Bills Lack a (Franchise) Quarterback

The standing rule in the NFL is no team will win a Super Bowl without a franchise quarterback.

That term – franchise quarterback – can be nebulous. If the defense is strong, if the running game emerges, a sound quarterback can be a winner, and maybe a champion (think Trent Dilfer with the Baltimore Ravens).

The Buffalo Bills have no franchise quarterback. They have hopes of ending a playoff drought that extends to the last century based on the rest of their team, but they seem almost hopeless at quarterback. Just ask their general manager.

Doug Whaley, in a remarkably frank interview with Buffalo radio station WGR on Wednesday, described the team as “almost in quarterback purgatory.” Their competition in training camp features Matt Cassel, who had very little success with the Minnesota Vikings, the untested Tyrod Taylor and a looming first-round draft flop in EJ Manuel. And if the Bills have a modicum of success this season, they will draft too low in the first round to get a marquee quarterback.

New coach Rex Ryan got the New York Jets to the AFC championship game twice with limited quarterback play, riding on the back of his defense and running game. And that will have to be Buffalo’s formula.

“Until you get that (franchise quarterback), what is the best way to win?” Whaley asked. “And it’s running the ball, playing good defense and protecting the ball.”

The Bills haven’t had that franchise QB since Jim Kelly retired after the 1996 season, and most of those who followed (J.P. Losman, Alex Van Pelt, Trent Edwards, Kyle Orton) make up a dreary lot. The winter in Buffalo is always cold and long. Why must this ongoing failure make it worse?
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .