ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix had no difficulty assessing Vince Young’s attributes after agreeing to a one-year contract with the free-agent quarterback on Friday. ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix had
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix had no difficulty assessing Vince Young’s attributes after agreeing to a one-year contract with the free-agent quarterback on Friday.
Strong arm. Great mobility. And then there’s his winning record as an NFL starter.
When it came to projecting Young’s role with the Bills, Nix offered no guarantees except to say the starting job’s already taken by Ryan Fitzpatrick, leaving Young competing for a backup job.
“We’re looking always to try to improve our team,” Nix said. “It’s a competition for the backup quarterback job and not the starter. … He knows it. That’s the way it is.”
That doesn’t devalue the Bills’ hopes for the 2006 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, who will be competing with returning backup Tyler Thigpen.
“The guy’s been to two Pro Bowls, he’s 31-19 as a starter in this league,” Nix said. “We think he can do that again. If he has to play, he can give us a chance to win the game or at least this: He will make Tyler better.”
Young’s once promising pro career — which began in 2006, when Tennessee drafted him with the No. 3 pick — is taking another detour. He’ll now be joining his third team in as many seasons after completing a one-year contract with Philadelphia last season.
The deal was reached a little over a week after Young worked out for the Bills at their facility.
A person familiar with the contract provided the length of the contract, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the Bills do not release those figures. Citing a league source, ESPN.com reported the contract is worth $2 million with another $1 million available in playing-time bonuses.
Young’s publicist, Denise White, said the player is scheduled to arrive in Buffalo either Sunday evening or Monday morning.
She also released a statement from Young, who said: “Thanks to Buddy Nix and Coach Gailey for giving me the opportunity to come in and play and compete. I am looking forward to playing with the guys and helping where I am needed.”
Young, who turns 29 next week, has been biding his time to determine the next step of his career. He struggled last season as Michael Vick’s backup with the Eagles, finishing with four touchdowns and nine interceptions in six games, and he was sacked eight times in six games, including three starts.
In Buffalo, Young’s dual threat as a passer and runner has the potential of complementing coach Chan Gailey’s offensive attack, which includes a series of wildcat formations.
Gailey said it’s premature to determine what Young’s role might be until the player takes the field for practice. The first opportunity for that will come May 29, when the Bills open a monthlong series of minicamps.
Young has put up both solid and questionable numbers over his career. He has 8,964 yards passing and 1,459 yards rushing. He’s thrown for 46 touchdowns and scored 12 rushing. On the flip side, he’s thrown 51 interceptions and also fumbled 40 times, losing 12 of them.
Texans sign free-agent quarterback Beck
HOUSTON — The Houston Texans have signed veteran free agent quarterback John Beck.
Beck spent the last two years with the Washington Redskins. He appeared in four games with three starts last season, throwing for 858 yards and two touchdowns with four interceptions.
Beck will join T.J. Yates and rookie Case Keenum in the competition to be Matt Schaub’s backup.
AP source: Jets turn down ’Hard Knocks’
NEW YORK — There will be no summer sequel for the Jets on “Hard Knocks” this season.
A person familiar with the decision said the team decided to not participate in the hit HBO show this year after being approached by the cable network about appearing again.
Rex Ryan, Mark Sanchez & Co. were big stars and drew huge ratings two years ago — the last time the show aired — but the Jets opted to pass on doing it again this summer.
Browns DT Phil Taylor out with torn muscle
BEREA, Ohio — Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor needs surgery to repair a torn chest muscle and will be sidelined for months.
Taylor tore his left pectoral muscle while lifting weights on Thursday.
Taylor started all 16 games as a rookie last season, when he totalled 59 tackles and four sacks.
