Buffalo Bills Review: Was Releasing Trent Edwards the Right Call?

Leo Roth & Sal Maiorana - Leo: It was, only it came eight months late. Taking this long to realize that the gunslingin' Ryan Fitzpatrick — think Jim Kelly without the arm — gives the Bills a better shot at winning than the gun-shy Edwards doesn't speak well of GM Buddy Nix and coach Chan Gailey as talent evaluators.

Sal: I'll go one further. Thinking that the Bills had a better shot winning with either Edwards or Fitzpatrick was a double-barreled mistake by this new regime. Yes, Fitzpatrick played decently Sunday in New England, but he's still a backup. That's all he'll ever be.

Leo: Clearly, the Bills are a more productive and more entertaining offensive team with Fitzpatrick under center and having Edwards shuffling around One Bills Drive was a major downer, just as it was the last seven games of 2009 when Edwards was benched.

Sal: I'm not clear about anything with this Buffalo offense, except for one thing: It needs a first-string, winning quarterback. Fitz is not that guy. He's a good backup, but they're not winning consistently with him. I'm just glad Gailey didn't wait until the Bills were 0-8 to make the move.

Leo: I'm just wondering about releasing him at this juncture. Teams still need a backup quarterback and Buffalo is left with Brian Brohm.

Sal: Yeah, but Brohm is the guy we were intrigued with all along. We knew what the Bills had with Edwards and Fitzpatrick. I just wish Gailey had played Brohm more in the preseason because maybe we'd know if he has a chance to be any good. Right now, it's a mystery.

Leo: All things considered, cutting Trent is a good move. He's a good guy and deserves to get on with his life. He can always say he played in the NFL and he can never say he didn't get a fair shot. He got many. Not a lot of players can say that.

Sal: So I guess you're saying he's not hooking on with anyone else and that football is over for him? I'll bet some team signs him. He can't play, but he's not done yet.

Leo: Add it up and the Dysfunctional Bills are right on course for the No. 1 pick. So what happened to Edwards' once-rising star, anyways?

Sal: The popular belief is that he was never the same after that hit by Arizona's Adrian Wilson five games into the 2008 season. Maybe, but my guess is that he just was never that good. If you remember, I wasn't impressed in his rookie '07 season when everyone was so excited after he supplanted J.P. Losman. Fans were just glad that he wasn't Losman.

Leo: I do remember, but I thought he had something. So I do think Trent was never the same after that hit. The game seemed to suddenly become too fast for him. But that doesn't explain why he played really well in beating San Diego, a playoff team, the very next week, and why he posted 100-plus QB ratings four other times. You have to admit he never had the best coaching, either. What would the late Bill Walsh, his biggest cheerleader, have done with this guy?

Sal: Trent went through three offensive coordinators during Dick Jauron's forgettable regime, and that certainly didn't help his progress.

Leo: The thing is, Edwards was all excited about having to answer to only one voice this season, that being Gailey's, and he still flopped despite a promising preseason. It's true Edwards was the victim of bad coaching. But so was Losman, who threw for 3,000 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2006 before being ruined by Jauron's gang. The true greats rise above crappy coaching and make a play. Trent never made much happen out there.

Sal: I have nothing to add on that. You are dead on with that assessment.

Leo: It's admirable that Nix and Gailey admitted their mistake instead of stubbornly sticking with Edwards all season. But I'm really reluctant to hand out praise here. Their rebuilding job has been set back by this decision.

Sal: Now on that point, I will disagree. What got set back here? They just rid themselves of a lousy quarterback. I have a couple other ideas. Keep the brooms out and get rid of Cornell Green, who can't block anyone. And oh, don't get me started on Aaron Maybin.

Leo: What about Marshawn Lynch? Isn't he on your hit list?

Sal: Well, sure, why not? He's a free agent at the end of the year. C.J. Spiller is their future, and Fred Jackson is signed for another two years to be the backup. Lynch has run well. Trade him now while he may have value.

Leo: So now Fitzpatrick is the guy. He's more fun to watch, that's for sure. But as we saw Sunday against New England, he's prone to big mistakes, which will limit just how many games the offense can win on its own.

Sal: And after watching Buffalo's pitiful defensive showing against a good offensive team for a second straight week, I don't see the Bills winning many shootouts.

Leo: I think after three games, we've got a pretty good handle on this Buffalo team. Offensively, they can average about 17 to 21 points if Fitzpatrick plays well and defensively they'll allow about 30 a game, with the occasional inspired performance tossed in.

Sal: Yup, right on track for the No. 1 pick.

Leo: In conclusion, I'm as encouraged about the offense under Fitzpatrick as I am depressed by the news that the Bills want to give Chris Kelsay a $24 million contract extension. For what, giving good quotes after another loss? Edwards? Green? Kelsay? Maybin? This franchise just can't be taken seriously at times.

Sal: Yup, which is why they are right on track for the No. 1 pick. Thanks for the (lack of) memories, Trent.