Kevin Hoffman – USA TODAY Sports
It’s official. Doug Marrone is a hard-ass. After noticing a lack of energy among the Buffalo Bills this past week, Marrone took it upon himself to motivate the entire organization as best he could. He did so by blasting music through the loudspeakers at St. John Fisher college during practice on Friday, pre-empting a vigorous, intense workout that pushed the players to their physical limits. On his somewhat unconventional motivational strategies, Marrone had this to say:
“I needed to get the coaches going, and the trainers going. I did that. It’s just a point of my responsibilities to make sure I do whatever I can to get the best out of this football team. And that’s not just the players. I put it on for everybody. Everyone has to step it up when we’re in there with them.”
Unfortunately for the players, the intensity did not stop when the music did. The team went on to participate in one of the most grueling practices of training camp so far. The speed, tempo and grind of the session caused several players to lose their lunch.
Nobody likes to throw up — with the possible exception of runway models. But since Ron Brooks, Lee Smith and Colin Brown aren’t likely to trade in their cleats for a pair of stilettos any time soon, let’s assume that Friday’s hot, muggy, vomit-inducing practice was a generally bad time for all those involved. Still, it’s refreshing to see a Bills coach who’s able to motivate his players to the point where even their stomachs betray them.
Rest assured, all this hard work WILL pay off. If I may coin a phrase: vomit in August equals victory in September. Granted, there’s a certain degree of luck that any team has to have to win, but nine times out of 10, the team that works harder comes away victorious. The Bills have been plagued with some bad luck lately, and by lately I mean since the dawn of time. But perhaps it’s more accurate to say that they’ve been plagued with a losing culture and a lack of resolve.
It may not be very comforting to wary Bills fans, but at the very least, it appears as though Marrone’s Bills won’t ever be out-worked.
Matt Ploss is a Buffalo Bills writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewPloss, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
