Pittsford, NY (WGR 550) - Shaq Lawson knows that he must make an impact this season to save his career. The Bills declined to pick up his fifth-year option this offseason, and Buffalo's 2016 No. 1 pick has to prove himself now.
Lawson changed his offseason habits, which included intense workouts in Arizona. He said, "It's very hot out there and I wanted to be in a better environment so I could know how to breathe and workout.
"I went hiking every Wednesday, so that was part of my workout and I worked out Monday through Saturday, so I just tried something different to try to help me out this year."
Lawson has been in camp with the pads on and he said he is noticing a big difference on the field, "I felt a lot of difference, working out out there in AZ, it's just hard to breathe, but down here, it's just love."
Lawson said after being in that heat of Arizona, it's made practicing in the cooler weather a breeze.
With Lawson's contract in limbo, he knows there has to be big improvement and large contributions from him. He said, "It's motivated me even harder, it's basically do or die for me, I've got to prove myself this year, it's the difference between a big contract and signing a little deal." Lawson added, "If we win, everybody gets paid."
Lawson said he's not going to wilt because of his contract. He said it'll be the opposite, "I like pressure, I've never fallen under pressure and that's why I've been doing it since a young kid. I've gone through adversity throughout my life so I know how to handle it. You've just got to get back up when you've been knocked down."
The Bills had one of the best defenses in the NFL last season. Lawson said having that much talent around him just helps him be better, "We've got great leaders, Zoe, Jerry, Trent, Star, those guys made last year and this part of camp easy for me and I thank them for how I played last year because those guys helped me out in a big way and we've got the best DB's in the league and we work together on rush coverage and that just makes us one great defense."
The Bills have their last St. John Fisher College practice on Tuesday starting at 9:45. The practice is free and open to the general public.
