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Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - When Buffalo traded for Rasul Douglas from the Green Bay Packers, the Bills still had nine games remaining on the 2023 regular season schedule. In those nine games, the veteran cornerback had four interceptions
Douglas is set to return this season, and will now have the benefit of those nine games, in addition to mandatory minicamp and a training camp.
"Just learning, actually learning the playbook, and not just what are we doing with that game plan. I’m still learning," said Douglas during mandatory minicamp last week. "It’s me and coach every morning trying to get that down pat. It’s good to have a full season here, and not just the half that I had here."
Last season, Douglas played very well just by flying by the seat of his pants. He says he got help from two big veterans.
"I came in and I just listened to whatever Micah [Hyde] and 'Po' [Jordan Poyer] said," Douglas said. "They just looked at me and told me, 'Alright, you can jump something,' and I just did it. They just simplified it for me."
Douglas didn’t participate in any of the voluntary OTAs, but says the coaches knew he wasn’t going to be there and why. He says he needs the time off to make sure he’s ready to dive into football when training camp starts.
"I always don’t go to voluntary," Douglas said. "If you know athletes and the mindset that you have to be in during the season, you can’t be in that the whole time. You’ve got to take a break from it, because we miss so many funerals, birthdays, all type of events. We’re all human, so I just feel like sometimes you just need to take away and take a deep breath, and be thankful for what God blessed you with, the family that you’re with. It’s just a special time with them.
"It’s also to get your mind healthy and happy. And there’s not much sun here, so you’ve just got to get out and just chill. Once you get back, you’re locked and loaded."
Bobby Babich is the Bills' new defensive coordinator, and every single defensive player in the past month has talked about the high energy he brings. Being 29, of course Douglas took notice.
"He’s juice. He’s a lot of energy," he said of Babich. "Even last year when I first got here I was like, 'That guy doesn’t change.' Every day he comes in and you know he’s coming, you can hear him. He’s loud, he’s up. It’s like he takes a Five-Hour Energy as soon as he wakes up, and that’s him all day."
When your leader enters the building with that energy, Douglas says it’s contagious.
"It wakes you up, because you have to try to match his energy," Douglas said. "He’s ready, he’s juiced, he’s pumped to go out and there, and it’s like he’s playing. If you’re not already up, you’ve got to wake up."
Douglas is in the final year of his contract, and says his goal this year is to be an All-Pro.
The Bills are the fourth NFL team Douglas has played on, as his first three stops included time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Packers and one year with the Carolina Panthers.
Training camp starts at St. John Fisher University on July 24.
Photo credit Losi & Gangi
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