Buffalo Bills decide to elevate quarterback Kyle Orton to starting role in place of EJ Manuel
Monday 29 September 2014 22:45, UK
EJ Manuel has lost his job as starting quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, with Kyle Orton taking over for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions.
Bills head coach Doug Marrone announced at his Monday press conference that he was making a change following the 23-17 loss to the Houston Texans in week four, a result that dropped his team to 2-2.
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It was a second successive defeat for Buffalo, during which Manuel had a season-low quarterback rating of 59.4 and threw a costly interception that was returned 80 yards for a touchdown by the Texans.
“Obviously as the head coach you’ve got to evaluate everything and at the end of the day you’ve got to make the right decisions with your mind and when you’re able to see things and with your heart,” Marrone told the team's official website.
“The one thing when you go to bed at night you have to make sure you’re making the best decisions to help our football team win.
"In saying that we’re going to make a change at quarterback. Kyle Orton will go in there.”
Experienced
A fourth-round draft pick by the Chicago Bears back in 2005, the experienced Orton takes over having only signed for the franchise at the end of August after being cut by the Dallas Cowboys in the summer.
The one thing when you go to bed at night you have to make sure you’re making the best decisions to help our football team win.
The 31-year-old has also had spells with the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs, throwing for 83 touchdowns with 59 interceptions in his career.
Manuel was taken with the 16th selection by the Bills in the 2013 draft and started 10 games in a rookie season that was hampered by a knee injury.
He was named by Marrone as starter for the new season, helping the franchise record impressive victories over the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins in the opening two weeks.
However, they have since been beaten by the San Diego Chargers and the Texans in their last two outings, during which time Manuel has thrown three touchdowns and the same number of interceptions, as well as losing a fumble.
