Bills’ McCoy not talking as yardage keeps dropping
Frustration mounting for 2013 NFL rushing leader
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The more LeSean McCoy’s production drops, the less the Buffalo Bills running back wants to talk about it.
“Don’t worry about me, I’ll be all right,” McCoy said following practice Wednesday, before excusing himself to, he said, go lift weights. “I ain’t ducking you, honest. I’m trying to get myself together.”
And off he went. McCoy returned to the locker-room briefly about 45 minutes later, before exiting yet again upon seeing a large group of reporters gathered at his stall.
Whatever frustrations McCoy has while enduring the worst start to a season in his 10-year career, or concerns he might have about an offence not producing at an alarmingly anemic rate, he’d prefer to keep to himself, as Buffalo (2-7) prepares to play at the New York Jets (3-6) Sunday.
McCoy hasn’t formally addressed the media since acknowledging he’s never been through as bad of a stretch as this in his life, following a 25-6 loss to New England on Oct. 29. After gaining 12 yards on his first carry against the Patriots, McCoy combined for just 1 more yard on his final 11 attempts of the game.
“I’ve had bad games, but this, the flow of the season and everything, is bad,” he said.
Things got worse Sunday, when McCoy managed 10 yards on 10 carries in a 41-9 loss to Chicago.
“He’s’ too talented for that,” fullback Patrick DiMarco said. “He’s a guy that can change a game and take over a game. He knows that. We know that. Upstairs they know that. We’ve got to get him going.”
One issue is he’s part of a patchwork offence that’s scored just 96 points, topped 300 yards net offence twice and has no continuity at quarterback. McCoy’s also had off-field distractions amid allegations of abusing his son — which he’s denied — stemming from a lawsuit filed by his exgirlfriend.
And age could be catching up to McCoy, who turned 30 in July.
Coach Sean McDermott doesn’t buy it, and blames McCoy’s struggles on the entire offence.
A year after topping 1,100 yards rushing for the sixth time, the NFL’s 2013 rushing leader is barely on pace to break 500.
He’s managed 267 yards rushing and has yet to score in essentially seven games this season. McCoy missed one game due to a rib injury, and was limited to playing two snaps before sustaining a concussion in a 37-5 loss at Indianapolis three weeks ago.
McCoy hasn’t scored since having a touchdown rushing and receiving in a 24-17 win over Miami last Dec. 17. And he hasn’t topped 100 yards since finishing with 156 on a snow-covered field in a 13-7 overtime win against Indianapolis on Dec. 10 a week before that.
The drop in production spans the NFL trading deadline Oct. 30, and amid speculation McCoy may have been dealt because he has one year left on his contract. Or that he was open to leaving a rebuilding team in order to play for a contender.
GM Brandon Beane dismissed those narratives by saying McCoy’s silence stems from mere frustration.
“I can tell you, LeSean is very happy here. He’s frustrated just like I am, just like a lot of guys on our offence,”