Buffalo Bills

EJ Manuel says the Bills didn’t give him a chance to work through ‘growing pains’

Published Mar. 21, 2017 9:02 a.m. ET

Cameron DaSilva

The Buffalo Bills surprised a lot of people when they selected EJ Manuel 16th overall in 2013 draft. It was a weak class overall, but Manuel wasn’t viewed as NFL-ready and had several flaws he needed to correct in order to be successful.

He was the starter from Day 1, and his NFL career began on a high note. He threw two touchdown passes with no interceptions in a close 23-21 loss to the Patriots, looking the part of a professional quarterback. Then things began going south as his passer rating dropped in each of the next three weeks. He started 10 games as a rookie, then four in his second season with the Bills turning to Kyle Orton and eventually Tyrod Taylor.

Manuel signed with the Raiders this week, ending his brief, disappointing tenure in Buffalo. However, he didn’t leave without taking a shot at the Bills after he didn’t believe they gave him one.

"It was very surprising," Manuel said, via New York Upstate. "You know, obviously being 2-2 and after losing to Houston, Coach (Doug) Marrone made the change and it was something I never dealt with as a competitor, as an athlete. So, it was definitely one of those things that I had to humble myself and understand that this could happen to anybody, you know what I mean?”

Manuel doesn’t believe the Bills gave him the opportunity to succeed in Buffalo.

"It was obviously a turbulent time in my life, and in my career, and it was only my second year,” Manuel said. “So, just like, wow. Sometimes young guys continue to get a chance to grow and fight through those growing pains and I just wasn't afforded that opportunity. I just kind of had to roll with it and just keep rolling."