Buffalo Bills players and fans alike were seemingly pretty excited when the team acquired Kelvin Benjamin on trade deadline day. Head coach Sean McDermott shared an anecdote at his presser on Monday that’s sure to build on the excitement surrounding Benjamin.
Because of the quick turnaround time between Tuesday trade, the Wednesday flight, and the Thursday game, Benjamin left his home in Carolina quickly and didn’t pack much. McDermott told him to go home and pack up more stuff and get it up to Buffalo.
Benjamin said no.
Sean McDermott said he offered Kelvin Benjamin a chance to go home this weekend but he wanted to stay and work. @WGRZ #Bills pic.twitter.com/41TjG90EwL
— Heather Prusak (@haprusak) November 6, 2017
VIDEO: Kelvin Benjamin said he declined McDermott's offer to go home last wknd bc he wanted to "hold himself to a higher standard." #Bills pic.twitter.com/M4DO5f3bUE
— Nick Wojton (@Nick_Wojton) November 6, 2017
Benjamin, 27, an established wideout in this league voluntarily spent his weekend working with Bills wide receiver coach Phil McGeoghan, when no one would have faulted him for going to collect his things following the trade.
While McDermott says he had confidence in the Bills receiving group before and after Benjamin arrived (typical coach speak), he knows what he has in his new six-foot-five, 245-pound receiver:
“If you want to go one-on-one [against Benjamin], that's on you.”
"If you want to go 1-on-1 out there, that's on you."#GoBills HC Sean McDermott with a little smirk talking about new WR Kelvin Benjamin. pic.twitter.com/hUtbwhkeGU
— Andy Young (@AndyYoungTV) November 6, 2017
Benjamin hit the practice field in pads for the first time as Bill on Monday, ahead of the team’s game versus the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.