Report: Tyler Thigpen Was Bills' Backup QB Plan B
by Brian Galliford on Jul 27, 2011 7:11 AM EDT
in Buffalo Bills News
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PrintLast night, reports surfaced that the Buffalo Bills had agreed to a three-year contract with free agent quarterback Tyler Thigpen. A move long rumored thanks to Thigpen's well-known ties to Bills head coach Chan Gailey from their days together in Kansas City, Thigpen will serve as the primary backup to starter Ryan Fitzpatrick during the 2011 season.
Had the Bills gotten their way, however, it might not have been Thigpen at all that would have been backup up Fitzpatrick.
Per Michael Lombardi of NFL.com, the quarterback the Bills were really targeting for the backup job was former Minnesota Vikings player Tarvaris Jackson. Those plans were quickly scuttled when, early Tuesday afternoon, Jackson agreed to a deal with the Seattle Seahawks. There, Jackson will be part of a three-way battle for the starting job between he, Charlie Whitehurst and Matt Leinart.
Once the Bills knew Jackson was out of the picture, it appears that they quickly turned their attention to Thigpen. The Vikings, having just lost Jackson, were also heavily in pursuit of Thigpen, but his ties to Gailey ultimately led to Thigpen joining the Bills. Minnesota eventually settled on a trade for Donovan McNabb.
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I’m much happier with Plan B. Neither has done that much as a staring QB, but no need to overpay for a back up. I feel more comfortable with Thigpen backing Fitz up bc of his ties to Chan’s offense.
Now come on Buffalo get FLORENCE in here stat.
by RockyTopBill on Jul 27, 2011 7:27 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
I don't think Tavares Jackson is as bad an option as people are thinking...
Jackson with Gailey coaching him up and creating a offense around him might be pretty dangerous and something the AFC East doesn’t have or would have a harder time prepping for… That said… I didn’t want Nimrod from Tennessee after he gets cut today
by dabillsr1 on Jul 27, 2011 7:53 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Tavaris Jackson looked good in one NFL game. That one happened last year. I think you know the one I mean.
In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jul 27, 2011 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m much happier with Plan B
Agreed, only saw TJ play a few times and was underwhelming to terrible every time, Thigpen is a perfect back-up, knows Gailey (especialliy with the shortened training camp), not a threat to Fitz (not that he couldn’t handle it, just want to see what he does going in the undisputed starter) but still capable if Fitz goes down or stinks up the joint.
How is he “underwhelming to terrible every time” but also the “perfect backup” and “capable if Fitxzs goes down”?
by JustAskTheAxis on Jul 27, 2011 8:17 AM EDT up reply actions
Because the first quote is referring to Tarvaris Jackson, and the second two are referring to Tyler Thigpen.
Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford
by Brian Galliford on Jul 27, 2011 8:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Minnesota eventually settled on a trade for Donovan McNabb.
That is contingent on McNabb reworking his contract, it’s not a done deal yet.
Girls use hair spray, Men don't.
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GROW UP BY NOT USING HAIRSPRAY MALES!
Don't be a Paully!
by The Buffalo Kid on Jul 27, 2011 7:36 AM EDT reply actions
I know. Not really pertinent to our Bills site, so I just tossed the basic info in there.
Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford
by Brian Galliford on Jul 27, 2011 7:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Wow. I didn’t know McNabb landed there. Likely a good fit, but at some point the Vikings are going to need to find their guy. Or did they draft one? I think they might have, right? Dalton or Ponder?
In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jul 27, 2011 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Ponder
Are we drafting Dino's now?
"6'6" monster receiver with a Terradactyl wingspan "....... Keysh67
by Billsfanstuckinthesouth on Jul 27, 2011 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Okay. Scratch that one off the list.
Florence re-signing underway.
What’s next after that?
.
Year two is upon us.
by Buffalo for Eternity on Jul 27, 2011 7:40 AM EDT reply actions
Ho Hum
I know many are excited about Thigpen (never understood the love for this guy) but it is just a signing of a perennial back-up QB. He does add veteran depth but I would be more excited if I heard about an interest in Young, McNabb or even Carson Palmer players that would compete for a starting position and could possibly upgrade the position.
A flute without holes, is not a flute. A donut without a hole, is a Danish.
Ty webb (Caddyshack)
I have no idea why you’d expect the Bills to willingly enter into a quarterback competition when they’ve spent an entire off-season promoting Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford
by Brian Galliford on Jul 27, 2011 7:59 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m not 100% sold on Fitz and if the Bills can upgrade with Palmer or give Young a 2nd chance it could help in the future. I’m a firm believer in competition for every position it can only help the team continue to get better.
Last year the Bills built-up with Edwards only to release him, I’m not saying that is going to happen to Fitz but it could.
.
A flute without holes, is not a flute. A donut without a hole, is a Danish.
Ty webb (Caddyshack)
Surprised they went after Tavaris.
I like the Thigpen signing tho, just incase anything happens to Fitz.
Now attending the Univ. of Hockey.
It could have been interesting. The new rules with the 3rd qb spot could also make it a more interesting preposition
by ausbillsfan on Jul 27, 2011 8:08 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
The Bills just seem agonizingly slow on the trigger considering the time they had to prepare. I think they’re going to end up with alot of Plan Bs, Ds and Fs before this week is over.
by telka on Jul 27, 2011 8:11 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
They weren’t slow at pulling the trigger. Jackson wants to start. The seahawks said they’d give him a chance to start. He’d be a backup in buffalo. That’s all.
by bizarro bills on Jul 27, 2011 8:33 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Its not slowness dude, its the feeding frenzy atmosphere of 10+ teams calling every decent FA every 20 minutes or so
thats causing so much mayhem.
abayarde- "All off the pain will vanish The Whagonblaster will return and with a new MOTOR and attitude even BIGGER AND stronger THE EYE of the Tiger , will knock our enemies to the next Galaxy , WE the BUffalo Nation DO not know defeat , We do not know Surrender , We only know that if we fall we get up stronger , faster, better WE have the Technology to BUILD IT"
Disappointed, but not surprised
Buffalo just isn’t the place that free agents want to go play. This isn’t news to any of us. If we want a certain player, we’re going to have to do something to make Buffalo the more attractive option. Unfortunately, the only thing that can do that is paying more than the other guy.
Huh?
Because Tavaris freakin Jackson didnt come here…
Uhh, we wanted him as a backup, he is going to Seattle to most likely start, and has a chance to start for a long time. Why in the world would anyone go to a team to be the backup when they are getting tons of cash to compete, but he must have the leg up, to the the starter?
Now attending the Univ. of Hockey.
No it’s because the city of Buffalo has been stuck in the same mode for decades. Everyone wants a piece of the action so there’s been comparatively little expansion, minor amounts of nightlife a young player would crave and minuscule local endorsement opportunities. The Bills are going to have to nail their draft picks or overpay until they reestablish themselves as a winner (ala Green Bay).
by telka on Jul 27, 2011 8:33 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Right..
The Bills are going to have to nail their draft picks
Once we get better through the draft the team will get better. Yes youre right, we have to get better before FAs decide to come here. But 99% of teams that suck for a while, must build thru the draft, regardless of where they are in the United States.
It seems like we’ve started doing better the last 2-3 drafts, so yes we’ve got to get better on our own before others will help us.
But its not because we are cursed or that we’re a puppet of the NFL… its because we have stunk for the past decade, no decade’S’ …
Now attending the Univ. of Hockey.
no offense, but I’m sick and tired of people saying players don’t want to come to buffalo. In all honesty, I feel like if we can convince TO to come here we can convince anyone.
by bizarro bills on Jul 27, 2011 8:29 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
TO came because he had no other options. Difficult to face but it’s a fact.
by telka on Jul 27, 2011 8:34 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
and if I’m not mistaken, TO had nothing at all last year until Bryant got hurt in Cincy – he might have been out all season if not for that
by JustAskTheAxis on Jul 27, 2011 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m sorry you’re “sick and tired” of hearing people say this, but it seems to be a fact.
I’m not just referring to Tavaris Jackson, look at Paully P. He chose Jacksonville of all places. The only time we get quality free agents is when we overpay for them. The funny part is, I’m fine with this. I don’t care if Buffalo over pays for players.
Can you tell me why Drayton Florence would choose Buffalo over the New York Jets? It won’t be because Buffalo has the better chance to win the superbowl or that Buffalo will allow him to play on the better defense or that Buffalo is a “better” city than New York for a young athlete. It will be because Buffalo will pay him more money. Unfortunately, I’m afraid that may not even be enough in this case. Flo may take less for a chance to be on one of the best defenses in the NFL. I’m not sure I can blame him.
by Slick Shifty on Jul 27, 2011 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m not just referring to Tavaris Jackson, look at Paully P. He chose Jacksonville of all places. The only time we get quality free agents is when we overpay for them.
He said he wanted the 4-3 defense. I dont know what we can do about that…
Now attending the Univ. of Hockey.
Pay him more than the Jags were offering. If we’re willing to overpay market value on a player like Kelsay, why not on a player like Poz.
If Poz was looking at two relatively similar offers, then I certainly understand when he would just choose whatever defensive allignment he prefers. That may not have been a consideration if we were offering him $750,000 more per year.
It stinks to overpay for players, but we need to spend money anyway. I’m just afraid we may end up overpaying for a 3rd tier ILB by the same amount of $$ that we could have overpaid for Poz.
by Slick Shifty on Jul 27, 2011 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions
So just keep overpaying everyone?
til we have a team of mediocre to badish players that are all overpaid? Come on… Kelsays contract is done, forget about it. That has nothing to do with anyone else.
And again. $7mil a year for Poz is overpaying already… So we did offer an overpay, but he didnt want to play in the 3-4 from the reports… I dont know how many times I can say that.
Now attending the Univ. of Hockey.
When the money was the same between Buffalo and Jax, he chose the 4-3. If the money was higher in Buffalo than Jax, then and he still chose Jax, then I would agree that he chose the defensive scheme over the money.
by Slick Shifty on Jul 27, 2011 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
I get the feeling it wasn’t about the money first, with Poz.
In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jul 27, 2011 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Agreed, it was comfort in D system better suited to his skills and THEN the money
From what I’ve been hearing the Bills were VERY close in terms of contract amounts to what the Jags spent, he just wanted to go to a D better suited to him, and I think in his shoes, I would have done the same.
abayarde- "All off the pain will vanish The Whagonblaster will return and with a new MOTOR and attitude even BIGGER AND stronger THE EYE of the Tiger , will knock our enemies to the next Galaxy , WE the BUffalo Nation DO not know defeat , We do not know Surrender , We only know that if we fall we get up stronger , faster, better WE have the Technology to BUILD IT"
I know I would, if put in the same situation. I can’t imagine the continued losing was a reason for him to remain in Buffalo, either. It was like he had established relationships with the new staff, largely.
In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jul 27, 2011 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions
The Jets are in New Jersey. I think most people would say Upstate NY is far better than New Jersey.
In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jul 27, 2011 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions
It is close enough to NYC that I’m sure a lot of players live in the city and commute out to the stadium.
by Slick Shifty on Jul 27, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Seahawks fans are waking to the realization that their teams QB in 2011 will be Tavaris Jackson, Charlie Whitehurst or Matt Leinhart. And I thought WE had it bad.
"It’s like I’ve always said, don’t tell me about the labor pains, just show me the baby."
- Buddy Nix
"How can a guy with a name like Melo be such a pain in the ass?"
- George Lopez
I don’t see a difference other than they’re holding a competition between fringe starters/ backups and Buffalo has already chosen one fringe starter/ backup QB over another.
"There's only one C.J. Spiller." -Buddy Nix
At least we know who ours is
"Aw snap, aw snap, come to my macaroni party and we'll take a nap!"
by J0ckam0 on Jul 27, 2011 9:27 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I think we said the same thing about Edwards this time last year. Things can change.
In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jul 27, 2011 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions
Fringe starters?
That QB competition is a joke. They won’t win 4 games with any of those guys and they play in the worst division in football.
"It’s like I’ve always said, don’t tell me about the labor pains, just show me the baby."
- Buddy Nix
"How can a guy with a name like Melo be such a pain in the ass?"
- George Lopez
by dnvrBillsfan on Jul 27, 2011 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Report from WGR
Thigpen had 5 other deals besides Buffalo, including Miami and Minnesota, but chose Buffalo.
Now attending the Univ. of Hockey.
That report actually came from Omar Kelly, not WGR.
Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford
by Brian Galliford on Jul 27, 2011 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions
The City of Buffalo gets a bad rap...
It’s too bad Buffalo gets clobbered by the media but there are many positives!!
America’s Five Most Underrated Cities
#5
Buffalo, N.Y.
Population in 2000: 292,648
Population in 2010: 261,310
Decline: 10.7%
It’s inexpensive to live in Buffalo – where there are lots of singles.
Photo: Aneurysms
Buffalo hasn’t gained more than a percentage point of population since the 1920s, so it’s understandable why people would think everyone just shy of the Bills are leaving — and even they skip town for Toronto every so often.
Like Pittsburgh, however, Buffalo may have found its sweet spot as a smaller metro area. Buffalo’s universities and burgeoning tech, tourism and health care industries help keep its median age below the national average at 34, but other factors are making it a much sweeter place to stay. Folks who decide to make Buffalo their home enjoy a cost of living 14.4% below the national average and home prices also below what their neighbors throughout the rest of the country are paying.
At that discount, Buffalo residents get a thriving art scene with more than 50 art museums and galleries and two festivals — the Allentown Art Festival and the Elmwood Festival For The Arts — a system of 20 parks designed by Frederick Law Olmstead (of Central Park fame), a smattering of music venues and a ton of bars and clubs on West Chippewa Street and in Allentown that are open until 4 a.m. It’s so deceptively cool that Forbes put it at No. 18 on its list of the Top 40 towns for singles, ahead of Las Vegas and Miami, but even cooler is that its 7.6% unemployment rate is well below the national and allows more of its residents to see what the other cities are missing.
..
A flute without holes, is not a flute. A donut without a hole, is a Danish.
Ty webb (Caddyshack)
And what part of all that would have a 23-27 year old athlete from a large urban area salivating? Where would you take them for nightlife, Dave and Busters? Chippewa? There’s single women everywhere, theyre an athlete remember? The city has to make itself more attractive or the team has to win.
by telka on Jul 27, 2011 10:36 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Willis, is that you?
"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.
Hmmm
I’m saying the city gets a bad rap and gets portrayed as a pit. I go back a couple of times a year and have a great time. Not all players are drawn to wanting to play in big markets or large cities.
A flute without holes, is not a flute. A donut without a hole, is a Danish.
Ty webb (Caddyshack)
Jackson would have been great
Lest we forget, he absolutely annihilated the Bills in that game last year. With a little help from Adrian Peterson of course.
The Bills were a mess at OL and that defense was “turrible.” T-Jax had a great game, but look who it was against.
In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!
by TheAfghanTwilight on Jul 27, 2011 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions
I think the Thigpen signing is a good one, he knows Chan, knows his system, and doesn't want to be a starter immediately
win-win for the Bills, Jackson would have wanted to start, and that would have been chaos after a whole offseason of the Bills telling everyone including Fitz that he was the man.
abayarde- "All off the pain will vanish The Whagonblaster will return and with a new MOTOR and attitude even BIGGER AND stronger THE EYE of the Tiger , will knock our enemies to the next Galaxy , WE the BUffalo Nation DO not know defeat , We do not know Surrender , We only know that if we fall we get up stronger , faster, better WE have the Technology to BUILD IT"
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