Report: Buffalo Bills paying Kyle Orton $5 million this season, could start at some point
By Jack Crosby
The Buffalo Bills had a lot of issues this preseason, but one of the most glaring concerns was most certainly at the quarterback position, and the team has done their best to rectify that. Gone are both backups, Jeff Tuel and Thad Lewis, and they recently went out and picked up free-agent veteran Kyle Orton, who could end up seeing some time on the field at some point this season.
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If you’re trying to figure out why the team would see it fit to put Orton on the field rather than former first-round pick EJ Manuel, then look no further than the amount of money they are reportedly paying the former Cowboys, Bears and Broncos signal caller.
According to Ian Rapoport from the NFL Network, the deal that Orton signed with the Bills will allegedly pay him $5 million in the first season, which is a clear indication that he will be under center at some point.
Wow. Per @RapSheet on Total Access, Orton's deal with the Bills will pay him $5M in the first year. Suggests he will play at some point.
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) August 30, 2014
That would certainly be reason enough to assume that the team and head coach Doug Marrone could tell Manuel to grab a clipboard and put Orton into action. You don’t cough up that much money to someone if you plan on them just sitting there on the sideline in a clean uniform.
Manuel will start for the Bills when the season opens up next week, but the question now is how much longer that will last.