The more skepticism LeSean McCoy hears about whether he can maintain his production after turning 30 Brandon Scherff Jersey , the better the Buffalo running back feels.
McCoy is using the questions as motivation in preparing to open his 10th NFL season on Sunday, when the Bills play at Baltimore.
"People take a lot of shots at running backs, 30 years old," McCoy said Wednesday. "So it's like something extra to drive me. If it's chasing different things, yardage, wins, you name it. Whatever it is, I'm always going to try to find something to get myself going."
Little has managed to slow him down yet.
And that includes the cloud of allegations directed at McCoy stemming from his former girlfriend, Delicia Cordon, being bloodied during a home invasion on July 10 at a residence the running back owns in suburban Atlanta. Police have not identified a suspect.
Cordon filed a lawsuit last month accusing McCoy of breaching his duty to protect her by denying her access to a security system he recently had installed. She also alleged McCoy often "brutally beat his dog," and would also "aggressively, physically discipline and beat his young son."
In his first comments since the lawsuit was filed, McCoy would only say, "I'll take care of that stuff," before adding he's focused solely on playing the Ravens.
He was in an upbeat mood during a near 10-minute news conference. That was a switch from the last time McCoy spoke to reporters on the opening day of training camp in July http://www.chicagobearsteamonline.com/quintin-demps-jersey , when he grew frustrated over questions regarding the home invasion.
On Wednesday, McCoy was honored in being named an offensive captain following a player vote.
McCoy expressed no concerns over whether he can continue being the focal point of a retooled offense breaking in a new quarterback, former backup Nathan Peterman, features a patchwork line and lacks proven threats beyond him and receiver Kelvin Benjamin.
He's used to the role of carrying the load.
"To be honest, that's always been my thing since my third year," said McCoy, who led the NFL in yards rushing in 2013 in his fifth season in Philadelphia. "I've always been the focal guy on offense."
McCoy is coming off a season in which he had 1,138 yards rushing 鈥?the fifth-highest total of his career 鈥?and 448 yards receiving and eight touchdowns and became the NFL's 30th player to top 10,000 yards rushing. With 10,092 yards rushing, he ranks 29th and is some 1,900 short reaching his objective of 12,000.
The number is significant to McCoy because 13 of the 16 players to reach 12,000 yards rushing have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Former Indianapolis running back Edgerrin James (12,246 yards rushing) is one of the players not enshrined http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/lance-kendricks-jersey , while the other two are still active: Miami's Frank Gore (14,026) and Washington's Adrian Peterson (12,276).
McCoy's age is not an issue for coach Sean McDermott.
"Whatever we need to do to win games, that's what we'll do," he said when asked about potentially limiting McCoy's playing time.
"I get where you're going with the age, and that's usually tied to running backs, age 30, and all that. But he's a special guy," McDermott added. "I think he's a healthy 30. To me, he looks like he's in better shape this year than he was a year ago."
Time will only tell.
A sore groin and hip limited McCoy to appearing in just one preseason game, a 19-17 win at Cleveland on Aug 18, in which he acknowledged feeling rusty in managing 11 yards on four carries.
"I didn't play well, but that's kind of my norm in preseason," said McCoy, who added he feels ready for the start of the season.
Another concern is though he topped 1 Tony Dorsett Jersey ,000 yards rushing for a sixth time last season, McCoy averaged a career-worst 4.0 yards per carry.
McCoy shrugged off a question by saying production numbers can vary. What matters most is the respect he continues to draw from opposing defensive coordinators in devising ways to stop him.
"Having a 4.0 a carry is one thing," McCoy said. "But every week it's no secret. The defense knows the game plan and what they've got to do to stop me."
NOTES: DT Kyle Williams (right knee) and DE Trent Murphy (groin) were not listed on Buffalo's injury report after both missed significant time during training camp. ... WR Ray-Ray McCloud (left knee) and LB Julian Stanford (nose) were Buffalo's only two players listed as not practicing.
>The final weekend of the NFL’s regular season produced some frozen water fails on television and some frostiness from Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis, who put Jack Del Rio in the awkward position of announcing his own firing.First, the live television faux pas.Both ESPN reporter Diana Russini at Gillette Stadium, and FOX’s Jen Hale at the Meadowlands tried to show just how cold it was by turning over a glass of ice only to watch the water flow right on out during live takes.“I filled this glass up with water about 15 minutes ago,” Russini said. “And …”The water poured right on out.“Here on the sideline, both staffs are having trouble keeping things from freezing up,” Hale said as she dumped out her own cup of water. “Cups, they keep freezing if they’re already filled with water.”That wasn’t as cold as the frosty reception Del Rio got from Davis as he came off the field following a 30-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers that left after a disappointing six-win season.Del Rio handled the situation with class.“He told me he loved me and appreciated all that I did, but felt like we weren’t going in the right direction,” Del Rio said. “He felt he needed a change, and I told him how much I appreciated the opportunity he gave me. I mean that. Very grateful. My childhood team, but it’s a results business. I understand that.“I appreciate the players and coaches and all the hard work, all the effort and energy. I do believe we have established a solid nucleus. Whoever comes in here has a chance to take that nucleus and go to special places Randy Gregory Jersey , and I’ll be pulling for them.”Del Rio took over a three-win team after the 2015 season and won seven games his first year before guiding the Raiders on a breakthrough season with 12 wins. But it ended in disappointment when a broken leg for quarterback Derek Carr in Week 16 cost the Raiders a chance at a division title and led to a first-round playoff loss.Ending Oakland’s 13-year playoff drought earned Del Rio a four-year extension in February but not any slack.Despite the return of Carr and the additions of Marshawn Lynch and Jared Cook, Del Rio’s decision to fire coordinator Bill Musgrave after last season despite a dynamic offense and replace him with quarterbacks coach Todd Downing backfired.The offense regressed significantly as Carr struggled under Downing’s tutelage and the defense showed no signs of improvement before firing coordinator Ken Norton Jr. after the defense became the first in league history to go 11 games into a season before intercepting a pass.Speculation is high that Jon Gruden will return to Oakland for a second stint as coach. He was traded by the Raiders to Tampa Bay following the 2001 season and beat Oakland in the Super Bowl the following season. He was fired by the Buccaneers after the 2008 season and has been in the broadcast booth since.Del Rio was the ninth coach in Oakland since Gruden left, but only the second to get them to the playoffs.“I honor the owner’s decision,” Del Rio said. “It was a great honor for me to lead this organization and get this opportunity, and I understand it’s a results business. We had a great first two years and this year was a big disappointment. Can’t disagree with that.”The final weekend of the regular season produced plenty of glorified exhibitions like the Kansas City-Denver game featuring a bevy of backups, including QB Patrick Mahomes making both his first NFL start and first NFL relief appearance for the Chiefs.Just as he did earlier this year with Martellus Bennett, Patriots coach Bill Belichick put newcomer James Harrison in line to make an immediate impact . Released by the Steelers after not getting the playing time he wanted, the 39-year-old linebacker had two sacks, five tackles and a forced fumble in a 26-6 win over the Jets that secured home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs for the Patriots. That was more production than he had all year with the Steelers, who are the conference’s No. 2 seed.Corey Coleman let a chance to avoid 0-16 slip through his hands on fourth down in Cleveland’s 28-24 loss to the Steelers’ B team.The Ravens let the playoffs slip through their grasp when Andy Dalton threw a 49-yard TD pass to Tyler Boyd on fourth-and-12 with 44 seconds left to push Cincy to a 31-27 win in Baltimore.That sent the Buffalo Bills to the playoffs, ending their 17-year drought, the longest in American sports.So, Bills fans finally with something to look forward to in January like those previous generations who always had Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas to cheer on well into the winter.At least until they’d lose the Super Bowl. Authentic Womens Harold Landry Jersey
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