Not only does it provide the Bills with a legitimate superstar at a position that they have been trying to fill since Bruuuce, Wiley and Schobel left but it is a boost to the psyche to the team, to the city and to the fans. The Bills and their loyal followers needed this signing as much if not more then when Polian signed Jim Kelly back in 1986. Obviously, having a franchise QB is a lot harder to find but when Kelly signed the Bills last playoff appearance was in 1981. The Bills have not made the playoffs since 1999 and lost in the famous “Music City Miracle” game. Twelve years of non-playoff appearances have numbed the fans and stagnated the franchise! Hard to believe but the last time the Bills sniffed the playoffs were in 2004 when they lost to the Steelers (who were resting their starters) in the last game of the season. The sad part is if the Bills win they were in~ lose and they’re out!

There will be they nay-sayers that will point to his injury problems or state that the Bills overpaid but does any of us care really care? We now have our messiah to lead us out of the darkness and into the light…..

This signing gives the Bills flexibility in round 1 the up coming draft, do they continue to build the defense or go for the LT that they have been searching for years? As much as I want to see LB/DE Upshaw on the team there is no way I could argue with them taking a LT such as Martin or Reiff

My draft wish list:

1) Upshaw ~another piece to the defensive puzzle, LB or DE and Kelsay isn’t getting any younger

2) Martin or Reiff~like the DE position the Bills have been in the hunt for a LT for what seems like an eternity

3) Kirkpatrick~as many DB’s that the Bills have drafted they still need help, McGee is brittle and McKelvin is average at best

4) Floyd or Jeffery~ big targets for Fitz to throw to but both lack blazing speed

5) Richardson~don’t laugh, this RB is a work horse along the lines of Adrain Peterson and Fast Freddy is on the wrong side of 30

The signing of Mario just makes this draft so much more interesting with so many options but Chan and Buddy will stick to the best player available approach no matter what position.

I’m ready for training camp to begin are you!!!!!!

 

 

It all started back in 1963 as a 8 year old my brother took me to my first Bills game. It was a warm December day and the Jets were in town, well it happened to be the day that Cookie ran wild with over 240 rushing and 5 TD’s as the Bills stomped the Jets. Before that day I was a Browns fan because of Jimmy Brown but I knew the Browns team Jimmy Brown, Frank Ryan, Gary Collins, Walter “The Flea” Roberts, Jim Kanicki, Gene Hickerson, Lou Groza etc etc. After watching the Bills pummel the Jets I was hooked and the Bills instantly became my team of choice. Instead of rattling off the names of the Browns I now knew the Bills: Cookie, “Golden Wheels” Dubenion, Sestake, Saimes, Bemiller, Barber, Bass, Mcdole, Stratton, Kemp etc etc.

 

The Bills were now my team of choice and going to the “Rock Pile” was a joy. My brother had season tickets with his friends so I was invited on many occasions. I still remember them bringing in coolers filled with refreshments and grilling on a small grill right at the seats—that is correct. They use to cook dogs an Italian sausage right there. Another memory there was there were no nets for x’tra points and FG’s and one end-zone had box seats (it was actually a baseball stadium for the Bison’s). The balls used to be kicked there and fans would scramble to try and get one. I never did but suffered a black eye and a busted lip while getting pushed into the back of a seat during a scramble for a ball---it was a badge of honor!

 

The ultimate was my brother taking me to the AFL Championship game against the Chiefs, tickets were $10 and I still have the stubbs. The Bills lost big as RB Mike Garrett had a big day and if they had won they would have faced the Packers in the World Championship game now known as the Super Bowl.

 

The Bills went into a tailspin after that but me and my friends became draft nuts that continues today with our draft parties. I still remember hoping and praying that the Bills would continue to lose during the “68” season so they could draft college sensation RB OJ Simpson. The Eagles were leading the race to the Juice by going 0-11; the Bills were 1-10-1 beating the eventual Super Bowl Champs Jets in week 4. On Thanksgiving Day the Bills were facing the Raiders in Oakland and were down to their 4th QB Eddie Rutkowski. Dam if he didn’t almost pull off the upset. I don’t remember who but a Bills player fumbled inside the Raiders 5 yard line as time was running out-Raiders win 13-10! The Eagles went on to win 2 out of there last 3 games and the Juice was coming to Buffalo.

 

The Bills again stumbled into the abyss even with OJ as they only won 4 games total in ’70 & “71”. Excitement finally was restored when Lou Saban was brought back in “72” and his main focus was to get the ball in OJ’s hands. The results were immediate as the Bills became exciting an the record improved for a couple of years. OJ was the most exciting runner that I have ever seen in person, every-time he touched the ball the fans were on there feet chanting Juice Juice Juice! Sadly as in the past Lou and Ralph had another falling out and Lou left at the beginning of “76 season.

 

 The Bills again regressed for a few seasons until Ralph hired a proven coach Chuck Knox. That is when I purchased my first season ticket a long with 7 friends. The team was on the up swing and the tailgate breakfast parties were outstanding. I was fortunate to bartend on Elmwood Ave at a place called Casey’s. The players would come in on Sunday’s after the games and I became acquainted with some on a first name basis. I did see and participate in many wild things (most legal some not) that with the technology today the players could never get a way with. My favorite players that came in were Lucius Sanford, Fred Smerlas and Darryl Talley but there were many more that were good guys. My two least favorites were Isiah Robertson (just a arrogant punk who one time started a bar room brawl) and Jim Haslett (a smart ass who we thru out on the street after he was konked on the head with a champagne for being a jerk).

 

Once again the Bills hit a rut when Knox left in a Huff after the strike season in “82” but we kept our season tickets. I was able to enjoy the beginning of the Kelly, Bruuuuce and playoff run era but moved to Florida after the “88” season. I was able to enjoy the SB run and my brother came through again getting us comp tickets (he worked for channel 10 in Tampa at the time) for SB XXV. I was so excited I got a Bills charging Buffalo tattoo at Lou’s. Going to the game was a great experience; we had Whitney Houston singing the anthem, jets from McDill flying overhead and the fans of both teams in red, white and blue chanting USA-USA-USA in support of our troops in the Gulf War. The only negative was Norwood missing the winning kick.

 

 

Even though the Bills haven’t been to the playoffs since “99” my loyalty for the Bills has never wavered, it is a marriage “through thick and thin or for better or worse”. I can’t picture following any other team and if the Bills ever leave Buffalo my interest in the NFL will drop dramatically. To this day I go watch them play in Tampa and Jacksonville, Miami use to be on my list but it is not worth the trouble to see them play there. I admit I’m hooked and addicted to being a Bills fan and that’s the way it will be “Until Death or Moving Do Us Part”……………………

 

We are the Greedy

Screw the needy

We want our share

Don’t care if it’s fair

 

Hell with the fan

We’ll take what we can

If they don’t pay

We’ll move away

 

Fans have no rights

In this useless fight

No need to complain

We’re too arrogant to feel your pain

 

We are the Greedy

Screw the needy

Just give your cash and go away

Enjoy your burger while we eat fillet

 

The day is coming when no one cares

Who wins the fight between Billionaires and Millionaires

Believe it or not we fans have a voice

In the end you won’t like our choice

 

Hundreds of Professional Football players in our very own nation are going to be locked out, living at well below the seven-figure salary level. And as if that weren't bad enough they could be deprived of their life giving pay for several months, possibly longer, as a result of the upcoming lockout situation. But you can help!

For only $27,080 a month, about $902.75 a day (that's less than the cost of a large screen projection TV) you can help an NFL player remain economically viable during his time of need. This contribution by no means solves the problem as it barely covers the annual minimum salary, but it's a start, and every little bit will help!

Although $900 may not seem like a lot of money to you, to a football player it could mean the difference between spending the lockout golfing in Florida or on a Mediterranean cruise. For you, nine hundred dollars is nothing more than a month's rent, a mortgage payment, or a month of medical insurance, but to a football player, $900 will partially replace his daily salary.

Your commitment of less than $900 a day will enable a player to buy that home entertainment center, trade in the year-old Lexus for a new Ferrari, or enjoy a weekend in Rio.

HOW WILL I KNOW I'M HELPING?

Each month, you will receive a complete financial report on the player you sponsor. Detailed information about his stocks, bonds, 401(k), real estate, and other investment holdings will be mailed to your home. Plus, upon signing up for this program, you will receive an unsigned photo of the player lounging during the lockout on a beach somewhere in the Caribbean (for a signed photo, please include an additional $150). Put the photo on your refrigerator to remind you of other peoples' suffering.

HOW WILL HE KNOW I'M HELPING?

Your NFL player will be told that he has a SPECIAL FRIEND who just wants to help in a time of need. Although the player won't know your name, he will be able to make collect calls to your home via a special operator in case additional funds are needed for unforeseen expenses.

YES, I WANT TO HELP!

I would like to sponsor a locked out NFL player. My preference is (check below):

[ ] Offense [ ] Defense [ ] Special Teams [ ] Entire team

Please charge the account listed below $902.75 per day for the duration of the lockout. Please send me a picture of the player and my very own Roger Goodell (NFL Commissioner) pin to wear proudly on my hat (include $80 for hat).

Your Name: ____________________Telephone Number: ___________________

Account Number: __________________Exp.Date:_______

[ ] MasterCard [ ] Visa [ ] American Express [ ] Other

Signature: _______________________

Alternate card (when the primary card exceeds its credit limit):
Account Number: _______________________ Exp.Date:_______
[ ] MasterCard [ ] Visa [ ] American Express [ ] Other

Signature: ______________________

 

 

 

 

I’ve had it with the NFL owners and the players union or better known as the Billionaires’ vs. the Millionaires’. How absurd in todays economic times that they are arguing of how to divide up the 9 billion annual income. The owners in their arrogant cockiness are asking the players to just trust them as they want to take another 1 billion off the top of the revenues for operating expenses. The players union insists on asking “show us the books”. The players do have a point they need to see justification for losing that amount of money. As a small business owner I would never consider showing my books to any of my employees but I’m not the NFL that can hide under the cloak of lack of Anti-Trust laws either.

 

So the owners enforce a lock-out but get caught selling TV rights at a lower cost to build a cash reservoir which will be used to hold a sledge hammer over the unions head! The courts said it is illegal and how dare they, money will be put in escrow. Is there any wonder why there is so much distrust between owners and players?

 

Of course the players decertify the union so they can pursue Anti-trust laws-WTF!!! Now the courts and Legal Beagles can ultimately decide the direction of the NFL. Isn’t that wonderful, the game we love can be destroyed by the legal system. The NFL can be turned into MLB with the HAVES and the HAVE-NOTS large market teams vs. small market teams.

 

The elephant in the room is there are a handful of owners who want to stop subsidizing the smaller market teams that can’t generate as much operating revenue such as the Bills, Bengals, Vikings, Jags etc etc. This money comes from a general fund and from retained revenue; dollars that come in from luxury boxes, parking fees, stadium naming rights,  concessions and local broadcast revenue. Retained revenue is not part of the shared revenue with the home teams keeping all the income. All teams currently enjoy shared revenue from marketing, TV rights and NFL products.

 

Needless to say the teams such as the Cowboys and Redskins which generate boatloads of cash from retained revenue do not want to share this anymore-Hell with the smaller market teams “Let Them Move” and who cares about their fans or cities and in the end the competitive balance of the league will suffer…

 

The truly sad part is as the Cowboys, Skins, Giants, Jets, Pats (I’m sure there are more) make so much more money from retained revenue then the smaller clubs it increases the leagues gross revenue. The players get paid their percentage off of gross revenue and as that increases all teams pay ceilings increase as well as the pay floor…

 

Where is this Lockout/Strike headed no one knows but this time it promises to change the game as we know it.

 

“I’M PISSED OFF AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE”

 

Draft day has become a day to look forward to for many of us for many years. From my school skipping days when we use to invade the Main Place Mall to hear Van Miller or Rick Azar calling the picks. (For those of you that are too young to remember the draft use to be on a weekday and on the radio.) To running draft parties when I was in the bar business. To getting together at a buddies house for the first few rounds enjoying each others company while talking football, enjoying great food and of course Libations-sometimes to the point of having to sleep over. Now with the draft on a week night we talk by the phone but still have our pool an argue over who the Bills will or did pick.

 

What brings me to sadness is the thought that this my be the last Draft or the NFL as we currently know it. Call it what you want a lockout or a strike but this one is different then any labor issues in the past. The owners out smarted themselves by negotiated a TV deal at lower rates to cover their asses during a work stoppage only to be called out. Now the players have won in court to prevent the lock-out and again the owners have mud on their collective faces. I wonder what Jerry Jones & company now think of Ralph Wilson and Mike Brown's lack of approval on the last CBA.

The scary part is the NFL is now in the hands of the courts and lawyers. Anything can happen to the league that a good number of the population loves. There are already lawyers making comments on how it is illegal for the league to conduct drafts, salary caps, contingencies on free agency, revenue sharing and teams should be operated like separate entities. I'm sure agents, the legal beagles an some owners such as Jerry Jones & Danny "Kiss My Fanny" Snyder would love the league to me more like baseball. This way they can corner the high profile players and to hell with the small market teams. Signing players would become a free for all. Who would benefit? Just follow the money trail Lawyers, Agents and Players Oh My!!

We're going to watch tonight's Draft and place the labor issues on the back burner while we enjoy ourselves. In the back of our minds we know this could be the the last semblance of the NFL  we have come to love!!

As the draft draws closer the thought hit me on a handful of the typical sayings we will be hearing. These are just some of the ones we hear year after year and like Berman's out of date nicknames they tend to grate on me...

He has a high motor

He was a steal this late in the draft, he has #1 potential.

Has the frame to get bigger

Wide body with a big butt

Work-out warrior

Definitely a reach

Fill in the blank____ is going to be a great QB in this league

Perfect for the scheme

Feel free to add on, I know I missed so many more......

 

A short, short time ago...
I can still remember
How the NFL Season made me smile.
And I knew when I had a chance
I would fly into Buffalo to watch the Bills take a stance
And, sitting at The Ralph would be all worthwhile.

But March 11th made me shiver
With every paper that was delivered.
Bad news on the TV;
No NFL football in the future to see

I can’t remember if I cried
When I read about the Owners & Players with too much Pride!!
But something touched me deep inside
The day the National Football League died.

So bye-bye, to a working relationship team.
Drove my Chevy to the stadium,
But it only made me scream.
And those Lawyer boys were drinkin’ Martinis or rye
An We were Singin’, "We’ll never forget this day until we die.
We’ll never forget this day until we die

How could you not divide the 9 billion you were shown
When economy issues are so well known,
But you preceded anyway…
Do you believe in Hell below,
Can money save your mortal soul,
What your greed caused is beyond control

Well, we know the fans have a voice

They’re suffering by your greedy choice
Your decision has hurt both women and men

 When you get back on the field an only then
Will the millions of fans have time to rejoice

So bye-bye, to a working relationship team.
Drove my Chevy to the stadium,
But it only made me scream.
And those Lawyer boys were drinkin’ Martinis or rye
An We were Singin’, "We’ll never forget this day until we die.
We’ll never forget this day until we die

WHA T I T MEANS T O BE IN AN IRISH FAMILY

(Told to me by my Irish Friends)

 

1)  You will never play professional basketball.

 

2)  You swear very well.

 

3)  At least one of your cousins is a fireman, cop, bar owner, funeral home owner 

    or holds political office. And you have at least one aunt who is a nun or an uncle 

    who is a priest.

 

4)  You think you sing very well.

 

5)  You have no idea how to make a long story short!

 

6)  There isn't a big difference between you losing your temper and killing someone. 

 

7)  Many of your childhood meals were boiled. Instant potatoes were a mortal sin.

 

8)  You have never hit your head on a ceiling.

 

9)   You spent a good portion of your childhood kneeling in prayer.

 

10)  You're strangely poetic after a few beers.

 

11)  Some punches directed at you are from legacies of past generations.

 

12)  Many of your sisters and/or cousins are named  Mary, Catherine or Eileen...and 

      there is at least one member of your family with the full name...Mary Catherine Eileen

 

13)  Someone in your family is very generous. It is more than likely you.

 

14)  You may not know the words, but that doesn't stop you from singing.

 

15)  You can't wait for the other guy to stop talking before you start talking. 

 

16)  You're not nearly as funny as you think you  are....but, what you lack in

      talent.....you  make up for in  frequency.

 

17)  There wasn't a huge difference between your last wake and your last keg party. 

 

18)  You are, or know someone, named Murph.

 

19)  If you don't know Murph, then you know Mac. If you don't know Murph or Mac,

      then you must know Sully.

 

20)  You are genetically incapable of keeping a secret.

 

21)  You suffer from Irish Alzheimer's... you forget everything..... but the grudges!

 

22)  'Irish Stew' is a euphemism for 'boiled leftovers.'

 

23)  Your skin's ability to tan.... ah....not so much.

 

24)  Childhood remedies for the common cold often included some form of whiskey. 

 

25)  There is no leaving a family party without saying goodbye for at least........ 

      Forty-Five minutes. 

 

26)  At this very moment, you have at least two relatives. who are not speaking to

     each other.........Not fighting, mind you, just not speaking to each other.

 

 

As usual it is up for debate but this is my list of my top defensive players since the inception...

 

DE’s

1)---Bruuuce Smith, A No Brainer—HOFer, NFL leading sack artist with 200.

2)---Ron McDole, Ala “The Dancing Bear”, 2 AFL Championships, 2 Pro Bowls and 1-1st team All-Pro.

3)---Aaron Schobel, exceptional pass rusher, 2 Pro-Bowls and 78 career sacks.

4)---Phil Hansen, excellent all around DE, 11 years of defending the run and pass, 4-SB’s

5)---Ben Williams, 10 year stalwart in defending the run, 1 Pro Bowl, 3 time 2nd team all conference.

 

DT/NT’s

1)--- Tom Sestak, career cut short by knee injuries, 2-AFL titles, 3-1st team All-Pro, and 4 Pro-Bowls

2)---Freddy Smerlas, one of my favorite Bills players, NT of the Famed “Bermuda Triangle, 5 Pro-Bowls.

3)---Jim Dunaway, another from the vaunted Bills defense of the mid 60’s, 4-Pro Bowls and 2 AFL Championships.

4)---Ted Washington, a mountain of a man that was an immovable object in the middle, 3 Pro Bowls.

5)---Kyle Williams, just hitting his stride a disruptive force in the middle.

 

OLB’s

1)---Biscuit Bennett, inside or out he was a force, too bad that he wasn’t used as much as pass rusher, 5 Pro Bowls and 5 total SB’s (1 with Atl.)

2)---Mike Stratton, AFL HOF, 6 Pro Bowls, 3 1st team All Pro, Known for his hit on Keith Lincoln in the Championship “The Hit Heard Around the World”.

3)—Bryce Paup. 3 years in B-lo All-Pro, NFL Defensive Player of the year (1995).

4)---Darryl Talley, another favorite, 12 years 2-Pro-Bowls, 4-SBs---“Tally Ho”

5)---John Tracey, tough as nails during the mid 60’s, 2 Pro-Bowls and 2 Championships

 

ILB’s

1)---Harry Jacobs, 7 years true MLB, 2- Pro Bowls and 2 AFL Championships. 

2)---London Fletcher, always took criticism but was a tackling machine

3)---Jim Haslett, not the most gifted but played hard, one 1st team all-Pro, a member of the “Bermuda Triangle”.

4)---Shane Conlan, Helped turn the Bills into a playoff contender, 3 Pro Bowls.

5)—Shane Nelson, injuries curtailed the career of the 3rd member of the "Bermuda Triangle". 

Safeties

1)---George Saimes, another member of the mid 60’s Bills, 2 AFL Championships, 5-pro Bowls and 3 1st team All Pro selections.

2)---Tony Greene, 37 career Ints, 2 Pro Bowls on some very lousy teams

3)---Henry Jones,  a steadying force for 10 years, one 1st team All Pro, 9 out of 10 years Bills were in the playoffs

4)---Mark Kelso, 30 career Ints better known as Kazoo for the helmet he wore.

5)---Steve Freeman, unspectacular but started for 12 years

 

CB’s

1)---Butch Byrd, 40 career Ints, 5 pro-bowls, three 1st team All-pro and two AFL Championships, plus he was a exceptional punt returner.

2)---Robert James, started out on special teams, was a shut-down CB, 3-Pro Bowls before a devastating knee injury shortened his career.

3)---Nate Odomes, 2 Pro Bowls on the Championship team of the 90’s

4)---Booker Edgerson, opposite Byrd they formed the best CB tandem in the league, 1 Pro Bowl.

5)---Antoine Winfield. LB for LB one of the toughest tacklers in Bills history fans appreciated his style of play!

 

Of course it is up for debate but I put a list together of my top offensive players since the 60’s. Some were easy and some were difficult to try to come up with.

QB’s
1)---Jim Kelly, this one is a no brainer.
2)---Jack Kemp, he did win 2 AFL Championships.
3)---Joe Ferguson, he had OJ but still put up excellent numbers
4)---Drew Bledsoe, hit some great numbers in his few years in town
5)---Doug Flutie, fan favorite brought excitement and playoff appearances

RB’s
1)--- OJ Simpson, to me the greatest pure RB I’ve seen in person—Poetry in motion!
2)---Thurman Thomas, best all around back in Bills history.
3)---Cookie Gilchrist. The AFL’s version of Jim Brown (RIP)
4)---Joe Cribbs, was a Thurman style of player. Too bad he jumped to another league
5)---Travis Henry, personnel problems derailed his tenure in Buffalo.

WR’s
1)---Andre Reed, should be in the HOF
2)---Eric Moulds,if he only had a steady QB he might have made the HOF
3)—Elbert (Golden Wheels)Dubenion. Deep threat averaged 18 ypc.
4)---Frank Lewis, deep threat in the early 80’s 17.2 ypc and a willing blocker
5)---James Lofton, final piece to the K-Gun—is in the HOF

TE"s
1)---Pete Metzelaars, 10 years as a starter with 4 SB appearances.
2)---Paul Costa, 2 pro-bowls, career ypc 16.7 in 4 seasons as a TE, finished career as a starting RT.
3)---Paul Seymour, not a receiving threat but a great blocker for the "Electric Company".
4)---Ernie Warlick, only played 4 years but was in 4 straight Pro-Bowls 62-65
5)—Keith McKeller, will always be synonymous with the Kelly led K-Gun offense

Guards
1)---Billy Shaw, one of the best ever an original AFL player is in both HOF’s
2)---Joe Delamielleure, led the way for the Juice HOFer
3)---Rueben Brown, 9 Pro Bowls
4)---Jim Ritcher, drafted as a center 14 years in Buffalo, 2 Pro Bowls and 20 playoff games.
5)---Reggie McKenzie, lead blocker for the Juice , 11 years in B-lo.

OT’s
1)---Stew Barber, 5 pro-bowls, two 1st team All-pro and two AFL Championships
2)---Will Wolford, such a shame he was lost to the Colts "He Coulda been the Best"!!
3)---Howard Ballard. "The House" blossomed then left 2 pro-bowls
4)---John Fina, a 10 year starter at LT steady but unspectacular
5)---Jason Peters, developed under Mouse McNally (2-pro bowls) when Mouse left so did Peters persona.

Centers
1)---Kent Hull, the best center the Bills ever had, 3 pro bowls, two 1st team all pro & 19 playoff games
2)---Al Bemiller, 9 years with 7 as the center, 2 AFL Championships
3)---Mike Montler, anchor of the famed "Electric Company"
4)---Eric Wood----Hmmmmm hopefully in the future!!
5)---I couldn’t come up with a #5

 

I just received this from Angelo Coniglio of rememberthe AFL.com--- sad news about Cookie!

Many of you remember Cookie was the first great Bills running back in the early 60's. He was the AFL's version of the great Jimmy Brown.

 

AFL Fans and former players:

 

    I have word from Chris Garbarino that AFL great Cookie Gilchrist is in an assisted living facility with stage four cancer.  If you would like to contact Cookie, you can do it through Chris at nyc1133mav@msn.com

 

    Regards,

 

    Ange Coniglio

Bills are goin' to Kansas City,
Kansas City, here we come
Yes, goin' to Kansas City, Kansas City, here we come
The Chiefs are a improving football team but the Bills will get victory number one!

 

The Bills have a high scoring Offensive Game-plan that has been putting up some numbers
Yeah; The Bills have a high scoring Offensive Game-plan that has been putting up some numbers
With Fitz behind center the offense has broke out of its 2 year slumber

Well Fitz might get tackled high he might get tackled low
If he has to complete a pass he should have time to throw
Bills are goin' to Kansas City, Kansas City, here we come
The Chiefs are a improving football team but the Bills will get victory number one!

 

If the line can block for our QB it’s a game the Bills should win.
The defense needs to play aggressive and not take it on the chin
When the Bills beat the Chiefs it will be our turn to grin

Bills are goin' to Kansas City,
Kansas City, here we come
Yes, goin' to Kansas City,
Kansas City here we come
The Chiefs are a improving football team an' it’s a game that should be fun!

.
Bills 34 Chiefs 31

Boom—Bam—Crack—that’s the sound of a major storm about to hit OBD!!!

For a handful of us that have been fans since the 60’s we have been on the roller coaster ride of good teams and really bad teams. The Bills are about to embark on one of the really bad time frames as they start a total rebuild from top to bottom. I see such a lack of talent on the current team that it looks like we are in a time machine heading back to a very dark sequence of past Buffalo Bills seasons.

1967—1972 record 17-64-3
1976---1978 record 10-34
1984—1986 record 8-40

2009—current 6-14


Make no mistake about it, the Bills will be rebuilding for at least the next few years. There are so many holes on the team that it will be impossible to do a quick turn around, what could help is that there is free agency which wasn’t available during their past free falls.

They pulled out of the funk during the "67-72" era by hiring Lou Saban who immediately gave the Bills an identity by building an O-line and handing the ball to O.J. Even that took 2 years Lou was only 4-9-1 during his first year. After Lou left at the beginning of the “76” with a 2-3 record things fell apart rather quickly as the Bills finished 2-12.

The Bills again hit rock bottom during the “76” & “77” seasons by going 5-22. Chuck Knox was hired and he also gave the Bills an identity by putting together a hard nose defensive style of ball—who could ever forget the Bermuda Triangle with Haslett, Nelson and Smerlas. Ground Chuck’s first year record was 5-11 but the foundation was being laid. Knox left after the strike shortened “82” season and yes the Bills went into another tail spin.

After the horrid period of “84”-“86” going 8-40 lady luck was with the Bills. GM Terry Bledsoe got sick and when the team struggled when he got back he was fired. A young and up and coming Bill Polian who was director of Pro Personnel was promoted to GM. Bill knew talent, hired Levy, signed Bruuuuce and he knew the key to turning the franchise around was signing Jim Kelly which he did. The Bills now had an identity with the gunslinger Kelly in the fold and I think at that time he was known as “Machine Gun” Kelly. The fans were excited and team was on the up-swing which lasted all the way to the “99” season.

The 2000’s brought constant turmoil from the front office to the coaching staff and to the players. The results of this showed on the field with only one winning record (9-7 in “04”) and no playoff appearances. It was the FIRST time in the Bills 50 year history that they failed to make the playoffs during a decade. Jauron’s teams were competitive but peaked without ever having a winning record. Now Nix and Chan are left to sort thru the rubble. It won’t be easy turning the Bills around, 10 years of bad drafting and bad personnel decisions have the left the Bills with just a sprinkle of talent. An that just isn’t good enough to be competitive much less a playoff contender!!!

As a Life long Bills fan from the early 60's I thought I would share this. A small bit from a recent reunion with Irv, Rick and Tom. If you lived in Buffalo from the 70's thru the late 90's you will enjoy this and I guarantee you will smile from the memories of the past the...

http://www.wkbw.com/news/local/94271024.html?video=pop&t=a

I hope you all will be able to open the link.

 

In the Bills History we have some great plays, games and names :

The shot heard round the world---LB Stratton crushing tackle on RB Lincoln in the 64
championship game.

Cookie Gilchrist sayings-just give me the dam ball and his most famous, after he
knocked out LB he got up and pointed at a DB and screamed your next Blankety Blank!!!

The Electric Company-with OJ,

The Bermuda Triangle of -Nelson, Haslett & Smerlas

The Greatest comeback ever-Houston Oilers @ Buffalo

Wide Right-no explanation needed

Never Give up-Beebe catching Letts with the game hopelessly out of reach

The Music City Miracle---uuugggghhhh?

Monday Night Meltdown --Cowboys 25  Bills 24, 20 seconds from Hell, Pre-mature E-celebration

 

These are just a handful that come to my mind----there are so many more, I'm sure that there are some that stand out for others that they would like to share......

The Bills will have lots of competition at camp in 2010…

 

As the Bills get ready to open their rookie and free agent camp one thing is evident the Bills upper management has been turning over every possible stone looking for talent. Not to say they didn’t in the past 10 years but some how what they are doing now seems to have a purpose and just seems different to me (maybe it is my blind optimism). For example, they are converting to a 3-4 so they draft NT Troup at #2, and sign FA Harvey to compete with holdovers Kyle Williams and McCargo.

 

A synopsis by position:

 

QB—yes we all know that the Bills needed to upgrade, chances are standing pat is not the answer but drafting Levi Brown gives the new coaching staff a rookie starting QB to mold. Odd man out Brohm unless the Bills try to get Brown on the developmental squad.

 

RB—with Jackson now entrenched as the starter, Lynch must now prove himself to belong on the team the Bills went out and signed FA’s Mendenhall, Simpson & Ferguson. Don’t laugh Fast Freddy was a FA. The Bills then drafted CJ Spiller #1 and signed rookie Bell. RB promises to be a highly competitive position Odd man out Lynch who is tradable and might be needed by another team because of training camp injuries.

 

WR—Evans on one side but who will play slot and be the #2? Bills draft Easley in the 4th, sign FA Chad Jackson and rookies Roosevelt (UB player), Nelson and Jones to compete with holdovers Hardy, Johnson, Parrish and Huggins. No doubt the new Bills WR’s are getting bigger. Odd man out, has to be Parrish he regressed to the point of being a healthy inactive last year----good for him there is a new coaching staff---bad for him that there is a new coaching staff.

 

OL—the continue Achilles heel of the Bills offense!! Guards—Levitre is set and hopefully Wood recovers to play sometime this year. Holdovers Chambers & Gaddis what can you say but Ho-Hum. Future bodes well for draft picks Wang & Calloway to be able to contribute immediately. A couple of intriguing rookie FA signings with Mutcher and Howard. Tackles—To me Bell is a tease that will show flashes but will always be injured or never reach his so called potential and Green is stop gap for a year or 2. Back-ups include Chambers & Meredith (who may be suited for RT or a guard position), rookie Wang and a handful of camp fodder. The Bills will continue to scour the waiver wire looking for improvements. Center—I’m giving Hangartner a pass due to the constant turnover on the O-line last year, he was an improvement over Fowler/Preston and should be better with a stable line-up.

 

TE—OK, Nelson is the projected starter with Schouman, Stupar, Klopenstein and Matthews competing for the 2nd & 3rd spots… Hmmmmmmmm!

 

DL—as the Bills convert to the 3-4 that have to get bigger on the D-line. End position looks 3-4 ready with Stroud, Edwards and Johnson but lack of depth with only rookies Carrington, Croner & Coleman is a major concern. DT’s—K. Williams is a football player and after him the Bills have perennially underachieving oft-injured McCargo, Harvey, and rookie Troup. This position will be heavily watched in training camp as it is the key for the 3-4. 

 

LB’s---inside is set with Poz, Mitchell and Davis as rotational starters with rookies Moat and Wright competing for a spot---depth is an issue! Outside—lots of competition but lots of question marks starting with Maybin, he has to live up to expectations and show he can develop into an every down player. Can anyone picture Kelsay & Schobel as OLB’s, I know I can’t… Ellison, Harris, Ellis, Manalac and Duncan will compete with rookies Batten, Moats and Coleman quite a rag tag group. Some one has to step up but whom? Lots of bodies and surely more to come.

 

DB’s---overall best talent on the team. Bills have depth at the cornerback position with McGee, Drayton, McKelvin, Corner, Lankster, Sargeant and Harris. I won’t mention Youboty because he gets hurt tying his shoes. Safety position has depth and finally a playmaker in Byrd.

 

I’m sure the new coaching staff will turnover the roster as they search for the type of players that fit their system. It will be interesting to see how many from the Jauron regime make it and can contribute…

There is a correlation between #1 draft busts and playoff appearances. The better the picks the better of chances of making the playoffs.

 

1960’s---4 playoff appearances 63***-64-65-66

Draft Busts #1 picks

1)       1960—QB Richie Lucas

2)       1961—OT Ken Rice

3)       1962—RB Ernie Davis (never played signed with the Browns)

4)       1964—DL Carl Eller (Played for the Vikings)

5)       1965—OT Jim Davidson

6)       1966—RB Mike Dennis

 

1970’s---1 playoff appearance 74

 Draft Busts #1 picks

1)       1970—DE Al Cowlings

2)       1972---DE Walt Patulski (#1 overall)

3)       1974—TE  Reuban Gant

4)       1975---LB Tom Ruud

5)       1977—DT Phil Dokes

6)       1978---RB Terry Miller (1 season wonder)

7)       1979---LB Tom Cousineau (#1 overall)

 

 

1980’s---4 playoff appearance 80-81-88-89

Draft Busts #1 picks

1)       1981---RB Booker Moore

2)       1982---WR Perry Tuttle

3)       1983---TE Tony Hunter (#12) Kelly was picked at #14

4)       1986—RB Ronnie Harmon

 

1990’s---8 playoff appearance 90-91-92-93-95-96-98-99

Draft Busts #1 picks

1)       1990---DB James Williams

2)       1997---RB Antowain Smith (he did have a decent career)

 

 

*** Bills played a playoff game against the Boston Patriots because they were tied in the standings for the right to play the Chargers for the AFL Championship