Archives for October 29, 2015

'That pressure is undoubtedly weighing on Watkins – and he’s starting to crack. His comments about wanting more targets were largely met with an agreeable nod from Bills fans, but the timing of them was easily called into question considering he was out with the calf injury. To be the type of player everyone wants Watkins to be, he has to be on the field.'

'A look at the coaches' film, however, shows that Clay could've actually had a huge game for the Bills. At times, he was open and quarterback EJ Manuel didn't see him. Another play, he couldn't hang on. Another play, he slipped. Out of the bye week, the Bills might look to get Clay rolling against his old team.'

'His frustration is understandable, given that injuries have been a constant theme for him since entering the NFL. Watkins has 11 catches for 147 yards this season. That yardage total ranks tied for 133rd in the league. The pressure that comes with being selected No. 4 overall, and the Bills using two first-round draft picks to acquire him, will hang over Watkins until he starts to deliver in a manner that corresponds to his draft spot.'

'For a highly paid athlete, responding is even worse. To call people losers and make a snide reference to their “little jobs” is unforgivably stupid. Even the best fans think professional athletes are overpaid and that they don’t appreciate the hard-working fans who pay to see them perform.'

'Really? It seems as if it would have been much wiser to focus on the many problems the team clearly has in falling to 3-4. The offense is struggling, but not simply because EJ Manuel has been mostly incompetent in place of injured starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor or the other injuries on both sides of the ball. This club needs to play smarter and the entire squad, which has shown an extreme lack of discipline in piling up an NFL-leading 72 penalties, must feel a greater sense of accountability.'

'In his follow-up comment, Watkins said: "my frustration is wanting to help the team and win for the city of Buffalo and for my teammates."'

'I'm not first or last person that's gone be injured difference from me and you guys y'all mad and I'm not get a life and goto work stop worrying about my job because I'm good on this end and forever will be losers most of you just wish to be in this position so continue working y'all little jobs for the rest of y'all lives since everyone once a response here go one have a blessed day."'

'With a backup quarterback throwing to backup receivers while operating behind backup linemen, while operating against the National Football League’s most pitiful franchise, a Jaguars team able to reduce any contest to the quality of the second half of an exhibition game, it was impossible to anticipate a dominant showing from Rex Ryan’s purported bullies. Or even a mildly aesthetically pleasing one. But, my God.'

'“As a player we need critics and also fans that’s apart of the game,” Watkins wrote. “Majority of the negative comments were from other fans not the Bills fans.”'

'Buffalo's offense is in shambles, so much so that Ryan has given the team the entire week off from the facility. There are no organized practices or walk-throughs, and the only players on site are the ones who need medical treatment.'

'"I don't get it, I don't understand it," Ryan said. "But this one was absolutely miserable. I mean, it's unacceptable is what it is."'

'The 2014 fourth overall pick made headlines earlier this month when he told The Buffalo News he was frustrated with his lack of targets in the Bills' offense and that his agent had contacted the team to tell them, "You're making me look bad, and you're making yourself look bad. Why not make both of us look good?"'

'The Bills are converting only 33.7% of their 3rd downs. That’s ranked 26th overall in the NFL. It’s actually even a tad lower than last year’s conversion rate, which also ranked 26th at the end of the season. And considering how bad last year’s offense was, that’s obviously a concern.'

'Watkins, 22, fired back at fans through an Instagram comment that has since been deleted by the Bills' top wideout.'

'If you’ll notice, the grades for the rest of the Bills team are much higher than you would expect for a team that was down 27-3 at one point in the second quarter. The reason for that is quite simple. The player starting at the most important position on the field for the Bills, was also the worst player on the field for either team.'