Buffalo Bills: LeSean McCoy Must Accept Some Blame for his Reputation
By Paul Taylor
LeSean McCoy is right to argue the public perception of him, but the Buffalo Bills’ running back has to take some accountability rather than putting all the blame on the media.
Buffalo Bills‘s running back LeSean McCoy has had his fair share of negative publicity, since coming to Western New York. As such, you can almost understand his defensive attitude, when speaking to PennLive.com ahead of a football camp he hosted for children on Saturday.
McCoy said: “I know what type of person I am. What I do for my community, the type of father I am.”
Certainly, the 2009 second draft pick’s does have a somewhat poor reputation, which he puts squarely on the media: “The only opinions that people really get about players is what they see on TV or what the media gives them.”
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However, for McCoy to put all the responsibility on the media is wrong. Sure, it isn’t always the most honorable of professions, but in many cases, they are just reporting what has happened.
Such is the case with the two-time First-team All-Pro, who has to accept at least some of the blame. If you don’t want people to report what you’re getting up to, don’t put yourself in compromising situations.
In that respect, McCoy started drawing unwanted attention to himself soon after he was traded from Philadelphia, asking why his former coach, Chip Kelly, was getting rid of all the good black players? This was followed soon after by the release of a poster, advertising a “females only” private event, which he was going to host.
And of course, everyone is now familiar with the four-time Pro Bowlers alleged involvement in a bar brawl with off-duty police officers in Philadelphia, back in February. Ultimately he was not charged, or disciplined by the NFL, but again, it’s hardly surprising the incident made it into the headlines.
Now, you can look at any one of these incidents individually, and make an objective/conceivable excuse. However, when put together, it is easy to question if a pattern of behavior is occurring?
Moving forward, while McCoy hosts football camps to give children an opportunity they wouldn’t usually get, maybe he can also use it as a chance to learn something from them: “These kids have so much more to worry about, than just coming to camp.
“They have to wonder about their next meal, what coat they’re going to wear, all those types of things. So events like this can take their mind off all the negativity…and concentrate on positive thing.”
As the 28-year old prepares for his second season with the Bills, head coach Rex Ryan will be hoping he can take a similar approach to the children. If he focuses on what he does on the field, the rest of the NFL better watch out.
Next: Stephon Gilmore has no choice but to attend camp
Is LeSean McCoy worthy of his negative reputation, or does he get an unfair rap? Further, what kind of season do you expect him to have with the Bills? Let us know in the comments section below.