Aug 16, 2013; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback E.J. Manuel (3) drops back to pass as Minnesota Vikings defensive end George Johnson (92) rushes during the second half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Bills beat the Vikings 20-16. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Quarterback E.J. Manuel has yet to break out for the Buffalo Bills after being selected No. 16 overall in 2013. He went 4-6 in his 10 starts as a rookie then went 2-2 before being benched in favor of Kyle Orton. Then Rex Ryan becomes the head coach of the Bills, leaving many to wonder if Manuel will get a chance in 2015.
And that’s understandable, be it that so many new head coaches that inherited high-pick quarterbacks that hadn’t worked out to date moved on from them. Ryan bringing in guys like Matt Cassel and Tyron Taylor at the same position would make it appear that he too has moved on. But from Ryan’s on words, that isn’t the case at all.
He told NFL.com’s Dan Hanzus, “And then EJ. Let’s not just throw him out after two years. Aaron Rodgers never took a snap for three years. So let’s see where Manuel’s going to be.” So for all of the Manuel fans out there, don’t worry because the answer to that question is yes he will get a chance.
It’s just going to be through competition as Ryan also told Hanzus, “I’m lining them up to literally have a competition for the position, People will say, ‘Well, is this guy ahead of the other?’ There’s going to be assumptions, but the great thing is, let it play out. Give both guys the opportunity and then at the end of the day, the cream will rise to the top. It usually does.”
This is year three for Manuel so it’s time to show something in order not to be put on the bust list.
But he has to win this competition to do that.