The perpetual search for a quarterback may be over in Buffalo.
Both head coach Rex Ryan and General Manager Doug Whaley sound like guys who want to proceed with starter Tyrod Taylor for next year, something few could have imagined entering the season.
Via Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News, Ryan offered his endorsement yesterday after Whaley told The MMQB.com that Taylor had “shown us enough that we can obviously keep trying with him,” while adding “it won’t preclude us from going out and protecting ourselves (in case) he’s not.”
Taylor has played enough and well enough to void the third year of his contract, meaning he’ll be playing for a new contract next season. But it’s hard to imagine him having more motivation than this year, when he proved himself with a 100.9 passer rating (18 touchdowns, just five interceptions and 63.5 percent completions), while adding a decent amount on the ground (371 yards, three touchdowns).
“I think he’s doing an outstanding job,” Ryan said. “I think just do his thing. I feel good about him being our quarterback moving forward. I don’t know what else he has to prove. Would we like to get more wins? One-hundred percent, yes. But it doesn’t just fall on the quarterback. But I think that’s probably what’s missing, maybe the fourth-quarter comebacks. Something like that. He’s had a couple.
“I can tell you this: I’m happy he’s our quarterback.”
Taylor has had a number of hiccups in fourth quarters, particularly in losses to the Patriots, Chiefs and Eagles. But considering the options available (and the extreme need for defensive help with their high picks), giving Taylor time to develop might not be the worst thing for a team that’s been looking for an answer there for years.