Buffalo Bills: A.J. McCaron gets his long awaited opportunity
By Kurt Hill
The Buffalo Bills are getting a quarterback in A.J.McCarron, who never got an opportunity with the Cincinnati Bengals and now he gets his chance.
Okay, so what are the Buffalo Bills getting in newly signed quarterback A.J. McCarron? Is he the key to getting them back to former glory, or is he just another unproven quarterback who will suffer the same fate as recent signal-callers have?
Well, from someone who has followed the Cincinnati Bengals and observed the young quarterback, although a limited sample size, I kind of wish it was Andy Dalton changing jerseys. Not the two-time BCS championship winner who never really got his shot with the Bengals.
As it happens with every fan of every sports team, when the current squad isn’t getting the team to the promised land, you start to look at the supporting cast for answers and a possible injection of hope.
Dalton has led the Bengals to more playoff appearances since his debut in 2011 than the team has the past couple of decades combined. However, the let down has been the inability to get past the Wild Card round.
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The Texas-native has been unable to get the team the next level, and McCarron seems to have fallen victim to Marvin Lewis‘ loyalty to the franchise quarterback.
This has to provide McCarron with the motivation he needs to prove them wrong. It has to feel good knowing he has a legitimate shot at starting this season, instead of waiting for an opportunity that may never come.
With the team only having two quarterbacks on the depth chart, the other being 2017 fifth-round pick Nathan Peterman, it looks like a clear path for McCarron.
The Bills are expected to draft a QB with the 12th pick after making a trade with the Bengals, or they might try to move up again into the top five. However, McCarron will take the chance against two unseasoned quarterbacks rather than an established pivot in Dalton.
He is a cerebral QB. He thinks the game and has the ability to stay out of trouble. He moves well in the pocket and even with what some may say a lack of downfield throw ability, can make short to mid-range passes that will confuse and keep defences on their toes.
Plus, McCarron is a proven winner. Even though it was at the college level, the BCS, as everyone knows, is a difficult championship to win, let alone twice.
McCarron is humble and comes from a modest background. It is not about the money for him. It is about getting the ball and being “the guy”.
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With Buffalo, he may just get his chance. And this Bengals fan will silently be cheering for him every start he gets.