Bills Bench Underperforming EJ Manuel in Favor of Kyle Orton
The Buffalo Bills have sacked EJ Manuel as their starting quarterback. Coach Doug Marrone announced Monday that last year’s first-round pick has been benched in favor of veteran Kyle Orton, who will start the Bills’ next game on the road against the Detroit Lions. The Bills are coming off two straight losses to the San Diego Chargers and Houston Texans so the switch was made. Do any of our league’s competitors have the balls to pick up Kyle Orton on waivers?
Manuel May Become Another Draft Bust
EJ Manuel has not played up to expectations for the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo selected Manuel in the 2013 NFL Draft with their first-round pick, 16th overall. In his rookie season, he played in ten games throwing 11 touchdowns with a 58.8 completion percentage. Through the first four games of 2014, Manuel had thrown two touchdowns for 375 yards. For example in Sunday’s game against the Texans, Manuel threw two interceptions in Sunday’s 23-17. It was the Bills’ second straight defeat after a 2-0 start. According to head coach Doug Marrone, the game film showed a change at quarterback was needed. F&TS Correspondent Richie “Dick” Burns and Mike Rodak of ESPN, quoted Marrone saying, “It’s not all EJ’s fault. We need to get better production out of that position.“
What to Expect from Orton
Now the Bills turn to Kyle Orton, who forced his way out of Dallas this summer and signed a two-year, $11 million contract with Buffalo in late August. Orton has 70 career starts with four teams but just one since the start of the 2012 season. In place of injured Tony Romo, Orton completed 30 of 46 passes for 358 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in the Cowboys’ regular-season finale last season, a 24-22 loss to the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Dick Burns added to his report that sources around the New York Jets wished head coach Rex Ryan had the stones to bench starting quarterback Geno Smith. The Jets have a 1-3 record and Smith has only thrown four touchdowns.
