Matt Leinart is now with the Buffalo Bills, but he won’t be a permanent fixture with the team. The Bills will be featuring Leinart and Jeff Tuel for the immediate future, but the team’s best quarterbacks are still unquestionably rookie E.J. Manuel and Kevin Kolb, both of which are currently sidelined by injuries, but they’re also both expected back in the not-so-distant future. So, where does that leave Matt Leinart?
Really excited and thankful for the @buffalobills for giving me this opportunity. Been working hard for 8 straight months. Time to go!!
— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) August 25, 2013
Essentially, Leinart is being given an extended tryout, not just to make the Bills’ roster, which he likely won’t, but a tryout that could lead to other opportunities. With demand for quarterbacks very high, and supply incredibly low, it’s no surprise that Leinart found a team, even if it’s a short-term gig.
If Leinart is able to shine in his time with the Bills, other quarterback teams may be willing to give him a look when they would otherwise turn the other way. Frankly, following his forgettable performances with the Raiders last season, Leinart needed someone to give him another chance, because he certainly didn’t earn it with his on-field play.
With other quarterback needy teams around nearly every corner, Matt Leinart now has a golden avenue to landing on someone’s roster somewhere, but he’s never stuck anywhere in his NFL career, so expectations are low. If he proves to be a somewhat serviceable backup, he could have a good chance to finally land a longer-term position, even if it’s only as a backup.
