New Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan has followed through on his January vow to explore all avenues for quarterbacks.
In addition to trading for veteran Matt Cassel, the Bills signed former Ravens backup Tyrod Tayloras a zone-read possibility.
The Bills are serious about giving Taylor a chance to start, via a three-way competition with Cassel and EJ Manuel. Taylor's contract could pay him as much as $7 million -- with $1.2 million in guarantees -- over the next two years, ESPN reported.
"There is going to be a competition," Taylor said. "No one is really ahead of the other guy right now. They're looking forward to us coming in and pushing each other to make this team better."
Ryan has been an avowed Taylor fan for years.
"I actually tried to trade for (Taylor) when I was with the Jets," Ryan told CJCL in Toronto. "If he's not the fastest quarterback in the league, he's certainly up there with them. He's got great run skills. I'm not gonna say he's Russell Wilson, but he's got a little of that in him, where he's able to run zone-reads and pull the ball down and be effective."
It's hardly a surprise that Ryan is so high on an athletic quarterback who disappointed the Ravens by failing to develop as a passer. Ryan's obsession with Brad Smith, Tim Tebow and Michael Vick -- and the consequent dalliances with Wildcat and read-option experiments -- contributed to his Jets downfall.
As a defensive-minded strategist, Ryan appreciates running quarterbacks because of the challenges in preparing for their unique talents.
While that may be true, the best NFL defenses also find it easier to shut down gimmick offenses. As an accurate passer and uncanny decision-maker, Wilson is the exception rather than rule.
We don't fault Ryan for exploring alternatives with no established signal-caller on his roster, but this isn't outside-the-box thinking. It's an extension of a failed philosophy that has him rivaling Lovie Smith as the league's most hopeless quarterback handler.
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