Bad news never quits in Buffalo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.— As if Bills head coach Sean McDermott didn’t have enough to worry about, trailing the Los Angeles Chargers 28-6 at halftime, he had to contend with veteran cornerback Vontae Davis quitting on the team.
“Pulled himself out of the game. He communicated to us that he was done,” McDermott revealed after Sunday’s 31-20 loss. He provided no other details except for a blunt “No” when asked if Davis was injured.
The Bills’ veteran defensive leaders were far more upset about Davis essentially going AWOL.
“I don’t have nothing to say about Vontae — I’ll give him a little bit more respect than he showed us today as far as quitting,” defensive end Lorenzo Alexander said.
“He didn’t say nothing to nobody … I found out going into the second half of the game. They said, he’s not coming out. He retired.”
Tackle Kyle Williams said he’d never encountered a player quitting on a team during a game.
“I think the only thing to say is, he’s where he needs to be right now,” Williams said. Asked where that was, he responded: “That’s not here, point blank and simple.”
Later, Davis issued a lengthy statement on the NFL’s Twitter account, announcing he is retiring after 10 seasons.
“This isn’t how I pictured retiring from the NFL,” he wrote. “But today on the field, reality hit me and hard. I shouldn’t be out there anymore.”
Davis said he meant no disrespect to Bills players and coaches.
“I hold myself to a standard. Mentally, I always expect myself to play at a high level,” he wrote. “But physically, I know today that isn’t possible and I had an honest moment with myself. While I was on the field, I just didn’t feel right, and I told the coaches, ‘I’m not feeling like myself.’ ”
Davis was credited with one tackle. The Bills provided a chance to restart his career by signing him to a one-year contract in March, after a dispute with former Colts coach Chuck Pagano led to Indianapolis cutting him in November.
Davis made his Bills’ debut against the Chargers, after being inactive against Baltimore last week. His abrupt departure overshadowed a defence that wilted in the first half, allowing the Chargers to score touchdowns on four consecutive drives, and a week after a 47-3 meltdown in a season-opening loss at Baltimore.
McDermott also took over the defensive playing-calling from co-ordinator Leslie Frazier in the second half.
If that wasn’t enough, star running back LeSean McCoy’s status is uncertain after he missed the fourth quarter with a rib injury. McCoy was still experiencing pain in the locker room after the game. He was hurt late in the third quarter after a tackle from behind. Buffalo centre Ryan Groy landed heavily on the left side of McCoy’s chest while he was on the ground.
McCoy returned for a threeyard run on the final snap of the third quarter before missing the rest of the game.
The numerous developments overshadowed rookie firstround draft pick Josh Allen’s debut at quarterback. Allen struggled through much of the first half, going 8 of 14 for 126 yards and leading drives for field goals. The 22-year-old was better in the second half and finished 18 of 33 for 245 yards.
“I’m playing this game to win football games and that’s the only reason I’m playing,” Allen said. “At the end of the day we didn’t get the job done, and I’ve got to do my part and I’ve got to be better.”