The Sports Xchange

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills switched up the bottom of their quarterback depth chart by claiming Matt Simms on waivers while making room on the roster by waiving Jeff Tuel.

Simms was fourth on the New York Jets’ depth chart and did not feel like he was getting a fair shot to compete, so he asked coach Todd Bowles for his release, and it was granted.

As soon as his name was on the waiver wire, Rex Ryan — his coach in New York the previous two years when he was No. 3 behind Geno Smith and Michael Vick — called and asked him to join the Bills.

“I think he’s got a big arm,” Ryan said. “We had him for two years. He had no chance of making our team the first year that we had him. I contributed to that by getting the quarterback hurt, but he contributed well to the team when he led the NFL in quarterback rating in the preseason, so he’s got some ability. Obviously he’s got the bloodlines, he’s smart; and, any time you can add to the competition of the football team, you go out and do it.”

Ryan made it clear when Tuel was on the roster that the Bills’ quarterback competition was a three-man race between Matt Cassel, EJ Manuel and Tyrod Taylor. He wouldn’t say whether he considers Simms someone who can be added to the competition, but he did say, “Matt will be given opportunities. Is he going to get as many as the top three guys? Probably not. But one thing about Matt is I know he will take advantage of the opportunities he gets, and I’m not saying he can’t make this team.”

Simms, the youngest son of former NFL quarterback Phil Simms and brother of another former NFL quarterback, Chris Simms, admitted it was a risky move to quit an NFL job without another one lined up — especially in his position as a fringe player. But Ryan made it worthwhile.

“I wasn’t happy, and you have to do what makes you happy, so I was willing to take that chance to be happy,” he said. “I felt like I wasn’t getting my fair share of the reps and work. Today, even though it was my first day, I got more work than I did my last week with the Jets. Yeah, it was risky, but in the end it paid off, and I’m happy to be here now.”