The idea that Tyrod Taylor might be a legitimate candidate for the starting quarterback job in Buffalo seems odd to most.
But for at least one guy who has watched the former Ravens backup work on a regular basis, it’s not as farfetched as some think.
“He’s a very versatile quarterback,” Ravens safety Terrence Brooks said, via Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News. “The kid can run. He can definitely sling the ball around. He’s one of my favorite quarterbacks – I loved playing with Tyrod. He always gave us a good look. Whenever we faced a good running quarterback, he always got us prepared. Most of the time, he was doing it better than they did.”
Of course, running the Ravens’ scout team and mimicking other passers is nice. But when the competitition for the Bills job is Matt Cassel, EJ Manuel and Matt Simms, it’s easier to consider the chance Taylor makes a run at it.
“He was definitely a guy who could’ve been a starter,” Brooks said. “But he was behind Joe Flacco, a really good guy, too. If we ever needed Tyrod, I was pretty sure he could step up to the job and do it. . . .
“No one will really know until they give him a shot. That’s what he’s been working for – for a while – just to get that shot, to show everybody what he can do. What I remember from playing against him in college and the ACC Championship Game is he tore it up. I’m pretty sure he could do the same still.”
Of course, that 2010 college game was also his last extended action, as he’s thrown just 35 passes in the NFL. But in Buffalo, that might still be enough to win a job no one expected him to challenge for.