ORCHARD PARK, NY – JANUARY 03: Sammy Watkins #14 of the Buffalo Bills breaks a tackle by Darrelle Revis #24 of the New York Jets during the second half at Ralph Wilson Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins called out his teammates and coaches following playoff elimination this past season, essentially saying people need to have jobs put on the line if they aren’t performing up to standard. It would lead one to wonder why he wasn’t seen in Buffalo for voluntary team workouts this week.

However, some have taken Watkins to task for not showing up — including blasting him for sitting in a casino in North Carolina. He was spotted at a World Series of Poker event at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in NC, but that is only part of the story.

See, Watkins is also doing plenty of football-related activities while the team is up in Buffalo doing the workouts. That’s because he is helping former college (Clemson) teammate, Tajh Boyd, with a youth football camp.

It shouldn’t be much of a mystery, as Watkins also helped Boyd out last season as well.

To be sure, Watkins’ posting of his WSOP event entry didn’t help the reputation much. It didn’t take long to figure out that the casino trip was a diversion from helping at a youth football camp — one that teaches fundamentals and safe play of the game of football.

Those should be messages everyone gets behind, especially considering the knowledge of head trauma and its long-term affects on football players. Eliminating unsafe playing habits at a young age can really turn the game around.

Watkins’ willingness to help a former teammate out in that endeavor should be applauded rather than overly scrutinized for his activities while not participating in the coaching of that camp.

Questions over Watkins not being there this week were asked up in Buffalo, and head coach Rex Ryan wasn’t having any of the discussion.

“I know we had a great turnout for [the] voluntary deal; we weren’t 100-percent for attendance, but a couple of guys gave me phone calls, all that stuff. I won’t get into specifics on who was here and who wasn’t here because it is voluntary, but I’m encouraged by the turnout we have and everybody’s I think excited to get this season going.”

Now we know the real reason — coaching at a youth clinic — and as Watkins said at the opening day of the clinic, giving back is important too.

No matter how big or busy guys are, or what you’re doing, it’s always good to come back and show the kids that you care,” Watkins said. “These kids need for athletes to come back and not just coach football, but show them that it’s all about giving back.

[Larry Brown Sports]

About Andrew Coppens

Andy is a contributor to The Comeback as well as Publisher of Big Ten site talking10. He also is a member of the FWAA and has been covering college sports since 2011. Andy is an avid soccer fan and runs the Celtic FC site The Celtic Bhoys. If he's not writing about sports, you can find him enjoying them in front of the TV with a good beer!