Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan announced on Monday that four-year pro Tyrod Taylor will be the team's starting quarterback when they open the 2015 NFL season at home against the Indianapolis Colts next week.

Bleacher Report noted that Taylor's "excellent preseason" made him win the controversial competition with resident Bills starter E.J. Manuel and former Minnesota Vikings starting signal caller Matt Cassel.

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The 180th overall, sixth round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft had never been a starter his whole career and was the former backup of Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco in Baltimore since his rookie season up to last year.

Ryan admitted that he was not supposed to reveal his starting quarterback until opening day, but his concern over his players' possible responses to questions that may be fielded to them by the media made him change his mind about the matter.

"I thought it was going to help us," the coach said via ESPN, referring to his decision to reveal the team's starter during the preseason. "I know people get bombarded. I don't want our players being bombarded about who is getting reps, all this kind of stuff. I'll get that speculation over with, and then we'll move forward."

It was also reported that Taylor's appointment was highly received by his offensive teammates as the group liked the 26-year-old former Virginia Tech standout's personality and play the whole summer.

Speculations now abound that either Manuel or Cassel may be traded after the decision, but Ryan was quick to dismiss the rumors, saying that the team will keep a three-quarterback rotation this season.

"All three guys did a tremendous job," said Ryan. "Came down to the explosiveness Tyrod gives us."

Taylor is said to be a "dual-threat" quarterback, someone who can pose problems to the opposing team's defense both through his passing and rushing skills, as reported by Kevin Patra of the league's official website.

Patra also said that the Hampton, Virginia native "showed off a better arm and accuracy than expected" on his way to earning the starting signal caller job.

But perhaps the even harder decision for Ryan at the moment is who is going to be Taylor's primary backup, something that the coach has the luxury of choosing between two first team-level players. 

TagsNFL, NFL 2015, NFL news, NFL News 2015, NFL rumors, NFL Rumors 2015, Tyrod Taylor, Matt Cassel, E.J. Manuel, Buffalo Bills, rex ryan