The Buffalo Bills will be with out rookie quarterback EJ Manuel this week. Head coach Doug Marrone elected to sit Manuel this week because of a “lack of mobility,” but Marrone was “110 percent confident” that Manuel would start week 17 against the New England Patriots.
That prompted someone to ask why he wouldn’t just be shut down for the remainder of the season like Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III.
“Every snap, every time we can get him in there, that type of experience, the better and better he gets,” said Marrone, via the Bills’ website. “And we’ve seen that with him. We’ve seen, make no mistake about it, last game we saw him get off to a tough start and then really start to play well. We’ve seen him, at times, play extremely well in games. And that type of experience, that’s what we need. So, that’s why it’s not ‑‑ I don’t even think of (sitting him for the season).”
Manuel for his part wanted to play this week, and wants to play in the finale.
“That’s it. You can’t play this week, just start preparing for the following week when you can play,” Manuel said. “It’s adversity and that’s all you can really say about it. I have to look it right in the eye and combat it and be ready when I can play next week versus New England and come out there, play well and finish the season strong.”