‘Of course, Smerlas’ strong views aren’t what made him one of the most popular Bills of all time. It was his play — he gobbled up blockers as if they were buckets of chicken wings — and his regular Joe, lunch-bucket approach that endeared him to Buffaloanians. Though raised in the Boston ‘burbs, Smerlas was and is a Buffalo guy. There has always been a mutual empathy between player and town. A feeling that they’ve both had to scratch and claw to receive their just due.’