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Bills name Tyrod Taylor starting quarterback

Timothy T. Ludwig / USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Bills' quarterback competition has been settled.

The team will open the season with Tyrod Taylor as their starting quarterback, head coach Rex Ryan announced Monday.

Taylor had been competing with EJ Manuel and Matt Cassel for the No. 1 job, but was considered by many to be the front-runner. All three impressed in Saturday's 43-19 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, completing a combined 25-of-28 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns.

Ryan said he plans to keep three quarterbacks on the roster.

Despite having never started an NFL game, Taylor has earned high praise from Ryan since arriving in Buffalo in March. Ryan said he considers Taylor one of the fastest quarterbacks in the NFL and revealed that he tried to trade for him while still coaching for the New York Jets.

"It came down to that explosiveness Tyrod gives us," Ryan said of the decision to name Taylor starter. "... He has a great grasp of our system."

Taylor made 14 appearances in four seasons as backup for the Baltimore Ravens, completing 54.3 percent of his passes for 199 yards and rushing for 136 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries.

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