On Monday, E.J. Manuel was benched for this week’s game at Detroit versus the Lions for veteran Kyle Orton. Today, he talked about how he was told of head coach Doug Marrone’s decision.
“(Marrone) sat me down and told me his decision and I think it’s about the team,” said Manuel. “The team is bigger than I am and whatever he feels is best to help this team, we’ll go with.”
The second year’ quarterback said losing the starting job was “a tough pill to swallow”, and that he was “upset” and “frustrated” when he heard of the demotion. Despite that, not only has the move not detterred Manuel from working hard, but thatit has “kicked” his “work ethic up even more”.
“Whatever I need to do, whether it’s in the film room or whether it’s out there on the field being more consistent with everything,” said Manuel. “How the ball is coming out of my hands, my enunciation in that huddle and all of those types of things. I’m not taking any reps off, as far as when I am in there with the offense. When I do get a chance to go out there and make some plays, I’m still doing it.”
In terms of what he can learn from watching Orton play, Manuel believes there is “always something” to be gained from watching the nine-year veteran at practice, or even someone like “Drew Brees” on “Monday Night Football”. After early struggles in the season resulted in criticism and then the move to the bench, Manuel says he is “digesting the situation”, and “adjusting” to a “position” that he has not been in.
“Nonetheless, there are many positions I’ve never been in that I have to experience,” said Manuel. “It’s a part of my story. It’s a part of my career. I think, in the long run, I look back at it as something that helped build me and helped me become a better man.”
“A lot of my close friends and family have reached out to me and have been there for me. I can’t really say what one thing has been the best advice. I think, for me, it’s a matter of myself believing in me and not losing my confidence in myself.”
Even Orton has been “supportive” to Manuel, although the young signal-caller said he would keep the conversations with the new starter and Marrone to themsleves.
Manuel says he will “fight every single day” to earn his starting job back. When he returns to the top of the quarterback depth chart, he wants “to be a different player”.
“I just want to cut it loose, man,” said Manuel. “Not hold myself back. Not to say I was, but I think at a certain point in your career and your manhood that you just open up and go out there and let it rip. You don’t worry about the repercussions. If something happens, at least you went down guns loaded or guns fired. Just go out there and let it rip. That’s what I’ve been practicing this past week out there against our defense. Just allowing myself to go out there and make plays naturally.”
A more aggressive and confident Manuel is something the Bills have been looking for. However, it likely won’t be seen on the field in the foreseeable future if the move to Orton goes as planned.
Other notes:
-Defensive tackle Kyle Williams (knee), linebacker Nigel Bradham (knee), wide receiver Marcus Easley (knee), and Chris Wiliams (back) did not participate in practice again today. Marrone said after practice that he is wating for the doctors and trainers to release the injury reports tomorrow to see if Kyle Williams and Bradham can practice tomorrow, although he did say their status is “uncertain” at this point. As for Chris Williams, Marrone said “he’s not sure what’s there” in terms of the back injury, an ailment Marrone said earlier this week can differ day to day.
-Kyle Orton has made his presence known as someone who wants certain things out of his receivers this week at practice.
-If Chris Williams can’t play, it would likely be up to Cyril Richardson to make his second career start. In his first one, Richardson had mixed reviews in a game where he had to face a talented Houston Texans front 7 that included All-Pro J.J. Watt. It won’t get any easier this week against the duo of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley inside. But Marrone believes it’s “great” Richardson could have those two challenges to begin his career, bringing up a similar situation in his time as offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints (2006-2008) in which a young guard who became a Pro Bowler experienced and came better through it. “Now, you come back against two great inside players,” said Marrone. “Obviously they rotate some really good players in there, but two outstanding players. There’s no better way to come into this league. I think that my experience with the offensive line has been that, I’ll give you an example. Really the first guy in the preseason that Jahri Evans played against was Albert Haynesworth. When you’re going against the best ones right off the bat, you understand what it’s going to take in this league to play. Cyril did a nice job. Now he needs to make sure that he takes that progressing and keeps going. I’m not comparing him to Jahri, obviously. I’m just comparing that one experience of playing against the top players in the league right off the bat.”
