Who Wins The QB Showdown in Buffalo, Manuel or McCown?

[BillsImpossible]

Gunsmoke Pictures presents the story of the young and unproven EJ Manuel vs. the old journeyman veteran, Josh McCown.

As Terrell Owens once said, get your popcorn ready.

Josh McCown will turn 36 years old in July, but he doesn't come with a lot of mileage.

In 12 years, McCown has played in only 69 games.

McCown's best season came in 2013 with the Chicago Bears.

http://www.nfl.com/player/joshmccown/2505076/careerstats

Why was Josh McCown so good in 2013 compared to the rest of his NFL career?

Was it luck? Just an anomaly? Look at the teams he played with.

McCown was very good in 2013 probably because he had the most talent to work with on offense than ever before.

8 games played, a 66.5% completion rate, 13 TD's and 1 Int with the Bears.

Amazing what good surrounding talent can do for a quarterback, isn't it? His QB rating skyrocketed to 109. Was that a fluke?

Not surprised that the Bears had McCown in for a visit recently.

Reports say McCown visited the Bills, Bears, Jets and Browns.

McCown is now back in Buffalo as of tonight, hammering out a deal with the Bills.

Why? Because the Bills are willing to pay the most money, or he has the best chance of starting with a good offense?

Probably both.

In 11 games with Tampa Bay last season, McCown got sacked 36 times.

In 2013, McCown got sacked only 11 times in 8 games. He threw the ball on average about 28 times per game in 2013.

That's exactly what the Bills are looking for.

I think Josh McCown is in Buffalo tonight because he knows that the Bills are going to build a solid offense around him.

The Bills already have the wide receivers. They're only 1 free agent offensive lineman, a rookie tight end, and a rookie running back away from having an explosive run oriented, protect the quarterback offense.

McCown is going to win the QB competition.

If that happens, I don't see any way the Bills keep EJ Manuel on the roster.

If Josh McCown outplays EJ Manuel in training camp, there's no way Manuel survives the cut.

[Ingtar33]

it was good luck in 2013. i remember a lot of his possible picks simply hitting defender's hands and dropping to the ground. he got a lot of good luck in 2013.

I suspect last year's numbers in tampa are more in line of what McCown will bring you as a starting QB. I like him as a backup for EJ, not as a starter (as much as i dislike ej, i'd rather him starting over mccown)

[YardRat]

There isn't going to be a showdown, if that was the intent they wouldn't have signed McCown.

[BillsImpossible]

it was good luck in 2013. i remember a lot of his possible picks simply hitting defender's hands and dropping to the ground. he got a lot of good luck in 2013.

I suspect last year's numbers in tampa are more in line of what McCown will bring you as a starting QB. I like him as a backup for EJ, not as a starter (as much as i dislike ej, i'd rather him starting over mccown)

In 2014, the Bucs offense ranked 30th overall, 29th in the running game, and 25th in the passing game.

The Bucs defense ranked 25th in the league.

Compare those numbers to the 2013 Chicago Bears offense and defense.

Huge difference.

[BillsImpossible]

There isn't going to be a showdown, if that was the intent they wouldn't have signed McCown.

Is that to say you think McCown's going to be the starter?

[OpIv37]

McCown was signed to be the back up. I'm sure they'll try to make it into a competition to motivate EJ, but McCown just isn't good enough.

I don't hate the signing. We only have one QB on the roster and the FA market is slim. I'm sure the contract is cap friendly. But let's not make it into something that it's not.

[better days]

In 2014, the Bucs offense ranked 30th overall, 29th in the running game, and 25th in the passing game.

The Bucs defense ranked 25th in the league.

Compare those numbers to the 2013 Chicago Bears offense and defense.

Huge difference.

And McCown was a huge reason for that difference.

McCown was LUCKY for 5 games while on the Bears.

[BillsImpossible]

McCown was signed to be the back up. I'm sure they'll try to make it into a competition to motivate EJ, but McCown just isn't good enough.

I don't hate the signing. We only have one QB on the roster and the FA market is slim. I'm sure the contract is cap friendly. But let's not make it into something that it's not.

In 2013, the Bears ranked 8th on offense.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=2&offensiveStatisticCategory=GAME_STATS&conference=ALL&role=TM&season=2013&seasonType=REG&d-447263-s=TOTAL_YARDS_GAME_AVG&d-447263-o=2&d-447263-n=1

In 2013, the Bears ranked 30th on defense.

Looks to me like Josh McCown will have the best supporting cast on offense and defense to work with in his entire career.

I've already wagered all of my temporarily disabled BZ bucks, but if I could double down I would.

[BillsImpossible]

And McCown was a huge reason for that difference.

McCown was LUCKY for 5 games while on the Bears.

He played 8 games in 2013 with excellent results.

Was it luck, or the talent that surrounded him?

[notacon]

He played 8 games in 2013 with excellent results.

Was it luck, or the talent that surrounded him?

"Excellent" results??? What are you smoking???

McCown's's Total QBR for 2014 (http://espn.go.com/nfl/qbr/_/qualified/false) was 35.7, which placed him #28. (he did not play enough games to be "qualified" in 2013). Jesus. Even crappy Orton was rated better at #25.

McCown is terrible. He may have been serviceable at one point in his career, but, now he's just a has-been. He sucks!

[Goobylal]

He really only played in 6 games (he barely played in 2 others), and 3 of those were against some of the worst defenses in the NFL (Packers, Cowboys, Vikings), while the rest were against defenses in the low-to-mid teens.

[better days]

He played 8 games in 2013 with excellent results.

Was it luck, or the talent that surrounded him?

McCown had Vincent Jackson & Mike Evans for WR's last year.

It was LUCK in 2013.

But I agree with you, if Manuel loses the starting job to McCown EJ needs to be cut the day that is announced.

[notacon]

McCown was 1-10 in Tampa. His overall career record is 17-32 split among six different teams.

I guess his best accomplishment was being so ****ty that Tampa will have the first pick that they will undoubtably use on a QB.

McCown sucks big time.

[Night Train]

FA starts March 10th, then the draft 6 weeks later.

You really think McCown is the last move at QB ?

[swiper]

FA starts March 10th, then the draft 6 weeks later.

You really think McCown is the last move at QB ?

No. I thought everybody understood that. Not meant to be a starter. Supposed to suck less than Tuel at running the offense. Stopgap that the Bills need to sign.

[better days]

I just read on profootballtalk.com that McCown's salary with the Bills would be $5 Mill per year, the same as it was for Orton.

The good news is the Browns are still in the running to sign McCown.

[Meathead]

i dont understand why the expectation would be for mcnerney to start

theres definitely going to be a qb competition. ej is definitely gonna win it bc they want him to. they really have no choice, for multiple good reasons, they HAVE to give ej a shot with his new coaching staff. nothing the coaches see in preseason is going to change that

unless they pull off a surprise trade for somebody good (2% chance), its exactly the same scenario as last season: ej starts until he has two bad games in a four game span or two really bad ones back to back. that makes mcdingleberry the same exact insurance policy orton was

deal wid it

fwiw, im feeling like ej is going to be much improved. pretty much has to be considering how bad he ended up. whether that improvement will be enough to keep the job is the one billion dollar and thirteen cents question

[SeatownBillsFan21]

Did we even sign the guy yet??!

[Mace]

FA starts March 10th, then the draft 6 weeks later.

You really think McCown is the last move at QB ?

Not the last move, but the last significant one. They went after him, and they're haggling to get him. He's the guy Manuel beats out who will hold the clipboard if he signs here.

There will be one more, an airball signing like Tyrod Taylor, to compete with Tuel/draft pick, udfa guy for 3rd string.

[don137]

I feel like splitting hairs here. What is worse the 2013 Sabres or 2014 Sabres? Both are terrible and tough to watch. That is what I feel like we are getting with both QBs.

[Mace]

Did we even sign the guy yet??!

No, but it's best to get the early stages of grief out of the way so you can get to acceptance faster. I've grieved over about everyone I know already before they died so I can enjoy the funeral brunches better and get in some fun socialization at the wakes instead of being all upset.

[ticatfan]

it was good luck in 2013. i remember a lot of his possible picks simply hitting defender's hands and dropping to the ground. he got a lot of good luck in 2013.

I suspect last year's numbers in tampa are more in line of what McCown will bring you as a starting QB. I like him as a backup for EJ, not as a starter (as much as i dislike ej, i'd rather him starting over mcown)Because he had treStman there, someone the bills should have made a serious offer for,especially when you have QB problems.

[jamze132]

If McCown is signed, I don't see how he beats out EJ as the starter.

[Albany,n.y.]

If McCown is signed, I don't see how he beats out EJ as the starter.

There's a rumor on another board that the Bills will sign 2 FA QBs & EJ is going to get cut next month within days after FA starts. If it happens, EJ won't be around to compete with McCown or the other guy.

[Mace]

There's a rumor on another board that the Bills will sign 2 FA QBs & EJ is going to get cut next month within days after FA starts. If it happens, EJ won't be around to compete with McCown or the other guy.

Wouldn't make any sense whatever. Carucci says 5 million a year for McCown. Manuel makes 2.4 million and would leave 5.2 million dead cap. So, they'd be paying about 15 million for 2 journeyman QB's, because another would surely want 5 also.

If they do, do that, they are flat out lost.

[sudzy]

Who wins in a showdown between EJ and McCown?..... The rest of the AFC East.

[better days]

Wouldn't make any sense whatever. Carucci says 5 million a year for McCown. Manuel makes 2.4 million and would leave 5.2 million dead cap. So, they'd be paying about 15 million for 2 journeyman QB's, because another would surely want 5 also.

If they do, do that, they are flat out lost.

And Rex has said EJ will get the chance to compete for the starting job.

Rex also said he thinks with the better Coaching he will get this year that he thinks EJ can improve.

Rex is known as a straight shooter & that does not sound like a guy ready to cut EJ before TC.

[Mace]

And Rex has said EJ will get the chance to compete for the starting job.

Rex also said he thinks with the better Coaching he will get this year that he thinks EJ can improve.

Rex is known as a straight shooter & that does not sound like a guy ready to cut EJ before TC.

Manuel would have to be flat out terrible as opposed to his to-date merely middlin', to not even end up riding the pines on his fully guaranteed (through 2016) contract. There's just no reason not to give him a try or even end up letting him run the practice team because someone has to. They're gonna pay him anyway, and he's still a young maybe that Lee, Palmer and Roman haven't even tried working with yet.

For all my concern about Ryan, I agree, he's a straight shooter indeedy.

[Goobylal]

McCown signed with the Browns. Thankfully.

[YardRat]

Time to adjust...

Who wins the QB showdown in Cleveland, McCown or Johnny Football?

[better days]

Time to adjust...

Who wins the QB showdown in Cleveland, McCown or Johnny Football?

The Browns are screwed in either case.

[BleedinGreenNC]

And Rex has said EJ will get the chance to compete for the starting job.

Rex also said he thinks with the better Coaching he will get this year that he thinks EJ can improve.

Rex is known as a straight shooter & that does not sound like a guy ready to cut EJ before TC.

Better coaching? Ask Geno how that worked out.

[better days]

Better coaching? Ask Geno how that worked out.

Geno did not have Roman as his OC.

I do think Chan can get the best out of Geno, but the Jets are a mess on both sides of the ball.

[BleedinGreenNC]

Geno did not have Roman as his OC.

I do think Chan can get the best out of Geno, but the Jets are a mess on both sides of the ball.

Let me correct you, the Jets are a mess on offense, CB, and LB. Rex is going to show you how wrong you are, he cant help it. While he is out getting tattoos and his truck pimped out, the great coaches are getting their game plans for their teams ready for the next season.

[YardRat]

Pretty sure Rex can be working on game plans at the same time a paint shop is pimping out his truck.

[stuckincincy]

Pretty sure Rex can be working on game plans at the same time a paint shop is pimping out his truck.

I'd guess it's a decal - like those ones we see festooned on business and private vehicles for advertising these days. Today's equivalent of the sandwich board - an old term only known to old folks, I suppose.

[swiper]

And McCown was a huge reason for that difference.

McCown was LUCKY for 5 games while on the Bears.

Boy this looks like stupid post for the ages.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/passing/sort/passingYards/year/2015/seasontype/2

McNown is the #15 QB in the NFL. And the Bills got ***** pie in Manuel.

[BertSquirtgum]

Bills are cursed.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Boy this looks like stupid post for the ages.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/passing/sort/passingYards/year/2015/seasontype/2

McNown is the #15 QB in the NFL. And the Bills got ***** pie in Manuel.

Manuel does suck, but you are seriously off base with McCown. The guy has one of the highest sack rates in the league despite a pretty good OL (and the best LT in the league) and leads the league in fumbles despite missing almost 2 full games. His signature highlight for the year is a TD pass that Barnidge had to catch after it deflected off his own ass.

[Mr. Pink]

McCown has looked pretty good this year...surprisingly.

Outside of constantly getting hurt.

[BleedinGreenNC]

Geno did not have Roman as his OC.

I do think Chan can get the best out of Geno, but the Jets are a mess on both sides of the ball.

So far we havent been a mess!!

[YardRat]

So far we havent been a mess!!

Oakland just called, and they disagree!!