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Last week on my podcast (before the Ravens game), I said the Bills and Dick Jauron cannot go back to JP Losman as the starting QB. I said he could start JP (last week) and then go back to Trent, but not the other way around. I said that declaring Trent the starter with JP also healthy for one week basically meant he was doing it for long-term.
Someone messaged me and asked why. So, I'll explain. Just know I am not saying I agree or disagree with the move to make Trent the starter this week or long-term here. I'm merely pointing out why I believe Jauron has made his bed now that Trent has been named the starter. And he's going to have to lie in it and live with it no matter what happens.
So, here's why:
Of course, physically, Jauron CAN go back to JP. And in most cases, it wouldn't be as big of a deal. But this case is different. (Assuming both are healthy) the head coach has made a decision to go with the rookie QB over a 4-year vet whose contract has one year remaining. That means flat-out he's declaring Edwards the QB of the future for the team, that the future starts now, and that JP's days as the starting QB are, if not over, at least not needed. Essentially, he's put his stamp on moving in a different direction --- away from JP. NFL games (especially in week 8 when you are 2 games out of a playoff spot) are not experiments. They are games teams are trying to win.
So, now everyone, especially Losman, knows he is not the guy the coaching staff (or front office) wants. He (and his teammates) knows the staff feels they don't need him to win. After 4 years of being told he was the guy they needed and wanted, he's now being told, "we have something better." And that "something" is a rookie with a longer, cheaper contract. The fact is, Edwards isn't going anywhere anytime soon whether he's the starter or not. We all know that, and JP knows that.
So, even if they return to JP sometime soon, he knows - and everyone in that locker room knows - it will only be for a few games, or until the end of the season at the most. If Jauron went back to him and declared he still had a shot at being the QB of the future, everyone would consider that a joke.
And they'd be right.
Imagine if you were the head of the division of a company. A new company president comes in.....one different than who brought you in. You get sick and can't perform your job for a few weeks. The president tells you he is putting someone else in your spot for the next month - someone younger, cheaper, and that he personally hand-picked, just until you're better.
The division does well that month. But you get healthy enough to come back to your position and lead the troops. But the president says "no need. We're going to stick with The Kid for another month." What message would that send you? What message would that send your employees?
Of course it would tell you that no matter what happened over the next month, even if you get your position back and do well, you know - and everyone around you knows - that the groundwork has been laid for your replacement to take over FULL-TIME sometime soon. In essence, all parties involved know you are finished with that company. If not next month, maybe the month after, or the year after. But the bottom line is: the company feels it doesn't need you anymore.
Now imagine the company gives you your position back. But the new kid is going to sit behind you and be there "just in case."
There's almost NO possible way you can save your long-term fate as the head of that division with that company. That's a bad scenario for you....and for the people you employ.
Someone messaged me and asked why. So, I'll explain. Just know I am not saying I agree or disagree with the move to make Trent the starter this week or long-term here. I'm merely pointing out why I believe Jauron has made his bed now that Trent has been named the starter. And he's going to have to lie in it and live with it no matter what happens.
So, here's why:
Of course, physically, Jauron CAN go back to JP. And in most cases, it wouldn't be as big of a deal. But this case is different. (Assuming both are healthy) the head coach has made a decision to go with the rookie QB over a 4-year vet whose contract has one year remaining. That means flat-out he's declaring Edwards the QB of the future for the team, that the future starts now, and that JP's days as the starting QB are, if not over, at least not needed. Essentially, he's put his stamp on moving in a different direction --- away from JP. NFL games (especially in week 8 when you are 2 games out of a playoff spot) are not experiments. They are games teams are trying to win.
So, now everyone, especially Losman, knows he is not the guy the coaching staff (or front office) wants. He (and his teammates) knows the staff feels they don't need him to win. After 4 years of being told he was the guy they needed and wanted, he's now being told, "we have something better." And that "something" is a rookie with a longer, cheaper contract. The fact is, Edwards isn't going anywhere anytime soon whether he's the starter or not. We all know that, and JP knows that.
So, even if they return to JP sometime soon, he knows - and everyone in that locker room knows - it will only be for a few games, or until the end of the season at the most. If Jauron went back to him and declared he still had a shot at being the QB of the future, everyone would consider that a joke.
And they'd be right.
Imagine if you were the head of the division of a company. A new company president comes in.....one different than who brought you in. You get sick and can't perform your job for a few weeks. The president tells you he is putting someone else in your spot for the next month - someone younger, cheaper, and that he personally hand-picked, just until you're better.
The division does well that month. But you get healthy enough to come back to your position and lead the troops. But the president says "no need. We're going to stick with The Kid for another month." What message would that send you? What message would that send your employees?
Of course it would tell you that no matter what happened over the next month, even if you get your position back and do well, you know - and everyone around you knows - that the groundwork has been laid for your replacement to take over FULL-TIME sometime soon. In essence, all parties involved know you are finished with that company. If not next month, maybe the month after, or the year after. But the bottom line is: the company feels it doesn't need you anymore.
Now imagine the company gives you your position back. But the new kid is going to sit behind you and be there "just in case."
There's almost NO possible way you can save your long-term fate as the head of that division with that company. That's a bad scenario for you....and for the people you employ.
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