We begin Odds & Ends this week with the Buffalo Bills and their decision to bench quarterback Tyrod Taylor in favor of rookie Nathan Peterman for yesterday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Peterman proved to be very ineffective as he threw five interceptions and completed six passes for 66 yards in the first half of Buffalo’s 54-24 loss. Taylor did play in relief and went 15 of 25 for 158 yards, throwing one TD pass and rushing for another score.

The Bills were in the final playoff spot in the AFC before Sunday’s game and are now on the outside looking in with a 5-5 record with six games to play.

Taylor was benched following their loss against the Saints where he threw for only 56 yards. The team and head coach Sean McDermott had hoped that Peterman could give them a spark. It didn’t happen.

McDermott says he doesn’t regret making the switch and is still undecided about who his signal caller will be in their next game against Kansas City.

It kind of makes me wonder why a move to an unproven rookie quarterback drafted in the fifth round who,in his last year at the University of Pittsburgh,was basically a game manager of one of college football’s best offenses. I get that Taylor played horribly against the Saints, but in all honestly, so did the whole team. Taylor is a decent quarterback in my opinion and is not getting the fairest of shakes with the Bills and it gives you an idea of the kind of organization they’re running there and how mismanaged they are and have been since the turn of the century. I think there at least a dozen teams who would probably like to acquire him in a trade or would sign him if he was released right away.

Taylor deserves better.

It’s not often that we talk college football in this feature,but we do have a story for you that shouldn’t even be a story.

The Sacramento State Hornets have had one of their better seasons in recent memory and have a 7-4 record. The Hornets capped off their remarkable season with a win over their rivals,the UC Davis Aggies 52-47 in the annual Causeway Classic.

Their dream season,however,is coming to what I think is a premature end as they didn’t earn a playoff berth in the FCS playoff field of 24 teams,leaving many Hornets fans disappointed and a bit outraged.

While I think they should be playing postseason football,I do see this snub as motivation for them next season. I think they’ve got a good thing going,I think coach Jody Sears is doing a great job and deserves a contract extension. Keep your heads and stingers up,Hornets fans, I think the best for them is yet to come.

The Giancarlo Stanton sweepstakes are heating up as the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals have both made trade offers to the Miami Marlins for the 28-year old MVP.

As of right now it is unknown what either the Giants or the Cardinals would be offering in return for Stanton, but there is much reason to believe that other teams will submit offers in the coming days.

Teams like Phillies,Dodgers,Red Sox,Astros and Cubs have also been linked to Stanton and it would be hard to believe that neither of them would stand pat on trading for him.

New Marlins co-owner Derek Jeter was asked about a potential trade at the team’s annual Turkey Drive on Friday and gave this response:

“This is about Thanksgiving, my friend,” Jeter answered

The Marlins clearly have a lot of suitors for their best player,but they’re obviously looking at the deals the Giants and Cardinals have submitted and are probably deciding on the best one,and so is Stanton who has a no-trade clause in his contract that is up to him to waive. He may decide not to and stay in Miami next season.

Honestly, I do see Stanton ending up on another team and I’m willing to bet that it’ll be one of the teams mentioned above acquiring him. As I stated last week,I would love nothing more than to have the Giants land him,but with so much competition to get him now,it may be a tougher thing to do. I,however,won’t count them out in trying to get him.

Have a great and Happy Thanksgiving,everybody!