While the Buffalo Bills were still in the process of recruiting free agent quarterback Vince Young, GM Buddy Nix made sure that he was on the same page with his starting quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, about the potential move.
"Buddy caught me in the hallway one day and said, 'Look, we're looking to create some competition for that No. 2 spot at quarterback. We're bringing in Vince Young, we made him an offer, we'll see if he comes,'" Fitzpatrick told SiriusXM Radio on Wednesday. "'Just to let you know, obviously you're our guy, and we're just trying to get better at every position.' When people are up front and honest with you, and telling you what's going on, then it makes everything go much smoother."
Fitzpatrick also told hosts Ross Tucker and Amani Toomer that he's not concerned about the potential for a quarterback controversy, citing the organization's faith in him - along with the fact that the controversy will only arise if Fitzpatrick can't perform - as rationale. But the third-year starter clearly appreciated Nix's candor.
"Buddy Nix has been a guy that's been very fair to all of his players," Fitzpatrick said. "He's been trying to create a competitive atmosphere."
Everyone is on the same page about this, right down to Young, who publicly pledged support for Fitzpatrick in a Tuesday news conference with local media.
"He's our starting quarterback and I'm behind him 100 percent," Young said.
Bills fans can obsess over hypothetical scenarios in which pressure to replace Fitzpatrick with Young will intensify, but for now, it doesn't exist - at least not at One Bills Drive, which is the place where it really counts. Until something changes on the field, there's no drama to be had here - but fans are correct to be nervous about the potential for drama arising quickly. The Bills are playing with fire here; here's hoping that Fitzpatrick plays well enough to avoid spontaneous combustion.