E.J. Manuel Must Step Up For Bills, Back Up Coach Rex Ryan’s Bluster

Rex Ryan does a lot of things, few of them better than backing his players.

The new Buffalo Bills head coach has a penchant for blustery quotes that fit his outsize personality, and he’s stayed true to form. Before ever seeing incumbent quarterback E.J. Manuel in a practice or even a formal workout, Ryan already puts the third-year signal-caller in rare company.

“Let’s not just throw him out after two years,” Ryan told reporters. “Aaron Rodgers never took a snap for three years. So let’s see where (Manuel) is going to be.”

Talk like that doesn’t just give tabloid headline writers back-page fodder, former NFL linebacker Brady Poppinga writes on FootballbyFootball.com. Ryan’s tough talk instills confidence in his players; it’s up to them to take it from there and perform.

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