ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Kyle Orton will have to learn the Buffalo Bills' offense on the fly this week following his late signing, but coach Doug Marrone said Monday the team had long pursued the veteran backup.

"Early. Very early," Marrone said when asked when the team first targeted Orton. "I wasn't really involved in that. I'm not trying to pass the buck along, but Doug Whaley would be able to answer that a lot better than me, of what held it up."

Marrone said Orton makes the Bills' backup quarterback situation "better" after the team went through its entire training camp with Thad Lewis and Jeff Tuel taking reps behind EJ Manuel.

"I think when you start seeing things unfolding, you have to start having contingency plans," Marrone said. "I don't think that's unnormal, for teams to discuss that, if someone's not playing well, what options are they going to have."

Orton cited family reasons for waiting until the end of the preseason to sign with the Bills.

"Just enjoying family time. I have a 3-year-old, so it was a good time to be with her. To be honest with you, I needed it myself," Orton said. "Anybody who's got kids, I think you kind of know. Just like being around them. But this was the right decision for me, this was the right team for me, this was the right organization for me."

Orton said he didn't consider any other teams.

"The more you're around, you just get that feeling that you're in the right fit. I really didn't think about any other places," Orton said. "When this opportunity arose, I jumped in it."