Buffalo Bills NFL 2015 roster news: Matt Cassel re-signed to be backup quarterback

Quarterback Matt Cassel with the Kansas City Chiefs.Wikimedia Commons/Jeffrey Beall

The past number of days were a roller coaster ride for quarterback Matt Cassel. After getting released by the Buffalo Bills, he was re-signed by the team last Tuesday to be a backup for starter Tyrod Taylor.

Cassel is a seasoned veteran who was acquired by the Bills last March via trade deal from the Minnesota Vikings, where he played for the past two seasons.  

"It's a long story. I think it's better if they explained it. I was caught a little bit off-guard myself," Cassel said, according ESPN regarding his situation. 

The 33-year-old quarterback added, "But like I said, at the end of the day, we were able to resolve it and I'm able to be here and now the important thing is for us to get ready to go, for me to help Tyrod and to get this team ready to go to play Indy."

Buffalo will open its season hosting the Indianapolis Colts at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sept. 13. 

According to NFL.com, Cassel was a leading candidate for the Bills' starting quarterback job but was outperformed by Taylor and 2013 first-round pick EJ Manuel in the preseason. 

Following the release of Cassel, Manuel was likely to be Taylor's backup; but after the re-signing of the veteran, he was pushed down the depth chart and is now the Bills' third string quarterback. 

In ESPN's report, Manuel admitted that he was disappointed being the number three option and said he did his best in the preseason but that is just what it is. 

According to Cassel, a number of teams expressed interest in him after he was released but he felt that Buffalo is the "best place" for him, given all the hard work he had put through in the offseason for the team. 

In the past two seasons with the Vikings, Cassel only played in a combined 12 regular season games, completing 194 of 325 passes for 2232 yards and 14 touchdowns.