hondo in seattle

Buffalo has a rich and fascinating history. But, if I recall right, Buffalo was the 8th biggest city in the US in 1900. While still comparatively big in 1960, when Wilson started the Bills, it was already a city in decline. Most club owners would rather invest in an ascending city but Ralph took a chance on Buffalo. And it paid off handsomely. Still, I'm grateful.

We've had so many bad quarterbacks, I couldn't list them all. But, yeah, Billy Joe is not forgotten! Sadly, I agree. I think that's why Hochul was in a bad negotiating position. She probably didn't believe the Pegulas would move the Bills out of Buffalo. But what if? It would be an irreplaceable loss.

As a Bills fan, it's easy to feel cursed. Our list of starting QBs looks like it comes from an episode of America's Least Wanted: Kyle Orton, EJ Manuel, Todd Collins, Johnny Green, Dennis Shaw, Dan Darragh, AVP, Rob Johnson, Thad Lewis, and everyone's favorite - Nate Peterman. Our list of head coaches is just as bad: Rex, Kay Stephenson, Hank Bullough, Doug Traitor Mallone, Dick Hard-to-Win Jauron, Greg Blowhorn Williams, Jim Ringo (career .139 win rate), John Rauch (.250), and Harvey Johnson (with not one but two 1 win seasons!). After 61 years of play, we've only managed 26 winning seasons. The glass isn't even half full. But it's not completely broken either. While we haven't been rich at the QB position, we have had more than our fair share of good RBs including two HOFers as well as the likes of Shady McCoy, Cookie Gilchrist, Fred Jackson, Marshawn Lynch, Joe Cribs, Travis 'Daddy' Henry, Willis McGahee, and Greg Bell. Just having a team in Buffalo in the first place seems a little miraculous. There are 48 U.S. metropolitan areas bigger than Buffalo yet we have a NFL team. Ralph Wilson, for all his notorious cheapness, kept the team in Buffalo when it would have been more profitable somewhere else. And when Ralph died, his estate sold it to another rich Buffalo supporter. Then in 2022, with a budget due, the governor resigned allowing a Bills fan to become the governor responsible for negotiating the new stadium deal. What a stroke of luck that was! And, of course, the QB and HC curses are over with Josh and McD. When you think about it, as Bills fans, we're blessed.

I've read multiple summaries of studies by sports economists. I don't recall any of them examining what a stadium/team means to differing cities. I would guess a stadium/team is far more impactful in place like Buffalo than LA or Boston. If Buffalo lost the Bills, it would be soul-crushing for the residents and nationally confirm Buffalo's reputation as a second-rate city. This would have economic ramifications that would be hard to quantify. When LA loses a team, nothing happens to LA. The economic/cultural/societal relationship between a team and its city varies from city to city. Also, the economic studies tend to focus on the impact to local businesses. The economists ask how much extra revenue is generated by the local hotels, restaurants, and so on. With so few home games in the NFL, the benefit isn't significant. But in taxes alone, NYS will recoup its investment.

I went to Miami for the Bills-Fins playoff game in '93. I was amazed at how many Buffalonians traveled to Florida to support their team. A local Dolphins fan disabused me and explained most the fans I saw were actually residents of South Florida.

I'm torn on where I rank this game. I remember the disappointment I felt at the end. But I also remember the amazement and excitement I felt beforehand.

It's an interesting story. But it's not news.

CB OL CB LB WR OL Blue

As someone born and raised in the burbs of Buffalo, I respect the old traditions and have bone-in wings when I watch games. But as someone who simultaneously considers himself a man of the world, I often sauce my wings with a concoction I make myself consisting of Korean gochujang, Mexican tomatillos, and a variety of other international ingredients. One weekend last year, my kind, pretty Filipina wife bought boneless wings for the game. Hey, even the best of wives make mistakes - but this was a big one. So on this occasion I sauced my so-called wings with Frank's and melted butter - in accordance with the hallowed Buffalo recipe - to make up for the sacrilege. And, of course, I dipped the "wings" in blue cheese. But it wasn't enough to absolve the sin. We lost to the Bucs in overtime.

I used to call him Roxy Knoxy because he had hands of rocks. But he's growing as a player. And growing on me. I think this is one of the funniest things I've read here in a while.

OJ was my favorite football ever - before he descended into scumdom. I was so disappointed he got hurt in the first half because I wanted to cheer for his preternatural athleticism in person. I never imagined that Fergy would pick up the slack and was stunned by the outcome. If I recall correctly, this was our first MNF victory ever and the Raiders first MNF loss?

I watched the whole Youtube video, enjoyed some of his runs, and still thought: JAG. Every NFL back getting carries has an occasional good run or catch. I didn't see Moss do anything a back on any other team couldn't do. Sorry. Still, Moss is a serviceable #2. I would love to have a back who's a big power runner... Or a speedster who can run routes and catch... A real weapon.

Logic, you make some good points. Maybe an upgraded OL will help Moss. Maybe Kramer, and his blocking schemes, will make a difference. But I've never seen anything in Moss that says he's more than a JAG. Every RB in the NFL has some talent; that's why they're on a 53-man roster. But in what way does Moss distinguish himself from the hundred - more or less - other backs in the league? Bigger? Faster? More elusive? More explosive? Breaks tackles better? I don't think objective answers to those questions gives many people a lot of confidence. But who knows? Maybe he'll have some kind of surprise breakthrough this season. I'd love to see it!

Good list, GB. I'm not "so American" in all things. I love Asian, Hispanic, and European food - not to mention women. I read a lot of world history and, occasionally, foreign novels. And I have tremendously enjoyed my adventures in Asia, South America, the Middle East and Europe. But if I'm going to watch a movie, let's say, about your country in WWII, I'd rather watch something heroic and uplifting about D-Day or the Battle of Britain then a depressing drama about the losses at Dunkirk or Singapore. Endings matter. Still, '13 Seconds' makes my list because up until that final drive, I probably enjoyed that game more than any other - excepting The Comeback. Curiously, that MNF game against the Raiders is the only Bills home game I've ever attended. For that reason alone, it was a candidate for my Top Five but didn't quite make the cut.

I considered the Kelly-dive Fins game. I don't have the greatest memory and have forgotten a lot of games. Not that one.

I don't follow college ball so I don't know Cook. But looking at his highlights, he seems to have good speed and explosiveness. He also seem to have to be a capable receiver out of the backfield. But he doesn't seem particularly adept at breaking tackles or eluding them. You compared him to McKissic... maybe he'll be a good third down back at the NFL level. I don't see him as a good NFL runner.

I debated even including that one. In many ways, I'm an All-American boy. I dislike movies with sad endings. And I hate those French movies that don't seem to have any ending at all. I like big, happy Hollywood endings with the good guys dramatically vanquishing their foes. But that Chiefs game was just too exciting - and had such amazing performances - that I couldn't ignore it.

I'm old enough to remember a lot of great games, but not so old that I had the privilege of seeing the AFL Championships. But I did get to see the Dolphins decade long streak end, OJ break 2,000 yards, and lots of other fun moments. My Top Five includes two games from this past season: 1. The Comeback. Coming back from 35-3 without Kelly was unlikely. Even more unlikely when you recall what the Oilers did to us in the regular season. 2. The Perfect Game. So fun to watch this happen to Belichick and the Pats after all the suffering they caused us. 3. The No Punt Game. The two best offenses went toe-to-toe in a game that surpassed the pre-game hype. 4. 51-3. It's always fun to see your team score a lot, but more fun when it convinces you that your team is peaking at just the right time for the Super Bowl. 5. 13 Seconds. This would rank higher if we could rewrite the ending.

You and 100,000 other Bills fans.

I've got to wonder about the ACC tendency and whether or not it's predictive... Is it just a statistical fluke? (The sample size isn't huge). Do they favor the ACC for some reason? Do they believe it produces more NFL caliber athletes? Does our scout for the ACC have more pull at OBD? Is he more persuasive?

I respectfully disagree. I rate the Comeback higher for the obvious reason that it had the better ending. But I also rate it more unlikely. No team had ever - since the NFL began in 1920 - come back from a 35-3 deficit. But the Bills-Chiefs game was wild - and wildly entertaining right up to the final 13.

I do believe that McD (and Frazier) can help a CB succeed with scheme & coaching. But I don't think scheme & coaching are everything. The CB has to have natural talent to succeed. And since it's a passing league, I'd personally like to see upgrade the CB position. More than the WR position. CB is our biggest weak spot.

I don't know if Walker will be any good in the NFL. But I went with the offensive linemen because our quarter-billion-dollar man needs better bodyguards.

Twenty, thirty years ago - the best team had triplets: an elite QB, WR, and RB. I'd love to see Allen and Diggs acquire a Thurman to round them out. But with the QB and - now - WR market being what it is, affording an elite RB is challenging if you have a signal caller and wideout on non-rookie contracts. That's why, today, the NFL is more about doublets than triplets. It would be cool, though, if Beane and his guys got better at evaluating college RBs and managed to pick up a series of great ones in the draft on rookie deals.

I don't know the details of the contract, but this seems like a good deal for the Bills. The future is uncertain ('and the end is always near') but I think in the years ahead we'll see the Bills are paying Diggs less per catch/yard then the Fins are paying Tyreek or the Raiders are paying Adams.