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Give Me Alex Smith Over Fitz Or Vick | Bob Matthews' Column - WHAM 1180
"I don't think Smith would fill the bill as the 'franchise quarterback' the Bills and their fans have been dreaming of since Jim Kelly retired, but I believe he's good enough to help make Buffalo a genuine threat to make the playoffs this season."
Matthews ranks them Smith, then Vick, then Fitzpatrick. I still don't understand why the Bills would part ways with Fitzpatrick in this scenario, though. Fitzpatrick is under contract for $8 million or so in salary and bonuses for the 2013 season. That's at or below the league average in terms of average salary, even when you factor in the number of rookies playing. In order to sign Smith, the Bills will still have a $10 million salary cap hit from Fitzpatrick, and then be paying their new QB on top of that. Smith made $9 million a season ago, and will likely have suitors in other NFL cities. If the Bills give him (or Vick) $9 million, they will have very little money left to sign their key free agents Andy Levitre and Jairus Byrd, let alone additional free agents. In the long run, the smart financial play is to stick with Fitzpatrick one more season in a caretaker role and draft a quarterback of the future. It's either that or sit in salary cap hell for a season, get Fitz's $10 million off the books in 2014, and your reward for salary cap hell is Alex Smith.
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Time to say goodbye to Ryan Fitzpatrick? - TPF: Buffalo Bills
"And, as nice of a guy as Fitzpatrick is, the Bills should cut the other weak link by relieving Fitzpatrick of his duties and allowing the Bills to become a more successful franchise with someone else behind center." [Warning: some borderline NSFW images of attractive ladies.]
What About Next Season? | Nickel City Bills
Someone on Twitter said the Bills would win five games in 2013. Michael Purinton disagrees.
Bills' 2013 Offseason Primer: Changes aplenty - AFC East Daily
Chris Trapasso breaks down the changes that have already happened, plus looks ahead to the draft and free agency as he resets the Bills' off-season.