Marcell Dareus is one of the better run-stuffing defensive tackles in the NFL. A first-round pick of the Buffalo Bills back in 2011, he was also a highly combative personality during his six-plus seasons in Western New York.
Even then, it was somewhat of a shock to learn that Buffalo had dealt Dareus to the Jacksonville Jaguars during October’s trade deadline. Considering the team only got a sixth-round pick in return, it tells us a story of a man that just wasn’t wanted in Buffalo.
Now with his Jaguars taking on the Bills in Sunday’s AFC Wildcard Playoff game, Dareus is not holding back in his contempt for his former team.
“The GM (Brandon Beane), if he walks to me, or the head coach (Sean McDermott), and tries to shake my hand, (I’ll) act like I’m going to shake their hand and then be like, get out of here,” Dareus said, via NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.
Considering his relationship with the Bills’ brass had soured considerably, this take isn’t too surprising. But the enigmatic Dareus was not done there.
“Head coach, GM — f— out of here. I ain’t no f—boy. After all this, you’re going to try to come shake my hand? Come on now,” the veteran continued. “Don’t try me. Don’t do me like that. If you’re going to do me like that, that’s crazy.”
Talk about some hard feelings.
On the field, the Bills’ performance against the run took an immediate hit after Dareus was sent to Jacksonville. The team yielded an average of less than 88 rushing yards in Dareus’ five games. After he was traded, opposing offenses racked up north of 190 rushing yards four times.
Sunday will give Dareus an opportunity to prove that the Bills made a mistake by trading him.