Bills RB McCoy shows no signs of slowing down at 30

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. » When he was much younger and brasher, LeSean McCoy recalled informing the league’s older running backs of how he was going to one day chase them down in the record books.

A month shy of his 30th birthday, the Buffalo Bills veteran is suddenly beginning to realize how the tables have turned.

“I hang out in the offseason with a lot of running backs like (Todd) Gurley and (Le’Veon) Bell, and the way they view me is like the old head baller, “McCoy said Tuesday, referring to the Rams and Steelers star running backs. “It drives me. Now it’s like reversed. Now it’s ‘OK, I’m still an elite player, but these young guys are creeping on me.’

“So I’ve got to continue to do better and be better.”

Nothing has slowed him down yet, entering his fourth year in Buffalo and 10th in the NFL.

McCoy is coming off a season in which he had 1,138 yards rushing, and 1,586 yards from scrimmage (including 448 receiving) for the fifth-best totals of his career.

“What can I say, it’s been a great ride. And I look forward to having a big year again,” McCoy said, speaking to reporters for the first time this offseason, and after the Bills opened a threeday mandatory minicamp.

“I’m excited about this year. I’m excited to be back in that offense where it’s hitting on all cylinders.”

How quickly the offense can begin clicking is an uncertainty given the offseason turnover.

With third-year starter Tyrod Taylor traded to Cleveland, Buffalo is breaking in a new quarterback after drafting Wyoming’s Josh Allen in the first round and signing AJ McCarron in free agency. Brian Daboll takes over as coordinator after Rick Dennison was fired in January. And the line’s being revamped after center Eric Wood retired and guard Richie Incognito was released.

Though he’ll miss Taylor, McCoy likes what he’s seen from Allen, who is being developed behind McCarron and second-year holdover Nathan Peterman.

“I’ve got to be honest. He’s pretty good, and I’m not a big fan of rookies,” McCoy said of Allen.

“It’s still early. I don’t want to make him Jim Kelly already, he just has to learn different things,” McCoy said, referring to the Bills Hall of Fame quarterback. “He’s got a lot on his plate. But other than that, just talent-wise and intelligence, he has it to be a starting quarterback and also a franchise quarterback.”

McCoy’s biggest concern is losing Wood and Incognito, who played big roles in helping Buffalo rank no worse than sixth in the league in yards rushing in each of the past three years.

“I would be lying if I told you it didn’t matter,” he said.

Otherwise, McCoy was in a playful mood.

He questioned how he fell from 27th to 30th on the NFL Network’s top 100 player rankings.

“I think I should never go past 25,” said McCoy, whose jersey number is 25. “If the 25 dude’s better than me, I don’t see it. But that’s just my opinion. And I’m known to have an opinion, and you can quote that for sure: 25. Bam! Always.”