Archives for August 9, 2009

‘”When I first saw them they blew my mind,” said Chris Kelsay of the white throwbacks. “I really liked them. They look sharp. I think they’ll look good on the field, but ultimately whatever they give us we’ll play hard in them.”‘

‘Like almost all owners of big league sports teams, Wilson has been the object of a love-hate relationship, depending upon how the Bills fare. No owner in any sport has handled it better. During downbeat times, such as the current one, he has had bricks thrown at him by the media, some from this direction. Speaking personally, we have been friends for many years and we remain friends. He is a classy man.’

‘”My luck prevails. And closing in on 91, I still feel that I have youth on my side.”‘

‘ “In the annals of NFL history the sum total of my career will forever be defined by the 15 years I spent playing for the Buffalo Bills.”‘

‘More than half the crowd was Bills fans. Once the night wore on, it was a running joke among the presenters. Those Bills jerseys were everywhere – Smith, Thomas, Kelly, Smerlas, Flutie, Posluszny, Buffalo Soldiers, you name it. It was a sea of red, white and blue.’

‘”History is starting to be nice to us, I would say,” said linebacker Darryl Talley, one of numerous players, coaches and administrators in attendance to join the Buffalo celebration. “I think they are starting to recognize that we had a good team. We had a lot of tremendously talented people on that team. It’s just one of those things that you’re glad to see some of your teammates in there, and you’re proud as a peacock to watch them go in there.”‘

‘”At first I took a deep breath, and then I just said thanks,” Cottrell said. “It’s quite an honor. Not too many people get that chance. I was very appreciative of it. It’s going to be one of the finest moments of my life, something I’ll never forget.”‘

‘Now Bruce’s career was 19 years. 19 years. That’s a long time to play at a contact and collision position in the NFL. But, 15 of those years were played in front of the best and the loudest fans in the NFL, the Buffalo Bill fans. So Bills fans, now’s the time that we’ve all been waiting for. Now’s the time. Let’s get this noise level up in here. Come on now. You know how to do it. Come on. You know how to do this. Show the world. Come on fans, you’re the loudest fans. There’s no other group like you. Get it going.’

‘You may sometimes feel discouraged by the challenges you face, but never give up. The journey may be difficult, but press on in the face of adversity. Have faith in your capabilities. Set your goals high, and then work diligently, diligently to achieve them. Keep your heads head high, and above all, trust in God. Because all things are possible to those who believe.’

‘And standing in the background of all of this, the one constant through it all, Ralph Wilson Jr. He is not an owner that you see pacing the sidelines, exerting his team or exerting the fans. All right, I guess he had to come down on the field once. He had to. They renamed the stadium after him, and someone had to give him the keys to the place. Now it’s 2009. Buffalo is far from the 14th largest metropolis in America. These are certainly tough times in a lot of places, certainly in Western New York. Yet 50 years later, the Bills still belonged to Buffalo because your owner has given you his word.’

‘It was a lucky pick, because over the years, they have supported the team in Buffalo beyond our fondest dreams. And without the support, I wouldn’t be on this platform tonight.’

‘”I’m very excited,” said Edwards, who expects to only play about two series. “It will be a good test to see where the offense is at, where the defense is at, where special teams is at. It’s just a matter of getting back into the football feel.”‘

‘”I share this day with some great football people, and the honor comes to one who never played the game,” Wilson told a crowd of about 15,000 inside Fawcett Stadium, most of them clad in Bills jerseys. “I play tennis. Because in tennis, folks, when you go back to serve, you don’t have to worry about the rush of Bruce Smith and you go home without any bruises and in clean clothes.”‘

‘”Ted Cottrell was hired to coach me and that decision was probably one of the best decisions they could’ve made on defense,” Smith said.’

‘”My friends in the stands said, ‘Wilson, why don’t you go down and talk to the team? You’re behind 21-7 and you can’t do any worse?’ ” Wilson said. “I gave them one of the most inspiring talks. It was reminiscent of maybe Knute Rockne or Vince Lombardi. We lost the game 51-7. Shortly there after, (coach) Buster (Ramsey) said to me, ‘Hey Ralph, next time talk to the other team.’ “‘