vorpma

The 1960's and the AFL, I still look back in awe at the football played and the slow but steady growth of the upstart league. The old Buffalo - Boston rivalry, Curt Gowdy doing the games on NBC and the wide open offensive game. Watching mud bowls and snow games at War Memorial. In August 1967 the Lions came to the old Rockpile (first NFL Team to come to Buffalo) for a pre - season game and both teams play like it was a playoff game. I was at my home in NT listening to Van Miller and you could hear his voice echoing throughout the neighborhood. The Bills traded Lamonica in the off season and Tom Flores was having a great night until he got hurt. The home crowd boo'ed Jack Kemp as he came on the field, Kemp merely threw a 69 yard bomb to Elbert Dubenion changing the catcalls into cheers. Iron Mike Ditka dragged and clawed his way to the end zone for an 89 yard TD after catching a slant pattern. Back then the players were normal guys who worked off season jobs and were just good guys. I was at the 1969 home opener against the SB Champ Jets; Buffalo crowd gave them a huge standing O. Golden era of Football! Even the hated NFL was fun to watch - Jimmy Brown, Packers, Cowboys - never dull.

Then find a new board!

We will see!

:thumbsup: March through September you are villified for not drinking the Kool Aid and discussing the Bills from a realistic standpoint and being honest. As stated in a previous post, come late November through January this borad will be speculating on needed off season moves to get the Bills into the playoffs. My family owned multiple season tickets from 1960 well into thr 1990's and I have driven cross country to watch the team play. From my standpoint, my loyalty is not in question, but from an honesty perspective, the organization is bad, really bad, and has been for 14 years. Facts not emotion - wishing is fine but you have to come down to earth eventually.

Rebuilds take time - 14 years?? Thaty's funny, been hearing about rebuilds since 2000 and every off season the same hopeless optimism. Talk to me in November or better yet January.

I am aware of the rebuild efforts, but bottom line - they failed!! Where's the beef! My point is they have at best slightly above average players - Mario Williams, CJ Spiller, where are the game changers? By January of 2015 this board will be buzzing with speculation on who the next HC/GM will be!

This is an organization with a losing culture so thoroughly lodged in its heart and soul changes have to be made. I honestly do not think they have the talent to play as contenders, still lots of questions at QB. This team has been poorly coached, horrible drafts. lousy scouting, poor FA aquisitions, and overall FO incompetence since 2000. I am sure someone will correct me regarding recent drafts but the bottom line is no playoff appearance since 1999 and when they got close in 2004 got beat in a must win game by the Steelers second team at home. If I'm the new owner I follow the 1989 Dallas model - clean house and start over.

Excellent Post - weak coaching, horrible scouting/drafting, poor FA aquisitions and the Toronto Boondoggle. While many are enthusiastic and hopeful regarding the coming 2014 season - I see another 7 - 9 finish. Once new ownership arrives, clean house completely and start over. Right on!

Intelligent, adult response!! Now we have the national soap opera known as the NFL.

Ditto!!

We'll see said the zen master!

Where's the beef! BFD!!! The last playff appearance in 1999.

Right on, great post. They also lack a competent FO and scouting department. Miserable drafts for over ten years.

This says it all!

Poor front office, poor scouting department, coaching - yet to be determined, horrible drafts for ten years, and average players at best.

Good post! Not a clue what this means.

I'm with you on this one - why Bruce Smith or Doug Flutie. Not sure of the point of this!

I am strongly confident that corporate headquarters, businesses with decent paying jobs, yuppies looking for decent paying jobs or investors have Buffalo or New York on short lists. This is a great post and spot on. The point I am trying to make is the environment for business in New York is horrible, from New York City to Buffalo. Buffalo Bills Bars are paying college students $8 an hour to serve yuppies on Sundays to watch the Bills play at bars throughout the research triangle in North Carolina.

Honesty in debate is a great thing, appreciate the comments. I too love western New York and want the Bills to stay. More importantly I want NY to come back. OK!

Ya, tell me the economy is coming back in NY? Keep dreaming my friend.

The bottom line is New York State and Western New York have a "lousy" business climate that is not conducive for a professional sports franchise and its long term prospects. Outrages taxes, income, sales, and property not only discourage investment in New York, they have drove thousands of educated young professionals out of state along with a lot of discretionary spending cash. If there were any indications that the economy was turning around and an economic boom was in the works, Bon Jovi would not be relevant to anything. How can a city like Buffalo, located on the Lake - a great area to live - not be turning things around and attracting business and investment? I was born and raised in Buffalo and my family held season tickets from 1960 until 1986 and love the state, but truth is, it is not a magnet for business nor investment!

Great post!