National Football League

Benching marks new low for Bills LB Maybin

Published Oct. 28, 2010 10:37 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Buffalo Bills linebacker Aaron Maybin's once-promising NFL career has hit a new low.

After spending the past two seasons struggling to get playing time as a backup, the team's 2009 first-round pick now can't even get on the field.

Maybin was left inactive for the first time in his career for Buffalo's game at Baltimore last weekend. What's worse, the benching coincided with what was supposed to be Maybin's homecoming, with friends and family on hand.

''That's probably been the most frustrating experience since I've been here,'' Maybin said this week. ''I wouldn't necessarily call it a wake-up call, but it's definitely an eye-opener.''

Either way, the benching marked the latest step back for a player who has struggled in helping make a difference for the NFL's only remaining winless team, and on a defense that's one of the league's most porous.

''I'm not a coach,'' Maybin said. ''It's not my job to decide who's on the field. It's my job to make sure when they call my name, I'm ready to produce.''

Maybin's production has been marginal at best, even as he made the move from defensive end to linebacker - a position that was expected to better suit his abilities as the Bills made the switch to a 3-4 defense this offseason.

Drafted 11th overall out of Penn State for his pass-rushing abilities, Maybin has yet to register a sack in 21 career games, all as a backup. This season, he's been credited with only five tackles, four of them coming in a 38-30 loss at New England on Sept. 26, in a game he received his most extensive playing time.

Coach Chan Gailey can't say when Maybin's next chance to play might come as the Bills (0-6) travel to face Kansas City (4-2) on Sunday.

''To be honest with you, it gets harder and harder,'' Gailey said. ''It's not about going out and practicing to see who wins spots right now. If somebody doesn't play well, then you give him another chance. If somebody keeps playing well, he might not get another chance right now.''

Maybin officially ranks second on the team's depth chart at outside linebacker. But third-stringer Antonio Coleman, an undrafted rookie free agent, is getting more playing time because of his role on special teams. The same goes for Arthur Moats, a rookie sixth-round pick, who also played ahead of Maybin on Sunday.

Gailey said his decision to bench Maybin was more out of practical reasons than a desire to send the player a message.

''We play the people we think are going to help us win. And we felt like those other two outside linebackers gave us a better chance,'' Gailey said, referring to Coleman and Moats. ''Oh, he's upset. He should be. And hopefully, it'll generate better production the next time he gets an opportunity.''

At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, Maybin is considered undersized for his position. He's had difficulty relying solely on his speed to beat offensive linemen.

''Yeah, he puts himself in a position at times where he gets overmatched,'' Gailey said. ''That's one of the things that productive players do is they don't put themselves in those positions.''

Maybin has become the latest example of the Bills inconsistent drafting history, one of the contributing factors behind why the team is already in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for an 11th straight season.

Joining Maybin on the inactive list Sunday was another former first-round pick, defensive tackle John McCargo, who was selected 26th overall in 2006. McCargo has yet to appear in a game this season. And then there's Buffalo's 2007 first-round pick, running back Marshawn Lynch, who's no longer with the team after being traded to Seattle three weeks ago.

Gailey said he hasn't lost faith in Maybin's potential.

''I think every player goes through ups and downs,'' Gailey said. ''You're wrong if you lose faith in a guy. You have to keep coaching him, which we'll do.''

Maybin understands he has to do better.

''Chan's made it clear, the decisions he's making are what he feels is in the best interest of the team,'' Maybin said. ''So my concern is to make sure the best interest of the team is to make sure I'm on the field.''

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League