Cotton Fitzsimmons

Perhaps "The Buff Dive"

When Fitz was signed, I had no feeling toward it at all. It was one of those things that was right up there with all of the other mediocre/journeyman signings we made over the past years. I figured, he'd not get on the field much, suck when he did, and be gone by now. YE OLE had no idea he'd turn into THE AMISH RIFLE out there.

YE OLE has scoured the interwebs, but not been able to make hide nor hair of it either. That said I like the most interesting man in the world's theory here. It seems plausible. And with that Boludo, YE OLE would just like to say: stay thirsty, my friend.

More musings from the mind of YE OLE... what say you, gents? Buffalo Bills @ Cincinnati Bengals By the Numbers As the Bills gear up for Week 4, looking to push their record to 4-0, the Bengals look to salvage their season and get back to the .500 mark. Here's what to look for in this week's matchup of AFC foes: 27: This will mark the 27th meeting between the teams. Buffalo holds a 15-9 edge in the series. However, Cincinnati holds a 2-0 mark over the Bills in the playoffs; most recently in the 1988 AFC Championship game. 10: A new week, and a new streak. After bringing the Patriots dominance to a close in week 3, the Bills hope to extend their 10 game winning streak over the Bengals. The last time the Bengals bested Buffalo: the aforementioned AFC Championship on January 8, 1989. 2: The combined number of playoff appearances the Bills and Bengals boast this millennium. 6: Despite the struggles of the new millennium, Cincinnati and Buffalo combined for 6 Super Bowl appearances between the 1981 and 1993 seasons. 113: The number of points the Bills have scored this season. Buffalo's offense may face the stiffest contest this season against a Bengals D that is only surrendering 18 points per game, which ranks 6th in the NFL. 8: The number of points the Bengals scored in last weeks lost against San Francisco. Despite, having a formidable defense, Cincinnati will need to muster a great deal more offensive output this week to be competitive. 42-7: Bengal's QB Andy Dalton's record as a four year starter at TCU. One of the winningest QB's in college football history has played surprisingly efficient for a rookie, completing 61.4% of his passes and posting a QB rating of 82.1. However, if the Bills defense is going to generate some heat up front, this is the week to do it against the rookie signal caller. 41.6: The top ranked Bills offense is converting 41.6% of its 3rd downs. Cincinnati, meanwhile, has converted only 9/38 3rd down attempts on the season. If this stat holds true on Sunday, it will be a long day for the Bengals. 3: In an unfamiliar situation, the Bills will be a 3 point road favorite in this game. After toppling the Patriots, the world has taken notice that Buffalo means business. The question is, will a young Bills team just turning the corner, avoid being distracted by the hoopla that has begun to surround them? 5: Including Perry Fewell's interim stint, the Bills have had 5 different head coaches roam their side line since passing over Marvin Lewis in favor of Gregg "High School" Williams prior to the 2001 season. One can only ask what might have been, had Williams not blown away, then GM, Tom Donahoe with meticulous notes on every position coach and coordinator to ever grace the gridiron. While the Buffalo coaching carousel over the last decade has been nothing to write home about, Lewis may also be wearing out his welcome in Cincinnati. Now in his 9th season with the club, he has posted only 2 winning records. 35-17: While Cincinnati's defense may present some problems early, the Bills have found a knack for hitting a rhythm and not looking back. The Bengals will need to score points, and a lot of them, to hang around in this game. In time, Andy Dalton, and the Bengals offense may go toe to toe and win a shootout like this, but not this week. The young Bills keep their focus and move to 4-0.

I hate that. I used to listen to Schopp when he was on WNSA back in the day, and I don't recall him being so much like that. I hadn't listened to him on WGR much until recently. I've already heard him, on a number of occassions chide the caller for going "off topic." Now mind you... the topic for the day would be something to the effect of "What Buffalo sports figure would you most like to have dinner with" If someone answers the question, but then wants to talk about the headlines of the day, they're cut off because "we're not going to get into all that today, we want to stay on topic" ??? A topic, especially one so trivial, is a conversation starter, not ender. What a horrible way to host a show.

2000 Wade was 8-8... that was the infamous "I think both teams are basically out of it" year before we played the Colts on Monday night. Of course the Colts DID make the playoffs. 2001 was 3-13 under Gregg "High School" Williams

Perhaps the writer of said article was utilizing a little hyperbole on us, gents. A little poetic license to sell the story a little harder. That said, even if Jimbo isn't in the middle of the parking lot, exchanging chest bumps with Joe Fan, it's still a good article.

Run a little "Student Body Right" then slip Spiller out to the left. OOPS!

You can file "Not Resigning Poz" under this heading as well. We got a lot of addition by subtraction this offseason.

"When you look at Ryan Fitzpatrick, you're looking at the QB of the Buffalo Bills." Dan Dierdorf was unwittingly prophetic in his analysis last season. Lets just say it, gents... Amish Rifle is THE FRANCHISE.

What say, gents? Is there room on the bandwagon for Orlando Bills Fan? Is he back in THE CLUB?

YE OLE has been driving the Fitz bandwagon since last year. I'm glad things worked out the way they did. I'm sure Cam will be a fine player, but I think the pieces are fitting together for us better than we could've ever hoped.

Now there's a throwback, gents! It exudes style and elegance with a little bit of an edge to it that says "Our guys are nastier than your guys"

That's tantamount to saying Justin Rodgers is going to fix our CB problem.

This could depend on Easley's status as well... and if Namaan can entrench himself this year. I thought he was good last year, but obviously that wasn't enough to originally make the squad. He and Fitz seemed to have good chemistry as well. We'll see how the year plays out for him. I also like the Kellen Moore pick. Admittedly I've been on Boise's bandwagon for a number of years and love what that program has done. That said, Moore is short and has a 3/4 release which I could see being a problem at the next level, BUT... he's a winner and he's deadly accurate. He seems like he has that IT factor about him. That seems to prove time and again more important than the big frame/strong arm/etc. I'd like to see how Chan could develop him.

Interesting take on this CK, being that you had a great view of it. I wondered how it developed on the back end, because at first it looked like such a horrible decision that it didn't seem plausible that Fitz threw it there. Fitz is a gunslinger, but it looked like there was no chance there. However, on TV you could see Fitz scramble and motion to Nelson. Then on the replay you could see Nelson get grabbed and held in that back corner while the safety came over and made the pick. Glad it worked out the way it did, but it's also reassuring that from the perspective you had, being at the game, that it wasn't a horrible decision by Fitz. Also, last by certainly not least, thank you for posting this Rich! Very well written and in depth per usual. Enjoy your trip with the Mrs. and stay safe on the high seas, my friend.

Bravo, my friend. Well played.

I did find this link for anyone interested: http://www.buffalobills.com/media-center/videos/Sound-FX-Patriots-vs-Bills/f9752765-f642-4a37-8d16-38d48f5d5ad8 It shows, at least, a portion of the soundbytes.

I think this can best be summed up by that classic Dan Dierdorf quote, "When you look at Ryan Fitzpatrick, you're looking at the Quarterback of the Buffalo Bills."

Thank you for posting that Rubes. As you alluded, there have been many wanting to draw comparison, but you actually did it. Unbelievable parallels in the stories... right down to the scores. I have a gut feeling right now that we're going to get something special out of this group... I really do.

Oddly enough, you're probably correct. I've seen FG's I thought could stand to be reviewed... in real time when that ball passes above the upright it's not always clear I don't think.

YE OLE just finished reading it. Terrific piece... YE got a little emotional reading it.

YE OLE will second that. I missed it and it sounds like it was something worth seeing, gents. Anyone know if they're replaying it?

As a special tribute to the era that was. Celebrating the '02-'10 Bills. It'll have a certain nostalgia to it as the years go by, gents.

One can only hope that THE AMISH RIFLE will be a shoe in for such a prestigious piece of hardware.