Is Kelvin Benjamin soft? Or does he just not care?

[blacklabel]

First, I've never been big on ripping on players. I've never cared for the vitriol some people spew when a player has a bad play or a bad game. These dudes are human beings with interesting jobs and we're all sitting on our couches acting like we know better, haha.

 

But... with Kelvin Benjamin... I have to wonder... is the dude soft, or does he just lack a serious passion for the game?

 

For a dude with his size, his catch radius and his leaping ability, he should be pulling down those contested catches most of the time. Instead, he seems to get his hands on it but so many times this season we've seen him high point a ball and as he's going to put it away, he gets hit/bumped/tackled and the ball flies out of his hands and falls incomplete. Was he known for having weak hands coming out of college?

 

Then on top of that, we've seen him alligator-arm a few throws this season to avoid a hit and it's like, man, you're 6'5", 245 lbs, use your momentum and weight and plow over that DB. But he just doesn't seem interested in being overly physical. And then he also has the gall to blame his issues in Carolina on Cam. He's free to say what he wants but that just seemed kinda immature. Just do the generic thing and thank the team that brought you into the NFL, say you'll miss your teammates there but you're excited for a new opportunity with a new team. Instead, he threw a former MVP QB under the bus. Kind of a schmuck move.

 

Or does he just not give a crap? He kinda strikes me as the type of player who found out at a young age that he was good at football but he never really liked the game all that much. But since he was good, he figured he'd ride that wave as far as it could take him and it's taken him to the NFL and made him millions of dollars. He's in a contract year and he's definitely not playing like a guy who's angling for a fancypants new deal. He just seems to be going through the motions. Doesn't jog back to the huddle, we often see Zay Jones redirecting him as they line up, I dunno.

 

I mean, I'm not gonna act like I know the guy, he could have some personal things going on that we are not aware of (nor should we be). But, it's just strange to watch this guy play. He's just about the epitome of that old scouting quip that goes, "Looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane."

 

Doubt he's back for 2019. I know I wouldn't spend the money on him. 

 

Personally, I hope they replace him with Tyrell Williams from the Chargers... but with the way that kid has been playing, I wouldn't doubt if LA tries to sit down with him soon and iron out an extension.

 

Thoughts?

[BuffaloBillyG]

I don't think he cares that he plays like a giant "?".

[Heavy Kevi]

I think his apparent dispassion is a mix of frustrations about the QB, frustration with himself for sucking, and all the while wanting to look like cool hand Luke.

 

He strikes me as the "too cool" type who doesn't want to commit mentally or take his share of the blame. Maybe I'm off base but that is my sense.

[Dablitzkrieg]

He's fat and lazy.  Bad combo

[PatsFanNH]

Maybe he Has packed it in because he feels none of the QBs that the Bills have can get him the ball so why go all out.  (It’s Crap he gets paid well to play.. but maybe he is trying get cut/traded?)

[Freddie's Dead]

Yes.

[PatsFanNH]

2 minutes ago, Shotgunner said:

I think his apparent dispassion is a mix of frustrations about the QB, frustration with himself for sucking, and all the while wanting to look like cool hand Luke.

 

He strikes me as the "too cool" type who doesn't want to commit mentally or take his share of the blame. Maybe I'm off base but that is my sense.

Lol all I could hear was “what we have hear is a failure to communicate” with that “cool hand Luke Reference. Lol

[CommonCents]

4 minutes ago, Shotgunner said:

I think his apparent dispassion is a mix of frustrations about the QB, frustration with himself for sucking, and all the while wanting to look like cool hand Luke.

 

He strikes me as the "too cool" type who doesn't want to commit mentally or take his share of the blame. Maybe I'm off base but that is my sense.

I did feel that too cool vibe when he was smiling lying on the ground waiting for a teammate to come pull him up. Whatever act he is on, it’s costing him millions.

[WMDman]

Both 

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

looks to me like he's just collecting a check. he shows no desire to compete.

 

just another notch in the McD/Beane regime that has shown they have no clue how to build/evaluate players on offense that in turn scores little to no points in a league where if you're not putting up at least 35 a game, you don't belong on the field.

 

 

[Heavy Kevi]

4 minutes ago, Commonsense said:

I did feel that too cool vibe when he was smiling lying on the ground waiting for a teammate to come pull him up. Whatever act he is on, it’s costing him millions.

 

Yeah stuff like that is why I get that feeling.

 

Hard to tell though, some people smile or laugh when they are embarassed or uncomfortable. 

[NoHuddleKelly12]

It’s strange because he flashed what he could be in Carolina, but hasn’t seemed interested in developing that potential in the slightest here. Will prob go down as one of the worst WR FA pickups in this FO’s run. Our QB’s might clear the incompetent threshold if he played like he wanted the ball 

[Ol Dirty B]

2 minutes ago, NoHuddleKelly12 said:

It’s strange because he flashed what he could be in Carolina, but hasn’t seemed interested in developing that potential in the slightest here. Will prob go down as one of the worst WR FA pickups in this FO’s run. Our QB’s might clear the incompetent threshold if he played like he wanted the ball 

 

They traded a 3rd for him. Just pointing it out, not sure if it makes it better or worse. I'd lean towards worse.

 

Carolina fleeced them. How could two people work with a guy for a few years and be so clueless.

15 minutes ago, Shotgunner said:

I think his apparent dispassion is a mix of frustrations about the QB, frustration with himself for sucking, and all the while wanting to look like cool hand Luke.

 

He strikes me as the "too cool" type who doesn't want to commit mentally or take his share of the blame. Maybe I'm off base but that is my sense.

 

I think this is pretty accurate.

[BuffaloBillsGospel]

If you watch him in Carolina games he was the exact opposite of how he's playing now, he rounds out his routes well, he used his size to his advantage and was Cam's go to WR. My opinion is that he's pulling a Leveon Bell while playing out his final year, he'll blame his performance on a poor supporting cast but it looks to me like a guy who knows he's on a terrible offensive team and doesn't want to get injured before his 2nd payday, maybe he is just soft and unmotivated but that wasn't the case in Carolina at least not what I saw in him.

[Lofton80]

Go back and look at his performance at Florida St. or even the first preseason game, he has immense talent. Clearly, he lacks the passion at this point.    

[eee1776]

Have you noticed that He has so idea on where to line up, he has to be told about half the time.

[John from Riverside]

He simply isnt clutch.....the amount of balls that he should be snatching away from smaller defenders this year that end up on the ground is disturbing

[CommonCents]

1 minute ago, John from Riverside said:

He simply isnt clutch.....the amount of balls that he should be snatching away from smaller defenders this year that end up on the ground is disturbing

It’s not that he sucks, he is just trying to lose on purpose. He is part of the plan. 

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

...CERTAINLY has raised the bar in a contract year...............

[John from Riverside]

1 minute ago, Commonsense said:

It’s not that he sucks, he is just trying to lose on purpose. He is part of the plan. 

No......trotting him out there over and over again knowing that he isnt going to make the plays is the "on purpose"

 

and yes...its part of the plan.  If it wasnt KB would have been benched and someone like Golden Tate traded for

[CommonCents]

1 minute ago, John from Riverside said:

No......trotting him out there over and over again knowing that he isnt going to make the plays is the "on purpose"

 

and yes...its part of the plan.  If it wasnt KB would have been benched and someone like Golden Tate traded for

?

[Nelius]

Both, but he wasn't previously soft if that makes sense? He played aggressive early on in his career - see that gif against Richard Sherman that everybody uses in this instance, but still, I couldn't imagine him doing anything like that now.

 

I think the death of the kid's mom messed him up. He's just doesn't seem completely there right now.

 

14 minutes ago, eee1776 said:

Have you noticed that He has so idea on where to line up, he has to be told about half the time.

 

Also this. I've seen Zay do it countless times, so that wasn't a rumor. I think Peterman was telling him where to line up a couple times just this past week.

Edited November 6, 2018 by Nelius

[thenorthremembers]

Seems like the guy has no knees left.  He lumbers like a player who cant do it anymore.  I dont think he is soft, and I think his effort comes and goes, but mainly I think he is on his last legs and isn't physically able to get open. 

[Gugny]

31 minutes ago, Dablitzkrieg said:

He's fat and lazy.  Bad combo

 

Bingo.

[JoPar_v2]

Little bit of column A, little bit of column B.

 

he’s certainly appears checked out. Dumb trade from day 1.

[Gordio]

KB is a player that has packed it in for the year.  Effort is nonexistent.  I kind of find this surprising since this is a contract year for him but with that being said he probably figures since his QBS are pick 6 Peterman & Out of Retirement Anderson his stats are going to be garbage no matter how hard he tries so why bother putting yourself in harms way & getting injured.  There is -0- chance KB will be back next year.  

[H2o]

I think he's more checked out than anything because he knows he won't be on this roster next year. Essentially, I think he's playing to not get hurt. 

[jr1]

teams let players go for a reason

[Call_Of_Ktulu]

I have never seen a starting WR play so slowwwwww. He is so bad that if our other WR's on this roster can't take his spot then they all need to go.

If KB, Croom, Mills and Ducasse are released at the end of the year it will be the best offseason ever. 

[msw2112]

He is going through the motions to collect this year's paycheck, but is definitely playing to not get hurt so that he will be healthy going into free agency.  He got banged up pretty badly making a catch over the middle against the Chargers last year.  At that point, the team was in the playoff hunt.  He's not going to let that happen again on a team that is going absolutely nowhere.  As a fan of the team, I don't like it, but I understand it as a "business decision."  You can argue that playing poorly in a contract year will result in a lesser deal next year, but getting a serious injury would cost him a lot more.

[Augie]

Maybe he needs corrective lenses? Throw in a speaker in his helmet telling him WHEN to jump, and you might have something....

[Santana]

Kelvin Benjamin is soft as applesauce.

[row_33]

that pass to the EZ was into triple coverage

 

it went quite well, all things considered, and all kinds of benefit of the doubt to look for the silver lining there...

 

 

[Nuncha]

Yes and yes.

1 hour ago, Call_Of_Ktulu said:

I have never seen a starting WR play so slowwwwww. He is so bad that if our other WR's on this roster can't take his spot then they all need to go.

If KB, Croom, Mills and Ducasse are released at the end of the year it will be the best offseason ever. 

Why did we keep Croom (DOOM) over O'Leary?  

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

1 hour ago, H2o said:

I think he's more checked out than anything because he knows he won't be on this roster next year. Essentially, I think he's playing to not get hurt. 

 

....yup.....saving himself for OBJ type money next year as a UFA......GM's are already lining up..................

[Kelly the Dog]

He tries harder when Josh is in there. Those two long balls he caught including the one he caught on the play Allen was hurt were 100% effort and nice plays. He takes plays off then too. It’s bullshhit but he just gave up. 

[CuddyDark]

He's big and slow, runs poor routes and has iffy hands. I remember coming out people thought he was never going to be anything more than a backup 3rd receiver type.

Edited November 6, 2018 by CuddyDark

[PatsFanNH]

1 hour ago, msw2112 said:

He is going through the motions to collect this year's paycheck, but is definitely playing to not get hurt so that he will be healthy going into free agency.  He got banged up pretty badly making a catch over the middle against the Chargers last year.  At that point, the team was in the playoff hunt.  He's not going to let that happen again on a team that is going absolutely nowhere.  As a fan of the team, I don't like it, but I understand it as a "business decision."  You can argue that playing poorly in a contract year will result in a lesser deal next year, but getting a serious injury would cost him a lot more.

True but I bet he signs a one year deal with a team like GB, NE, NO.. you know a place with a proven QB and the ability get him the ball.

[gjv001]

I hope for Benjamin's sake he has saved and invested wisely. I doubt he sees another big payday.

[C.Biscuit97]

It’s Cam Newton’s fault.  Clearly, Cam and the Panthers have fallen apart without Benjamin.  But man, he was so good in that preseason game!