HAMBURG, N.Y. -- Bills players are concerned with their privacy and safety after the front lawn of a home belonging to cornerback Leodis McKelvin was vandalized following Buffalo's season-opening loss to New England. Hamburg police on Tuesday confirmed the home of a Bills player was vandalized, but declined to release details of their investigation after an obscenity and the score of Monday night's game -- a 25-24 loss to the Patriots -- were painted in white on the player's lawn in suburban Buffalo. McKelvin fumbled a kickoff return with under two minutes to play and the Bills leading 24-19. Three plays later, New England's Tom Brady hit Benjamin Watson for the go-ahead touchdown as the Patriots overcome an 11-point deficit in the final 2:06. Bills linebacker Kawika Mitchell referred to a teammate's home being vandalized in a post on his Twitter page, though he did not say it was McKelvin's home. Mitchell warned fans that such behavior is disturbing. "W/ all the safety issues n the NFL its not funny at all," Mitchell wrote. "We have Fam at our homes to protect. If u show ur face on my prop Ill make sure I do everythin to keep my Fam safe." Mitchell warned that he would consider vandalism threatening behavior if it happened to his home. "Its my job to protect my home as it is the job of all home owners. Dont push the limit," Mitchell wrote. Though Bills fans are passionate about their team, Monday night's vandalism is surprising. Bills players previously have hailed the team's fans for being respectful and allowing players their privacy. Bills spokesman Scott Berchtold declined comment by saying the team considers this a police matter. A message left on a phone listed to McKelvin was not returned. It's not clear if there was anyone at home at the time the vandalism occurred. Bills players had the day off before returning to practice Wednesday to prepare to host Tampa Bay this weekend. Bills safety George Wilson was shocked upon learning the news earlier in the day. "To see that type of response from so-called passionate fans is taking things to the extreme," said Wilson, who is the team's union representative. "You can blog and make your opinions, but to go to a person's residence, you're taking it to a whole new level." McKelvin, selected in the first round of the 2008 draft out of Troy, set a team record and ranked second in the NFL with 1,468 kickoff return yards last season. He also scored a touchdown. He opened this season by taking over a starting job opposite veteran cornerback Terrence McGee. After the game against the Patriots, McKelvin was criticized for running the ball out of the end zone rather than taking a knee. After being hit by Brandon Meriweather at the Bills 30, McKelvin attempted to gain an extra yard before being stripped of the ball by Pierre Woods. Following the game, McKelvin said he was disappointed that he fumbled but noted he would run the ball out of the end zone again if given the same opportunity. "Next time I get the opportunity, I am going to hold on and make a better decision," he said. Watching football on Sundays will be a whole new experience with NFL Network's new channel, NFL RedZone. Find out why. Coach Dick Jauron defended McKelvin. "He's a dynamic runner and he was trying to win a football game, ice a football game," Jauron said, adding that McKelvin attempted to protect the ball with two hands. "It's just one of those things that happens, but I don't have any problems with Leodis. He plays the game hard." With a nod to Terrell Owens, defensive end Aaron Schobel was upbeat a day after yet another Monday night meltdown by the Bills. "I think Terrell said it best before and after the game," Schobel said. "He said he's been on a lot of teams and said we've got talent. We've just got to put it together. I think he's right." Schobel did express concern that the Bills continue to struggle to seal victories. They lost 29-27 to Cleveland on a Monday night last season on Phil Dawson's 56-yard field goal with 1:39 left. Two years ago on a Monday night, Buffalo gave up 9 points in the final 20 seconds in a 25-24 loss to Dallas. "The bottom line is when you have a chance to win the game, win the game. We didn't do that," he said. "It's a long season and we're going to be all right. We've just got to get on a roll." Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
Ah, the 80's. Tom Cruise was still considered a ladies man as opposed to a man's man, and Lea Thompson was still very grrrr. Great underrated football movie - Friday Night Lights, Pittsburgh style.
If this is true, then Jauron is a hypocrite! At the post game presser he defended the play. Although with the hands team in the game...
Ok just a litttle sarcasim there with the whole yelling in leodis' ear. I am sure jaron in not that type of coach. Just glad I am not a bills fan at this point. It is one of those situations where you make a good play you are a hero and if you screw up you are a bum. Still some major league BS what happened to his house.
no, players are paid to and expected to make on field decisions as well, especially kick returners who are expected to have the judgment to gauge the situation and how deep the kick is to determine whether it is the smart choice to run it out or not.
That's completely justified none of this would have happened if that tool just tool a knee. If I see someone fuck up at their job I make a note so that later I can make sure karma gets them.
Not at that point in the game. Before the kick, it's the coaches' job to say "Leodis, if the ball goes in the end zone, take a knee/take it out." There's no way they were sitting there saying, "Gee, wonder what Leodis is gonna do if it goes in the End Zone. This should be exciting!" Why would that decision ever be left up to the player at that point in the game? Also, if returning that kick was so dumb, why did the Pats kick it in the end zone to begin with? Why wouldn't they have kicked it to the 5 or 10 yard line, guaranteeing a return and a shot at a turnover? I'll tell you why, because they Pats wanted the Bills to take a knee with 2:06 and preserve the 2-minute warning for themselves.
this whole thing just boggles my mind and leads me to the simple conclusion that this was just a few idiots who watched the game together and when he fumbled theie drunken rage and slew of insults and empty threats at the screen, which i know majority of the ppl on this board have had with the jets over the years, made it out of the house and onto the road. Bunch of close bills friends who pumped each other up and then didnt want to back down and next thing ya know theyre on his lawn. the worst part of it is, is that from any bills fan or source i know, mckelvin was a source of hope, a bright spot in buffalo, good KR's usually are, think chad morton, and they turned on him like that. not real fans, its alright when the time comes and they are still watch their "beloved" bills and mckelvin runs back a big one, they wont be able to cheer because theyll realize that they are jerkoffs. not that i like the bills or wish them success, but this was taken beyond football.
It wasn't bad luck. A fumble is likely in that situation. I don't know whose fault that return was, but the way the return was handled was atrocious.
No one gets (cares about) the "You shit on my house" reference? It's from another 80s movie - it involves football players throwing shit on someone's house?
I feel bad for the guy, some fans I guess were very very pissed off, but hey its better then that Colombian soccer goalie who accidently knocked the ball into his own goal costing the team a huge away victory, he then was shot in the head by a crazy fan in public in front of his family.
It's from Can't by me love where a geek pays a hot chick to go out with him... the shit scene was the now cool guy throwing shit at his former geek best friends house...
I think this is totally correct. It was important to take the clock down to 2:00 in that spot. Running the ball out was right. But, hold the ball with two arms and go down at the 25 on contact. Struggling for an extra yard was dumb. I don't see how having the "hands team" caused the fumble either.
is this the one where the kid cuts the grass or something? he m ows lawns for fun? i dont know seems kinda familiar
