Archives for September 30, 2014

‘In short, for all the justified criticism of Manuel, there was plenty of blame to go around for Buffalo’s offense. Now it’s Orton’s team, but he inherits the same line … and offensive coordinator.’

‘The move is a shocking departure from the team’s “all-in” approach with Manuel, their 2013 first-round draft pick who has a career record of 6-8 as a starter.”

‘”It’s a decision that was made, and one that we just have to go out there and make it the right decision,” Jackson said before appearing on Monday’s episode of “The Fred Jackson Show” on WBBZ-TV. “Everybody’s got to continue to work. We’ve got to make everything as smooth a transition for Kyle as we can.”‘

‘It’s a wonder that Doug Marrone’s nose didn’t grow after Sunday’s loss in Houston when he said he hadn’t considered using Orton in that game. It’s clear that using Orton has been on the table for some time. It was a consideration when they brought him in at the end of camp and paid him a $5 million salary.’

‘This 2-2 feels pretty dire, though, and Doug Marrone confirmed as much Monday when he announced that EJ Manuel is heading to the bench in favor of Kyle Orton. We’re only at the quarter pole of the NFL season, but the Bills are already facing a tough road if they hope to end their postseason drought. Upon Further Review, Sunday’s loss certainly didn’t help in that seemingly neverending quest.’

‘You have to wonder what took Marrone so long, because the tape has been showing exactly what Marrone saw on Monday pretty much from the moment Manuel showed up in 2013 as the first-round pick charged with becoming the Bills quarterback of the future.’

‘Marrone is the one who has had to figure out a way to win games in spite of his quarterback play. Marrone is the one who has to stand in front of reporters almost every day and answer questions about how inadequate Manuel is playing, and he’s the one who ultimately would have been out of a job had he stuck with Manuel too long.’

‘”Absolutely,” Marrone said. “I believe that we have a playoff-caliber team. I think that we have to play better than we did the last two weeks, though.”‘

‘Williams was in and out of the locker room before reporters could talk to him. He didn’t have a chance to say what the return meant or didn’t mean to him. Maybe it took until then for Williams to feel the frustration of the loss. Maybe he was in a hurry to say hello to old friends, or maybe the game really didn’t mean anything extra to the star defensive end, who finished the game with three quarterback hurries and had a sack called back by a penalty.’

‘Asked after Sunday’s game if he was tempted to insert Orton into the game against the Texans, Marrone said, “No, not at all.”‘

‘The Bills are giving up on Manuel four games into his second season and after his 14th NFL start. He hasn’t even played a full season yet as Bills quarterback, yet the coaching staff believes it’s time to give Kyle Orton a chance.’

‘”When you go to bed at night you have to make sure that you’re making the best decisions to help our football team win,” said Marrone, deviating from his plan to stick with Manuel through the inevitable sophomore blues. After another bumptious outing against Houston, it was evident the Bills would face another season without the playoffs if it didn’t make a change.’

‘All that’s certain now is Orton will be under center against the Lions, Manuel will be on the sideline and Marrone better hope the gambit pays off, or the chances will go up quickly that he pays with his job.’

‘It was a precipitous fall for Manuel, whom the Bills drafted 16th overall in 2013 out of Florida State. He threw for 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions with a 77.7 rating in 10 games of an injury-riddled rookie season. The Bills are 6-8 with him at quarterback.’