Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller returned to the team Sunday after taking some personal time to deal with family matters.
According to police, Spiller's step-grandfather Hubert Allen Jr. shot four people, killing two of them and wounding the other two, before killing himself in Lake Butler on Aug. 24.
Spiller is expected to be there for the Bills when they take on their division rival New England Patriots at home in Sunday's Week 1 regular-season opener. Spiller spoke with reporters Sunday, explaining why he played in the Bills Week 3 preseason game against the Washington Redskins while fully knowing what happened in Lake Butler that very same day. Buffalo lost the game 30-7 and Spiller had a touchdown in the contest.
"My running back group, Fred [Jackson] was the first one that knew," Spiller said per ESPN. "He came right up to me and he held his support. Coach [Tyrone] Wheatley was [also] up there talking to me and giving me support, just letting me have some moments to myself."
Spiller practiced on Monday and enters his fourth year at running back for the Bills after having a break-out campaign last year. Spiller rushed for a career-high 1,244 yards on 207 attempts and reached the end zone six times.
A video highlighting Spiller's great 2012-13 can be seen below.
Spiller was very thankful for the support of the Bills.
"It's a small community [in Lake Butler], so when they wanted to send their condolences down to all of Union County, it speaks volumes about the organization that we have here," Spiller said. "The supporting cast of Coach Marrone, our CEO Russ [Brandon] and our general manager Doug Whaley; I was texting those guys, checking up on them, they were checking up on me. I was letting them know I was pretty good."
Buffalo is looking to turn around its recent fortunes, coming off of a 6-10 record in 2012 and a fourth place AFC East finish.
Buffalo, which hasn't made the playoffs since 1999, will be glad to have a weapon like Spiller back for the long haul, and Spiller is looking to head into the season with a clear mind despite the shocking events surrounding his family.
"I understand that it is a tragic event that took place and it's going to take a while to cope with, but at the same time I can't forget the task and the goal and the dreams that we have here as a team and an organization," Spiller told ESPN.
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
