It appears Rex Ryan and Tyrod Taylor will stay in their jobs for the rest of the season, but it feels like we saw the end Sunday.
It never speaks well for an organization when unnamed sources leak out about the coach and quarterback’s job security hours before kicking off a “must-win” game. It feels like someone in the building covering their rear end knowing changes are soon to come.
Taylor had another woeful passing game, ineffective against a far from great Steelers defense for three quarters. Ryan, meanwhile, saw the defense he said would be “fully pregnant” this year run over for a second time this year by a 200-yard rusher.
“That is disgusting when you say that stat out loud,” said pass rusher Jerry Hughes learning of Pittsburgh’s 236 rushing yards.
Some complicated long-shot scenarios still exist for the Bills to sneak into the playoffs. They start with winning out against the woeful Browns and Jets, then the quarterback-less Dolphins, while Denver, Miami and Baltimore fall out of the picture. But no matter how the season finishes, we have enough evidence to show the Bills are far from playoff worthy.
Worse than one disappointing season, though, is the historical context for it falls in for Bills fans. What about this season gives them hope things will suddenly get better?
The Bills have struggled to find quarterbacks for nearly 20 years. How can you trust they’ll find better than Taylor, when he’s the best they’ve had since at least Drew Bledsoe?
You can fire the coach and decline the quarterback’s contract option, but I’d like to hear some appealing plans for their replacements, particularly Taylor.
Cardale Jones? Bills fans haven’t seen him since a very raw preseason. Only the coaches have an idea how much he may have progressed.
Free agency? Legitimate starters almost never make the market, but if they did, why would they pick the Bills over the dozen other teams in need of one? I like Tony Romo, but you can’t trust him to stay healthy at 37 years old next year.
The draft is the best way to find a quarterback, despite the Bills’ failure to do so.
And quarterback won’t be the only hole to fill. The Bills aren’t that young of a team and have 28 upcoming free agents (including Stephon Gilmore, Robert Woods, Zach Brown and Lorenzo Alexander) on the roster. Unless you draft a day-one ready starter, a new coach and rookie quarterback signals a rebuilding project.
While the team continues to disappoint, Russ Brandon’s busniess operation’s work in marketing them cannot be questioned. The Bills have become masters in selling hope, often falsely so.
Last season, the Bills’ playoff drought turned 16 years old and thus could get a driver’s permit. Soon it will be able to see rated ‘R’ movies. I’m wondering how to stop it from being able to order a drink in four years.
(Salamanca Press sports editor may be contacted at samwilsonsp@gmail.com)
