Earlier this week, the Bills coaching staff was supportive of safety Jordan Poyer. At the time, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier did not name a player by name, but mentioned that a guy on their roster did not make the Pro Bowl to their surprise.
While discussing the topic, Frazier specifically said he made sure to reach out to the unnamed individual and explain to him how important he was to the team. It’s all but confirmed since that this anonymous player was Poyer, who shocking did not make the AFC’s roster for the game.
On Wednesday, Poyer did much of the same via video conference. He didn’t mention names, but said the Bills coaching staff was supportive of what happened because even he could admit it was disappointing. But that’s barely even scratching the surface of the support Poyer has received and continues to get from those around him.
Several teammates either took to social media or outright said in interviews that Poyer was ripped off.
“For sure. Everybody knows that,” Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White said via video conference on Wednesday when asked for his thought on Poyer and the All-Star game. “He’s a Pro Bowler in our book. I’ve been saying weeks ago… he’s done everything that, and more, that the coaches and we’ve asked of him. He knows that he’s a Pro Bowl caliber player. We don’t need and he don’t need others’ validation of what he’s done to pretty much verify who he is. I think his play speaks for itself and the film speaks for itself,” White said.
Now that the dust as settled, Poyer has had no other choice than to accept that situation. He appears to be doing so already.
“Obviously I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed. But at the same time, I know what I bring to this team. I know what I bring to the table. Control what I can control,” Poyer said.
Still, Poyer was over the moon with how much support he had received. The part that really left a lasting impact was the amount he got from outside the Bills’ locker room. The 29-year-old said he has barely even been able to get on his social media accounts the past few days because he has had hundreds of well-wishing messages sent his way since Monday’s Pro Bowl announcements.
“It’s been nothing but love,” Poyer said. “I don’t really know how to put it into words.”
Poyer is no stranger to the support the team gets outside the building having played for the Bills since 2017. In a way, that support is what’s helping him get through the snub. The best way he can repay that support is by continuing to play at that high level as the postseason nears.
“We got a lot of football left to be played,” Poyer said.
That potentially could be the longer-lasting impact on Poyer’s life anyway… depending on exactly how much more football Poyer and the Bills (11-3) have left ahead of them.
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