The Bills are possibly a quarterback away from being a playoff contender.
EJ Manuel has been lackluster thus far. Matt Cassel isn't getting any younger. This leaves a potential opportunity for Tyrod Taylor, who signed with Buffalo after spending his first four years as a backup with the Ravens, to be a dark horse to win the job.
In an interview with Sporting News, Taylor said he's trying to drown out the local noise hyping him up to possibly take the position.
"I knew coming in here how it was going to be," Taylor said. "My focus is to just prepare for these camps, learn the offense, study and play the best I can.’’
Taylor backed up Joe Flacco during his four years with the Ravens after being selected in the sixth round of the 2011 draft. Flacco proved to be a durable quarterback, which never gave Taylor an opportunity to start.
Taylor said that Bills coach Rex Ryan told him there would be a quarterback competition during training camp, with the former Virginia Tech star ready for the challenge.
“He was telling me how excited he was to have a chance to have me there and to have me compete for the job,’’ Taylor said. “Throughout the process, I thought this opportunity was the best for an open competition. That’s what I’d always felt throughout the offseason, and I had confidence in what I could do when I got that chance.’’