The Buffalo Bills are looking for a veteran quarterback to backup EJ Manuel. Tonight, the team agreed to a deal with veteran Kyle Orton per ESPN Nation NFL Reporter James Walker:
The #Bills have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran QB Kyle Orton, according to a source. Orton will backup EJ Manuel.
— James Walker (@JamesWalkerNFL) August 30, 2014
UPDATE: The Bills may have Orton for longer than one season per Tim Graham of the Buffalo News:
Bills and Kyle Orton have agreed to terms on a two-year deal, pending physical.
— Tim Graham (@ByTimGraham) August 30, 2014
Orton was last with the Dallas Cowboys. He told the team he intended to retire and eventually, Dallas released him. Upon his release, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones declared that Orton had no intentions of retiring. It appears Jones was correct.
The 31 year old quarterback has a 35-35 career record and has played with four different NFL franchises. In his career, he’s thrown for 83 touchdowns and 59 interceptions. Orton will need time to learn Buffalo’s playbook, but he gives the Bills a credible backup in case anything happens to EJ Manuel.
Last season, Orton proved that he could still “sling it” when called upon. In Week 16, Orton went 30-of-46 for 358 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in his lone start of the season. With a new owner on the way, the Bills need to find a way to win now. Adding Orton helps the cause in case something happens to EJ Manuel in 2014.
