ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The three-man race for the Bills starting quarterback job is just getting started, and Head Coach Rex Ryan is in no hurry to rush to judgement.
"At the end of the day, the real competition's going to start in training camp," Ryan said. "Right now, you're not going to make a decision on who your starting quarterback is in the OTAs. You may have an idea who it may end up being."
The combatatants might see it otherwise.
"Game on," said 3rd year QB EJ Manuel. "Competition, I feel like it started when we first got back. It's been good to get back on the field with everybody else, the teammates. Obviously, we've been going through plays the past couple of weeks, but going against a defense is a lot more fun."
"You've got to come out and compete every single day," said QB Matt Cassel. "You've got to prove to the coaches and the players that you are going to be accountable, that you know the offense, that you can be reliable. Once you get to training camp, obviously, you get the real pads on and it becomes real football. You've got to go out there and perform and show that you can do what you've done on the field here in practice."
The wild card in the wide-open quarterback competition could be Tyrod Taylor. Rex Ryan has long been impressed with the former Ravens backup, even trying to trade for Taylor more than once when Ryan was the head coach of the Jets. In Buffalo, Taylor now has a true chance to prove himself as a potential starter.
"I know what I'm capable of. It's my job to prove to the coaches," Taylor said. "I think they are aware, but as long as I continue to keep working and continue to impress them each and every day. It's not my job to call it. At the end of the day, I'll let the coaches decide."
The Bills are using a rotation to give all three quarterbacks an equal chance to practice with the starters, so the winner will earn it on the field.