Before Kyle Orton (who is no longer Captain Neckbeard, but now Uncle Rico from “Napoleon Dynamite” when it comes to the facial hair presentation) threw for over 300 yards, completed 70% of his passes and a 88.1 quarterback rating, ESPN’s Cris Carter said this on ESPN NFL Sunday Countdown:
“You draft a guy. You trade up last year for him. So you’re basically giving him the keys to the franchise. So less than a year and a half after that, all that confidence and all that intel you did about EJ Manuel, you throw it out the window for Kyle Orton?”
I get where he’s coming from. Maybe EJ Manuel wasn’t given enough of a sample size to work with. But again, Kyle Orton got the win over a decent Detroit Lions team. And a QB synonymous with “game manager” went out and won the game himself. He didn’t just “not make mistakes and rely on the running game.”
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport described and summated the Buffalo Bills’ decision to bench quarterback EJ Manuel for Kyle Orton:
“To understand the situation with Kyle Orton, let’s go back to Dallas. He was Dallas’ backup last year. The relationship I’m told between Kyle Orton and Tony Romo was untenable; they believed they could not continue which is one reason that Kyle Orton essentially forced his way out of Dallas, signed with Buffalo as a free agent. A move that coach Doug Marrone initially resisted because they’re paying him $6 million. He worried he could damage the confidence of EJ Manuel. So then they play last week, they lose. EJ Manuel does not look good.
“I’m told Doug Marrone made the decision to replace EJ Manuel with Orton in the locker room after the game, solidified it on the flight back – that’s how fast it was. Checked with some of the team’s veterans, got no pushback mainly because this is something that especially the talented skill position guys, they welcomed. They wanted a new quarterback and today with Kyle Orton at least for the first few weeks they’re going to get one.”
And the Bills players should be excited about the move, they have a chance to win now. Yes, the Bills have been known for playing badly in the second half of the season and finishing poorly (at least since 2008), but right now they’re tied for first with the New England Patriots at 3-2. And the division is weak. The New York Jets are the laughingstock of the NFL.
New England has shown all their vulnerabilities. Miami is mediocre at best. Buffalo has a really solid defense. Why not ride or die with Kyle Orton? He might just lead them to a playoff berth. Crazier things have happened in the NFL this season already.
The Kyle Orton versus EJ Manuel debate was a topic in the preseason and it’s a hot topic now too. Here’s what the CBS Sports Network crew on “That Other Pregame Show on EJ Manuel and Kyle Orton)
London Fletcher: There is pressure on this organization to win now with a new ownership group coming in on Thursday. ‘Hey, we have to win if we’re going to keep our jobs.’ EJ Manuel needed to sit and learn how to play the quarterback position in the National Football League. They felt the pressure and the need to put him in right away because they drafted him in the first round a year ago. But he should have sat and waited. Kyle Orton will be very good for this organization. They have a very good defense. Kyle Orton is a proven winner. And this division, the AFC East, is winnable.
Brandon Tierney: If you are so mentally fragile that one benching destroys you or derails you, than you’re not the quarterback of the future anyway. If you’re not mentally savvy enough to bounce back, then you’re probably not the guy.
Amy Trask: This is the issue – do you as an owner want employees that are looking at a short-term solution? Maybe Orton will win more games in the short term than Manuel. Or do you want an employee who has a broader view and will do what’s right for the organization not only this year. Orton is not your future. You better find out if EJ Manuel is your future.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and very often writes The Sports Bank.net ,which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his features stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks). His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN 2