The mystery regarding just who the New England Patriots will have under center when they square off against the Buffalo bills continues to be a topic of interest. Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan certainly wants to know and isn’t shy about asking for answers.
As New England wide receiver Julian Edelman wrapped up a conference call with Buffalo reporters, Rex Ryan entered the room for his own call with reporters and took the opportunity to address Edelman on speakerphone.
“Julian, this is, uh, Walt Patulski from The Buffalo News,” Ryan said. “Are you playing quarterback this week?”
“Huh?” Edelman responded.
“Are you playing quarterback this week?” Ryan repeated.
“I’m gonna do whatever the coaches ask me to do,” Edelman said, “so if they ask me to go out and get a glass a water to someone on the sideline, I’m gonna do that with a smile on my face if it helps our team win. So you can ask Coach that one.”
“All right, Julian, I will, buddy,” Rex said while laughing.
To make matters more humorous Patulski was a #1 overall pick in the 1972 draft and played four seasons for Buffalo between 1972 and 1975.
Garoppolo (shoulder) and Brissett (thumb) have both practiced this week adding more confusion as to just who the Patriots will start at quarterback. Either way, Ryan knows that the prospect of Edelman taking snaps at quarterback presents a unique challenge for his defensive unit.
“I know how difficult it is to defend against a running quarterback,” Ryan said on Sunday.”That’s what we have to be ready [for] in case Edelman quarterbacks, right? I have a funny feeling he isn’t going to be Brady back there.”
Ryan hinted that he had a good idea who New England will start but said he may be wrong.
“If I’m wrong,” Ryan said, “it’ll be like, ‘Oh, he wasn’t right. What a shock!'”
Ryan also added:
“My sources tell me that Babe Parilli (Boston Patriots’ quarterback in the 1960s) is gonna be the quarterback,” Ryan said. “He is definitely … he doesn’t move the way he used to, and I’d be very confident. So we’ll see what happens there.”
Ryan also noted the contrast between his approach and that of New England Patriots head coach Bill Bilichick.
“Obviously, [Belichick’s] style works a hell of a lot better than my style, so I’ll give him that,” Ryan said. “But I learned a time ago: You got to be yourself in this league. That wouldn’t work. If I tried to be like Bill Belichick, that would never work for me. Just like — not that he ever would — he’s gonna try to be like someone else, that would never work for him.
“I think it’s hilarious when he’s on [stage] there [at his news conferences] because it’s who he is, but it’s great. He does it better than anybody else. Some guys that try to copy that style, they’re phonies.”
Belichick had this to say about Ryan’s approach.
“I’m just focused on getting ready for the Bills,” Belichick said. “I’m not really that in tune to all of that. I’m sure it’s important to you guys, but it’s not really anything I spend much time with.”