ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) 鈥� Bills receiver Keon Coleman is the first to admit he鈥檚 not played close to anyone鈥檚 expectations 鈥� 鈥� during his first two seasons in Buffalo.
And the just turned 23-year-old is self-aware enough to appreciate his third season might be the last chance to prove himself.
鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 make or break it,鈥� Coleman said following a voluntary minicamp session on Tuesday.
鈥�(If) you鈥檙e (bad), you might not be here. Simple as that,鈥� he added. 鈥淚 know what I鈥檓 capable of. So if I fall anything short of that, I鈥檓 doing myself a disservice and my team.鈥�
Coleman has plenty of motivation, and even listed many of the flaws and inconsistencies that hurt him in the past. for being late to meetings. His production last season dropped off dramatically in finishing with 38 catches for 404 yards 鈥� with 112 coming in Week 1.
And if that wasn鈥檛 enough, Coleman drew the attention of Pegula during a news conference in mid-January outlining the reasons behind the owner’s decision to fire coach Sean McDermott.
Owner defends GM on drafting Coleman
Sharing the podium with general manager Brandon Beane, Pegula interjected when questions turned to Beane鈥檚 failure to improve Buffalo鈥檚 group of receivers and Coleman鈥檚 lack of development.
Pegula said it was the coaching staff that pushed for Coleman being the .
鈥淚鈥檓 not saying Brandon wouldn鈥檛 have drafted him. But he wasn鈥檛 his next choice,鈥� Pegula said.
The comment was interpreted as a public criticism against Coleman.
鈥淚 got nothing to say about that,鈥� Coleman said in his first comments since. 鈥淚鈥檓 a professional, man. I really don鈥檛 have a reaction to it. Words are one thing, actions are another. I鈥檓 still here.鈥�
By 鈥渉ere,鈥� Coleman was referring to Buffalo and speculation as to whether the Bills might trade him. Beane has gone so far as to reveal he rejected all offers to trade Coleman, and insisting the receiver still has a promising future in Buffalo.
Coleman said he鈥檚 not spoken to Pegula and doesn鈥檛 see a reason to.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 there to talk about? I鈥檓 here,鈥� he said.
As for the criticisms directed at him by others, Coleman said he鈥檚 aware, but not fazed.
鈥淚 just don鈥檛 care,鈥� he said. 鈥淎t the end of the day, my job is to come out here, put my cleats on, strap them up and prove my worth here.鈥�
Coleman arrived to a warm welcome
Long gone are the days of , when the top pick in the second round out of Florida State became a fan favorite.
During his first news conference in Buffalo, he wore a memorable yellow winter coat, which Coleman said he proudly bought on sale at Macy鈥檚. And he expressed his love for Buffalo wings and eyed the cookies on a nearby snack bar before sampling one.
Though there have been glimpses of his potential, Coleman鈥檚 been limited to scoring four touchdowns in each of his first two seasons. And the sure-handed receiver in college has been anything but in the NFL in catching 67 of the 116 attempts thrown his way for 960 yards.
Coleman was critical of his career so far.
鈥淚t鈥檚 time to put it all together,鈥� he said. 鈥淧otential things I don鈥檛 really care to hear them. It鈥檚 time for me to just put it out there on the field.鈥�
Ideally, the Bills would prefer the 6-foot-4 player to establish himself as one of their top three receivers, with Khalil Shakir in the slot and as a deep threat. Coleman鈥檚 competition includes Joshua Palmer, who was slowed by injuries last season, return specialist Mecole Hardman and rookie fourth-round draft pick Skyler Bell.
Rookie coach backs receiver
Coleman has another big backer in who spent the previous two-plus seasons as Buffalo鈥檚 offensive coordinator.
鈥淜eon understands the role that he can have in this offense. I think he understands the things that have happened in the past, but he also has known that there鈥檚 going to be things that are questioned about him,鈥� Brady said.
鈥淎nd he can鈥檛 control that. All he can control is doing what he鈥檚 doing moving forward and not putting any pressure on himself,鈥� he added. 鈥淛ust go out there, run routes, do your job, block in the running game … and just upholding that standard every single day. And I believe he鈥檒l be able to do that.鈥�
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