Phil The Thrill Posted December 12, 2018 Posted December 12, 2018 (edited) I am listening to an interesting interview with Steve Christie on Pat Moran’s podcast. He talks about coming to Buffalo in 1992, and mentions that when he arrived in town to sign the deal there were 1,500 Bills fans protesting outside of One Bills Drive. They were protesting in loyalty to Scott Norwood, who by all accounts was a terrible kicker at this point. Christie: Bill Polian called and said ‘look you’re coming up.’ I said ‘well I kind of got this weird deal with Tampa and the whole Plan B thing,’and he just started laughing. And I said ‘ok I guess that means I’m coming up there.’ Patrick Moran: laughter Here’s the thing, I meet my parents up there and my agent from Toronto at the time, Gill Scott. He picked me up in a limo and that. And we get to the stadium thinking ‘oh yeah this is fantastic’ you know, I’m signing with the perfect team for me. 1,500 Scott Norwood fans were out there, protesting my arrival! Patrick Moran: WOW! Christie: Which was a testament to not only Scott Norwood, but to the fans of Buffalo. Christie also said he competed with Norwood in the 1992 training camp (which I don’t remember). He said many well-known Bills players gave him the cold shoulder because they were friends of Scott. Ironically after the Bills cut Scott, he wouldn’t get picked up by any other NFL team after the Super Bowl in early 1992. As I said, he was a very unreliable kicker at this point his career. My question to any old-time Bills fans - do you remember this happening? I do remember the Christie signing and knew he was the kicker from TB, but I don’t recall any outrage over his signing. Nor do I recall disappointment when Norwood was cut. I feel most people were pleased with the move. Listen for yourself here: http://moranalytics.com/ep-76-steve-christie-former-nfl-kicker/ Edited December 13, 2018 by Phil The Thrill
ocemur Posted December 12, 2018 Posted December 12, 2018 I don't remember 1,500 people protesting. I can't tell you it didn't happen, but I don't remember it. I do recall some people who seemed to defend Norwood no matter what, more because they had to show what wonderful human beings they were than anything football related. Also, there will be a certain percentage of Bills fans who will complain about absolutely anything, so yeah, there were folks (callers) on the radio who were defending Norwood. 1
JMF2006 Posted December 12, 2018 Posted December 12, 2018 I can tell you I was very happy to sign a great kicker like Steve. I always thought Norwood had an average to below average leg. 1
Protocal69 Posted December 12, 2018 Posted December 12, 2018 Too bad we didn’t have Christie 2 years prior. If we did we would have been Super Bowl Champs 5 3
Bob Chandler's Hands Posted December 12, 2018 Posted December 12, 2018 I don't recall this happening. Certainly not 1,500 people. Memory is a funny thing...just ask Brian Williams. 1 1
Ned Flanders Posted December 12, 2018 Posted December 12, 2018 I remember Bill Polian saying he was running down the hall at OBD screaming with joy when the Bills signed Christie. I believe the fan base was equally as enthused. I don't recall any backlash...at all. Norwood was beloved after SB XXV, but the next season proved his undoing. Remember the Raiders game in LA? Thurman offered to throw him off the plane on the ride back if he missed the game-winning chip shot. By 1991, anything over 40 yards was considered iffy, at best. 1
Charles Romes Posted December 12, 2018 Posted December 12, 2018 I still can't believe Norwood made that "redemption" kick in the AFC championship game in '91 in the cold to seal the win against the Broncos the year after the Super Bowl tragedy. I had it in my head that it was a 54 yarder, but looking it up on line it was only 44 yards. If you see a 44 yarder as a miracle kick your kicker is very shaky. Every Bills fans I knew was thrilled when the team finally addressed the position with the Christie signing. Tampa Bay had tried to sneak Christie through waivers as a strategic roster move which he was aware of and the story I was told is that Christie advised the Bucs that he would only leave if Buffalo called as he is a Hamilton ON native.
Seasons1992 Posted December 12, 2018 Posted December 12, 2018 Back in the 90's, Christie was the most accurate kicker in the history of the game. I'd call that an upgrade for the Bills.............
JMF2006 Posted December 12, 2018 Posted December 12, 2018 4 minutes ago, Charles Romes said: I still can't believe Norwood made that "redemption" kick in the AFC championship game in '91 in the cold to seal the win against the Broncos the year after the Super Bowl tragedy. I had it in my head that it was a 54 yarder, but looking it up on line it was only 44 yards. If you see a 44 yarder as a miracle kick your kicker is very shaky. Every Bills fans I knew was thrilled when the team finally addressed the position with the Christie signing. Tampa Bay had tried to sneak Christie through waivers as a strategic roster move which he was aware of and the story I was told is that Christie advised the Bucs that he would only leave if Buffalo called as he is a Hamilton ON native. Oakville but close enough
mead107 Posted December 12, 2018 Posted December 12, 2018 Don’t remember it that way but I was not at the stadium the day he walked in. 1
RoyBatty is alive Posted December 12, 2018 Posted December 12, 2018 I can tell you for a fact there were no 1,500 fans protesting at OBD
Dr. K Posted December 12, 2018 Posted December 12, 2018 1 hour ago, Phil The Thrill said: I am listening to an interesting interview with Steve Christie on Pat Moran’s podcast. He talks about coming to Buffalo in 1992, and mentions that when he arrived in town to sign the deal there were 1,500 Bills fans protesting outside of One Bills Drive. They were protesting in loyalty to Scott Norwood, who by all accounts was a terrible kicker at this point. Christie also said he competed with Norwood in the 1992 training camp (which I don’t remember). He said many well-known Bills players gave him the cold shoulder because they were friends of Scott. Ironically after the Bills cut Scott, he wouldn’t get picked up by any other NFL team after the Super Bowl in early 1992. As I said, he was a very unreliable kicker at this point his career. My question to any old-time Bills fans - do you remember this happening? I do remember the Christie signing and knew he was the kicker from TB, but I don’t recall any outrage over his signing. Nor do I recall disappointment when Norwood was cut. I feel most people were pleased with the move. Listen for yourself here: http://moranalytics.com/ep-76-steve-christie-former-nfl-kicker/ I for one was delighted that they got rid of Norwood, who was an erratic kicker at best. He had missed a number of crucial field goals throughout that first Super Bowl season, and when the Bills lined up for that final kick agains the Giants, from 47 yards, I knew it would be a miracle if he made it. The fact that some fans protested his being replaced--if they did--shows how Bills fans do not always have very good judgment. Christie would have won them that Super Bowl.
Bing Bong Posted December 12, 2018 Posted December 12, 2018 37 minutes ago, Ned Flanders said: Norwood was beloved after SB XXV, but the next season proved his undoing. Remember the Raiders game in LA? Thurman offered to throw him off the plane on the ride back if he missed the game-winning chip shot. By 1991, anything over 40 yards was considered iffy, at best. what?? that's the worst thing to say to your kicker. Jesus Thurman haha.
DC Tom Posted December 12, 2018 Posted December 12, 2018 4 minutes ago, Dr. K said: I for one was delighted that they got rid of Norwood, who was an erratic kicker at best. He had missed a number of crucial field goals throughout that first Super Bowl season, and when the Bills lined up for that final kick agains the Giants, from 47 yards, I knew it would be a miracle if he made it. The fact that some fans protested his being replaced--if they did--shows how Bills fans do not always have very good judgment. Christie would have won them that Super Bowl. Norwood was an erratic kicker his last year, when he was trying to prove he could hit field goals beyond 40 yards, and tanked his accuracy for leg strength. Before that...he was very accurate, inside 40 yards (which again, weren't considered chip shots at the time). He never had good distance on his kicks, though, kickoffs or field goals.
LeGOATski Posted December 12, 2018 Posted December 12, 2018 Loved Steve Christie. He was the kicker during my formative years. Everything I know about kicking a football started with Steve mother-***** Christie.
Ridgewaycynic2013 Posted December 12, 2018 Posted December 12, 2018 26 minutes ago, RoyBatty is alive said: I can tell you for a fact there were no 1,500 fans protesting at OBD I wonder if the '1500' were actually the ones at the rally to welcome back the Bills after the loss to the Giants. Different event, hazy memories? You would be amazed what shows up on the interweb.
bobs0108 Posted December 12, 2018 Posted December 12, 2018 Norwood had a great post season after his missed SB kick. I believe he didn’t miss a kick and sent them to the SB with a game winning kick.
Dr. K Posted December 12, 2018 Posted December 12, 2018 (edited) 11 minutes ago, DC Tom said: Norwood was an erratic kicker his last year, when he was trying to prove he could hit field goals beyond 40 yards, and tanked his accuracy for leg strength. Before that...he was very accurate, inside 40 yards (which again, weren't considered chip shots at the time). He never had good distance on his kicks, though, kickoffs or field goals. He missed crucial field goals and extra points in that first Super Bowl year, and he was lousy beyond 35 yards. Lots of kickers (including Christie) were miles better than Norwood, even in that era when field goals over 50 yards were rare. For instance, in that season against Denver, Norwood missed two field goals and an extra point in a game the Bills managed to win by one point. Edited December 12, 2018 by Dr. K
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