Now that the dust of the 2011 Draft has settled, it’s time to analyze the current state of Buffalo’s roster. We’ll be taking a look at one position at a time. Today: QB.
Players Under Contract (2): Ryan Fitzpatrick, Levi Brown
Possibly Departing Free Agents: Brian Brohm
1) Ryan Fitzpatrick
2010 stats: 13 games, 3000 yards passing, 57.8% comp., 23 TD, 15 INT, one sweet beard
Well, those of you that wanted Fitzpatrick to get a true shot to be “the man” in Buffalo will get it in 2011. Baring a shocking trade for someone like Kevin Kolb, Fitzpatrick will enter 2011 as the undisputed No. 1 quarterback for the Bills. The Buffalo front office certainly seemed to give Fitzpatrick a vote of confidence by not selecting a QB early (or at all) in the draft.
Buffalo Bills Post-Draft Roster Analysis: Quarterback – continue reading…
Mike Williams of the Buffalo Bills is their biggest draft bust ever, or at least since 1985, according to Buffalo Rumbling’s author Brian Galliford.
Trent Dilfer thinks the Bills need Cam Newton and short of having the Baltimore Ravens’ defense he had when he played, they won’t win it with Ryan Fitzpatrick, in this ESPN video clip.
This CBS sports article suggests that tackle is clearly a priority for the Bills. Perhaps it’s true, but I can’t get over the article not even mentioning Kraig Urbik among the many linemen in the mix for Buffalo.
The Buffalo taxpayers will be paying the Bills to not play football, in this Shutdown Corner report for Yahoo Sports.
The Daily Links – April 16, 2011 – continue reading…
We don’t know exactly when it’s going to happen, with multiple reports surfacing it could commence in as little as two to four weeks. We also don’t know what the rule will be in regards to seasons accrued, whether it’s fourth, fifth of sixth year players meeting minimum requirements. But even with the NFLPA decertifying and the owners locking the players out, there is going to be NFL free agency.
Without heavily delving into the legal aspects of how free agency will work (we’ll save that for someone more in the know) we’re going to focus on the Buffalo Bills and what approach they make take in the open market.
It’ s no secret the Bills could use a number of roster upgrades. When you’re coming off a 4-12 season and haven’t sniffed the playoffs in over a decade, finding quality veterans to blend in with incoming rookies is a necessity to improve your football team– especially in a division stacked with New York, New England and Miami.
Bills Free Agency Preview: Quarterbacks – continue reading…
The Bills went into the New Meadowlands Stadium Sunday afternoon against a New York Jets lineup missing both their starting running backs, both Pro-Bowl cornerbacks and both starting safeties. They also took the field without their starting right tackle, their Pro-Bowl center barely played a quarter and the starting quarterback played all of one series and didn’t throw a single pass.
It meant absolutely nothing.
Buffalo couldn’t have scripted a more pathetic ending to their desolate 2010 campaign. Even with a slew of New York backups playing the majority of the game, it was men against boys as the Bills were thoroughly spanked in grand fashion, 38-7.
JV Jets Humiliate Bills in Finale, 38-7 – continue reading…
Since the first day of OTA’s, Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey has stated the starting quarterback position would be an open competition between incumbent Trent Edwards, Brian Brohm and Ryan Fitzpatrick. It’s plausible that at least in Gailey’s mind, this is true. However, if it is, Brohm is the equivalent of bringing a knife to a gun fight.
The Bills are now halfway through the preseason. Brohm didn’t see a single snap in the opener at Washington and by the time he entered the game against Indianapolis this past Thursday in Toronto, the starters were already long gone; most having traded in their helmets and shoulder pads for a freshly fitted baseball cap.
Maybe Brohm isn’t the answer anyway to the team’s quarterback woes that have plagued them in recent years. He was a college standout at Louisville and a second round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2008, but failed to be out Matt Flynn in Green Bay for the backup job to Aaron Rodgers. He clearly wasn’t valued by the Packers organization when the Bills signed him. they could’ve kept him their property simply by promoting him to the active roster, but didn’t. That’s telling in itself.
Brohm’s Playing Against a Stacked Deck – continue reading…
So the Buffalo Bills are boring enough to watch during the regular season, let alone games that don’t count in the standings. We get that. If you watched the opener last Friday in Washington, I can’t blame your hesitance to turn on the television Thursday evening to watch them face the Indianapolis Colts. Of course, to make matters worse the game is in Toronto, which hasn’t exactly proven to be a NFL hot spot since the Bills reached a five-year agreement to host games there.
And yes, the opener last week was eerily similar to the product that occupied your Sundays in 2009.
But still, if you’re searching for reasons to tune in Thursday (if you’re a true Bills fan, you shouldn’t need a reason); here are five things to occupy your focus while the game is on.
Five Things Worth Your Focus For Bills Game – continue reading…
There are many, many questions regarding the Buffalo Bills as they begin their 2010 campaign. Upon the entire roster, sans C.J. Spiller and Aaron Schobel converging Wednesday in Pittsford in preparation for the start of training camp, one speedy glance at the faces on the roster and a burning question became abundantly clear.
For the love of God, who is a star on this football team?
Nearly universally around the league, each team has a player the organization simply can’t withstand losing. Take away Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or Drew Brees and are the Colts, Patriots and Saints, respectively really a Super Bowl contender? How quickly does Houston’s offense go down the drain without Andre Johnson? If Patrick Willis goes down, the San Francisco defense immediately gets significantly softer. Do the Titans have a chance to win six games without the services of Chris Johnson? I can go on and on.
Except for when it comes to the Bills.
One Glance in Pittsford Show Bills Lack Star Power – continue reading…
Despite mounting growing sentiment, especially among the media for Brian Brohm winning the Buffalo Bills starting quarterback job during training camp, I’m told by a pair of current players it will be Trent Edwards who enters camp as the number one guy, and the job will be his to lose.
“Anything can happen once camp opens, but it’s my understanding Trent will be the top guy in the rotation to begin the competition.” said a current player on the condition of anonymity.
Edwards, entering his fourth season with the team in the league, has been the opening day starter for the past two seasons. During that time he has struggled, particularly last year. He threw just six touchdowns and averaged 6.4 yards per pass attempt in eight games last year. He was injured and eventually benched in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick because interim head coach Perry Fewell concluded Fitzpatrick gave the team a better chance to win.
Expect Edwards To Get First Crack At Bills QB Job – continue reading…
Charles Roberts of Metro WNY has an excellent story about former UB and current Green Bay Packers running back James Starks.
Brian Brohm was the first quarterback through the rotation in Thursday’s minicamp practice, writes Chris Brown of Bills.com
Pro Football Talk says the Seattle Seahawks could be inching closer to a run at former Bills WR Terrell Owens.
Tim Graham of ESPN.com reports that the Bills are confident in their 3-4 defense.
The Daily Links – June 25, 2010 – continue reading…
Call me crazy…but Brian Brohm is the reason the Bills didn’t draft a quarterback until half the NFL teams were packing up their respective war rooms.
Yeah, I know, Brian Brohm? Isn’t that the same kid who looked lost last year in his only start against the Atlanta Falcons, tossing a pair of ugly interceptions with no touchdowns and a sub-50.0 QB Rating?
Say what you want, I think this was the right way to go.
At six-foot-three in height, by most accounts Brohm has the arm strength to deal with the weather. Some have compared him to a larger version of Drew Brees. What appealed most to me about him are his high scores in the Wonderlic, an intelligence test given to athletes, and that he is noted to have a solid command of his huddle without the drama.
Craig’s Corner: Brohm’s time is now – continue reading…
We wanted to start this series earlier but as only the Buffalo Bills can do, an overdrawn head coach search consumed your thoughts as much as it did ours.
Now that we at least know Ralph Wilson Chan Gailey will be calling the shots, at long last we can begin to examine the roster of which he inherits. As we’ve stated multiple times over the past few weeks; Vince Lombardi, George Halas or Bill Walsh could’ve taken the job and it wouldn’t matter until they find more talented players.
This is the first of a 10-part series that will take a look at the current makeup of the Bills roster by position, identifying the core talent and exploring where they need the most help. Consider yourself forewarned; most sections won’t be appealing.
Today we commence with a look at the quarterbacks.
Bills Roster Review: Quarterbacks – continue reading…
Like everyone, Brian Brohm is playing the waiting game. He hears the rumors. An offensive coordinator here, a defensive guru there. He’s waiting and wondering. Any day, the Buffalo Bills will have a new head coach.
“I’m just anxious to see who it’s going to be,” Brohm said, “so we can get to work.”
Because then, Brohm’s strengths take over. Diving into a playbook. Learning the nuances of a scheme. Memorizing audibles. Knowing which on-the-line checks to make and when. Brohm is a self-diagnosed “football junkie.” Laughing, he admits that he rarely escapes the game. Green Bay’s Mike McCarthy once said Brohm picked up his offspring of the West Coast offense faster than anyone he’s ever had.
Interview: Brohm ready to compete for No. 1 job – continue reading…
With opening-day starter Trent Edwards reportedly on his way to IR (that has not happened yet, by the way – either way, he’s not playing any time soon) and de facto starter Ryan Fitzpatrick dealing with an ailing ankle, second-year quarterback Brian Brohm will start for the Buffalo Bills today in Atlanta. It will be Brohm’s first career NFL start. Jason La Canfora first broke the news via Twitter.
Signed by the Bills off of Green Bay’s practice squad on November 19, Brohm will take the reigns of Buffalo’s offense with less than six weeks’ worth of (mostly scout team) work in offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt’s system. He’ll also be playing behind the eighth starting iteration of Buffalo’s offensive line; Bills quarterbacks have thus far been sacked 44 times this season.
Brian Brohm Starts for Bills Today – continue reading…
At the very least, Brian Brohm will take one step up the Buffalo Bills quarterback ladder this week.
According to more than one source, Trent Edwards has suffered a significant high ankle sprain that will force him to miss the rest of the season. He suffered the injury while being sacked in the fourth quarter against New England on Sunday.
The injury moves Brohm to number two on the depth chart. We won’t know until later in the week if he’ll be starting when Buffalo travels to Atlanta on Sunday. That will depend on the health of Ryan Fitpatrick, who’s also suffering from an ankle injury, although it’s not believed to be as severe as Edwards’.
Also, staring cornerback Terrence McGee will be forced to have surgery this week on the shoulder he injured Sunday and will be placed on injured reserve.
It’s already been reported Bryan Scott suffered a concussion last Sunday, making it highly doubtful he’ll play again this year.
If all three players go on injured reserve it would bring the total number of Bills on the list up to 19.
The starting quarterback for the Buffalo Bills next season is not on this current roster, at least if they’re serious about winning. Well, let’s rephrase. A quarterback who’s already played this year won’t be the starter. Both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards are what they are. Fitzpatrick is a passable backup that can give you an occasional start. Edwards has a better chance of reuniting with J.P. Losman in the UFL as he does starting here next year.
Another thing is certain; the next starter for the Buffalo Bills will not be coming via free agency. Forget starters, there’s barely adequate backups available in next year’s class. With the exception of Kyle Orton, who the Broncos are sure to resign, this list of “prospects’ is about as intriguing as a Dick Jauron press conference.
Give The Ball To Brohm – continue reading…
The Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal-Sentinel is reporting that the Buffalo Bills have signed second-year quarterback Brian Brohm off of the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad. In order to complete the signing, the Bills must put Brohm on the active roster, meaning that Buffalo will need to release a player in order to complete the transaction.
It’s the second player the Bills have signed this year off Green Bay’s practice squad. They signed Jamon Meredith earlier this season following the season ending injury to Brad Butler.
Brohm was a second-round pick of Green Bay in the 2008 NFL Draft, selected No. 56 overall. He was the third quarterback selected in that draft class, behind Atlanta’s Matt Ryan and Baltimore’s Joe Flacco. One of the more prolific passers in the nation in his sophomore, junior and senior seasons at Louisville, the 6′4″, 228-pound Brohm threw for 10,775 yards, 70 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. At just 24 years of age, Brohm still has a considerable amount of unrealized potential.
Report: Bills add QB Brian Brohm to active roster – continue reading…
