Bills’ QB saga catches everyone by surprise

Taylor’s groin surgery revealed in odd fashion

TORONTO • The Tyrod Taylor clock has officially started.

In what’s becoming typical of the Buffalo Bills lately, it began ticking in curious fashion, too.

In the span of about three weeks, Taylor has been benched, watched as his head coach was fired and then it was revealed he’s actually hurt, and, finally, the 27- year- old quarterback was on the operating table undergoing groin surgery Thursday, something which apparently came as a bit of a surprise to the Bills.

As all of this has been happening, the contract saga that calls for the Bills to make a decision on his future by March 11 has been hovering like a dark cloud above the franchise, and Taylor has 65 days to pass his off- season physical or Buffalo could be on the hook for a $ 27.5- million injury guarantee.

That’s if GM Doug Whaley or whoever is calling the shots doesn’t decide between now and then that Taylor’s the long- term guy and the options in his contract are exercised, a route that seems more unlikely with each passing day.

Back to how the news of Taylor’s surgery, performed by Dr. William Meyers, came about in an odd way.

First, Taylor posted Snapchat pictures of himself in a hospital gown, clearly about to undergo surgery. A little later on, the Bills sent out a statement that wasn’t exactly complimentary.

“Bills QB Tyrod Taylor had a consultation visit yesterday with Dr. William Meyers and elected to have surgery this morning. The Bills were informed late yesterday of this morning’s procedure,” the statement read.

GREGORY SUSPENDED

Things aren’t going well for Randy Gregory.

Already hit with t wo suspensions for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, the Cowboys edgerusher was hit with a minimum one- year ban without pay for his third violation on Thursday.

The suspension is effective immediately and is believed to be for missing another drug test, which is what earned him a 10- game suspension this past off-season.

SMITH FEELING GOOD

It wasn’t all bad news for the Cowboys on Thursday.

Another player considered a second-round reach by Jerry Jones is optimistic he’ll be back on the field next season, as linebacker Jaylon Smith told reporters the nerve in his injured left knee, one he hurt during his final college game at Notre Dame, is regenerating.

“Yeah, it’s regenerating,” Smith told the Dallas Morning News. “It’s just a thing that you have to have patience. I’m going to continue to do everything I’m asked and controlling what I can control and we’re going to take our time with it.”