Pittsford, N.Y. (WGR 550) – Buffalo Bills safety Jordan Poyer missed four games last season due to an elbow injury, while his partner at safety, Micah Hyde, missed 14 games following season-ending neck surgery.
Those two have been together with the Bills for going on seven seasons, and are the heart and soul of the Buffalo defense.
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After the injury, Poyer had to wear a bulky protective device on his arm, and he never was himself. Poyer says that’s all in the past, because he’s now 100%.
"I feel great, super blessed to be here playing with the guys I’ve been playing with for awhile," said Poyer during his meeting with the media on Friday at training camp. "I’m 32 on paper, but I’m out here feeling like I’m 26 again."
Poyer admitted last year was the hardest season he had ever been through, but he has learned a lot about himself and what he can persevere through.
"If I can persevere through something like last season, I can do anything," Poyer said.
This offseason saw Poyer test the NFL free agent market, but didn’t really get many really good offers. That's why he came back to the Bills and signed a two-year contract.
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"Just being present here and really just enjoying all the moments. It was my first time going through free agency and it was pretty crazy, but I’m super thankful and blessed to be here with the guys I’ve been playing with for a long time. I wouldn’t want it any other way," Poyer said. "This is why I love to do it.
“It’s kind of surreal. With 'Tre' [White] going down and then Micah going down and me in-and-out of the lineup, it’s cool to get that rhythm back going again. It almost seems like I never left. So it’s really fun to be around those guys again."
When talking to different players from the defense, we’re getting the same vibe about new defensive coordinator, head coach Sean McDermott.
"He’s pretty intense. He’s in the meetings a lot more with us, and he says when he’s in our meetings, he’s the defensive coordinator, not the head coach," Poyer said. "It’s cool to have that open dialog with Sean, and with Micah and Tre and myself, he has trust in us. We have trust in him."
Hyde had told the media on Friday that McDermott is going to bring aggressiveness to his calls on defense.
"That’s how he’s always been," Poyer said. "I think back to when he was coaching in Carolina, it was pretty similar. Aggressive is a good word, and we want to be able to dictate, so we never want to play on our heels. Just attacking."
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Hyde says Leslie Frazier was a good coach while he was here too, and it’s just different ideas from two different men.
It really doesn’t matter what sport it is, coaches will talk smack to motivate players. Poyer says McDermott is no different.
"He talks more smack about us [than the offense] in the room," he said. "He’ll come in there today and he’ll say, 'Yes, the offense got one up on you.' He came in there yesterday and tried to butter us up a little bit, because I think we had four picks in practice, telling us we did a good job. I knew he was trying to butter us up and we had an OK day today, but I think the offense got one up. We’ll definitely hear about it in the meetings."
With age comes the realization you’re not going to play in the NFL forever, and winning championships can all of a sudden be out of your grasp.
"You learn to appreciate every moment, you learn to be present," Poyer said. "We’re laughing all day with the guys, and while I’m in moments with my boys or while I’m in moments with you guys, I’m just off my phone so I can be in those moments. Whether we’re talking ball or talking life, it’s those moments that you learn to appreciate and cherish."
The Bills had Saturday off, and will be back on the practice field at St. John Fisher University on Sunday at 9:45 a.m. ET.
