannot learn to not have a rag arm. He even showed that rag arm in the Bills game. It wasn't that he needed time to learn the game, he couldn't get the ball consistently downfield fast enough

I thought he was fine - a Josh McCown/Colt McCoy in waiting. He's better than the Blaine Gabberts, Todd Collinses, and Matt Cassels of the world. As I've said countless times, you simply want a guy who can run the offense well, be able to make most throws, and get you to 2-2 over a 4-game stretch. He's perfectly fine as a career backup. Would I take him over Glennon? Probably. I would also probably take him over Fitz, who is clearly better, because if Fitz is on your team, he WILL become the starter at some point. That outcome -- wherever he plays -- has been foreordained by the football gods. 

Edited December 17, 2018 by dave mcbride

[Kelly the Dog]

Just now, dave mcbride said:

I thought he was fine - a Josh McCown/Colt McCoy in waiting. He's better than the Blaine Gabberts, Todd Collinses, and Matt Cassels of the world. As I've said countless times, you simply want a guy who can run the offense well, be able to make most throws, and get you to 2-2 over a 4-game stretch. He's perfectly fine as a career backup. Would I take him over Glennon? Probably. I would also probabl ytake him over Fitz, who is clearly better, because if Fitz is on your team, he WILL become the starter at some point. That outcome -- wherever he plays -- has been foreordained by the football gods. 

He can't throw the ball consistently more than 15 yards. He's much smarter and more accurate than all of those guys but it's like playing a WR who runs a 5.9 40. He can have a good game and catch some balls and even score some TDs once in a while, but his physical incapability doesn't allow him to play well enough in this league. Barkley has played well about 3 times in his career, and even with that great game he has 10 TD and 18 INT and a 68 rating. It's because of his arm, only. He showed that he can make good decisions and learn offenses and lead a team. That is not his problem. His arm is his problem. 

[dave mcbride]

4 minutes ago, Kelly the Dog said:

He can't throw the ball consistently more than 15 yards. He's much smarter and more accurate than all of those guys but it's like playing a WR who runs a 5.9 40. He can have a good game and catch some balls and even score some TDs once in a while, but his physical incapability doesn't allow him to play well enough in this league. Barkley has played well about 3 times in his career, and even with that great game he has 10 TD and 18 INT and a 68 rating. It's because of his arm, only. He showed that he can make good decisions and learn offenses and lead a team. That is not his problem. His arm is his problem. 

Welcome to the world of career backups in the NFL. This is who they are, and if you're going to have one, you want the guy who is smarter and more accurate than the others. They're not going to have great arms, and if one  does happen to have a strong arm,  all it tells you is that he was an abject failure as a starter and can't manage a game to save his life. Hello, Brandon Weeden and Ryan Mallett. I'll take Barkley over Weeden and Mallett ANY day of the week.

Edited December 17, 2018 by dave mcbride

[4BillsintheBurgh]

1 hour ago, BillsSB2020 said:

I just don't get the mentor thing with Anderson. He isn't particularly bright and he seems like kind of a jerk. I know he doesn't really want to play anymore, but I also sort of question his commitment to the sport. It seems like he gained the reputation as mentor by virtue of being Cam Newton's backup for so many years. I could be wrong and McDermott knows a heck of a lot more than I do about what's going on, but I don't see it.

 

Barkley appears to be the perfect back-up QB for this team and this situation.

Mainly basing it on Josh's comments after Derek was brought on. If he can guide Josh on how to prepare/be a pro then it's worth it. Just doesn't seem like Culley is getting it done (and I haven't seen him near JA during the games lately) and we need to get JA up to speed asap.

Edited December 17, 2018 by 4BillsintheBurgh