After the first month of the preseason in which head coach Doug Marrone expressed on multiple occasions dissatisfaction with the performance of Jeff Tuel and Thaddeus Lewis in battling for the backup quarterback job, the team determined it was time for a change.
After Jordan Palmer, the younger brother of Carson, was signed on Monday and Dennis Dixon was cut, Tuesday brought more news on the quarterback front. Lewis was cut Tuesday morning in a roster transaction first reported by Pro Football Talk, a “tough” decision for the team, according to Marrone.
“Thad, the thing about it, this time last year he just arrived and really did a nice job for us,” said Marrone. “He went in there and played his butt off. I don’t think anyone would ever question how tough he is and the job that he’s done. He won a couple games for us. We were hoping that that would be the case this year, but in our opinion, we have to go out there and get someone better.”
Palmer was released from the Bears after losing the backup quarterback competition to Jimmy Clausen. Him being better for Buffalo than Lewis is tough to imagine, as he has only 59 career passing yards and Lewis was 2-3 as a starter last season.
However, he already has an established relationship with starter E.J. Manuel, as the two were both counselors at Trent Dilfer’s Elite 11 camp, with Manuel stating that they’ve known each other for three years. Palmer talked about how the two initially met, and his feelings on being in the same quarterback room with Manuel
“EJ came through there, along with other guys,” said Palmer. “I got to know him a few years ago there and the way he works and how talented he is and the career that he had at Florida State and is now embarking on here in Buffalo. It’s great to be reunited with him and I’m here to compete and I’m here to serve and help him in any way that I can.”
Palmer was a quarterback coach at a draft camp this offseason, helping train signal-callers like No. 3 overall pick Blake Bortles (via Brandon Sweeney of BearsGab.com). Manuel said Palmer, who has a coach on the field reputation, will be “great” to work with.
“Even today after practice he brought up a couple drills that we could do,” said Manuel. “Some stuff that I’ve never done, some stuff that I’ve never seen before, but I thought it was pretty cool ways to throw the ball, while you’re still conditioning at the same time. I think the more experience he can bring to our room the better.”
Marrone said that he had no idea about the relationship Manuel and Palmer had before claiming the latter, and the move is about upgrading the quarterback position
“We want the best player available at that position,” said Marrone. “I’m not too concerned about the relationships or anything like that. Obviously, to a certain extent because you don’t want to put two people in a room that don’t really like each other, but if they work together that’s great. If not, and that’s the next best player that gives us a chance to win then that’s what we have to do.”
As for his role Thursday, Marrone said he’ll play Palmer as much as he can. Palmer acknowledged it will be difficult to be prepared for the game on Thursday against the Detroit Lions, but sees it as part of the position and had two familiar instances with the Bears last season.
“Playing quarterback in the NFL is difficult,” said Palmer. “It is a unique experience, but at the same, I was in a similar situation last year. I got called in about eight days before the last game and I started the last game and I got called back on bye week and the coaches were on vacation for four days and I had to get ready for Monday Night Football to be the two. I’ve been in similar situations. I feel very confident in it. ”
Palmer is also “confident” that Manuel’s work ethic and skill will soon make him join the group of great young quarterbacks.
“I think the first thing you have to be if you’re young, talented and given the reins of an organization is that you have to be all in,” said Palmer. “This has to be your life. This has to be your job. This has to be everything to you. I know EJ well enough to know that this is, so right there, you’re ahead of a good number of guys. And then talent-wise the guy can make every throw. He’s a great athlete and a really smart, really conscientious quarterback that really thinks through things. And then the talent around him. ”
A position that appeared to be set in stone has for the second straight off-season included a lot of movement. Last year at this time, Matt Leinart and Thaddeus Lewis were added to the roster after Kevin Kolb’s concussion, with Lewis staying on the team until today.
While Palmer has great assets as a player-coach, one has to wonder how his performance could affect whether Buffalo looks further in free agency or trade for a backup quarterback.
