The Bills have said all along that McCoy is the guy, but the running back himself said, “I think this year might be different. There’s so many whispers about this and that about myself and about my game, so this camp is a little different.
“We’re all competing to make each other better. I’m the guy, I feel like that, that’s what I’ve been told and that’s my everyday approach.” The competition for McCoy includes Frank Gore and T.J. Yeldon as well as highly touted draft pick Devin Singletary.
Controversy has always followed McCoy throughout his career. It’s something that he has had to learn to manage, “As I learn each year, there’s always talk about something, off the field or on the field if it’s age or my salary, it’s always something so I’ve learned to use that nowadays just like motivation. It’s something that Frank has taught me actually, no matter what goes on, they’ll look for the guy with the name or the money, so it motivates me in different ways.”
The Bills have revamped their offensive line. It seemed like every time McCoy got the ball last year, he had absolutely nowhere to run. He’s happy with the new guys on the line, “The guys up front are very good, I’m very happy with the additions added to the team.”
McCoy is also pretty pleased with the improvement in second year quarterback Josh Allen, “Josh in his second year looks really good. Looks more determined, looks more focused and more confident.”
McCoy seems to feel that if the team is winning games, he’ll get his numbers. McCoy said, “The main goal is just winning games and being productive, making every play count and once you do that, the good things and the stats, they come along. If you focus on the numbers and the years, you kind of don’t get it."
I don't think I'm breaking any new ground here when I say, McCoy has always been really good at football. He's used to being the best guy out there, so being doubted is new to him, “Since I’ve been nine-years-old I’ve been the top guy, so it’s weird to hear something like that, but it comes along with it, but the good thing is I’ve learned how the media is, how people are, how fans are, how fantasy team owners are, My brother, who's a sports agent, he sends me clips or whatever of [people] doubting [Aaron Rodgers] or Tom [Brady] and it's like, we’ll see on Sundays and I’m fine with that, I know who I am, I know how I play and my teammates know who I am.”
Some are convinced that the Bills are either going to trade McCoy or just let him go. Brandon Beane has been very consistent is saying that isn’t true. McCoy said it’s always talked about, but it never happens, “I’ve seen that, for the last two years people have been saying that and if that was the case, I would’ve been gone, I mean two teams had been trying to get me, so if I would’ve been going they would’ve gotten something for me, right? If that had happened, they would’ve let me go and gotten something, so that makes sense.”
The Bills will open the preseason on Thursday in Orchard Park against Indianapolis, and then training camp continues at the stadium and is no longer open to the public.