The Buffalo Bills officially named Tyrod Taylor as their starting quarterback this week after a battle throughout training camp, and it leaves the status of veteran backup Matt Cassel in limbo.
Continue for updates.
Personnel Around NFL Reportedly Expect Bills to Cut Cassel
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News reports sources around the league believe Buffalo will release Cassel in favor of EJ Manuel, who's retained the support of general manager Doug Whaley. Sal Capaccio of WGR 550 notes there's an "internal debate" about whether to let Cassel go, however.
If it comes down to a financial decision, the 33-year-old USC product will likely be gone. Cutting him would free up over $4 million in additional cap space, according to Spotrac. His cap hit for 2015 also is the third highest among backup quarterbacks, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.
The question is whether the Bills coaching staff would feel completely comfortable with Taylor and Manuel as their main quarterbacks, with Matt Simms likely serving in an emergency role.
Taylor won the starting job with an electric display of playmaking ability during the preseason. He completed 77 percent of his throws en route to a 98.3 passer rating and also rushed for a team-high 108 yards on 11 carries over three games.
Still, they are just exhibition games. He attempted only 35 passes in the regular season over four years with the Baltimore Ravens. How he'll respond when opponents start game-planning to stop him is a mystery.
Manuel has also shined during the preseason, with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Alas, he's been given the opportunity to capture the Bills' starting job three times now and hasn't been able to hold it.
Cassel represents the least exciting of the three options but also the most experienced. For a team that's loaded elsewhere on the roster, keeping a potentially stabilizing force around despite the high cost is surely a consideration, as the internal debate suggests.
It's a tough dilemma, because even average play from the quarterback position should be enough for the Bills to end their NFL-leading 15-year playoff drought. Their defense figures to rank among the league's best, and they have plenty of star power at the skill positions, led by LeSean McCoy and Sammy Watkins.
If the Bills do choose to let Cassel go, he shouldn't last too long on the free-agent market before another team picks him up as a backup option.
Continue for updates.
Personnel Around NFL Reportedly Expect Bills to Cut Cassel
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News reports sources around the league believe Buffalo will release Cassel in favor of EJ Manuel, who's retained the support of general manager Doug Whaley. Sal Capaccio of WGR 550 notes there's an "internal debate" about whether to let Cassel go, however.
If it comes down to a financial decision, the 33-year-old USC product will likely be gone. Cutting him would free up over $4 million in additional cap space, according to Spotrac. His cap hit for 2015 also is the third highest among backup quarterbacks, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.
The question is whether the Bills coaching staff would feel completely comfortable with Taylor and Manuel as their main quarterbacks, with Matt Simms likely serving in an emergency role.
Taylor won the starting job with an electric display of playmaking ability during the preseason. He completed 77 percent of his throws en route to a 98.3 passer rating and also rushed for a team-high 108 yards on 11 carries over three games.
Still, they are just exhibition games. He attempted only 35 passes in the regular season over four years with the Baltimore Ravens. How he'll respond when opponents start game-planning to stop him is a mystery.
Manuel has also shined during the preseason, with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Alas, he's been given the opportunity to capture the Bills' starting job three times now and hasn't been able to hold it.
Cassel represents the least exciting of the three options but also the most experienced. For a team that's loaded elsewhere on the roster, keeping a potentially stabilizing force around despite the high cost is surely a consideration, as the internal debate suggests.
It's a tough dilemma, because even average play from the quarterback position should be enough for the Bills to end their NFL-leading 15-year playoff drought. Their defense figures to rank among the league's best, and they have plenty of star power at the skill positions, led by LeSean McCoy and Sammy Watkins.
If the Bills do choose to let Cassel go, he shouldn't last too long on the free-agent market before another team picks him up as a backup option.
