Bills S Byrd eager to put aside criticism in preparing to make long-awaited season debut
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FILE - In this Aug. 24, 2013, file photo, Buffalo Bills safety Jairus Byrd, center, looks on from the sideline in the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md. After missing the entire offseason because of a contract dispute and first five games of the regular season due to sore feet, Byrd is finally ready to take the field. Byrd is expected to play Sunday, when the Bills host the Cincinnati Bengals. (AP Photo/Richard Lipski, File) (The Associated Press)
Buffalo Bills safety Jairus Byrd is eager to put the criticism and scrutiny behind, now that he's finally ready to play.
With both feet healthy and getting the green light from coach Doug Marrone, the two-time Pro Bowl player will make his season debut Sunday, when Buffalo (2-3) hosts Cincinnati (3-2).
It'll mark the long-awaited start to Byrd's season after he had his motives questioned during an offseason-long contract dispute. He raised further doubts about his desire to play in Buffalo after missing the first five games with plantar fasciitis in both feet.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}That's over with, Byrd said following practice Wednesday. His sole focus is to help the Bills win.
Whether or not Bills fans believe him, Byrd said his intention all along has been to play football.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org