The Buffalo Bills and NFL world has heard from Darius Slay.
Slay, 34, was claimed by the Bills off the NFL’s wavier wire this past week. The cornerback decided he did not want to report to his new team.
The natural question was… why?
Slay joined NFL analyst Emmanuel Acho on his podcast, “The Speakeasy,” and did discuss his decision.
Slay was not totally disrespect about the Bills as an organization, but there was one odd factor named.
“I don’t feel like packing up and moving again,” Slay said. “I’m 13 years in, like, I done did it. Like, [the Bills] would have caught me at like 28, 29, I might have been like ‘OK.’ That’s a top organization. They have a lot of great things going. They win, they go to the playoffs, they got a franchise quarterback. So, it wasn’t a bad fit, it just caught me at a bad time.”
Slay went on to mention the one circumstance that annoys western New Yorkers as a reason he also did not move: Buffalo wewather.
“I talked to [the Bills]. It was a neutral talk. I just said, ‘Hey, man. I’m 34. I know ya’ll be watching tape, but I’m trying to relax with my family and kid. I ain’t feel like packing up, moving.’ And then, on top of that – no offense to Buffalo — it’s cold as hell in Buffalo. I’m from the south.”
Ouch.
Bills Mafia is never happy hearing that. But he’s the odd part.
Slay not wanting to learn a new defense with potentially just two months left in his career before retiring? Maybe somewhat understandable.
But… the weather? Yes, Slay is from Georgia. However, not only was he just released by the Pittsburgh Steelers–the NFL team geographically the closest to Buffalo–he has played in Detroit and Philadelphia as well.
And adding to a potential annoyance to Buffalo, Slay went on to admit joining Philly again might not be something he would say no to.
“I don’t know,” Slay saif. “It would have been a hard time to think about it. But Philly is my second home. I don’t know how that would have hit, if it would have hit.”
Again, there is a point to be made: Slay is familiar with the Eagles defense from his past. It still is a cold-weather team that plays outdoors…
Regardless, the Bills placed him on their reserve/did not report list. Buffalo retains his rights so Slay won’t be going there right now.
More from Slay can be found in the clips below:
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Darius Slay: One odd reason he gave for not joining the Bills
Reporting by Nick Wojton, USA TODAY / Bills Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
