There isn't a quarterback in the league that wants to be a backup by trade. Every NFL signal caller strives to be a starter. So when one is not it's a tough reality to handle. It's even tougher when a quarterback is declared the starter and has his picture on billboards one season and then is given the backup role a year later.
That is J.P. Losman's professional football existence right now. So it wouldn't be surprising if Losman was bitter or angry. After all he's been through this once before in 2005, when he was appointed the team's starter only to find himself getting yanked from the field less than two games into the season before being pulled altogether after week four.
Losman however, has processed the whole thing and now is only worried about doing his job to the best of his ability.
"Right now is not the time to be thinking about anything like that," said Losman. "I had a chance to digest everything that happened in that situation in the offseason. Right now I'm strictly focused on being ready."
And Losman was ready Tuesday night when starting quarterback Trent Edwards left practice early with a thigh contusion.
"You've just got to be ready," said Losman. "This whole situation I've just been trying to force myself to get ready. It can be tough at times, hard at times, but again in an instance like (that) it can happen in just a couple of plays. I've got to be ready. I've got to keep forcing myself and asking my teammates to keep helping me with that and keep fighting through every day. You've just got to be ready. There's a lot on the line every game and if it's three plays this year or whatever I want to come through for my teammates for sure."
It's clear that being the backup is something that Losman needed time to accept. It's obvious he'd prefer to be the starting signal caller, but does not harbor any ill will toward offensive coordinator Turk Schonert or quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt.
"I'm very, very comfortable with Turk and Alex," said Losman. "I like going to work with those guys each and every day. We've agreed in the past over many, many things, they just weren't in a position to make those things come true. Even though the situation has changed I'm still working with those guys and that makes coming to work that much easier."
As for his relationship with Edwards, Losman feels they interact as they always have as each of them know they don't decide how the depth chart falls.
"Trent is great," said Losman. "No situation has changed there as far as the friendship. It's not his fault the situation is the way it is. You have to look at yourself in the mirror and realize why the situation is the way it is and then you move on. Like I said it's not his doing by any means. It's not his fault. For me to be upset at him would be childish."
To make the situation easier Losman for himself he has broadened his scope and thinks about more than just his present standing with the Bills.
"Looking at the overall picture, the overall career of a player, this is just going to be one year," said Losman. "There's a long way to go and that's the picture you have to look at and constantly push yourself to get better not just for this year, but for years to come."
For now he'll do his best to be prepared if and when opportunity knocks during the regular season.
"I just keep pressing on," he said. "You've got to keep saying, 'Something could happen you've got to be ready for it.'"
