When I first heard about the release of Drew, I wasn't shocked. But I wasn't happy about it either.
Although Drew dropped the ball in the last game of the season, he played moderately well in the Bills winning streak. I feel that J.P. will be good. But I think he needs at least a year and a half before we put him out there. Although he didn't play last season, he was injured through half of the year. So he's only really had a half year of training when we were told it would be around a two year project.
I thought that it couldn't have hurt any to have had an open competition in training camp. If J.P. beat Drew out, then he could start and i'm sure Drew wouldn't have been happy. But at least then we'd have a competant veteran waiting in the wings if J.P. didn't work or got injured. Or better yet, let drew start the year and if he even began to show signs of unimprovement (even in the first game), then start J.P. These are all ways that we could have kept them both for at least this year.
I am upset that after all the promise that we showed near the end of last season that we're gambling that by putting someone with zero experience behind center. I would be fine with this if we bring in someone just as competant or better than Drew to back him up or at least COMPETE with Losman. Starting a rookie and having him being backed up by Shane Matthews is a joke.
If we're going to start J.P. Losman, then I think I know the guy i'd want behind him. I know when I say it, most of you are going to crucify me. So just hear me out first. The guy i'd be comfortable bringing in is Quincy Carter.
Although the guy is chock full of personal problems, that doesn't matter on the football field. He's obviously not going to be a starter this year as a result of some of his off the field problems. But talent wise, Carter could start almost anywhere. He's not like most of the guys on the market whose best days are behind them. Carter is in his prime. Last year he was called upon to win a couple key games for the Jets and he got them into the playoffs. Let J.P. start and have Quincy on the bench just in case J.P. gets hurt or struggles so badly that we need to make a switch to save the season. Like I said, he's not going to start anywhere this season. The best situation for him would be to go somewhere that he has the chance to see the field and compete. Buffalo needs a veteran who can still play. If given the opportunity, I think Quincy Carter would not dissapoint. Sign him for a year, it couldn't hurt. Keep Matthews at #3.
Another thing that i'd feel comfortable with (that would probably never happen) would be to have Jeff Garcia come in for a year and try to take this team to the playoffs while J.P. trained and groomed to take over the next year.
Call me crazy, but i'm just not ready to hand the reigns over to someone who was drafted just last year and missed half the season with a broken leg. Not without someone competant behind him. If J.P. goes down, do you trust your season with Shane Matthews?
