ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Rex Ryan said it's finally time to select the Buffalo Bills starting quarterback.
And the decision won't be an easy one.
And that's just the way the Bills coach wanted it, Ryan said after EJ Manuel made a case to reclaim his old job in a 43-19 preseason win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night.
"This is the ideal situation we had talked about. This is exactly what I wanted. And all three guys played to their abilities," Ryan said, upon announcing he intends to spend Sunday having a lengthy discussion with his staff to determine whether Manuel, Tyrod Taylor or Matt Cassel will be the team's season-opening starter. "The decision will be made and we'll move forward."
Ryan wouldn't say when he intends to announce his decision, and wouldn't provide any hint on which way he's leaning.
All he would reveal is that fourth-string quarterback Matt Simms will start Thursday in Buffalo's preseason finale at Detroit.
In five-plus series, Manuel went 7 of 8 for 170 yards and two touchdowns, a 67-yarder to tight end Charles Clay and a 37-yarder to Tobias Palmer.
Manuel is leaving the decision up to the Bills brain trust.
"I don't know, we'll see," the Bills' 2013 first-round draft pick said, when asked if he felt he's done enough. "It's coach's decision. But I know I played well."
Taylor went 12 of 13 for 122 yards and scored on a 20-yard run. Cassel went 6 of 7 for 38 yards in just two series for Buffalo (2-1).
For Pittsburgh (1-3), Michael Vick showed no signs of rust in making his preseason debut four days after signing with the Steelers.
Taking over for Ben Roethlisberger in the first quarter, Vick completed a 63-yard pass up the right sideline to Martavis Bryant on his first play from scrimmage. Vick finished 4 of 5 for 116 yards and was sacked once in two series.
Vick is competing with Landry Jones for the No. 2 job after backup Bruce Gradkowski sustained a season-ending injury to his left hand in 24-19 win over Green Bay last week.
Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press
