Bills quarterback Matt Leinart was thrown into an impossible situation, and performed as poorly as you’d imagine.
The good news appears to be that he has no illusions about his future in Buffalo after last night’s two-interception performance.
“I was thankful to be here, and we’ll see what happens,” Leinart said, via John Kryk of Sun Media in Canada. “Obviously, you know, after that performance it can’t be anything good, I would think. But we’ll see, . . . I had a fun week here.”
The former first-rounder had to start after four days of being a Bill, since E.J. Manuel’s rehabbing his knee, and Kevin Kolb’s out with a concussion, and they didn’t want to risk Jeff Tuel in the final preseason game.
Yes, Jeff Tuel is too valuable to take a chance with. That’s where the Bills are.
So it’s hardly a surprise that Leinart was 3-of-10 passing for 11 yards, with two interceptions (a classic 0.0 rating) before being replaced by Thad Lewis in an act of kindness and mercy by Bills coach Doug Marrone.
“Obviously it’s disappointing,” Leinart said. “You have an opportunity and you go out there and you really don’t play as well as you want to. I will not sit here and make an excuse. I could have played better and I didn’t.
“Obviously I was hoping to maybe get in there in the second half and kind of redeem myself. But you can’t turn the ball over in this league and expect to win.”
Or stay employed long. But at least Leinart has the self-awareness to know it.