Tyrod Taylor has seen a lot.
In 2012, he won a Super Bowl ring as the backup in Baltimore.
From 2015 through 2017, he played in 43 games for the Bills, went to a Pro Bowl and Buffalo was above .500 when he started.
Taylor spent a year in Cleveland and then two with the Los Angeles Chargers. He helped mentor first round talents in Baker Mayfield and Justin Herbert, with a 1-year understudy to Philip Rivers sandwiched between them.
Now an 11-year veteran, he's in Houston. Taylor's completed 61.4 percent of his passes, with 54 touchdown tosses and 20 picks in his career, and said he isn't going to do anything differently, preparation-wise.
"Of course, just be yourself," Taylor said. "Go in each and every day to lead in your own way."
As Taylor and the Texans venture into their third week of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) at the Houston Methodist Training Center this week, he explained why he's an open book when it comes to helping fellow quarterbacks Davis Mills and Jeff Drisekell, as well as the rest of his teammates.
"If there's something that I can share with the younger guy, younger quarterback, younger whatever position it is, then I share it," Taylor said. "You have to, each and every day, bring your 'A game' and your best self to the building and go out there and lead by example, and everything else will fall in line how it's supposed to."
Head coach David Culley coached in Buffalo while Taylor was the starter, passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton spent time with the quarterback last season in Los Angeles, and offensive line coach James Campen is familiar with Taylor from their year together in Cleveland. Those "familiar faces" were a factor in Taylor signing with the Texans. His ability to excel, and willingness to help the other quarterbacks on the roster, were incredibly attractive components for the Texans. And for Culley, Taylor's influence extends well beyond the quarterback room.
"It's invaluable for not only just those guys at the quarterback position, but just for the guys on this football team in general," Culley said. "He's been there and done that and he knows what winning looks like. He knows what winning's supposed to be like."
"We’re all learning the system for the first time," Taylor said. "I think each and every day, guys are doing a good job of just keeping the communication open and pushing each other on the field."
Taylor and the Texans will continue with OTAs this week, and are scheduled to begin minicamp next week. Training camp begins in late July.
