First time in years I'm not as hooked.

[TC in St. Louis]

I check on the Bills every day, but I for some reason don't have the passion, and I think it's because of last year's disappointing defense. In struts Rex, the defensive genius, inheriting a team that led the league in sacks for 2 years, and was #4 in the league....while playing New England twice a year!! The vibe was, this is going to be a great defense.

 

It sucked. With Rex and his boys in charge, it sucked. Now he's brought in his twin, and has lost some key pieces, and he tells us it's going to be different this year. How? I'll believe it when I see it.

 

I'm not saying I believe they will be a bad/mediocre team. I think they've got the talent to beat just about anybody. But my expectations are non-existent. I want them to win, of course, and I will be with the Bills Backers in St. Louis for every minute of the season. But I'm just not as hooked.

 

I do believe Gilmore will be signed soon. The media makes it look like it's doomed. But they'll work it out. With this ownership group, money is not an issue. The salary cap is the issue. They'll find a way to get it done.

 

 

[Rubes]

Give it time. You'll be hooked.

[Juice_32]

I'm right there with you. My fandom has shifted towards apathy because of Rex. It feels pretty good honestly. Hopefully they have a great season, but I'm not drinking the koolaid this year.

[fridge]

Well said. I feel very similar. The whole league seems to highlight all the parts of the sport and off-the-field stuff that I don't care about.

 

I've never been so uninterested in the draft, our team, players around the league. It's all so, "meh" to me. I know a lot of it has to do with how I feel about Rex Ryan, but the trend of the NFL is headed straight towards a trajectory that I couldn't be less amused by.

[3rdand12]

I check on the Bills every day, but I for some reason don't have the passion, and I think it's because of last year's disappointing defense. In struts Rex, the defensive genius, inheriting a team that led the league in sacks for 2 years, and was #4 in the league....while playing New England twice a year!! The vibe was, this is going to be a great defense.

 

It sucked. With Rex and his boys in charge, it sucked. Now he's brought in his twin, and has lost some key pieces, and he tells us it's going to be different this year. How? I'll believe it when I see it.

 

I'm not saying I believe they will be a bad/mediocre team. I think they've got the talent to beat just about anybody. But my expectations are non-existent. I want them to win, of course, and I will be with the Bills Backers in St. Louis for every minute of the season. But I'm just not as hooked.

 

I do believe Gilmore will be signed soon. The media makes it look like it's doomed. But they'll work it out. With this ownership group, money is not an issue. The salary cap is the issue. They'll find a way to get it done.

 

 

I will believe when i see it too.

But i have certainly have not closed my mind on the matter.

 

So i remain hopeful. Not blind.

Hope for both our sakes we have we can find reason to get a bit hyped once the season gets rolling !

Well said. I feel very similar. The whole league seems to highlight all the parts of the sport and off-the-field stuff that I don't care about.

 

I've never been so uninterested in the draft, our team, players around the league. It's all so, "meh" to me. I know a lot of it has to do with how I feel about Rex Ryan, but the trend of the NFL is headed straight towards a trajectory that I couldn't be less amused by.

The NFL itself is another story i think.

Of that i have little hope for actually

[Juice_32]

Then, there's all the fantasy football commercials. They don't help the cause.

[3rdand12]

Then, there's all the fantasy football commercials. They don't help the cause.

That is what it is becoming isn't it.

[John from Riverside]

If this offense just remains as good or a little better

 

and

 

This D improves (and frankly I expect it....Rex Ryan does not historically put out bad defenses)

 

This is a playoff team

 

Cheer up

[NorthBuffaloKid]

I'm right there with you. My fandom has shifted towards apathy because of Rex. It feels pretty good honestly. Hopefully they have a great season, but I'm not drinking the koolaid this year.

Yep.

[boater]

Yall Eeore types on here... No worrys, you'll be back on the bad wagon soon. You're just to the left of hope on this chart. But the cycle of sports continues and you'll once again be a raving fan. We'll welcome you back.

[Dr. K]

I don't remember the last time I was so disengaged from the Bills. Probably in the mid 1980s, the Kay Stephenson team. I've been a devoted, very attentive fan for basically thirty years, and before the slump of the mid-1980s was a big fan going back to 1965. In other words, we're talking about a guy here (me) who has identified with this team his whole life, through thick and a lot of thin.

 

And I can hardly bring myself to care. If I did care, I would be pissed off. I have not hated a Bills coach to the degree that I hate Ryan with the possible exception of Gregg Williams, and for many of the same reasons. I don't know if they will do well this season--it's possible--but I don't expect it, and even if they do win, I do not see this clown ever winning a Super Bowl unless there's a bigger clown coaching the other team. He has drained away all my regard for this team the way George Steinbrenner destroyed my regard for the Yankees way back in the 1970s.

 

Just venting. I don't expect any particular reaction from any of you.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

I check on the Bills every day, but I for some reason don't have the passion, and I think it's because of last year's disappointing defense. In struts Rex, the defensive genius, inheriting a team that led the league in sacks for 2 years, and was #4 in the league....while playing New England twice a year!! The vibe was, this is going to be a great defense.

 

It sucked. With Rex and his boys in charge, it sucked. Now he's brought in his twin, and has lost some key pieces, and he tells us it's going to be different this year. How? I'll believe it when I see it.

 

I'm not saying I believe they will be a bad/mediocre team. I think they've got the talent to beat just about anybody. But my expectations are non-existent. I want them to win, of course, and I will be with the Bills Backers in St. Louis for every minute of the season. But I'm just not as hooked.

 

I do believe Gilmore will be signed soon. The media makes it look like it's doomed. But they'll work it out. With this ownership group, money is not an issue. The salary cap is the issue. They'll find a way to get it done.

 

 

Best team the Bills have had in years at this time, over a decade. The only reason some fans arent excited is because the Bills just signed their own top free agents instead of letting them walk and signing some other free agents. Some fans need something new.

 

How about this for new, you didnt even mention QB in your doom thread. Get excited. This team is good. Trust Rex to fix the defense, he knows defense. Sometimes it doesnt work like we thought, but he knows defense.

Edited June 14, 2016 by TheTruthHurts

[Heitz]

Have you guys *been* to Hammer's Lot? Don't lost sight of the forest for the trees. (my edit was to fix ":beers:")

 

Let's Go Buffalo!

Edited June 14, 2016 by Heitz

[Andrew Son]

Try Nugenix

[billsfan_34]

I check on the Bills every day, but I for some reason don't have the passion, and I think it's because of last year's disappointing defense. In struts Rex, the defensive genius, inheriting a team that led the league in sacks for 2 years, and was #4 in the league....while playing New England twice a year!! The vibe was, this is going to be a great defense.

 

It sucked. With Rex and his boys in charge, it sucked. Now he's brought in his twin, and has lost some key pieces, and he tells us it's going to be different this year. How? I'll believe it when I see it.

 

I'm not saying I believe they will be a bad/mediocre team. I think they've got the talent to beat just about anybody. But my expectations are non-existent. I want them to win, of course, and I will be with the Bills Backers in St. Louis for every minute of the season. But I'm just not as hooked.

 

I do believe Gilmore will be signed soon. The media makes it look like it's doomed. But they'll work it out. With this ownership group, money is not an issue. The salary cap is the issue. They'll find a way to get it done.

 

 

Ive had low expectations for a long time and pleasantly surprised when we win.

[Rocky Landing]

I'm psyched as Hell.

 

I've been re-watching the games from last season and I've been reminded of several things:

-When Karlos, and Shady were both active, our run game was fantastic.

-Darby just got better, and better as the season progressed.

-Mario got worse, and worse as the season progressed.

-Corey Graham wasn't that bad. He just wasn't. In fact, our whole secondary was great, even with AW out.

-As TT became more comfortable with his receivers, his game exploded. He finished the season MUCH BETTER than when he started.

 

I am psyched to see Tyrod start the season as the undisputed leader, more prepared, and more comfortable.

I am psyched to see the playbook opened up for Tyrod.

I am psyched to see Clay be more productive. I firmly believe that he will be.

I am psyched to see Watkins get the ball. I believe that he will see less double coverage, as TT passes, and spreads the ball around more.

I am psyched to see which of our young receivers steps up. I know that at least one will. I've read that Dez Lewis is a "different player" after a season on the PS. Maybe it will be him?

I am psyched to see Rob Ryan throw up on his belly late in garbage time after he has downed seven beers, and fourteen hotdogs.

And, I am psyched to bring my six-year-old son, Bruno to the Bills @ Rams Game. He will be rooting for the Rams-- he is, after all, an LA native. And, I will be ruthless in my joy when the Bills hand them a righteous shellacking.

[metzelaars_lives]

I've been meaning to start this exact same thread for a while now. I'm 37 and I've been a diehard Bills fan since my first game in 1985. I don't feel the need to give my Bills fandom credentials but needless to say I'm as big a fan as they come. My 2nd and 3rd favorite teams are the Sabres and the Colorado Rockies. I haven't outgrown rooting for sports teams because I care every bit as much about the Sabres and the Rockies as I ever have. But something changed in me last year with respect to the Bills and the NFL. When they got eliminated, I cared a little less and found it more amusing. I found it easier to cope with losses in general. I think it's a perfect storm of 1. the over-saturation/cheesiness of the NFL product/brand in 2016, 2. I hate Rex Ryan, 3. I hate Goodell, 4. the head injury stuff/loss of innocence about the game I used to love so much, 5. I follow Bills players on Twitter and very few of them are capable of stringing a complete sentence together... Don't get me wrong, I'll obviously watch every second of every game this year, I just care a little bit less than I used to. And it's evidenced by me not caring about every offseason article, ranking, etc. like I did even two years ago. I can't tell you how stupid it looks when people argue about where some nfl.com analyst ranked the Bills linebacking corps in May. It's literally dumber than a group of girls getting together to watch The Bachelorette.

Edited June 14, 2016 by metzelaars_lives

[BilLions]

Not feeling it either this year. Different reasons though. Largely fatigue of long drought and all the reasons for it. I suspect Ryan being a player's coach will lead to Jauron syndrome of excessive injuries that come with less discipline. Just an uneducated huntch. Should be hooked back in by September but definitely not where I usually am this time of year.

I'm psyched as Hell.

 

I've been re-watching the games from last season and I've been reminded of several things:

-When Karlos, and Shady were both active, our run game was fantastic.

-Darby just got better, and better as the season progressed.

-Mario got worse, and worse as the season progressed.

-Corey Graham wasn't that bad. He just wasn't. In fact, our whole secondary was great, even with AW out.

-As TT became more comfortable with his receivers, his game exploded. He finished the season MUCH BETTER than when he started.

 

I am psyched to see Tyrod start the season as the undisputed leader, more prepared, and more comfortable.

I am psyched to see the playbook opened up for Tyrod.

I am psyched to see Clay be more productive. I firmly believe that he will be.

I am psyched to see Watkins get the ball. I believe that he will see less double coverage, as TT passes, and spreads the ball around more.

I am psyched to see which of our young receivers steps up. I know that at least one will. I've read that Dez Lewis is a "different player" after a season on the PS. Maybe it will be him?

I am psyched to see Rob Ryan throw up on his belly late in garbage time after he has downed seven beers, and fourteen hotdogs.

And, I am psyched to bring my six-year-old son, Bruno to the Bills @ Rams Game. He will be rooting for the Rams-- he is, after all, an LA native. And, I will be ruthless in my joy when the Bills hand them a righteous shellacking.

Love the optimism until I think of injuries and lack of depth.

I've been meaning to start this exact same thread for a while now. I'm 37 and I've been a diehard Bills fan since my first game in 1985. I don't feel the need to give my Bills fandom credentials but needless to say I'm as big a fan as they come. My 2nd and 3rd favorite teams are the Sabres and the Colorado Rockies. I haven't outgrown rooting for sports teams because I care every bit as much about the Sabres and the Rockies as I ever have. But something changed in me last year with respect to the Bills and the NFL. When they got eliminated, I cared a little less and found it more amusing. I found it easier to cope with losses in general. I think it's a perfect storm of 1. the over-saturation/cheesiness of the NFL product/brand in 2016, 2. I hate Rex Ryan, 3. I hate Goodell, 4. the head injury stuff/loss of innocence about the game I used to love so much, 5. I follow Bills players on Twitter and very few of them are capable of stringing a complete sentence together... Don't get me wrong, I'll obviously watch every second of every game this year, I just care a little bit less than I used to. And it's evidenced by me not caring about every offseason article, ranking, etc. like I did even two years ago. I can't tell you how stupid it looks when people argue about where some nfl.com analyst ranked the Bills linebacking corps in May. It's literally dumber than a group of girls getting together to watch The Bachelorette.

Exactly. I'd just add the ridiculousness of lousy reffiing always seeming to screw the Bills at key moments, most commonly occurring against Pats.

[White Linen]

We have the best head coach we've had since 2000 in Wade Phillips who immediately followed Levy and you're disengaged now? We have the best roster of talent since that time as well and people are bailing now? There's a real possibility we have found a QB and this year he may prove that right before our eyes and you're on a wait and see now? We finally have a pro offensive coordinator with loads of offensive talent and you hate our coaching staff now? You were willing to give your support to Williams, Mularkey, Jauron, Gailey and Marrone - but you hate Rex? Our Owner loves Buffalo and kept them here just 2 seasons ago - Whaley - Monos, are you kidding me that you're checked out?

 

There's been times when our optimism was so unrealistic - but this isn't that time. If you don't think this is the year to watch then you just don't grasp what you were grasping at the last 15 years. You should be more embarrassed of how you followed the team in every other year the last 15.

 

Last year the defense was a punch in the gut - suck it up. The offense earned your support - stop whining. I've never been more disappointed in the people down on this team. Discuss the Bills - criticize them of course - give them credit where deserved - but for those that are down you disgust me, seriously. I'm embarrassed of all of you and I hate the way you're acting.

[metzelaars_lives]

We have the best head coach we've had since 2000 in Wade Phillips who immediately followed Levy and you're disengaged now? We have the best roster of talent since that time as well and people are bailing now? There's a real possibility we have found a QB and this year he may prove that right before our eyes and you're on a wait and see now? We finally have a pro offensive coordinator with loads of offensive talent and you hate our coaching staff now? You were willing to give your support to Williams, Mularkey, Jauron, Gailey and Marrone - but you hate Rex? Our Owner loves Buffalo and kept them here just 2 seasons ago - Whaley - Monos, are you kidding me that you're checked out?

 

There's been times when our optimism was so unrealistic - but this isn't that time. If you don't think this is the year to watch then you just don't grasp what you were grasping at the last 15 years. You should be more embarrassed of how you followed the team in every other year the last 15.

 

Last year the defense was a punch in the gut - suck it up. The offense earned your support - stop whining. I've never been more disappointed in the people down on this team. Discuss the Bills - criticize them of course - give them credit where deserved - but for those that are down you disgust me, seriously. I'm embarrassed of all of you and I hate the way you're acting.

Dude, no one's "disengaged." We wouldn't be on this site if we were disinterested altogether. I think some people are saying they just care a little bit less than they used to. You can't really will yourself to care more; you care as much as you care to care. Right now, for the first time in my life, the Sabres are more interesting to me than the Bills. And yes, it is largely in part to Rex Ryan being a gigantic dope. And yes, they are a very talented football team and I happen to be one of the biggest Whaley enthusiasts on this site. But sorry, Rex Ryan is kind of an embarrassing human being to get behind and say "I'm with him." He's really quite a joke actually.

Well said. I feel very similar. The whole league seems to highlight all the parts of the sport and off-the-field stuff that I don't care about.

 

I've never been so uninterested in the draft, our team, players around the league. It's all so, "meh" to me. I know a lot of it has to do with how I feel about Rex Ryan, but the trend of the NFL is headed straight towards a trajectory that I couldn't be less amused by.

Exactly how I feel. Forgot to mention that I had been obsessed with the draft since I was in elementary school and this year I couldn't have cared less about it.

Edited June 14, 2016 by metzelaars_lives