He just put together his most productive rushing day of the season, but after the win over Cleveland, McCoy was more focused on a better collective professionalism on the part of the Bills players.
Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
He’s not the first Bills player to say it this season and he might not be the last. But just minutes after he ran for a season-high 153 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Sunday’s win over Cleveland, LeSean McCoy put it on his teammates to collectively act like men and take responsibility for the duties they’re expected to fulfill, not only on game day, but every other day they’re at the office.
“I think as players we need to step up as men and be accountable and be mature,” he said. “There are certain things that happen in the course of games where (our coach) is not out there playing.”
McCoy was referencing the lack of consistency in the team’s execution this season, their sense of urgency in critical times of games and, at times, their lack of discipline in emotionally heightened situations on the field.
There are a good number of players who do exhibit the necessary professionalism each and every week. But it’s evident that veterans like him and a few other prominent players believe the accountability they’re looking for has to be more of a team-wide concept.
“I’m talking about myself and my teammates,” said McCoy. “We’ve got to be more accountable and make sure we do our job. It’s what we get paid to do. We have to give 100 percent effort and take care of our preparation. There are so many things besides just going out there Sunday and just lining up and playing. As players we have to do that.”
Part of that accountability includes having a positive mindset no matter the circumstances in a game or the status of the team’s playoff hopes, which at this point are beyond slim. That’s why McCoy intends to approach each of Buffalo’s final two regular season games the same way he approached the previous 14.
“I’m just taking it one game at a time,” he said. “I’m kind of focused on that. We’ve got a couple of more games left. I’m going to try to make the best of them. Win them out and hopefully something crazy happens where we can get a playoff shot. Other than that I’m just focused on the positive. It’s as simple as that. Trying to stay optimistic.”