Bills Have Two of the Twenty-Five Least Valuable Players in the NFL

#23 is usual suspect Aaron Maybin.

… The 11th overall pick in the 2009 draft, Maybin was supposed to be a hybrid pass rusher who could play in a 3-4 or a 4-3. He's got zero sacks, was a healthy scratch at times in 2010, and the first entry that comes up as an auto-fill when you type his name into Google is "Aaron Maybin bust."

After his appearance last year on Deadspin's worst players of all time list, this is a movie we've all seen before.

Who is slightly more interesting is #18 Akin Ayodele.

Signed after injuries beset Buffalo, Ayodele combined with Andra Davis (who also ended up getting hurt) to serve as the slowest group of inside backers in recent memory. Despite playing behind an elite nose tackle in Kyle Wiliams, the Bills still had the league's worst run defense with Ayodele at the helm.

I've long been vocal about my distaste for Ayodele's prominent role in our defense, and I'm glad to see someone else agrees. He is about as invisible as a linebacker can be, which is the death tell to hopes of an effective run defense. Someone has to pay the bill for last year's abysmal performance against the run.

11 months ago cjf4 9 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I’ve long been vocal about my distaste for Ayodele’s prominent role in our defense, and I’m glad to see someone else agrees

that spot is a mess just like RT is a mess – it’s easily one of the worst positions on the team

When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for everyone telling you you're nuts.

by J2 on Jul 12, 2011 3:17 PM EDT reply actions

There’s a very real chance that neither of these players are on the final roster when the 2011 season begins. Especially Ayodele, who is a free agent.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Jul 12, 2011 3:57 PM EDT reply actions

From your mouth to God’s ears.

They can kill you, but the legalities of eating you are quite a bit dicier.

by cjf4 on Jul 12, 2011 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't get it.

This guy Bass ranks Ayodele as worse than Maybin, as well as many other players. While I am not an Ayodele fan, he was good enough to play often, albeit a different position. Maybin was not even on Special Teams.

I know it is just a random list with one persons’ views, but Maybin is not deserving of being ranked “better” in this comparison.

Year two is upon us.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Jul 12, 2011 5:04 PM EDT reply actions

It was two separate reasons. Akin was obviously dinged for being the worst player on a bad unit. Maybin was just a 1st round bust, which is relatively common at DE. Plus this isn’t really an absolute list, just a story idea. If it were actually the worst players in the NFL it’d be a bunch of people no one has heard of.

They can kill you, but the legalities of eating you are quite a bit dicier.

by cjf4 on Jul 13, 2011 8:30 AM EDT up reply actions

I still think Maybin would be near the top of the journeyman list. Seriously. I’d be embarrassed if I were him. It’s not like he’s an unknown and can hide his pathetic contribution.

Seems like a nice kid. Appears to be a terrible professional athlete.

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

by TheAfghanTwilight on Jul 13, 2011 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Say what?

No offense but your 2 reasons are odd.

Akin was obviously dinged for being the worst player on a bad unit.

Since both guys were on the same bad unit, I fail to see how this clears up the rankings.

Plus this isn’t really an absolute list, just a story idea.

I mentioned this in my post:

I know it is just a random list with one persons’ views, …

I have no problem (outside of the obvious) with Maybin on this list. He has cracked several bottom 10 lists. Again not a fan of Ayodele, but even if you buy the argument he can be in a bottom 25 list, his ranking should be better than a teammate that cannot even contribute on ST.

Look at us debating the merits of stinkyness. Too depressing. I’m out.

Year two is upon us.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Jul 13, 2011 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybin wasn’t a starter for most of the year. They just stunk in different ways.

They can kill you, but the legalities of eating you are quite a bit dicier.

by cjf4 on Jul 13, 2011 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree with Eternity

I think Ayodele was terrible this year but he’s actually had a productive, impressive NFL career that has lasted a long time and has resulted in him playing a lot of games and making a lot of plays.

Hes just old now. Maybe he has diminished to the point of him being on the list but out of respect for what hes done and recgonizing what Maybin hasnt, Maybin should be further down the list.

The bandwagon will be full and fast and drunk and exciting - Undee

by poz on Jul 13, 2011 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions