This Competition is for Real 

For the second consecutive season, Rex Ryan’s team is planning an open quarterback competition. Only this time, it appears to be more than just lip service.

Last season in New York, the Jets held a sham competition between Geno Smith and Michael Vick. There were a few problems with that plan, including: a) GM John Idzik wanted to see the man he drafted (Smith) under center; and b) Vick has no interest in doing anything but standing on the sidelines and collecting paychecks.

And while there are certainly some commonalities between Smith and E.J. Manuel, this year’s situation is completely different in every other regard. Manuel will compete with Matt Cassel, who was acquired in a trade with the Vikings, as well as former Ravens developmental QB Tyrod Taylor. Former undrafted QB Jeff Tuel, who appeared in two games in 2013 (including one start) is also on the roster.

The real question here is philosophical: do the Bills go with the steadier player (Cassel) or the one with more upside (Manuel)?

“You look at Matt Cassel, obviously he’s won in this league,” said Ryan, according to The Buffalo News. “He’s been a Pro Bowl-quarterback, so there’s that experience that you have. And then E.J., let’s not just throw him out after two years. Aaron Rodgers never took a snap for three years. So let’s see where Manuel’s going to be.”

I’ll tell you where Manuel is not going to be: in the same stratosphere as Rodgers. He lacks the anticipation and accuracy to make that leap. But luckily for the Bills, they don’t need a Herculean effort from their quarterback. Buffalo returns a dominant defense and can count on a strong running game, as well, after the addition of LeSean McCoy. And with pass catchers like Sammy Watkins, Percy Harvin and Charles Clay, the Bills QB job is one of the most enticing in the league.

That’s what makes me think Cassel will start the season under center. He is the kind of quarterback who can succeed when all the other pieces are in place around him, as was the case with the Chiefs in 2010, when he threw for over 3,000 yards with 27 TDs and just seven INTs while leading Kansas City to the postseason.

That being said, I can’t help but shake the feeling that Manuel deserves another shot. It’s not that I’m a huge fan of Manuel as much as I’m a fan of former GM Buddy Nix, one of the best football minds in the business who’s final major decision in charge of the Bills was to tab Manuel as the team’s quarterback of the future. I’m not sure if Manuel can ever live up to the potential Nix saw in him when he selected him in the first round of the 2013 draft, but I know this: with the pieces the Bills have in place, this would be the perfect time to find out.

Enter the First Lady Zebra

The NFL is set to hire former Conference USA official Sarah Thomas and my first thought is this: I can’t wait for all the stupid comments to start rolling in.

It reminds me of Clippers guard Chris Paul’s spat earlier this season with NBA referee Lauren Holtkamp. When Holtkamp hit Paul with a debatable technical foul — one of five technicals the Clippers received that day — Paul responded by saying the game “might not be for her.” The result was heavy backlash against Paul, as well as a $25,000 fine.

And Paul is a smart man, far more media savvy than most NFL players. Just wait till Thomas misses a a pass interference call on a hothead player like Dez Bryant — the postgame comments will be epic.

Jaguars DT Sen’Derrick Marks got the ball rolling over the weekend, telling TMZ: “It’s just like the Michael Sam situation — if he wasn’t gay, he would have gone undrafted. Instead, the league drafts him because I think they are trying to monopolize every aspect of the world. The same thing with a female ref. For the league, it’s great publicity. The NFL is all about monopolizing every opportunity.”

To be fair, coming out did not help Sam’s draft status. Most mock drafts had him as a fourth-round pick before his announcement; and the reason he fell had more to do with his poor 40 times than his sexuality. And also in the name of fairness, Thomas’ hiring is more than just a PR move. She has been in the league’s referee training program, working as a line judge in preseason games.

Personally, I’m excited to see any referee who is not a senior citizen (looking at you, Ed Hochuli). But it will only take a few dumb comments for this to become far more political than it has to be.

Movement on the Peterson Front

Adrian Peterson’s long-running saga will take another step forward this week when he meets with NFL officials to discuss his reinstatement, according to a new report by NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport. The meeting is happening earlier than expected, as Peterson is not supposed to be eligible for reinstatement until April 15.

Once Peterson is reinstated, it is expected the Vikings will aggressively explore his trade market. The Cardinals and Cowboys are expected to be the two top suitors, even though Arizona already has Andre Ellington and Dallas has the delusional Darren McFadden (sorry, Darren, but we’ve already seen the best of you … it’s just not very good. You’re a broke man’s Fred Taylor).

If Peterson is reinstated early — even if only by a few days — it will help the Vikings get a deal done before the NFL Draft, which is really the unofficial deadline here. Until then, Peterson remains on the Commissioner’s Exempt list after agreeing to a plea deal in November of no contest to one count of misdemeanor reckless assault.

Peterson and his agent, Ben Dogra, have been adamant that he prefer to play elsewhere next season. The All Pro running back feels the Vikings did not support him throughout his ordeal, despite mountains of evidence to the contrary. But with more than three weeks remaining until the draft, there is still a chance Peterson will change his mind and decide he wants to come back to Minnesota. After all, he is known to switch things up.

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