The Facts: It would have been impossible for Manuel to get a true “fresh start” under the previous coaching staff. They entered the league together in 2013. With Rex Ryan, however, there is good reason to believe every player will have a clean slate. “That’s all I want for myself,” Manuel said. “I just want to be able to compete, let it be open, and at the end of the day the best man will play.”

Diehards Line: Indeed, everything anyone needed to know about what Doug Marrone thought of Manuel was learned on Dec. 28. That was the day the Bills played a meaningless regular-season finale against the New England Patriots. There was no reason for Marrone to start journeyman Kyle Orton – who had made it known to teammates the 2014 season would be his last, then made that true when he retired the following day – instead of getting another look at Manuel. ... This year, things will be different. The Bills added veterans Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor to the roster to join Manuel and Jeff Tuel in that competition. It’s possible, but not necessary, that they’ll add another quarterback in the draft. But each one will have an equal shot at the job. That's not something Manuel would have received from Marrone.