Sportsbook site handicappers can finally erase Trent Edwards from their notebooks as the Buffalo Bills cut him on Monday after Ryan Fitzpatrick sparked the offense on Sunday.
Long Overdue
For many handicappers at Sbgglobal the release of Edwards was long overdue. Buffalo’s offense was totally inept in their first two losses of the season and Edwards had an abysmal quarterback rating of 58.3 in which he completed just 55% of his passes for a poor 4.6 yards per attempt with just 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Edwards has had a long slow fall after peaking with an 85.4 QB rating in 2008 he slipped last year to 73.8 and lost his starting job to Ryan Fitzpatrick.
New head coach Chan Gailey threw the competition for the starting job wide open at spring camp and Edwards won the job. But after the 0-2 start to the 2010 season in which the failed to score more than 10 points in a game Gailey went back to Fitzpatrick, who jumpstarted the offense with 247 yards passing and 2 touchdowns in a 38-30 loss at New England.
Gailey Impressed
Gailey was so impressed with Fitzpatrick’s performance at New England and the way he moved the team that he felt Edwards was expendable. Brian Brohm moves up to the number two slot on the Buffalo depth chart. Fitzpatrick’s performance at New England helped earn Buffalo its first
Offshore sportsbook payout of the season.
An Offensive Coach
Gailey is well respected in coaching circles for his offensive prowess and ability. His release of Edwards came as a shock to the team as the former starter was well respected and liked by his teammates as well as Fitzpatrick as the two worked closely with each other. Sportsbook site handicappers will now observe if Gailey will stick with Fitzpatrick through thick and thin as the move does come off as impulsive.
Last year Fitzpatrick compiled a 69.7 QB rating and had a 9/10 TD/INT ratio. Fitzpatrick has had a journeyman career that began in St. Louis with a two stops in Cincinnati along the way to Buffalo.
A Tough Assignment
Fitzpatrick will get the start this Sunday as the clear cut leader of the offense in an offshore sportsbook matchup against a New York Jets team that will come to Buffalo with one of the NFL’s toughest defenses.