Date : December 07, 2011 6:22 PM
NFA Exclusive: Buffalo Bills CB Drayton Florence Looks for Turnovers to Turn Team Around
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| Bills.com |
By Robert Neely
Featured NFL Writer
www.nationalfootballauthority.com
Buffalo Bills cornerback Drayton Florence is used to moving around a lot. He grew up in a military family, which meant relocating often, and as an NFL cornerback he has played for three teams in nine years.
But Florence has found a home in Buffalo, and now that he has a new contract, he is trying to help military brats like him for the holiday season. At the same time, he is trying to help the Bills reverse a five-game losing streak and get a win.
"We've just got to take it one week at a time and just worry about getting a win right now," Florence said. "Looking too far into the future is just going to distract people. We need to worry about getting a win this week."
The Bills got off to a hot start, running out to a 5-2 record. One key to the start was the ability to create turnovers. Buffalo scored defensive touchdowns in three straight games during the winning streak, including Florence's 27-yard return of a Tom Brady interception against the New England Patriots in Week 3 that landed the cornerback on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
But the turnovers have been harder to come by recently, both for Florence and the Bills.
"Most of it is just making the play when it presents itself," Florence said. "Nine times out of 10, being in the right place at the right time has a lot to do with it - playing the right leverage, playing the right technique.
"Knowing the tendencies of what the offense is trying to do and how they're trying to attack us, once you understand that, you can position yourself to be in the right place at the right time and try to force fumbles."
Florence, who signed a three-year, $15 million contract before the season to remain in Buffalo, remains a consistent starter at cornerback. He has started all 12 games this season and has three interceptions and nine passes defensed this year.
"There's always room for improvement," Florence said. "I started off the year real solid. We've been in a little bit of a losing streak right now, and every little mistake is magnified.
"I've been trying to be a blue-collar player, grinding it each and every week. So far, there are always things I can do better, but I'm pretty satisfied with where I am right now and looking forward to just trying to get better each and every week."
Florence credits the longevity he has enjoyed in his nine-year career to playing for Marty Schottenheimer with the San Diego Chargers in the early years of his career. Florence has built a career on trying to follow the lessons he learned from Schottenheimer and the Chargers veterans.
"As long as you go out and make plays, play well and build those relationships with different personnel guys throughout the league, when free agency comes around, your name should be ringing," Florence said. "That just keeps you around - playing good, consistent football.
"You've got to go out and prove yourself each and every week in practice, each and every week in the game, because this league is a revolving door. You're in one day and out the next. I've been blessed to play as long as I have."
Florence knows revolving doors, because he grew up with them as a military brat. So this season, he has focused the efforts of the Drayton Florence Foundation on military families like the one he grew up in.
"They've given their lives, sacrificing their lives to serve our country," Florence said. "For me to give back to the Wounded Warriors and the military brats of the veterans that are serving now, it's a little more special to me, because I understand having to get up and move and relocate because of the situation that my parents were in, being a military family.
"I understand what those kids go through as far as getting up and having to move schools, change locations all the time."
Florence provides tickets for 10 Wounded Warriors for each Bills home game. And at Thanksgiving, the Drayton Florence Foundation provided meals for 29 military families, and invited those families to an indoor trampoline facility for a day of fun.
Now Florence and his foundation are preparing for a holiday party for military families on December 17. Military children will get stockings full of gifts as well as gift cards to Wal-Mart.
"It's just another way for us to show our appreciation for the veterans and the current military families," Florence said.
You can follow Drayton Florence on Twitter and connect with his foundation at its website.
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