Watkins opts for casino over voluntary workouts.

[OpIv37]

http://espn.go.com/blog/buffalo-bills/post/_/id/24340/as-bills-workouts-begin-sammy-watkins-posts-photo-from-casino

Yeah, I know, they're voluntary. But he was one of the few that didn't show.

[Goobylal]

Not concerned.

[Night Train]

Sound the buzzer when I should feign outrage.

[OpIv37]

Yeah why would an 8-8 team that added no new talent need to practice? They'll just magically be better come Sept.

[EDS]

Sammy is a leader . . .

[OpIv37]

Sammy's own words:


"We need to forget about anybody’s feelings," Watkins said. "We need to call people out. If I’m doing something wrong, call me out. If the line is doing something wrong or messing up, call them out. If the defense is doing something wrong, the defensive line, the secondary, call it out. Because at the end of the day, we’re doing it to win, not to get on somebody and make them feel bad. We’re grown men. This is our job. We get paid millions and hundreds of thousands of dollars. Forget the money. You’ve got to go out there each week and play for the guy next to you.

[Goobylal]

Workouts. If he misses OTA's or minicamp, then I'll take issue.

[X-Era]

I really don't care

[HAMMER]

All talk.

[stuckincincy]

I suppose he played the games along the sides of the rooms - nothing in the middle.

[Frenchman]

Well it may help him to get better in the real world one day. If you look at it that way.

[sukie]

Casino? ... Running crossing patterns that the QB ignores? Meh... same thing either way.

[Bill Cody]

To be fair, if you're at the craps table long enough that's a pretty good right wrist workout

[Forward_Lateral]

He can't get injured in a casino

[Oaf]

He was at a football camp in NC for a former teammate the previous day/yesterday. It's not like he was in Vegas.

[OpIv37]

He was at a football camp in NC for a former teammate the previous day/yesterday. It's not like he was in Vegas.
He was there Monday at 11. He could have flown to Blo Mon night and worked out with the team today.

[gebobs]

Please tell me it's not a Trump casino.

[swiper]

My reaction was "uh oh."

And here I thought all was well and good having McCoy at workouts on day 1.

[swiper]

Casino? ... Running crossing patterns that the QB ignores? Meh... same thing either way.

Truth

- - - Updated - - -


Sound the buzzer when I should feign outrage.

When the Bills fail to draft any crappy Ohio State players.

[swiper]

Workouts. If he misses OTA's or minicamp, then I'll take issue.


If McCoy can make it, Watkins can too. He's a #1 draft pick that the GM mortgaged a lot to get here. He should absolutely be there.

[alohabillsfan]

I'm sorry, but the elite players show up! Has he not had enough time off? Nice job, teammate!

[Mace]

It's a Rex Ryan team. Nothing much will surprise me.

[Goobylal]

If McCoy can make it, Watkins can too. He's a #1 draft pick that the GM mortgaged a lot to get here. He should absolutely be there.

The cynic in me is saying that Shady showed up because of the bar incident. I'd have a problem if this was an OTA or minicamp.

[YardRat]

You would think after 16 years of not sniffing the playoffs people would get over the 'it's voluntary, no big deal'-type excuses. This is the big leagues, and if an individual/team want to be successful they have to eat, sleep, sweat and **** football...total commitment.

Somebody wants to be wakened up? WE HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE PLAYOFFS THIS CENTURY! Is that a loud enough alarm yet?

[Mace]

WE HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE PLAYOFFS THIS CENTURY! Is that a loud enough alarm yet?

Nah.

Rex says they're contenders, they must be. Or maybe Watkins is a Cruz man.

[BertSquirtgum]

Not a big deal.

[swiper]

The cynic in me is saying that Shady showed up because of the bar incident.

I don't disagree with you there.

[OpIv37]

The cynic in me is saying that Shady showed up because of the bar incident. I'd have a problem if this was an OTA or minicamp.

Yeah, you have a good point about Shady.

But I still have a problem with this. This is a kid who's what- 25 years old?- and has already made more money than the rest of us will make in our entire lives. I stayed 45 minutes late at work today and went online at 9:30 pm to do something for my boss. I'm salary so I don't get any extra pay for doing it, and I have a dime a dozen job making a fraction of what Watkins does. It would be nice to see a similar level of commitment from the players who are going to determine whether my team wins or loses.

[gebobs]

He'll be 25 in 2018. :-)

Agree though. He doesn't need to be there but it would be nice to see some of our guys make that commitment to excellence while they try to get to that bar.

Win a few playoff games and then coast a bit.

Who else skipped? Are QBs expected to go?

[Goobylal]

Would it have been good to see? Sure. Will him missing lifting weights with the other guys impact the season? Doubtful.

[Mr. Pink]

It's voluntary.

He could be off doing some hookers and blow, as long as he doesn't get busted, for all I care.

Nonstory.

[elroy16]

Yeah, you have a good point about Shady.

But I still have a problem with this. This is a kid who's what- 25 years old?- and has already made more money than the rest of us will make in our entire lives. I stayed 45 minutes late at work today and went online at 9:30 pm to do something for my boss. I'm salary so I don't get any extra pay for doing it, and I have a dime a dozen job making a fraction of what Watkins does. It would be nice to see a similar level of commitment from the players who are going to determine whether my team wins or loses.



You have literally NO idea what these guys do for training. Sure, he could be lazy and not work out, go to the casino, etc. He could also work out for 8 hours, then go to a camp for kids, then hit the casino for an hour, because you know, that's his right as an American.


Quick question, did you see the ESPN special they did on Sammy, Barr, and some DT from ND before the draft? Sammy wants to be special and so far has worked his tail off to get where he is. I don't know him and neither do you, but if he was working extremely hard in HS and college to get to the NFL, I find it hard to believe he's going to start coasting.



Jumping to these conclusions that he's not putting in effort because he missed a single day of conditioning is a big stretch.





Ian RapoportVerified account‏@RapSheet (https://twitter.com/RapSheet)

#Bills (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bills?src=hash) WR Sammy Watkins is in Buffalo today for offseason conditioning after attending a youth camp in SC. Coaches were aware of his plans.


https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/722792074878312448

[OpIv37]

You have literally NO idea what these guys do for training. Sure, he could be lazy and not work out, go to the casino, etc. He could also work out for 8 hours, then go to a camp for kids, then hit the casino for an hour, because you know, that's his right as an American.


Quick question, did you see the ESPN special they did on Sammy, Barr, and some DT from ND before the draft? Sammy wants to be special and so far has worked his tail off to get where he is. I don't know him and neither do you, but if he was working extremely hard in HS and college to get to the NFL, I find it hard to believe he's going to start coasting.



Jumping to these conclusions that he's not putting in effort because he missed a single day of conditioning is a big stretch.





Ian RapoportVerified account‏@RapSheet (https://twitter.com/RapSheet)

#Bills (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bills?src=hash) WR Sammy Watkins is in Buffalo today for offseason conditioning after attending a youth camp in SC. Coaches were aware of his plans.


https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/722792074878312448
First of all, it was two days.

Second, he can do whatever the hell he wants on his own. The CBA strictly limits the amount of time the team is allowed to practice together. He missed that time and there is no way to get it back or make it up without violating the CBA.

[MillsapsBillsFan]

You guys act like because he wasn't at the Bills workouts he must have been sitting on the couch eating cheese puffs. Sammy (along with a lot of NFL players) don't need these voluntary days to get in shape.

Sammys trainer is my trainer (well was when I was an athlete) and I've worked out with him before. Trust me he'll be fine.

[MillsapsBillsFan]

God you guys will overreact to the simplest things. Its like the Ed Reed hiring all over again.

[Dr. Lecter]

First of all, it was two days.

Second, he can do whatever the hell he wants on his own. The CBA strictly limits the amount of time the team is allowed to practice together. He missed that time and there is no way to get it back or make it up without violating the CBA.
They weren't practicing together. This is only conditioning. Coaches can't be on the field except for strength and conditioning coaches. No head coach. No coordinators. No position coaches. Players can scrimmage at all or run drills.

So basically this is a bunch of ado about nothing at all. He missed the two days and ran a camp for kids.

I hate the off season and the **** that is made up to ***** about, when there is a lot of real **** to ***** about.

This is literally nothing at all and not worth the time to complain about, especially now that more facts are out there.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

In the next CBA, the players need to demand that these "voluntary" workouts either go away or become mandatory, compensated time. Every year fans go through this with some player.

[elroy16]

First of all, it was two days.

Second, he can do whatever the hell he wants on his own. The CBA strictly limits the amount of time the team is allowed to practice together. He missed that time and there is no way to get it back or make it up without violating the CBA.



Greg Roman said they teach the playbook from the ground up every year because they have new players that don't have the base of knowledge from the previous year. With that in mind, do you really think that Sammy can't make up those two days over the course of the next ~5 months?


Sure, I would like him there as well, but I'm not going to question the guy's commitment because he misses two days of conditioning and meetings.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

God you guys will overreact to the simplest things. Its like the Ed Reed hiring all over again.

It is kind of a high-strung message board, I agree

[OpIv37]

Greg Roman said they teach the playbook from the ground up every year because they have new players that don't have the base of knowledge from the previous year. With that in mind, do you really think that Sammy can't make up those two days over the course of the next ~5 months?


Sure, I would like him there as well, but I'm not going to question the guy's commitment because he misses two days of conditioning and meetings.
Yeah well, most guys were there and Sammy wasn't.

[Dr. Lecter]

Yeah well, most guys were there and Sammy wasn't.
Which, without knowing why, really doesn't mean much.

Now that the reason is out, I can award you the "Discotrish thread title of the day" award.


Congrats!

[OpIv37]

Which, without knowing why, really doesn't mean much.

Now that the reason is out, I can award you the "Discotrish thread title of the day" award.


Congrats!
If you are right and it's just conditioning and no actual practicing and nothing involving the playbook, then it's not a big deal like I initially thought.

If there was even ONE offensive play run or ONE meeting about the offensive system, he should have been there. At the very least, he could have run some routes with Tyrod even if it wasn't part of the team's official activity.

[pmoon6]

http://espn.go.com/blog/buffalo-bills/post/_/id/24340/as-bills-workouts-begin-sammy-watkins-posts-photo-from-casino

Yeah, I know, they're voluntary. But he was one of the few that didn't show.Yeah, he sucks.

Trade him, trade him now.

[Skooby]

Everyone can step away from the ledge now:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/04/20/sammy-watkins-shows-up-for-offseason-workouts/

[trapezeus]

the bills could have squashed this immediately with "excused absence" and even with the photo at casino, no one would have said anything.

[MillsapsBillsFan]

If you are right and it's just conditioning and no actual practicing and nothing involving the playbook, then it's not a big deal like I initially thought.

If there was even ONE offensive play run or ONE meeting about the offensive system, he should have been there. At the very least, he could have run some routes with Tyrod even if it wasn't part of the team's official activity.

This is phase one. It is JUST conditioning. It is not for offensive install or football drills https://nflcommunications.com/Pages/NFL-Offseason-Workout-Program-Dates-Announced.aspx

[justasportsfan]

He's obviously no leader. A great leader would have the mafia in the canadian ballet instead of the voluntary workouts

[DesertFox24]

They are not allowed to run plays as a team. Qbs and wrs "can have a catch" (see what I did there) and run routes against air. Coaches and talk to players for one or two hours a day about playbook. The offense has not changed so really not a big deal for Watkins at all, plus the guy is there now. He missed two days, seriously let it go guys.

- - - Updated - - -


the bills could have squashed this immediately with "excused absence" and even with the photo at casino, no one would have said anything. IT IS VOLUNTARY THEY CANNOT COMMENT

[Night Train]

Now that the reason is out, I can award you the "Discotrish thread title of the day" award.
Congrats!

" How Long Before Hillary Is Out Of The Race And Working Out Privately With Sammy ??? "

[Skooby]

Which, without knowing why, really doesn't mean much.

Now that the reason is out, I can award you the "Discotrish thread title of the day" award.


Congrats!

It's hard to take that title away from her, congrats to OP !!

[Pinkerton Security]

Yeah well, most guys were there and Sammy wasn't.

DUDE, come on...this is silly. He's back working out with everyone, lets remember to take our meds today and everybody woosah...17710

[Mace]

I guess my feeling is that I want everyone going wild to get back and rabid to get working on whatever, even conditioning.

It's not really a nonstory to me if anyone isn't. Granted it might be trivial in the long haul, but by now I'm going wild for it all to get going for another season and it's a natural impulse to hope they want to as well.

It's hard to remember that for them it's a job, but by the same token it's a pretty damn lucrative job for a short career where you can make bank by putting in the dedicated effort and blow off the apathy for a few years.

Watkins has only put in a couple years of suffering so far, I've put in decades. That may not be fair, but it still clouds my perspective.

[pmoon6]

the bills could have squashed this immediately with "excused absence" and even with the photo at casino, no one would have said anything.HaHaHa. Yes, they would. Some here look for anything to start their BS. The "excused absence" would have been code for "he's uncommitted to the team". At least according to Buffalo's detractors.

[YardRat]

I don't ever recall any stories about Andre Reed or Jerry Rice skipping workouts to go gambling, partying or socializing.

[Dr. Lecter]

I don't ever recall any stories about Andre Reed or Jerry Rice skipping workouts to go gambling, partying or socializing.


Did they have these voluntary conditioning workouts when they played?

[YardRat]

Did they have these voluntary conditioning workouts when they played?

For guys that want to be the best, every day during the off season is a 'voluntary conditioning workout'.

[Dr. Lecter]

Good dodge.

[YardRat]

Thanks, but it's the truth and we both know it.

[Dr. Lecter]

I think the truth is that Reed was lucky the internet wasn't around then

And no - I am sure there were days that Reed wasn't working out.

That's a pretty silly thing to say. Almost as dumb as this entire thread .

[YardRat]

I think the truth is that Reed was lucky the internet wasn't around then

And no - I am sure there were days that Reed wasn't working out.

That's a pretty silly thing to say. Almost as dumb as this entire thread .

I'm sure there were also, but let's not lose sight of the forest for the trees. Uncommitted gets one nowhere. Sometimes committed creates sometimes success. Total commitment can lead to greatness. I'd like to see our players commit to being great, not sometimes successful.

[Dr. Lecter]

I'm sure there were also, but let's not lose sight of the forest for the trees. Uncommitted gets one nowhere. Sometimes committed creates sometimes success. Total commitment can lead to greatness. I'd like to see our players commit to being great, not sometimes successful.

And there is no evidence that Watkins isn't doing that. There is nothing to say he is uncommitted.

[YardRat]

And there is no evidence that Watkins isn't doing that. There is nothing to say he is uncommitted.

To me personally, not showing for workouts, even if they are designated as voluntary due to language in a collectively bargained agreement, is evidence of not being 100% committed.

[Dr. Lecter]

To me personally, not showing for workouts, even if they are designated as voluntary due to language in a collectively bargained agreement, is evidence of not being 100% committed.
Well, it's not.

Especially when he was there as soon as his camp for kids was over.

You must have hated Bruce Smith.

[YardRat]

Well, it's not.

Especially when he was there as soon as his camp for kids was over.

You must have hated Bruce Smith.

You're entitled to your opinion.

Please don't try to equate one of the best players to ever play the game with Sammy Watkins, he's got a long way to go to get anywhere near that level.

Bruce may have been given a lot of breathing room during training camp, but let's not forget he's still the guy was so dedicated to being the best he could be he put a Snickers in his freezer before the season every year and left it there until the end as a 'reward'.

[Dr. Lecter]

I'm not equating the two as players.


Bruce routinely skipped training camp. Not 2 days of voluntary conditioning (sessions that didn't exist at the time, so comparing them to now is meaningless) so he could hold a camp for kids. And then showed up immediately after.

Opinions generally have some kind of support for them. Like his conditioning has been harmed. And there exists none of that.

[YardRat]

I'm not equating the two as players.


Bruce routinely skipped training camp. Not 2 days of voluntary conditioning (sessions that didn't exist at the time, so comparing them to now is meaningless) so he could hold a camp for kids. And then showed up immediately after.

Opinions generally have some kind of support for them. Like his conditioning has been harmed. And there exists none of that.


He didn't improve his conditioning at the casino. He could have at the workouts. Not to mention a little bit of leadership. A lost opportunity doesn't necessarily manifest a negative effect but it definitely stunts the possibility of having a positive one.

[tampabay25690]

haven't been on in a while and I know why...........

[Dr. Lecter]

You better take 0 vacation days from work this year.

Since that seems to be your standard.

BTW, the casino thing was shot down when it was shown he had a camp for kids and went to the voluntary workouts immediately after. You could at least acknowledge that.

[tampabay25690]

Well, it's not.

Especially when he was there as soon as his camp for kids was over.

You must have hated Bruce Smith.

LOL

[Dr. Lecter]

haven't been on in a while and I know why...........
Sorry.

I'll stop

[tampabay25690]

You better take 0 vacation days from work this year.

Since that seems to be your standard.

BTW, the casino thing was shot down when it was shown he had a camp for kids and went to the voluntary workouts immediately after. You could at least acknowledge that.

What's up Lecter...........

[tampabay25690]

Sorry.

I'll stop

You are fine my man...
I was a regular until some people on here...
Traveling today so in a hotel now bored and wanted to see what was up.

[Dr. Lecter]

What's up Lecter...........
Not much new. Same crap, different series of days.

And with you?

[tampabay25690]

Not much new. Same crap, different series of days.

And with you?

Busy busy busy.
Been getting some good info lately..
I will message u on FB and let u know some stuff.

[YardRat]

You better take 0 vacation days from work this year.

Since that seems to be your standard.

BTW, the casino thing was shot down when it was shown he had a camp for kids and went to the voluntary workouts immediately after. You could at least acknowledge that.

The players on this team have had plenty of vacation days the last sixteen years, IMO they are way overdue to put in a little OT.

[Dr. Lecter]

The players on this team have had plenty of vacation days the last sixteen years, IMO they are way overdue to put in a little OT.

Well, since Watkins has been here 16 years his career is almost over.