LeSean McCoy, Sammy Watkins explain why Rex Ryan failed as Bills head coach
In happier times, Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy praised Rex Ryan for being a "player's coach." Now, it turns out that same tendency — and Ryan's failure to hold his players accountable — played a significant role in his downfall.
So say the players, anyway. This week, both McCoy and No. 1 Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins pointed in the same direction when asked what went wrong in Buffalo. Under Ryan, according to the Bills' offensive stars, the team simply lacked discipline.
"I think the discipline has been an issue," McCoy said Friday. "Players just [need to take] accountability for their own actions. ... I just think as players, as professionals, we need to step up and play accountable. That's the biggest issue."
"It's discipline," Watkins said Thursday. "Whatever around the locker room that needs to be addressed — on the field, off the field, flags, whether it's a running drill. ... I just think being professional as players [needs to be] fixed first.
"Then the coaches have to be hard on us, not scared of us. Get at us, yell at us, curse at us. Whatever to get the player to do that job the best he can, that's what they need to do."
