subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Wed, Nov 25 2009 

Published: May 23, 2009 10:26 pm    print this story  

BILLS: Trimmed McCargo hopes to turn corner

By Tim Schmitt
Greater Niagara Newspapers

ORCHARD PARK John McCargo tries to keep it all in perspective. He’s a professional football player. A guy who commands a hefty salary in an era where jobs are quickly being shed.

And even though the former first-round draft choice from North Carolina State was sent to Indianapolis last season in a deal that only fell through because he failed a physical, McCargo’s attitude is simple ’ work with what’s in front of you.

’It’s a business. And you have to remember it’s a business,’ McCargo said. ’But this is a new day.’

McCargo’s journey has surprisingly come full circle. The Bills were so high on him out of college that they drafted him a round before many expected he’d go.

His stock dropped so fast that he was deemed expendable last season, and if not for a bulging disk in his back, his career as a Bill would have ended unceremoniously, with a total of 35 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

But after an off-season in which he remained in Buffalo, shed a few pounds, and committed himself to pro football, McCargo could be an ace up the Bills’ sleeve.

’He’s a little older and a little more experienced. He understands the game better. He was a young player coming out,’ said Bills head coach Dick Jauron. ’He looks as quick or maybe quicker than I’ve seen him look. He’s had his best offseason with us in the weight room, in terms of conditioning, and then his health.’

McCargo’s weight is just a pound or two over 300, about a dozen pounds less than when he last played. Although he insists weight issues haven’t hampered him in the past, he seems determined to eliminate any and all excuses. And although that means he’s giving up a little in run stuffing as a defensive tackle, it should give him more jump off the line in passing situations.

And if he can simply stay healthy enough to play, that will already be more than what the Bills have gotten from McCargo through most of his first three years in the league.

’I didn’t lose my confidence, but it was frustrating not playing,’ he said. ’I’m 100 percent confident I can play well, and I can play well here. Hopefully, I can turn that corner.’

McCargo’s conditioning gave him a new look at the team’s organized team activities, which start up again on Tuesday.

’He feels good and he doesn’t have any aches right now. Obviously, during the season, everybody’s got aches,’ Jauron said. ’He doesn’t have that constant aching that he’s had, so it frees him up and he’s taking advantage of it so far, he’s just got to keep doing it.’

And at this point, that’s exactly what McCargo has done, keeping a positive attitude even with last year’s trade.

’I needed to get over it. It happened,’ McCargo said. ’I’ve just got to try to change myself. I’m not listening to all that other stuff.’

Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.

print this story  

Photos


THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FULL-SPEED AHEAD: Buffalo Bills defensive tackle John McCargo charges ahead during a practice at St. John Fisher College. The Bills are expecting big things out of McCargo this year, as the team traded into the first round to select him. DAVID DUPREY/ (Click for larger image)



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premier Guide

Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!

Featured Jobs

Driver
DRIVERS – CDL A
TEAM DRIVERS NEEDED FOR
DEDICATED RUNS
No touch freight............Good miles
...>MORE

Nurse Practitioner
NURSE PRACTITIONER-CARDIOLOGY. Full time. NYS license with one year of recent coronary care or cardiovacular care experi...>MORE

Warehouse
Warehouse, Assembly
Production & Cleaning
1st, 2nd & 3rd shifts
Sanborn, Grand Island
Amherst & Tona
...>MORE

Cook
COOK full time.
Apply in person only,
Augie’s Diner,
2470 Military Rd.
...>MORE

EEO Compliance & Workforce Diversity Coordinator
Equal Employment Opportunity Compliance
& Workforce Diversity Coordinator
City of Niagara Falls
Immediate
...>MORE

BILINGUAL PHONE INTERVIEWER
Bilingual Telephone interviewer. Surveys for insurance policy review. Spanish/English a Must. ft/pt & Sat. No sales/coll...>MORE

MST Therapists
Catholic Charities has an excellent professional development opportunity available for the following position:
MST
...>MORE

FOREMAN & LABORERS
Basement Waterproofing co. needs a foreman & laborers for expanding business, exp. w/interior drain tile a plus, 471-723...>MORE

Dietitian
Dietitian with duties to incl. cooking & ability to give direction in a health facility's dietary dept. Benefits incl. 4...>MORE

Sale Interviews
SALES. Joe Cecconi's Chrysler Complex, 2380 Military Road, Niagara Falls, NY 14304. Joe Cecconi's offers: Excellent pay ...>MORE

See all ads

Feature Autos

Yamaha 1982, 750
YAMAHA 1982, 750, runs perfect,
low mileage, $895.
716-525-2889
...>MORE

Nissan 1993 4x4
NISSAN 1993 4x4, extended cab, bedliner cap, $1200 or best offer, 715-2450...>MORE

Dodge 1993 Dakota 4x4
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE

Chevy 1995 Pickup
CHEVY 1995 Pickup truck, 4WD, 5 speed, must see, never had plow on it, $2800 bo, 804-5579...>MORE

Ford 2001 Taurus
Ford 2001 Taurus Station wagon, well maintained, 112,000 miles Siver ext. 4 dr, auto, asking $2800/BO. 716-772-2454....>MORE

1996 Saturn Sport Coup
SATURN 1996 Sport coup, 4 cyl, auto, exc cond in & out, loaded, CD, no rust, 97k orig. mi, $2195. 523-7102....>MORE

1996 Ford Escort
FORD 1996 Escort 4 cyl, 2 dr, exc cond in & out, no rust, 1 owner, only 61k orig mi, $2195. 523-7102...>MORE

1984 Cadillac Eldorado
CADILLAC Eldorado 1984, runs, inspected, $500. 283-3552....>MORE

Chevy 1994 High Topper Van
CHEVY 1994 High topper van, high road miles, mechanically sound, $900 or bo, 716-510-8105...>MORE

Ford 1999 Windstar
FORD 1999 WIndstar, LX, fully loaded, 38k miles, $3850. Excellent condition 860-4747...>MORE

See all ads





 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index