It wasn’t a direct diss by Stephon Gilmore on Twitter, but every Buffalo Bills’ fan knew what he was hinting at when he said it.
If you ask Stephon Gilmore, he will tell you he’s the best cornerback in the league. If you ask any Buffalo Bills’ fan who has watched him play the past five years, they’re not impressed. If you ask me, his contributions can be duplicated by just about any cornerback, given the chance.
On Monday, Gilmore took to Twitter to show a little excitement about the season. Bills’ fans aren’t stupid though, and can smell a diss from a mile away.
My People finally going to get to see me play on tv. #Patsnation#aboutthattime
— The Gilly Lock (@BumpNrunGilm0re) July 17, 2017
What was our response?
— BuffaLowDown (@BuffaLowDown) July 17, 2017
You can’t strut into Bills’ territory as a first-round draft pick, play average football throughout your rookie contract and then demand top-cornerback money. And then when you don’t get it, go to a rival and act like you’re supposed to be there.
That’s not how it works. If you ask me, Nate Clements was actually worth the money back in 2007, but even he wasn’t given the big contract.
Granted, he ended up signing the biggest contract by a defensive player that offseason with the 49ers. I can’t imagine Buffalo signing an 8-year, $80 million contract with any player ever.
Still, Nate Clements had a much better career with the Buffalo Bills, but wasn’t given the big contract. If anything, I would’ve been pissed if they had given it to Gilmore.
Stephon Gilmore had an okay 5 years in Buffalo. He’s definitely got a lot of talent, but he never looked like he wanted to be out there playing football — and that’s way more important than talent. With the money he was asking for this offseason, you would think he would’ve had a monster season in 2016, but even that wasn’t the case.
5 interceptions is a good number, sure, but let’s not make it seem better than it is. Try this one — Stephon Gilmore played in 15 games last season, but only made an interception in 3 of them. 9 games into the season, Gilmore had only one game with an interception.
In two games last season, Gilmore had more than one pass defensed — just two games. Those two games were vs. Cincinnati and Arizona — the two games he recorded 2 interceptions in each (totaling 4 of his 5 on the season).
There were 5 other games where he only recorded one pass defensed. Yes, that means he only recorded a pass defensed in 7/15 games last season.
Well surely, he must’ve been effective in getting to the quarterback or stopping the run, right?
0 sacks. 0 stuffs. 0 forced fumbles. 0 touchdowns.
I’m sorry, but looking at the stats, Gilmore only had three good games last season and that’s including the game vs. Pittsburgh — where he did record one interception, but just one tackle and one pass defensed.
Let’s not forget, he’s also only played one full season (rookie year), playing 11 games in 2013, 14 games in 2014, 12 games in 2015 and 15 games in 2016.
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In his 5 years in Buffalo, Gilmore combined for 68 games, 226 tackles, 0 sacks, 4 forced fumbles (0 in past two years), 14 interceptions, 0 TD, 62 passes defensed, 4 stuffs (0 in past two years) and 0 blocks.
Compare it to Nate Clements? I’m down.
Clements started his career in Buffalo in 2001 and stuck with the team until 2006 — when he signed that crazy contract with the 49ers. We will look at his first five years in Buffalo and not include the 6th season, where he signed a one-year contract as the team’s franchise player.
In his first five seasons with Buffalo, he played a full season every year (16 games) and even did it in his 6th season with the team. That’s right, never missed a game. Over that span (5 years), he finished with 362 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 20 interceptions, 4 TD, 65 passes defensed, 9 stuffs.
The only stat that comes close is the passes defensed, but that’s mainly because teams were scared to throw to Clements. And when they did, he intercepted it.
For you, Stephon Gilmore, I wouldn’t be worried about being seen on TV this season. I would be worried about actually playing good football on TV this season. It’s all fun and games until the Patriots’ fanbase watches you watch the wide receiver run right past you into the endzone — ahem, teammate Chris Hogan.
As far as I’m concerned, you’re better off on local channels only.
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