Orchard Park, NY (WGR) - Buffalo Bills cornerback Maxwell Hairston had a rough game on Sunday. He was often the target of passes from Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and gave up several plays, including a touchdown. He was also called for a critical holding penalty that negated a sack near the Bills end zone.
After the game, he declined to speak with reporters and left the locker room abruptly.
On Monday, he unexpectedly came to the podium inside the Bills media room to address reporters and apologized for not sticking around after the game.
"I wanted to start this off by apologizing for walking out yesterday," Hairston said. "I was feeling very emotional. I let my emotions get the best of me, and I didn't want to say something I might have regretted."
The second year cornerback said it was his idea to go to the podium, and he was not prompted by any coaches or the organization.
"I wanted to apologize for that," he said, referring to leaving abruptly after Sunday's game. "That's kind of immature and I'm better than that."
When asked what the last 24 hours had been like, leading up to him stepping up to the podium, Hairston said, "yesterday, I kind of just reflected. I watched the game again a couple times and really watched the plays where I felt like I left plays out there on the field. And not feeling bad for myself, but knowing that I have to be better. And last night, I kind of just allowed to kind of hurt and to use that as fuel to continue to go. And this morning, I woke up with a growth mindset, knowing it's Monday, it's time to move on and not put that on tape again."
Hairston and the Bills defense have a tough test next Monday night in Los Angeles when they face wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, along with the reigning league MVP, quarterback Matthew Stafford.
"I know what I have to work on to be better," he said, "and I'm going to attack that this week and allow it to show in the game."
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