EJ Manuel odd-man out in Buffalo?

Here’s an interesting tidbit from earlier Monday afternoon, courtesy of the NFL Network’s Albert Breer- it appears that EJ Manuel might be the odd man out in Buffalo.

Appearing on the Rich Eisen Show today (you can listen to the audio here– second hour around the 17 minute mark), Breer pretty much says that EJ Manuel is sitting on the outside looking in while Tyrod Taylor and Matt Cassel battle for the starting job.

It’s a unique situation when you consider that EJ was a mid-1st round pick back in 2013, and now, just three seasons later, he might not even make the team.

Most teams don’t typically carry a third quarterback in today’s NFL, so there’s a very real possibility that EJ won’t be a member of the Buffalo Bills come Week 1. The consensus has been that despite EJ’s tangibles (leadership, big arm, and potential), he just hasn’t been able to put everything together.

Most first round quarterbacks are essentially put on a three-year growth plan. First year- anything goes. He throws 10 touchdowns and 25 interception- that’s fine. Second season, you expect some growth, and by year three, the franchise should feel pretty comfortable in knowing whether their first round pick is their guy or not.

Apparently, EJ hasn’t done much growing. Even in practice, while Taylor and Cassel split reps with the first team, Manuel is relegated to the second string offense. Bills head coach Rex Ryan even went as far as to refuse to promise that EJ Manuel would ever see first team reps again.

If Manuel is done in Buffalo at some point in the next couple of weeks, could he land a job somewhere else? I would say yes. EJ is a good guy and has a ton of potential, if he could only land with a QB Guru to coach him up, like Jim Harbaugh. But Harbaugh isn’t in the NFL anymore, and it’s a little disheartening to think the Bills would throw up the white flag just three years into EJ’s career, especially after bringing in a new head coach, and adding offensive weapons like receiver Percy Harvin and running back LeSean McCoy, but it’s a very real possibility.

That’s the NFL for you- here today, gone tomorrow- potential can only take you so far. The league wants results, and apparently EJ hasn’t done enough. Time will tell if that’s true. It’s difficult to root against a good guy like EJ Manuel.