Saying Goodbye to my "former" guy and hello to my "new guy

[patfitz]

I was just 13 years old when, then Bills' rookie QB, Dennis Shaw was selected rookie offensive player of the year. I can vaguely remember Jack Kemp, as I was still at the time a Bills' neophyte fan in training. I do recall being with my father, the "ultimate" Bills' fan who for better or worse molded me in the Bills' tradition, at the old rockpile and we were watching Dan Daragh, Jim Harris (who I thought could have been the Bills' franchise QB of his day) and even a utility player named Eddie Rutkowski who would fill in as the "emergency" QB. Yet it was when rookie QB Dennis Shaw, arrived on the scene, that I was convinced this was "my guy" and that our "bottom dwelling" Bills were destined for brighter times ahead. Well unfortunatetly that didn't last very long as I recall, his understudy Gary Marangi would soon become the next saviour in line, and others tried and failed, until Arkansas rookie draft pick, QB Joe Ferguson solidified the position (I still vividly remember the infamous Bills-San Diego playoff game, Fergie delivered such has such a gutsy performance, he was hobbling with an ankle injury. He hung in there the entire game and the Bills almost pulled it out as a heavy underdogs), and yet even the resilient Fegie eventually gave way to the likes or dislikes of Vince Ferragamo and Joe Dufek, etc. until the real deal, Jim Kelly, arrived. The rest is of course history. Having factored in the latest successors to the throne from Todd Collins to Ryan Fitzpatrick, after hearing today that EJ Manuel broke Dennis Shaw's Bills' rookie TD record, I felt as though an invisible yet heavy veil was lifted, that indeed finally the tide is turning and.....story to be continued.

Edited December 16, 2013 by patfitz

[machine gun kelly]

It's too early to tell on EJ. He played three decent quarters against a bad defense. When he can start making the tight throws with regularity is the time you'll see fans get behind him. He also needs to learn to throw the ball away and get the clock in his head faster.

 

I certainly hope so as I never want to see a game like the Bucs one again. It was so bad, but I can look past it as he played very well with the Jets, and they are an excellent defense.

 

Can we handle the Fish this week, and he plays a solid game, and how does he finish with the Pats. Two more good performances and a full off season, and we'll see next year. I really hope he is the guy.

[Chandler#81]

Rookie Ferguson replaced Shaw in '73. They spit time in the 1st couple games, but Joe started in Week 3 vs Jets in the Rich Stadium Home debut and never looked back. For a while, there was a fan-driven Fergy/Marangi debate, but Joe outlasted that too.

[Homey D. Clown]

ahhhh Joe Dufek.... good times......