Buffalo Bills' running back Bryce Brown is none-too-pleased with his current workload.
Why, you ask?
Because his current workload involves zero games started - or played - for zero touches and zero yards, which is probably not the stat line he or the Bills were envisioning when he was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles during the draft this past May for a fourth-round pick.
"I expected to play and I expected to play right away," Brown said Thursday. "I still expected to play right away after preseason. Me not playing and inactive was a surprise."
It's especially surprising considering how poorly the Bills' run game has been performing of late. Last season's second ranked rushing attack is currently 21st in the league, averaging only 75 yards per game over the last four games.
"It's been very tough for me to sit on the sideline, watching my teammates going out, and not being able to contribute on game day," Brown said. "At the end of the day, I can only control what I can control. They made a decision and went with who they went with. So that's what I've got to live with. I really try not to worry about it too much."
Brown seems upset, but at the same time, proud of himself for sticking it out.
"I mean, I look at it this way - I've matured," he said. "I know if this was the old Bryce in this situation, I probably wouldn't be here right now. So I think that shows a lot, just about my maturity the last few years. I remember when I was in college and things didn't go my way, in the past, I just walked away."
Brown's football history is checkered, to say the least. After just one season with Tennessee, he transferred back home to Kansas State. After just three carries there, he entered the 2012 NFL Draft.
The Eagles took a 7th round flier on the immature running back, and in two seasons with the team, he displayed the raw athletic ability that made him one of the most heavily recruited players in the country coming out of high school.
"I don't really like to go back to my past and my time at K-State," Brown said. "I've got an opportunity to play in the league and show what I've done and I don't want to mess that up in any way."
Despite the early season deactivations, Brown has done his best to stay confident.
"There's no doubts in my mind that I can play and I can produce - that I can be special in this league," he said. "I don't make those calls of who's going out and who plays on Sunday...Given the opportunity, I know what I'm capable of doing."
