Buffalo Bills: Time for Tyrod Taylor to Prove His Desire to Stay

If Tyrod Taylor truly wants to remain with the Buffalo Bills, he needs to step up and renegotiate his contract.

As regular readers are aware, we’ve already stated our case for the Buffalo Bills retaining Tyrod Taylor for next season. However, the debate/speculation seems to be leaning towards him being released.

One of the main factors contributing to this scenario, is tied into Taylor’s contract. If the Bills decide to exercise his option for the 2018-21 seasons, it will result in a hit of $15.913 million against next season’s salary cap.

Even worse, if the front office don’t exercise the 27-year old’s option, but keep him on the roster, his cap hit for 2017 will be a staggering $29 million. Financially speaking, it makes sense to release him before March 11th, which would result in just a $3 million cap hit for next season.

In truth, you have to wonder why the Bills even agreed to such a contract in the first place?! Gamble on Taylor being the franchise quarterback if you want to, but the terms of the deal seem slightly mind-boggling.

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From the Hampton, Virginia native’s point of view, his preference would be to stay in Buffalo. Speaking to WG550’s John Murphy in Houston on Friday, he said: “Of course, I know how close we are as a team.

“I know the talent we have on the team, and we can be a very special team. Especially with the right leadership and I believe we have some coaches in there that definitely are ready to go out there, and make us work and get things turned around.”

Taylor is fully aware of what part his contract plays in his chances of remaining with the Bills. However, he didn’t have much to say about it, when asked by Murphy.

Taylor said: “My focus right now isn’t really on the contract situation or what’s going to happen. It’s mostly about being healthy.

“I just had surgery four weeks ago. Just putting my focus getting back healthy, and letting the rest take care of itself”

Here’s the thing though, if the 2015 Pro Bowler lets things take care of themselves, there is every chance he will be gone next month. However, there is a way for this situation to be resolved, but it depends on how much he truly does want to continue playing in Western New York.

Pure and simple, why doesn’t Taylor renegotiate his contract, especially with the team apparently pushing for this? CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora indicates this is unlikely to happen, but why not?

Of course, I understand that if a team — or in fact anyone — is mindless enough to offer you a ridiculous amount of money then you take it, no matter how unjustified it might be. However, if the 2011 sixth round draft pick doesn’t renegotiate his current contract, he risks losing the remainder anyway, if and when the Bills release him.

Another reason Taylor should consider re-doing his deal relates to his desire to be the leader and long-term answer in Buffalo. How many times have you heard stories over the years about quarterbacks like Tom Brady renegotiating their contracts, to provide more cap space and money to bring in better talent?

What better way for the 2010 NCAA Player of the Year to prove himself to his teammates and the organization in general? Unless I’m missing something here (entirely possible), It seems pretty clear he must make a sacrifice for the good of the team – it’s what any worthwhile leader would do.

Next: How Second Surgery Will Impact Sammy Watkins

What’s your position in respect of Taylor? Do you want to see him remain in Buffalo or do you believe the Bills need to move on, and why? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

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