Thought Exercise: Best Bills QB (99-2017) who'd be JA17 backup

[34-78-83]

It would never be Flutie with his team dividing locker room presence and tactics. 
 

Taylor has the perfect mentality for it and won’t lose the game with turnovers but won’t win you games on his own.

 

Fitz could win you 2 out of 4, or 4 out of 9, with ups and downs.

 

 

Guess I’d go with Taylor

 

 

 

 

[Bills!Win!]

Bledsoe, Losman, Edwards, Fitzpatrick, Manuel and Taylor were never really given a fair shot. We had historically bad pass blocking during the drought. Just ask the patriots front 7.

 

I feel like Bledsoe would be the best backup with his cannon arm behind our strong O-line 

[BuffaloBillyG]

 Brian Brohm was never given a fair chance. 

 

That said, I may just go with Alex Van Pelt. Reason being, the back ups main job is to help the starter prepare. And Van Pelt, while never a good QB, has spent years in the NFL as a coach and multiple years as an OC. So if I'm choosing someone to be in the QB room with the current iron horse of NFL QBs I'd take the guy most qualified to help a QB game plan. Break down film. That sort of thing.

[Mikie2times]

In our system you want a mobile QB and to limit turnovers. So it’s probably Tyrod, even if he ain’t the best one. 

[Doc Brown]

1 hour ago, JK Fan said:

I would take Bledsoe to back up JA.  Bledsoe is the only QB on this list to win a Super Bowl.  There is one missing on the list and that is Kyle Orton.  

Does Rob Johnson mean nothing to you?

[hondo in seattle]

Bledsoe played one good half-season with us.  If Josh got hurt, Bledsoe would be the guy I'd want to come in - assuming he played at the same level as the first 8 or 9 games of 2002.  

 

But as a backup, I'd want Fitz.  He's a great teammate.  He'd be super supportive of Josh and the entire team.  He's also smart.  In the QB room, and on the sidelines, he'd have some great conversations with Josh that would help elevate Josh's game.  

And if Fitz had to come in, he'd execute the game plan and give us a chance to win.  

[MJS]

3 hours ago, Low Positive said:

Both Bledsoe and Flutie wouldn't accept roles as backups. Flutie would cause endless trouble in the locker room because of this. Fitz has that whole history of the starter getting injured. I vote Tyrod. 

Flutie caused trouble because he could see he was better than Johnson. So, I don't hold that against him. He would know that Allen is better and understand that.

[MJS]

2 hours ago, Bills!Win! said:

Bledsoe, Losman, Edwards, Fitzpatrick, Manuel and Taylor were never really given a fair shot. We had historically bad pass blocking during the drought. Just ask the patriots front 7.

 

I feel like Bledsoe would be the best backup with his cannon arm behind our strong O-line 

Not sure I agree about them not getting a fair shot. They all played a lot, outside of Manuel. Tyrod also had some pretty good olines. Those olines right before Allen took over were pretty good.

[LyndonvilleBill]

I'd go with Fitz. I like the idea of having a really smart guy there for Josh to sit next to and review plays. Also, if a backup has to come in, I want someone who can fire up the team and crowd. The Gunslinger mentality. 😁

 

Tyrod, Bledsoe and the rest just seem boring. 😂

[ganesh]

Tyrod took us to the playoffs breaking the 17-year drought

[LyndonvilleBill]

27 minutes ago, ganesh said:

Tyrod took us to the playoffs breaking the 17-year drought

I don't look at it that way. I look at it as , He was the quarterback at the time the drought ended. 😉

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

8 hours ago, transient said:

There is only one answer… the Chroisen one himself, Gibran Hamdan. 

7 career pass yards 🤣

[Alphadawg7]

9 hours ago, boyst said:

Since Jim Kelly we have had many pretty good guys come to town and be a good QB, a few even great. We have had some guys who were below par and some barely deserving a roster spot.

 

From Kelly Holcomb, Kevin Kolb, Vince Young, Matt Leinert, Drew Bledsoe, Doug Flutie/Rob Johnson, Todd Collins, Alex Van Pelt, Tyrod Taylor, and Ryan Fitzpatrick we can think of many to take a snap. Any QB who has taken a snap for us since Jim Kelly retired is eligible.

 

But which QB would be the best backup to JA17 in 2025?

Ok…so seeing Vince Young and Matt Leinart on this list legit blew my mind as I totally forgot their career farewell tours had a stop here.  
 

Who would have thought watching the absolute epic 2005 National Championship game with Young, Leinart, and Bush that they would all make stops here as shells of their former college glory on farewell tours of disappointing careers.  
 

 

[Bill from NYC]

7 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

Does Rob Johnson mean nothing to you?

Rob Johnson broke my heart. I admit it: When he came to town I thought that he would be great. I had seen one of his games with the Jaguars and he completed almost every pass. 

RJ was big, an excellent runner, had a cannon, and was pretty accurate. Despite all of this he was horrible. I was at the game when he was on the Redskins and was worried for his life. He took numerous brutal hits. 

 

In any event, I suppose I would take Tyrod. 

Edited 3 hours ago by Bill from NYC

[MrEpsYtown]

 

This guy. They already have a great rapport and he can help Josh with his mechanics. 

[CSBill]

Flutie = 1

 

Fitz = 2

[sunshynman]

We had the best in Peterman and let him walk away!

[NoSaint]

10 hours ago, Brandon said:

Fitzpatrick or Tyrod Taylor.  

 

 

the only unlisted consideration is cost 

 

they are both good but at the expense of perhaps a heavy role player elsewhere?

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

11 hours ago, Bruffalo said:

Prime Flutie for me and I don't know that it's really close. Fitz is a distant second.

 

Flutie could make magic happen, I'd prefer having a wildcard backup QB who can make plays out of nothing when things break down over a gunslinger like Fitz.

Just give Josh a kevlar vest...

Flutie's demeanour often had me referring to him as Iago. 

[brianthomas]

Fitz by far. I cant believe so many are saying Taylor. Did we really forget watching him play? Tentative Tyrod? Who had on average 40 sacks against per year because he couldnt ever get the ball out of his hands?

I respect Tyrod but Fitz had the makeup of Buffalo & was tough as nails & didn't shy away from anything. Fitz threw for what, 30 more TD's while he was here?

1 played like a QB & 1 played like a game manager. 1 could win the game for you & another would try not to lose it. 2 different mentalities. I'd prefer the guy who'd try to win you the game & at least took some chances.