Skip to content

Bills' Whaley doesn't think humans are supposed to play football

Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley provided an honest assessment Tuesday of the violence football inflicts on players.

In fact, the Bills' top football man believes the human body wasn't designed to absorb the type of impact experienced in the sport.

"This is the game of football," Whaley said on WGR 550 radio, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN. "Injuries are part of it. It's a violent game that I personally don't think humans are supposed to play."

The question about football's impact on the human body came up not in relation to the ever-present concussion question that's been making headlines, but star wide receiver Sammy Watkins' injury history.

"I wouldn't say (he's injury-prone). If you look at his game log, he's only missed three games," Whaley said. "So is he injury-prone? I wouldn't say that. Are things going to come up with a guy like this? We hope that gets limited in the future."

Watkins is dealing with a broken foot that's expected to sideline him until training camp, part of a series of nagging injuries that have hobbled the third-year pro. This has left fans frustrated, but Watkins and others' injuries during the Bills' offseason are simply part of the game, according to Whaley.

"These are going to come up," Whaley said. "We trust in our medical staff and we trust in each individual athlete to do what they have to do to get back on the field."

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox