Best Player in Bills History

[Ray Stonada]

As a huge Bruce fan who named a pet Bruce, and stood line for hours age 15 at Hills for Bruce's autograph, I have to go with Josh. 

 

The reason is that "best" to me means the player who most helps their team win. 

 

The impact Josh is having on football games is unprecendented, not just by a Bill, but by any NFL player.

[bmur66]

Picking Josh Allen over Bruce Smith says alot

 

[Spiderweb]

21 hours ago, TrentEdwardsCheckDownOn4th said:

I'm sorry but Jim Kelly should make this list before OJ. QB position is so much more valuable. Jim Kelly was magnitudes more valuable to this franchise than OJ and it was for a longer period of time.

 

But to answer your question,  my choice is Josh Allen and If he wins a super bowl this year it won't even be close anymore. 

I loved Kelly back in the day but OJ was something else to behold. His talent level as a runner was unbelievable.

[BillsPride12]

4 hours ago, Ray Stonada said:

As a huge Bruce fan who named a pet Bruce, and stood line for hours age 15 at Hills for Bruce's autograph, I have to go with Josh. 

 

The reason is that "best" to me means the player who most helps their team win. 

 

The impact Josh is having on football games is unprecendented, not just by a Bill, but by any NFL player.

I hope you were at least able to grab a complimentary popcorn while you were waiting in line 

[T master]

I didn't answer because at this point & time it's Bruce all day ! He's a HOFer and has a record that may never be broken and while playing in his career he was one of the most feared defenders on the field and very seldom if ever could the opposition stop him no matter what they tried .

 

That being said when Josh decides to hang it up given what he's done in 7 season i'd say Josh may surpass Bruce & if nothing else they will both be 2 of the best to ever play the game let alone playing for the Bills !! 

 

Josh is already in the conversation with Payton Manning, Brady, Montanna, and a couple of other HOF - QB's and he's only 7 years in, if he plays  for lets say as long as Favre or Montanna did no telling the records he will hold ...

[Billz4ever]

8 hours ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

This is true but football is a team sport.  While of Brady's hardware is impressive, I'm not entirely convinced that Brady was better than Drew Brees.   

 

For example, Brees has more 5,000 yard seasons than Brady and Mahomes combined.   As well as six seasons completing over 70% of his passes.  The guy was incredible.  

 

Do Brady and Mahomes have the rings because they were better QBs or because they played on better teams with better coaching staffs?   

 

OJ was a phenomenal player who played on bad teams.  For example, the day OJ gained 273 yards, the QB was the inept Gary Marangi who went 4-19 for 29 yards.  OJ got all those yards despite the defense focusing exclusively on him.  It's not OJ's fault the Bills didn't win championships.  

 

That's a good debate to be had, but it's not like Brady was surrounded by a bunch of super star receivers.  Drew Brees won a ring though, so he has the numbers and the hardware too.  Hopefully, Josh is able to add that to his resume.

[DrDawkinstein]

10 hours ago, Billz4ever said:

That was really my biggest gripe with Kelly in the postseason.  He played OK and even great in some games, but never really showed up in any of the Super Bowls.

 

Thurman Thomas would've been MVP had Norwood made that kick.

 

Oh he showed up for the Super Bowls... at every bar, night club, and coke dealer in town.

11 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

And QB stats are extremely inflated today to the point where lots of mediocre QBs have better lifetime stats than many Hall of Fame QBs...

 

 

In adding to the conversations, FWIW there are 92 first ballot HOFers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

 

Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, and OJ Simpson were all inducted in their first year of eligibility.

 

 

Josh is already a first ballot HoFer but I'm not trying to rush to get there.

[hondo in seattle]

9 hours ago, L Ron Burgundy said:

It's not even close.  He could be best qb ever.  I don't think I'm being a homer either.

 

I think he's the most exciting QB ever.  He makes the most jaw-dropping plays.  Sometimes he does thing with his arm that few others can do.  Sometimes he does things with his legs few others can do.  Sometimes he does both of those on the same  play.

 

But Brady and Brees, for example, we're just so frigging consistent. They were like machines, continually make good decisions, producing completion after completion.  I haven't seen that level of consistency from Josh yet.

 

One thing that bugs me, though, is that Josh has never had a good receiving group and a good OL in the same season.  Part of his inconsistency and (admittedly overrated) turnover problem has been the need for him to run around and make plays under less-than-ideal circumstances.

 

 

[May Day 10]

It was always Bruce Smith.  Probably the best player at his position of all time and the all-time sack leader.  

 

But it is Josh Allen.  IMO he may be the most athletic and electrifying QB of all-time.  He is like Payton Manning meets Ben Rothlisberger meets Mike Vick.  Seeing him enter his peak years is a thing of wonder.  The total touchdown number is going to be staggering.  He is already knocking on the door of the top-100 all time in rushing & receiving TDs, and could realistically enter the top 50 next year, surpassing guys like OJ, Thurman, Calvin Johnson, Herschel Walker, Earl Campbell, Frank Gifford, and Travis kelce.

 

Passing touchdowns alone he is #61.  Add in his other touchdowns and he is  top-25 of all time for QBs, and just a season or 2 from jumping into really elite air.  Thinking if he enjoys a full and healthy career, and with at least 1 superbowl, he could have a place on the Mt Rushmore of NFL quarterbacks.

[GunnerBill]

I'm not old enough to have seen either of the other two. But I suspect the right answer is Josh in any event. 

[Sestak4ever]

When all is said and done, and Allen hangs up his cleats, he may not only be the greatest Bill’s player in history, but could be the greatest player in the history of the NFL. Go Bills! 🏈

[HOUSE]

I remember when Bruce lined up over center a few times, scared the S*** out of the QB. Just threw the ball away...lol

Edited December 17 by HOUSE

[Augie]

He won’t be mentioned as the best ever, but I believe Butch Byrd is the most underrated Bill ever. You’d think the team’s all-time interception leader would at least be up on the Wall. 

[Sweats]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

I'm not old enough to have seen either of the other two. But I suspect the right answer is Josh in any event. 

 

 

 

 

Okay, you know nothing of the other 2, so that means JA is your answer........do you vote using the same analytics?

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

bruce. all time sack record. 200 sacks, has not been beat yet. the greatest to ever put on a bills uniform.

 

 

then came along JA. setting not only franchise records but nfl records on top of that. what he lacks that may just be in reach is that lombardi. he hoists that trophy and brings buffalo the much awaited world champions parade? he will certainly go down in bills lore as the best, no, greatest to ever wear red, white and blue. americas team.

Edited December 17 by DaBillsFanSince1973

[L Ron Burgundy]

1 hour ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

I think he's the most exciting QB ever.  He makes the most jaw-dropping plays.  Sometimes he does thing with his arm that few others can do.  Sometimes he does things with his legs few others can do.  Sometimes he does both of those on the same  play.

 

But Brady and Brees, for example, we're just so frigging consistent. They were like machines, continually make good decisions, producing completion after completion.  I haven't seen that level of consistency from Josh yet.

 

One thing that bugs me, though, is that Josh has never had a good receiving group and a good OL in the same season.  Part of his inconsistency and (admittedly overrated) turnover problem has been the need for him to run around and make plays under less-than-ideal circumstances.

 

 

He's made top offenses out of average to above average supporting casts.  He's also getting better.  The one and only weak point imo is his deep ball.  

[machine gun kelly]

On 12/16/2024 at 11:08 AM, HOUSE said:

Most of you guys were not born when Bruce Smith played and it shows

House, I’ll remind you some of us remember when Bruce was drafted.  Heck one of my first memories was my brother and dad going nuts in 1973 when  OJ broke the record.

 

If you count the yards per game, OJ had the best single season of all time.  OJ did it in 14 games.  I actually did the math on all guys over 2000 yards, and it’s not even close.  I even looked up the great Jim Brown in 12 games and he didn’t even do what OJ  did way back when I was 5.

 

Bruuuce was the best defensive play of all time.  He also did that 17 sacks a year in avg in the old fashioned 3/4.  It was truly remarkable.

 

With all of that said, the more I ponder the question and I did vote for Bruce, but only because Josh hasn’t played long enough to be the best of all time.

 

He will though, and when he’s done he will be the GOAT in my book.  Heck my wife playfully reminds me she wants to fool around with him.  Hey, it gets her to watch football for me.

[GunnerBill]

24 minutes ago, Sweats said:

 

 

 

 

Okay, you know nothing of the other 2, so that means JA is your answer........do you vote using the same analytics?

 

I did not vote in the poll for that exact reason. 

[HOUSE]

12 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

House, I’ll remind you some of us remember when Bruce was drafted.  Heck one of my first memories was my brother and dad going nuts in 1973 when  OJ broke the record.

 

If you count the yards per game, OJ had the best single season of all time.  OJ did it in 14 games.  I actually did the math on all guys over 2000 yards, and it’s not even close.  I even looked up the great Jim Brown in 12 games and he didn’t even do what OJ  did way back when I was 5.

 

Bruuuce was the best defensive play of all time.  He also did that 17 sacks a year in avg in the old fashioned 3/4.  It was truly remarkable.

 

With all of that said, the more I ponder the question and I did vote for Bruce, but only because Josh hasn’t played long enough to be the best of all time.

 

He will though, and when he’s done he will be the GOAT in my book.  Heck my wife playfully reminds me she wants to fool around with him.  Hey, it gets her to watch football for me.

It was a joke, I am sure 75% of the board remembers and saw Bruce play. Just my sarcasm working over time. 😁

[mbs]

OJ is without question the best running back in history and I don't think it's particularly close. I was too young to appreciate it, but thanks to online video being a thing and access to stats everywhere, I am entirely convinced.

 

I loved watching Bruce and to this day, I think he is the best DE to ever play. But it's debatable.

 

I voted Josh Allen because I have seen Josh Allen play.