In this Dec. 6, 2015 photo, Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy talks to reporters after an NFL football game against the Houston Texans.Bill Wippert, File/The Associated Press
An injury-plagued season and a brush with the law in February have led LeSean McCoy to focus on being a better player and leader entering his second year with the Buffalo Bills.
"I've got lots to prove this year, you know," the Bills running back said Friday, a day before Buffalo opens it training camp outside Rochester. "A lot of people are doubting me and doubting this team, this offence. So I'm big into answering a lot of doubts."
McCoy was reflective in discussing how relieved he was when no charges were filed against him following an investigation into his role in a nightclub brawl involving off-duty police officers in Philadelphia.
Prosecutors said they could not prove who initiated the Feb. 7 fight in which two officers were injured. And they said it's legal for a person to act in self-defence or the defence of others.
While noting he was proven right in saying he did nothing wrong, McCoy said he never should have put himself in what he called "a bad situation."
"As a leader, the guy that I want to be for this team, things like that just can't happen," McCoy said. "I mean, you don't hear other guys like Peyton Manning or Tom Brady getting into incidents like that."
As for his on-field performance, McCoy is motivated to showing what he's capable of after his production was hampered by injuries during his first season in Buffalo.
"Oh, man, I'll tell you what, I went back to that old Rocky mentality," McCoy said, referring to the Oscar-winning film. "I put all the Bentleys and Rolls-Royces away and got to work."
Listing himself at 210 pounds, McCoy said that's the lightest he's been since 2010, his second season in the NFL.
"Oh man, I'm back," the 28-year-old McCoy said. "I'm ready to get out there and perform and come here to do what they brought me here to do, and that's to make big plays."
McCoy got off to a slow start after hurting his left hamstring in training camp last year. He later hurt his right shoulder and then missed the final two games because of a right knee injury.
He finished with 895 yards rushing and five touchdowns, including two receiving, in 12 games.
Although the Bills led the NFL in yards rushing last season, McCoy's production failed to meet expectations after Buffalo created a buzz by acquiring the league's 2013 rushing leader in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles.
McCoy is expected to get limited practice and playing time through training camp and the preseason to keep him fresh for the start of the regular season.
"The goal is to get me healthy to the season," McCoy said. "That's the main thing, and I can be the player that I was brought here to be."