metzelaars_lives

Thank you. I really mean that. Thank you.

Agreed. As I've already said, the same source that gave me Roman being in Cassel's corner also said that he thinks Cassel sucks and Taylor will be the QB less than a month into the season. He thinks that Taylor may be the real deal and made it pretty clear that there is a healthy buzz around the NFL surrounding Taylor right now. Cassel being in Roman's corner is not speculation though. Hopefully this becomes public knowledge soon enough so I don't have to keep defending myself.

Fair enough. But would you agree that despite all the great coaching that Cassel has had from every coach at every stop in his ten year career, that it's not too much to ask EJ Manuel to go out and beat Matt Cassel for a starting job in his third year as a pro? I think you'd agree that there have not been a lot of NFL QB's that couldn't beat out a guy like Matt Cassel in their third season and then went on to have a great career after that. There's been a lot of backpeddling on EJ around here. Back in the Spring, even the EJ supporters were like, "hey if EJ can't beat out Matt Cassel then I think that might be all she wrote" and now the narrative seems to be "well if EJ doesn't beat out Matt Cassel it's because his development was stunted by poor coaching." What's it gonna be next year?

To be clear, I am not predicting that Cassel will be the starter. All I have said was that Cassel was Roman's guy before the last preseason game. Again, not that bold of a claim. For all I know he's in Taylor's camp now. I can also tell you that before the Cleveland game, Manuel was not part of the equation. Has that changed? I don't know. My guess is that it hasn't. For what it's worth, the guy I talked to predicted Cassel would be the starter but that Taylor would end up taking over the job within the first month of the season. The guy I talked to thinks Cassel sucks. He just said for whatever reason, Roman is, or at least was, pushing pretty hard for Cassel. Cassel has been trusted as his team's starter many times throughout his career. He has twice led his team to 10 in seasons and made a Pro Bowl. I don't necessarily disagree with you but would you be willing to bet that ten years from now, EJ Manuel is being brought in to compete for a starting position? And as far as numbers, Manuel has not thrown for 27 TD's and 7 INT's in a season. Have Cassel's numbers regressed since then? Yes. But let's see if Manuel EVER has a season like that. And also, the "internet" was able to tell you the type of coaching Cassel got from his coordinators and QB coaches in practice every day on his last two teams? And the internet said it was good, I'm assuming?

I can't get involved in two threads on the same subject but I can assure you that Cassel is Roman's guy. This should not be viewed as some outrageous claim. As another poster pointed out, if Rex wants Taylor as B/R reported (my source is stronger than B/R for what it's worth) and the "other coaches" are split, then by process of elimination, it would stand to reason that Roman prefers Cassel. Why? I don't know. This isn't to say that Taylor can't or won't still win the job. There's time left for both guys. Or all three guys, if you wanna believe that. And whitewalker, how has Cassel not looked good enough for you so far? He was 7-8 with a blatant drop by Hogan and a big gainer to Watkins that got called back on a cheesy penalty. I'm not thrilled about the guy either but can everyone just try and be objective about what they see?

See, there's an excuse right there. How the hell do you know what kind of coaching Matt Cassel had in KC and Minnesota? When EJ was airmailing balls in 7-on-7 drills all last summer, was that the coaches' fault? No more excuses. If you're better than Matt Cassel, then beat him! It's his third year now, time to let go of the pacifier. I never said you have ever compared Tebow and Manuel. Manuel is better than Tebow. I said that the level of baseless fanaticism surrounding him, particularly on this website, has reached levels eerily similar to when people were gushing over Tebow a few years back. And it looks like we can have a real football conversation here (first time ever?) I would agree with you that starting Matt Cassel makes little sense from a long term perspective. But I think that this team's goal is to make the playoffs this season and they are going to start whoever they think gives them the best chance to win this season. Evidently Roman thinks that's Cassel. There are too many seasoned vets on this team in their prime and past their prime, who are way too hungry to snap this playoff drought, to worry about developing a kid who, quite frankly, has not shown enough to be given that opportunity. You think Fred Jackson and Kyle Williams are worried about a "long term perspective?" And find me a post where I don't acknowledge that EJ Manuel is better this offseason than last offseason. Of course he's improved. Not enough to unseat Cassel or Taylor however.

Ehh f*** it, I got 15 minutes to kill here. I have no angst against EJ. I am 100% objective when it comes to the guy. He is EXACTLY what he is. He has improved from last preseason (I would hope so) and I would strongly favor they keep him as (subject to change but as of now) their third string QB. I think this Bills team is REALLY good and I think they can win this year with any of the three guys. I would argue, and I'd be shocked if anyone disagreed with me on this, that YOU, my friend, and your legion of Tim Tebow-like EJ fanatics, have much angst against Matt Cassel. You can't even say his name, you make excuses for any success he has had and then you make excuses for any failures of EJ Manuel. I am the one who can look at both guys and tell you exactly what they are. Ya know what? Cassel is "Meh," I agree (it's just so dorky when you say it, I'm sorry). But EJ has yet to achieve even "Meh" status in the league and it's quite possible that he never will. My issue is with you ragging on Cassel so hard when the guy you are so gaga over aint done s**t.

Good morning from the Rocky Mountains! Did you get into anything good last night? This has now become kind of amusing to me, I must admit. The funny thing is, if I told you who told me this, you wouldn't believe me anyway and then that would start a whole new debate. It's a good thing I don't care if you believe me or not.

Haha. Good one. Yeah it was made up by the same guy who shared with this website that Mario Williams was visiting the Bills first before anyone else had that story. I've never shared anything that wasn't true. But I'm going out of my way to "make up" that Greg Roman favors Matt Cassel in the QB competition. Let me ask you this: if I was going to make something up, don't you think I'd come up with something a little more exciting than that?

Yeah he definitely is. At least he used to be.

Yes, that is the case. When I told people about Mario Williams, everyone called me out. Until when I was right, at which point it established, you might think, a certain amount of credibility. If John Wawrow posts something on here (and believe me, I am no John Wawrow, I am just a guy who happens to have a few connections) you don't insist he tell you how he knows, right? That's all. I've had inside info on a handful of things that I've shared on here and this happens to be one of them. You can take it or leave it. Again, I don't think it's that big of a scoop. It doesn't even mean he's gonna start.

I just went back and re-read your post. So because RG3 has struggled since attempting to become more of a pocket passer, then that is an indictment against all pocket passers everywhere in all offenses? Have there not been plenty of failed mobile quarterbacks throughout the years? And by the way, while EJ is more elusive than Cassel in the pocket, no doubt, make no mistake about it, EJ Manuel is a pocket passer. I wish he were more like a Tyrod Taylor but that's not what he is. If on one end of the spectrum is Drew Bledsoe and on the other end is Michael Vick, Manuel is way closer to Cassel in terms of being a traditional pocket passer than he is to Tyrod Taylor.

It's real as the day is long my friend. And again, I have several sources. The minute I go blabbing about who my sources are on some website like this, suddenly I don't have sources anymore. Remember who broke Mario Williams visiting Buffalo first on here before anyone in the national media? That right there should be enough for you not to question me on this. It's rare that I share stuff but when I do, you can take it to the bank. I tried telling you guys stuff about why Marrone left but no one really cared that much. I don't know why Roman wants Cassel as his QB, I just know that he does. It's really not that much of a scoop or that important of an issue. It doesn't even guarantee that he starts. I thought I emailed you last night? I'll email you right now. Check your inbox. Must've forgot to hit send last night.

Did you not read my last post where I responded directly to you? I have addressed this already. I have now had pleasant dialogue with six people who have PM'd me to get my source. You have to understand also, that there is not a link for everything. That's not always how journalism works. If Greg Roman himself told you he wanted Cassel as his starter, where would your "link" be? If there was a link, then everyone would know about it, which clearly, they don't. I have already made amends with the guy who I was condescending to, I don't want to argue anymore. I'm not arguing about the QB's. I'm just sharing that I happen to have some information on this particular topic. And finally, I think it's pretty much a consensus at this point that it's time to move on from the "Meh" thing.

You are telling me what you think makes sense, not what Roman thinks makes sense. I'm not guaranteeing that Cassel starts but again, I can tell you that Roman wants Cassel as his guy for this offense. I think Taylor is starting to make a very compelling case and if reports are true that Rex wants Taylor, then I gotta imagine it's a toss up at this point. EJ Manuel is not part of this equation. I'm sorry. Yeah that was one of those posts that I will now associate with the poster every time I see them post anything.

Sorry if I came off as condescending, I apologize. It's just that there is this constant narrative on here that Roman wants/needs a mobile a QB to fit his scheme and it's almost completely baseless.

You are assuming it was Roman's choice in San Francisco. People should be smart enough to realize that just because Jim Harbaugh had a guy on his roster who he drafted himself, had a cannon for an arm, ran like a gazelle and decided to start, that has absolutely zero correlation whatsoever with Roman preferring a mobile QB.

My source thinks Cassel sucks, will start opening day and Taylor will replace him within the first month of the season. He thinks there is an incredible buzz around Taylor throughout the league and the Bills may be onto something with him. When I asked him if/how Manuel factors into this, he said he does not. This was Thursday. Did this unbelievable performance by Manuel that some of you speak of change his prospects? I don't know, neither of us watched the game, we were at the baseball game drinking all night.

I'm going to tell you this once. Four people have already PM'd me and I have happily told them my source. Let me put it this way: if you started to make a ranking of the people on planet earth who would be the most credible source on this, before you got to number five, you would have named the guy who I talked to for hours on Thursday and told me directly. This was more of a one time encounter, whereas I have regular sources in national sportswriters and an occasional source on the Bills. So there you have it. It's not like I'm trying to tell you who killed Kennedy, I'm telling you that, at least before Thursday, Roman was solidly in Cassel's corner. I don't have a link and I'm not even guaranteeing he will start. Ask John Wawrow, I'm sure he could tell you the same thing. And again, I don't know how far you go back on this site but I have broken a story or two around here. Jim Harbaugh and Stan Humphries are two guys who kind of emerged from the ashes to be pretty good for a while. I'm sure I could name plenty more. That's what people don't understand- we don't need a guy to emerge as a pro bowl QB. If we could get Jim Harbaugh Colts level of play from one of these guys, the Bills would be a legit Super Bowl contender. That's why it's not a crazy idea to go with a guy who could play solid, game managing football, rather than cross your fingers that another guy is better than that when he could be worse.

There ya have it folks. We can all say we remember where we were the first time anyone ever referred to Joe Flacco as a horrible qb.

Not many. Not my point. The guy said that Newsome just let Taylor go. My point was that Taylor chose Buffalo for a reason.

Uhh last I checked, Taylor was a free agent and left because he wanted a legitimate shot at starting somewhere. Your pixie dust point is certainly true bit several teams were interested in Taylor. Newsome would've loved to have kept him as a backup.

Again, I can tell you as a fact that Roman wants Cassel to be his starter. If last night changed his mind somehow, that could be. But prior to last night, Roman was firmly in Cassel's corner and Roman will have a huge say in who the starter is. Translation: Cassel will probably be the starter.

Doubt a big one.

Consider it a fact. Am I trolling? If anyone wants to know my source on that one, PM me. You really gotta get over yourself man. And you also have a very short memory. I've brought a story or two to this website in the past.