Insert whatever cliche line there is, but there's one thing that's certain. It's that type of year for Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Aaron Maybin.
Last year was one to forget for the second year pro. The former first round pick held out to get maximum money, finally broke in to camp almost later than any other rookie, and looked lost in translation in the mean time.
The book is easy to read, because it's so well documented. Undersized but speedy.
How many games do you remember Aaron Maybin making a single play in from last season? I can count three. And I was at two of them looking intently at what he was doing.
So this year he's in a new defense, better suited for his skill set. He'll be lined up all over the field, when he actually gets in, and utilized in a pass-rushing capacity without having the target on his back from the offensive tackle.
But my question digs even further than football.
Maybin comes across as quite the confident lad, even encroaching on the cocky side of it. But is that personality trait going to mentally block him from working his tail off and getting in to the starting lineup?
Take what happened on Friday morning as a prime example. Maybin took a cheap shot as Fred Jackson was letting up at the end of the play. Jackson began to run more upright and Maybin plunked his shoulder pads right in to the back of the Bills' 1,000-yard rusher.
That's not what a guy trying to earn a starting job does. Respect the players on the field who make a difference for this team more than dishing them aside like they're a practice squad player. It's the second day of practice, and it's not a full on padded practice.
Cheap plays like that injure players because some young guy is trying to make a name for himself. While I like the physicality of training camp practice so far, that was taken far and above the level it should have been.
I don't blame Andy Levitre, Geoff Hangartner and Eric Wood for reacting the way they did. You don't cheap shot a teammate in the second practice at training camp -- or ever. It was a bush league move and Hangartner handled the whole situation, both during and after, exactly how he should have.
As for Maybin, it just leaves more questions for me. Does this guy actually get it? Does he know how hard it is to make an impact in the NFL?
Or is he just so self-involved to think that he can roll right in to the starting lineup?
Here's a news flash. This isn't Penn State anymore. That isn't the Minnesota Golden Gophers, or the Indiana Hoosiers you're lining up against. It's one of the 31 best left tackles in the world, and their sole purpose is to bring you down.
Have some humility, have some respect and more importantly, have some common sense.
Otherwise, the word bust shouldn't be too far off.
I can understand that Fred Jackson is the heart of this team, but let it go. Players take shot at others players no matter what. I'm really hoping Maybin shows up this year and shuts everyone up.
07/30/2010 6:57PM
Maybin
-Little training camp time last year.
-Doesn't know what the coaches expect from him or want (see quotes after today's morning practice) Apathetic attitude.
-Poor decision making skills as evidenced by the pictures, also shows immaturity.
-Lackadaisical effort on the practice field, in general bad attitude.
In conclusion, I don't expect much to anything from him this year.
How do the Bills get it so right with Wood and so wrong with Maybin, in the same draft class?
07/30/2010 7:00PM
Wait a sec...
Joe, you picked Maybin for the Bills in one of your mocks, and now he seems to be another wasted 1st round pick. Your mocks might need some further research.....
07/30/2010 7:21PM
Nothing wrong with it
If his intention was to turn up the intensity then I am all for it. Granted he may have injured Fred, but he didn't. He actually forced the two sides of the ball to stand up for one another.
07/30/2010 7:31PM
Aaron "Maybe" Maybin
sick mowhawk bro, want to go to my room and talk about it
07/30/2010 7:40PM
BINGO!
Couldn't have said it better!
07/30/2010 7:55PM
You nailed it Buscaglia
You put my exact thoughts into words. Hopefully Maybin happens to catch your article and wakes up. Although he is young and may grow to be a good player, this guy is on record pace of losing Buffalo fans just like Lynch or MaGahee but with no game.
07/30/2010 8:01PM
You nailed it Buscaglia.
You put my thoughts and I'm sure many others into words. This guy is young and he MIGHT grow to be a good player. But he is losing Bills fans at record pace, like Marshawn Lynch or Willis McGahee but with NO game!
07/30/2010 9:06PM
screw this guy
Maybin is joke. Screw this guy for real. F'in chump
07/30/2010 9:23PM
Eh...
Come On. He's Early 20's... what were you doing in your early 20's. Sure he'll grow up eventually but he's still a kid. I know its the NFL but hes a human being - nobody, and nothing is perfect. Live A Little people.
07/30/2010 10:12PM
Bust
Just spare the time and send Kid N Play packing.
07/30/2010 10:46PM
Hit Em!
Just pretend the other team is all strippers, he'll knock em all on thier ass!!!
07/30/2010 10:58PM
Maybe Maybin's dense
He's got to get rapped upside the head at the camp a couple of times so he learns. Good article.
07/30/2010 11:58PM
agreed on bust
well said Joe, love the article. Hangartner said it best - he hit our 1,000 yard rusher - basically saying Maybin hasn't done anything in the league. And he's right.
07/31/2010 12:25AM
Relax
2nd year player and were all ready doing this? Isn't the learning curve a little longer than that? Even in Buffalo. He played his first year under Juaron. Does that even count? Let's give the guy a chance. Let's play some games first, maybe even a season. Then let's have this conversation.
07/31/2010 12:45AM
whooz fawlt?
wasn't his fault he was yet another bills' reeeeeeeeeaacccchhhhh at that high a pick. the money and prestige may have fed confidence and cockiness he did not merit.
07/31/2010 2:03AM
absolutely
awesome
07/31/2010 2:06AM
this is why i dont like your articles Buscaglia!
You have such a backwards approach on the game of....FOOTBALL! Are you forgetting that this team needs a kick in the pants! We went 7-9 three seasons in a row. If a second year kid wants to throw his body around at a "thousand yard back" ...Let him! Freddie is great, but please, grow a pair! its football.
07/31/2010 3:32AM
Learning curve??
Maybin is on a last place team who is trying to make a starting job. Why would it be a big deal for him hitting a running back which would be his job a big deal they haven't made the playoffs in 10 years and if his competiveness is a big deal maybemaybin is on the wrong team maybe the O line should do the job they were brought into do like block. Goodluck maybin wish u luck and hopefully playing for a terrible team will somehow benefit you
07/31/2010 7:59AM
Bust
This kid is a bust and a moron, I always loved last year when the Bills were down three touchdowns and Maybin would finally make a play and then celebrate like he just won the superbowl. Ps who is Buscaglia?
07/31/2010 9:03AM
Penn State History
Another great first round pick for Bills out of Penn State. He has the same potential as Booker Moore
07/31/2010 9:31AM
Buffalo Fans, SMH!
Buffalo fans have a mediocre mindset and that's why the sports teams here get mediocre results. Let the kid have some guts about him. At least someone is showing some emotion out there. This team has been a dud in the NFL for years. No one around the league respects or even acknowledges them. If it wasn't for T.O last year, the team wouldn't have even been considered an NFL team. This team is so dry and plain. Buffalo has always been a "do good enough" city instead of a "do the best." Now everyone wonders why there's no titles here. We don't like guys like T.O, McGahee, Lynch, or anyone of that caliber. Instead we like boring players like Lee Evans and Polz. Lee is good, but Polz sucks. Hence why the team hasn't been to the Playoffs in 10 yrs. Mediocre!
07/31/2010 10:35AM
RE: Wait a sec...
A mock isn't about picking the player you want the team to pick, but guessing what the team will actually do...duh.
Joe, you picked Maybin for the Bills in one of your mocks, and now he seems to be another wasted 1st round pick. Your mocks might need some further research.....
07/31/2010 11:18AM
oops!
we could have taken Orakpo and gotten and all pro instead we get a guy who can't even stay on sides on a kick off...one mistake after another what and organization!
07/31/2010 11:24AM
Bust
Maybin or Maybin not!
07/31/2010 3:08PM
Shouldn't have been drafted
Epic Fail in drafting this guy. Made no sense at all drafting him with the real players that were still on the draft boards. He will be another Mike Williams. Trade him to Oakland for a bag of used jocks and call it a day. He is a punk and will never "get it".
07/31/2010 3:28PM
Antonio Coleman!!!!
Watch videos of the Maybin and Coleman. Watch how Coleman smells out screen plays, beats tackles around the edge and also shows power at the point of attack. Watch that, then tell me how he went undrafted and Maybin was a first rounder. Makes no sense. Give Coleman some time on the field and wake Maybin up...or send him packing.
07/31/2010 3:42PM
Emotion my..........
Cocky, Immature, Not ready for Prime time....check out last year he sure can run to the pile!!!
07/31/2010 10:02PM
maybin needs to be wrecked...
Aaron maybin has to be knocked on his ass a few times to realize he isn't that good. a half a step late and a qb head slap isn't worth the money he gets.i've played football from popwarner thru high school. what learning curve?! it's instinctive. maybe the fans should get a class action law suit against him for being a clown. it's time to step up to the plate and hit one out of the park instead of standing in the batters circle just swinging.
08/02/2010 3:31AM
on the money joey
he is and will always be a bust! he doesnt have it between the ears to play in the league,i dont care what position they trott him out there at..i said from the second they drafted him he has bust written all over him,thats why i call him eric flowers the II..if you saw him play at penn st he got man handled against better tackles..when he was facing scrubs he got some numbers...mistake #908 this team has made hopefully those are comming to a end with ol'buddy
08/02/2010 9:03AM
top 31 left tackles
I like how you worded that, because whoever our starting LT is, they're definitely #32 in the world! I know you probably didn't mean it that way, but it's true!
08/02/2010 12:25PM
Maybin
Who cares what Maybin did to Jackson. He didn't hurt him. I like the fact that brawls are breaking out. I like that Maybin didn't let up and I liked how the O-line responded, especially Wood. Hey, they may suck, but at least it looks likethey are beginning to care now that this is football!
08/02/2010 1:42PM
watch the video
obviously not a cheapshot, get over it
08/06/2010 12:33AM
Orapko
He was the consensus pick last year. But our "smarter than thou" brass can never make the obvious decision. How's that working out for us?!?!
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