JÂy RÛßeÒ Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Bills release RB Thurman Thomas, DE Bruce Smith, and WR Andre Reed They were all Bills draftees, all among the best ever at their position -- not just in Buffalo, but the league -- they were the last players who had played in all four of the Bills' Super Bowls. And over the course of day, they all were ex-Bills. They became victims of the salary cap -- counting for a combined $10.3 million -- and yet three more fan favorites who would be denied finishing their careers in the only uniform they had ever known. "The Big Three are done, at least in Buffalo," Reed told The Buffalo News that day. "It's a sad day for the Buffalo Bills and their fans." This was the beginning of the end, folks. This was a month after Homejob Throw-forward. I'm glad that at least all 3 have reconciled with the team. I remember I was working in Buffalo at the time. About 8 inches of snow fell, but I had to go have a few after work to drown sorrows. This was the first time I met anyone from the Wall in person, as Ann (who went on to fame with the Coach on WGR) told me she'd be at Caputi's on Sheridan doing the same thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricojes Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Bills release RB Thurman Thomas, DE Bruce Smith, and WR Andre Reed This was the beginning of the end, folks. This was a month after Homejob Throw-forward. I'm glad that at least all 3 have reconciled with the team. John Butler put everything on the line that season and went for it, knowing that they would be cap screwed after. They had a good enough team to get to the SB that year, took an illegal play to knock them out. But this was indeed the beginning of the end! Or at least the beginning of a decade (and counting) of suffering!... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Jabber Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 John Butler put everything on the line that season and went for it, knowing that they would be cap screwed after. They had a good enough team to get to the SB that year, took an illegal play to knock them out. But this was indeed the beginning of the end! Or at least the beginning of a decade (and counting) of suffering!... An illegal forward pass plus an ill-advised QB switch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricojes Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 An illegal forward pass plus an ill-advised QB switch. Even so, RJ left the field with the lead... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderbread Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Even so, RJ left the field with the lead... It always reverts back to the Great RJ/DF debacle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JÂy RÛßeÒ Posted November 20, 2009 Author Share Posted November 20, 2009 This isn't meant to resurrect the RJ/DF debate. It's more about how the actions in the aftermath of that loss are still wreaking havoc with this team. It's a 10 year hangover that hopefully is near its end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Even so, RJ left the field with the lead... He did. He also played a gutsy game that day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartshan-83 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Bills release RB Thurman Thomas, DE Bruce Smith, and WR Andre Reed This was the beginning of the end, folks. This was a month after Homejob Throw-forward. I'm glad that at least all 3 have reconciled with the team. I remember I was working in Buffalo at the time. About 8 inches of snow fell, but I had to go have a few after work to drown sorrows. This was the first time I met anyone from the Wall in person, as Ann (who went on to fame with the Coach on WGR) told me she'd be at Caputi's on Sheridan doing the same thing. Imagine if someone had told you, on that blistery February afternoon, that the highest moment the Bills would achieve over the next decade would be losing to Pittsburgh's backups in a playoff-clinching home game. I'm betting you wouldn't have left the bar that night.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cotton Fitzsimmons Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Even so, RJ left the field with the lead... The Flute Man would've left the field with an insurmountable lead! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benderbender Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 There is no direct connection between then and now. Losing is not a curse or a sickness that you have no control over. That thinking is a horrible self fulfilling prophecy that Buffalo needs to shed immediately. And it will help when the Sabres bring home the Stanley Cup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullpen Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Bills release RB Thurman Thomas, DE Bruce Smith, and WR Andre Reed This was the beginning of the end, folks. This was a month after Homejob Throw-forward. I'm glad that at least all 3 have reconciled with the team. I remember I was working in Buffalo at the time. About 8 inches of snow fell, but I had to go have a few after work to drown sorrows. This was the first time I met anyone from the Wall in person, as Ann (who went on to fame with the Coach on WGR) told me she'd be at Caputi's on Sheridan doing the same thing. My wife and I played hooky from work that day and decided to go up to one of the mountain town casinos for the day. The bar we happened to be in had satellite TV and for some strange reason they had Empire Sports Network on (keep in mind this is the middle of Colorado, so it's an odd channel to have on) and they were covering the "blood letting" that happened that day. The sound was down, but I could tell something was going on and asked the bartender to turn the sound up. I spent the rest of afternoon, just sitting at the bar drowning my sorrows, while my wife was raking in on the slot machines. Awful day then, still a horrible today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleed Bills Blue Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Understanding the cap realities didn't lessen the sadness of the passing of that era. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricojes Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 It always reverts back to the Great RJ/DF debacle. Not at all, I wouldn't care who was back there. But i will take the offense leaving the field with the lead and under a minute to play any day... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drnykterstein Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 The 99-00 season killed this team, and it's still not recovered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordio Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Even so, RJ left the field with the lead... Alright, alright, lets not start this up again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordio Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Bills release RB Thurman Thomas, DE Bruce Smith, and WR Andre Reed This was the beginning of the end, folks. This was a month after Homejob Throw-forward. I'm glad that at least all 3 have reconciled with the team. I remember I was working in Buffalo at the time. About 8 inches of snow fell, but I had to go have a few after work to drown sorrows. This was the first time I met anyone from the Wall in person, as Ann (who went on to fame with the Coach on WGR) told me she'd be at Caputi's on Sheridan doing the same thing. It was a sad day, a passing of an era but those players were all pretty much shot at that point. I remember Reed opneing his big fat mouth the week before the tenn game stating how he wasnt getting the ball enough & that the throws the coaches called against indy were sympathy throws to get him a record. Great timing Andre, selfish prick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 If that was caused by cap-hell , what will no cap next year be? Cap-heaven ? I don't think so, but I'm hoping Brandon and others are trying to find loopholes in all the possibilities to add great talent for the new coach's team, before new league rules become enacted. It seems plausible -given that mgmnt wants out of the cuurent BA- that FA's will be courted by all teams with no regard to their teams exisiting cap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 It was a sad day, a passing of an era but those players were all pretty much shot at that point. I remember Reed opneing his big fat mouth the week before the tenn game stating how he wasnt getting the ball enough & that the throws the coaches called against indy were sympathy throws to get him a record. Great timing Andre, selfish prick. I'm of the opinion that he mouthed himself out of HOF consideration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JÂy RÛßeÒ Posted November 20, 2009 Author Share Posted November 20, 2009 There is no direct connection between then and now. I disagree. Butler's (mis-)handling of this, as well as the RJ/DF situation, I believe led to his decision to leave the team. In the process he totally tanked the 2000 draft, knowing he was out of here. Then the dominoes started falling - Donahoe's arrival shortly followed by Gregg Williams, etc etc etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDS Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Does anyone remember how TBD marked that day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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