In two seasons with the Bills, Aaron Maybin never recorded a single sack. In one game against the Bills on Sunday, Maybin recorded two sacks in the Jets’ 28-24 win. Jets coach Rex Ryan liked what he saw.
After reviewing the game tape today, Ryan singled out Maybin for praise and said he was a major reason the Jets won.
“Maybin, he had six quarterback hits, two sacks [and] made a great play on the screen pass,” Ryan said. “The all-hustle team right there. I really like that about Maybin. He plays with his hair on fire and it’s encouraging to watch.”
For Bills fans, hearing that about Maybin has to sting. After the Bills took Maybin with the 11th overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft, it was one negative story after another out of Buffalo about why Maybin couldn’t translate his natural athleticism into productive play on the field.
Ryan said he thought Maybin was highly motivated to play against the team that cut him.
“Obviously, that game was special to him,” Ryan said “Any time you play against a team that’s released you or whatever, you want to have a great game.”
Maybin has said that Ryan saw something in him that the Bills’ coaches didn’t. Ryan seems thrilled with the way Maybin has repaid that confidence.