The last two weeks have been rough for Bills fans. It’s been a pil-on from the crash and burn decade since the Bills were on the losing end of the Miracle In Music City. It’s been hell for that franchise. After E.J. Manuel appeared well on his way to locking up the starting job, a foot injury forced him to miss the rest of training camp. The expectation was that he’d be ready for the season-opener, but the Bills have made other plans by naming Jeff Tuel, their Week 1 starting quarterback instead.
Tuel might as well be John Doe to 99% of the non-West Coast football community. Tuel was last year’s starting quarterback during Mike Leach’s first season at the helm. It was completely different than the ringing endorsement Brett Brett Bielema gave Russell Wilson after he was named Seahawks starter.
Leach didn’t exactly set the bar high for Tuel. C’mon coach, at least fake enthusiasm for your old quarterback.
Via ESPN.com:
"He's never really won any games," Leach said in an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio. "His entire college career and maybe his high school career as well, he's never really gotten into a rhythm, between injuries and just being moved around a bit, with new coaches."
Leach said he didn't think Tuel's win-loss record "means he's a bad quarterback" and that the rookie "needs to go out there and expect success."
He also said he believed Tuel had more upside than Matt Leinart and Thad Lewis, the two quarterbacks the Bills brought in Sunday in the wake of injuries to EJ Manuel (knee procedure) and Kevin Kolb (concussion).
