Buffalo Bills: 5 Players That Should Be on Sean McDermott’s Leadership Council
By Ryan Brennan
These four players could also find themselves on Sean McDermott’s leadership council this season.
Now, I’m not sure how many players Sean McDermott wants to include in this council, but if it is more than five, there are several other players that should be considered. I’ve put together four more players I wouldn’t mind him selecting for the leadership council.
Above, I selected a good mix of players that have been with the team, players that re rather new and one player that is completely new. With these last four players, I will look at a rookie, one of the most talented players on the roster and two more newcomers this offseason.
Let’s start with the most talented player on the roster.
HB LeSean McCoy
LeSean McCoy is another returning player that is seen as one of the leaders in the locker room, but needs to speak up during the season — which I think will happen in 2017. As we saw this offseason, McCoy is no longer here to have fun. He wants to win a championship and is ready to hold players accountable on a daily basis.
It started this offseason when he was criticizing Rex Ryan’s loose style of coaching. Accountability and leadership were two things he saw lacking from this team. I expect him to be one of the players to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
Not to mention, he has one of the bigger voices when it comes to national media. Everyone recognizes and respects McCoy for what he does on the field, so now it’s time to bring that respect off the field as well. Again, not that he doesn’t already, but he could do it a lot more.
MUST READ: LeSean McCoy is 1,046 Yards Away From Massive Career Milestone
DB Micah Hyde
Micah Hyde was the Buffalo Bills‘ top free agent signed and will be one of the two new starting safeties this season. Losing Corey Graham and Aaron Williams created big holes on the roster, but Micah Hyde will fill one of those holes very well.
He was a very respected player with the Green Bay Packers, which should say a lot. He’s versatile on the field, which McDermott values fairly high. Also, being a new player on this team, he has a chance to make a very good first impression for this city.
Being on the leadership council would be quite the confidence builder and good first impression.
He’s also ready to bring an end to the 17-year playoff drought:
"“Seventeen years ago, I was nine years old,” Hyde said. “I don’t know anything about any of that losing and not making it to the playoffs and all of that stuff. Me personally, this is a new football team, new opportunity. I’m sure Sean will say the same thing. I’m sure a lot of guys in the locker room will say the same thing. We’re not looking into the past and the history of the Buffalo Bills, we’re looking to make history.”"
CB Leonard Johnson
Leonard Johnson is another new piece to this defensive back crew and another player that has good experience with Sean McDermott. He spent the 2016 season with McDermott in Carolina and appeared in 10 games.
Johnson finished with 30 tackles, one sack and one pass defensed last season with the Panthers and showed McDermott enough to bring him to Buffalo — where he could potentially compete for a lot of playing time. I mean, I already expect him to receive a good amount of playing time.
He also has experience with the Patriots (2015), but only appeared in 4 games. That knowledge could be useful, though. Before that, he had his better days in Tampa Bay (2012-2014) where he totaled 148 tackles, 6 forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 5 interceptions, 2 touchdowns, 21 passes defensed and 5 stuffs.
Hopefully he returns to his Tampa Bay days, am I right? Either way, he was a good addition to the family and will help players understand what Sean McDermott wants in his team.
"“I’m just coming in to help, man, and this is what I love to do,” Johnson said. “Compete, and make sure everyone around me can be in the right place at the right time. That way, we all hold each other accountable.”"
CB Tre’Davious White
My last honorable mention is a rookie, but remember what McDermott said about the qualifications — experience is key, but not necessarily age.
White was the Buffalo Bills‘ first round selection in this year’s draft after the team traded their No. 10 pick to the Chiefs for the 27th pick, a third round pick and a 2018 first rounder. Personally, I love the pick. The Bills got a quality cornerback that can start day one — huge need — and got someone that fills Sean McDermott’s bill to a tee.
Plus, look at it this way. The Buffalo Bills could’ve selected someone at No. 10 and gotten an O.J. Howard, Mahomes, Lattimore, Reddick, Hooker, really anyone. Instead, they got White, Zay Jones (they traded the Chiefs’ third round pick and the Bills second round to grab Jones) and a future starter in next year’s draft.
White would make an interesting, but good pick for the leadership council. He was honored to wear No. 18 at LSU, which is given to the player that is a leader on and off the field. It would be a big confidence booster for the rookie to have that type of title carry into the NFL.
He would have to prove himself to the rest of the locker room, but he will have plenty of time to do so if he hasn’t already.
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Who would you like to see included in Sean McDermott’s leadership council? Leave your thoughts below!