No one seems to be very high on EJ Manuel right now. Given his performance in the NFL thus far, it’s understandable. Manuel was certainly a reach when he was drafted; almost as much as his fellow Florida State Seminole Christian Ponder. So I guess look out, teams seeking to draft Jameis Winston down the line.
The Buffalo Bills themselves probably aren’t very sold on EJ Manuel; that’s why they signed Kyle Orton.
Captain Neckbeard was the highest paid back-up in the NFL last season with the Dallas Cowboys, and wherever he goes, lack of faith in the starter is sure to follow.
Thad Lewis, Jeff Tuel and even Jordan Palmer (speaking of ex Chicago Bears QBs) have not sufficed as filling the role as Bills back-up. Palmer was brought in after the Bears cut him, and he was quickly released. The Bills also looked at trading with the New England Patriots for Ryan Mallett.
However, I think the major issue is at QB1, not QB2.
Since we’re talking both Bears and Bills, that’s the match-up for week one in Chicago. EJ Manuel and Buffalo come to Soldier Field on Sunday to kick things off, and Manuel “has not looked good this preseason at all,” says Boomer Esiason, Analyst on The NFL Today on CBS.
“When I look out there and see the players he’s out there on the field with, Chandler, Watkins, you name it, these are all top-quality players. You look at C.J. Spiller, Freddy Jackson and all the weapons they’ve got there, a solid offensive line, a solid defensive line. It really comes down to what it comes down to for all these teams, that’s who’s playing under center,” said Esiason.
This game will be called by Fox and not CBS, but Norman Julius Esiason will see plenty of EJ Manuel this year.
“Buffalo is a CBS team, if you will; we’ll be watching him closely. He’s going to make or break the season for them. And quite frankly, if he plays like he played in the preseason, Buffalo’s not going anywhere.”
I have to agree, Manuel has not been good. However, it is just his second season. I know these days nobody gets time to develop, but they really should.
“Given the fact they did invest a first-round pick in him, and the fact he has not played great this preseason, he’s one of those players who will be under the brightest of lights and the closest of microscopes, because he can make or break their season,” Esiason continued.
“He’s got to grow up quickly. There’s not a lot of time these players are afforded these days, unlike when I played, where you could sit on the bench a couple of years before you played. He really has got to step up his game.”
Paul M. Banks owns and operates The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports, Yahoo! and the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He’s been a guest on news talk shows all across the world and been featured in hundreds of media outlets including NFL Network, Fox Sports 1 and ESPN2. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)