LeSean McCoy will be on a comeback campaign in 2019.
The Bills running back is coming off a career-worst statistical season after rushing for just 514 yards and three touchdowns on 161 carries last season, but is confident he'll bounce back this year.
“It’s hard to replace a guy like me,” McCoy told reporters Saturday, via PennLive. “I’m a good player and I feel like now, this year, they put a lot of guys around me. The front office got me some big hogs up front. And we’ll see what happens this year. I feel good and hopefully this year will speak for itself.”
McCoy, who turns 31 in July, will be joined by Frank Gore after the Bills signed him in March but isn't threatened by the fellow veteran taking up his playing time. In fact, the former 49ers and Dolphins rusher — and the 14,748 career rushing yards he brings with him to Buffalo — have inspired McCoy to play better.
“Every day I see [Gore] playing hard,” McCoy said. “I see his growth, his smarts, his ability. That shows me that anything is possible.”
Added McCoy: “I use age and that type of thing to motivate me. My whole life I’ve kind of been the underdog. Is he big enough? Is he tough enough? Can he play in the pros? I feel like guys like myself come around every once in a while and I want to stick to that. I’m up for it.”
McCoy played last season under a cloud, as he faced allegations of domestic abuse and steroid use, which he has repeatedly denied.
“That’s behind me. There’s nothing really there,” McCoy said. “My team stuck behind me. They know what type of character guy I am and what type of person I am. There was a lot going on last year but I can’t do anything about that. I can only control what I can control and that’s play football, be a great father, be a great teammate and be a great person. That’s all I can do.”
The Bills have an abundance of running backs, including the three oldest in the league as the 36-year-old Gore joins McCoy and 31-year-old Chris Ivory. The team also signed former Jaguars rusher T.J. Yeldon and drafted tailback Devin Singletary in the third round of April's draft.