Ask Tim Graham

[davefan66]

Tim, I've heard in separate articles that Dick Jauron either did or didn't have much say in the decision to sign. What do you know about his role in all of this. In all honestly, I can't see DJ wanting TO, despite this being a make or break season for the HC.

 

I've said it before, if DJ doesn't like this move then I love it.

 

According to Sal Cappacio on air, who was given credit from WGR55 as the guy

who broke the story, he said DJ initiated the idea. Don't know much about this Sal

guy, but take it for what it's worth.

 

http://www.salsports.com/BillsTerrellOwens.htm

[Tortured Soul]

Hey Tim,

 

What do you hear the Bills' next move is going to be? Are they playing June and Keiaho off each other?

[TheLynchTrain]

Hey Tim:

 

Any thoughts on this phenomenon of other writers just trashing Buffalo just to trash the city and people of Buffalo? I don't get it. The Bills could have signed a player with the most sparkling off field behavior and I think the media would have trashed him and the city as to how he would ever want to live in such a "terrible" place.

 

You never hear this type of anger directed at a town like Green Bay, or other cold NFL cities for that matter. What did the poor people of Buffalo ever do to deserve the criticism it receives in the media day in and day out? What ever happened to cheering on the blue collar communities of America?

 

In all the Philly papers (a town where they have their own inferiority complex on the big city stage), they are ripping Buffalo to shreds. Is there jealousy that the Bills did something, or is this just more of a "trash Buffalo" complex?

[TimGraham]

Hey Tim:

 

Any thoughts on this phenomenon of other writers just trashing Buffalo just to trash the city and people of Buffalo? I don't get it. The Bills could have signed a player with the most sparkling off field behavior and I think the media would have trashed him and the city as to how he would ever want to live in such a "terrible" place.

 

You never hear this type of anger directed at a town like Green Bay, or other cold NFL cities for that matter. What did the poor people of Buffalo ever do to deserve the criticism it receives in the media day in and day out? What ever happened to cheering on the blue collar communities of America?

 

In all the Philly papers (a town where they have their own inferiority complex on the big city stage), they are ripping Buffalo to shreds. Is there jealousy that the Bills did something, or is this just more of a "trash Buffalo" complex?

 

I respect the question, and I'm sure you're not alone.

 

But the word "phenomenon" suggests this is a new trend. People have been writing about Buffalo this way for years.

 

As for your last question, my answer is "neither." What is there to be jealous of? I'm proud of Buffalo and will be moving back by choice in June, but to think people are writing about Buffalo in this manner to, say, knock it down to Philadelphia's level, is misguided. A "trash Buffalo" complex? Nobody thinks of Buffalo enough to have a complex about it.

 

Writers mention all of these things about Buffalo because it's easy and, in most cases, true. I'm sure Philadelphians get sick of hearing the Santa Claus line every time some outsider writes a sports story about their town. I grew up in Cleveland. I've heard and read the same jokes for decades.

 

Yes, we know there is a lot to love about Buffalo. It's a great place to live and raise a family. But the region's shortcomings are numerous ... and obvious. It's not an easy place to recruit NFL players to. Even the biggest Buffalo supporter has to recognize that.

[The Dean]

I respect the question, and I'm sure you're not alone.

 

But the word "phenomenon" suggest this is a new trend. People have been writing about Buffalo this way for years.

 

As for your last question, my answer is "neither." What is there to be jealous of? I'm proud of Buffalo and will be moving back by choice in June, but to think people are writing about Buffalo in this manner to, say, knock it down to Philadelphia's level, is misguided. A "trash Buffalo" complex? Nobody thinks of Buffalo enough to have a complex about it.

 

Writers mention all of these things about Buffalo because it's easy and, in most cases, true. I'm sure Philadelphians get sick of hearing the Santa Claus line in every time some outsider writes a sports story about their town. I grew up in Cleveland. I've heard and read the same jokes for decades.

Yes, we know there is a lot to love about Buffalo. It's a great place to live and raise a family. But the region's shortcomings are numerous ... and obvious. It's not an easy place to recruit NFL players to. Even the biggest Buffalo supporter has to recognize that.

 

 

Buffalonians are pretty thinned-skinned, I think, when it comes to this stuff. But, in a way, it's easy to see why. It doesn't seem as if other cities, in a position to get the same kind of treatment, get bashed nearly as much as the Bufftown.

 

My only complaint, really, is that I think laziness, and lack of originality, are behind much of the bashing. As you said, "it's easy". I actually have more to say on this subject, but I dont' have the time, at the moment.

 

(No Spellcheck on this computer...so read at your own risk.)

[TheLynchTrain]

I respect the question, and I'm sure you're not alone.

 

But the word "phenomenon" suggest this is a new trend. People have been writing about Buffalo this way for years.

 

As for your last question, my answer is "neither." What is there to be jealous of? I'm proud of Buffalo and will be moving back by choice in June, but to think people are writing about Buffalo in this manner to, say, knock it down to Philadelphia's level, is misguided. A "trash Buffalo" complex? Nobody thinks of Buffalo enough to have a complex about it.

 

Writers mention all of these things about Buffalo because it's easy and, in most cases, true. I'm sure Philadelphians get sick of hearing the Santa Claus line in every time some outsider writes a sports story about their town. I grew up in Cleveland. I've heard and read the same jokes for decades.

 

Yes, we know there is a lot to love about Buffalo. It's a great place to live and raise a family. But the region's shortcomings are numerous ... and obvious. It's not an easy place to recruit NFL players to. Even the biggest Buffalo supporter has to recognize that.

 

Thanks for the response Tim. Living outside of Buffalo, I just get sick and tired of the same old bashing from people that know absolutely nothing about the area.

 

But as Dean noted, the people from Buffalo collectively need to grow thicker skin...

[IDBillzFan]

Tim,

 

Not sure if you have better access to this information that most, but ...is there a way to see what TO's stats have been against AFC East teams over the past few years?

 

The first way to get to the playoffs is to take care of your division. Makes me wonder if TO has been successful against our division, and if it's something the team gave consideration to when pimping for TO's services.

[TimGraham]

Buffalonians are pretty thinned-skinned, I think, when it comes to this stuff. But, in a way, it's easy to see why. It doesn't seem as if other cities, in a position to get the same kind of treatment, don't get bashed nearly as much as the Bufftown.

 

My only complaint, really, is that I think laziness, and lack of originality, are behind much of the bashing. As you said, "it's easy". I actually have more to say on this subject, but I dont' have the time, at the moment.

 

(No Spellcheck on this computer...so read at your own risk.)

 

I'll disagree on the laziness part. If a newspaper wanted to spend a couple thousand dollars to dispatch a reporter to Buffalo to dig around and research and find out everything there was to know about the city, what the reporter would come away with are the same things he already knew: The weather sucks, the economy is crumbling, there's not as much to do as in other NFL markets.

 

Yes, they'll also discover the charms of the area, that the people are friendly and the schools are impressive (at the price of high taxes). But every city has its charms.

 

Still, a columnist's point about this particular story would remain the same: Buffalo almost never would be the first choice for an NFL player. Cleveland is the same way, which is why Bernie Kosar remains a demigod there. He came out of college actually wanting to play for the Browns.

 

But if a writer wants to illustrate why players don't place Buffalo at the top of their wish lists, you get all the same reasons we've heard for years because -- quite simply -- that's exactly what the players think. It's not laziness. It's accurate, and it's reflective of what players truly think.

 

A reporter could write the story about why Buffalo is a great place to play, but that's a different type of story all together. What people are writing about now -- and will be writing about for the next eight months -- is why Terrell Owens coming to the Bills is so unusual.

 

If a superstar athlete had his pick of several teams and chose the Bills, then the story lines would be totally different.

[TimGraham]

Tim,

 

Not sure if you have better access to this information that most, but ...is there a way to see what TO's stats have been against AFC East teams over the past few years?

 

The first way to get to the playoffs is to take care of your division. Makes me wonder if TO has been successful against our division, and if it's something the team gave consideration to when pimping for TO's services.

 

Excellent idea. Based on your note, I've put in a request with our research department. I'll let you know what they compute.

[Dan]

Excellent idea. Based on your note, I've put in a request with our research department. I'll let you know what they compute.

Must be nice to have people.

[BillsObserver]

Tim,

 

The team has addressed some needs thus far (center, back-up QB, #2 WR), but in your opinion what positions must we strengthen in order to even dream up the possibility of a playoff run? At the very least, a defensive end, tight end and perhaps a linebacker sound good to me. Do you agree? Thanks for your time, it's much appreciated!

[TheLynchTrain]

Tim,

 

Not sure if you have better access to this information that most, but ...is there a way to see what TO's stats have been against AFC East teams over the past few years?

 

The first way to get to the playoffs is to take care of your division. Makes me wonder if TO has been successful against our division, and if it's something the team gave consideration to when pimping for TO's services.

 

Checked ESPN, took only a few minutes. It looks like he hasnt played the AFC East, at all. I only see him playing us from 2007 and 2001. Strange....

 

2007

 

WEEK OPP RESULT REC YDS AVG LNG TD

2 @MIA W 37-20 5 97 19.4 34 1

5 @BUF W 25-24 2 25 12.5 14 0

6 NE L 48-27 6 66 11.0 13 1

12 NYJ W 34-3 6 65 10.8 22 1

 

2001

 

WEEK OPP RESULT REC YDS AVG LNG TD

3 @NYJ W 19-17 4 38 9.5 11 1

11 @IND W 40-21 6 103 17.2 35 1

12 BUF W 35-0 6 72 12.0 17 1

14 MIA W 21-0 4 43 10.8 28 0

 

EDIT:

 

But you can't forget the 2004 SB:

 

WEEK OPP RESULT REC YDS AVG LNG TD

SUPERBOWL NE L 24-21 9 122 13.6 36 0

[TimGraham]

Tim,

 

Not sure if you have better access to this information that most, but ...is there a way to see what TO's stats have been against AFC East teams over the past few years?

 

The first way to get to the playoffs is to take care of your division. Makes me wonder if TO has been successful against our division, and if it's something the team gave consideration to when pimping for TO's services.

 

 

in catches, yards and TDs

 

NYJ, 3 games

13-163-2

 

 

 

NE, 2 games (not counting Super Bowl XXXIV)

9-127-2

 

 

 

MIA, 2 games

9-140-1

 

 

 

BUF, 3 games

12-166-1

[TimGraham]

Tim,

 

The team has addressed some needs thus far (center, back-up QB, #2 WR), but in your opinion what positions must we strengthen in order to even dream up the possibility of a playoff run? At the very least, a defensive end, tight end and perhaps a linebacker sound good to me. Do you agree? Thanks for your time, it's much appreciated!

 

I think you hit on three big needs right there, but O-line needs to be addressed, too.

[TimGraham]

Checked ESPN, took only a few minutes. It looks like he hasnt played the AFC East, at all. I only see him playing us from 2007 and 2001. Strange....

 

You're missing some games.

[Kelly the Dog]

I'll disagree on the laziness part. If a newspaper wanted to spend a couple thousand dollars to dispatch a reporter to Buffalo to dig around and research and find out everything there was to know about the city, what the reporter would come away with are the same things he already knew: The weather sucks, the economy is crumbling, there's not as much to do as in other NFL markets.

 

Yes, they'll also discover the charms of the area, that the people are friendly and the schools are impressive (at the price of high taxes). But every city has its charms.

 

Still, a columnist's point about this particular story would remain the same: Buffalo almost never would be the first choice for an NFL player. Cleveland is the same way, which is why Bernie Kosar remains a demigod there. He came out of college actually wanting to play for the Browns.

 

But if a writer wants to illustrate why players don't place Buffalo at the top of their wish lists, you get all the same reasons we've heard for years because -- quite simply -- that's exactly what the players think. It's not laziness. It's accurate, and it's reflective of what players truly think.

 

A reporter could write the story about why Buffalo is a great place to play, but that's a different type of story all together. What people are writing about now -- and will be writing about for the next eight months -- is why Terrell Owens coming to the Bills is so unusual.

 

If a superstar athlete had his pick of several teams and chose the Bills, then the story lines would be totally different.

While I agree with this in full, I recall a NFL draft (I think it was the day the Bills traded for Drew Bledsoe) -- The pundits on ESPN were talking about the Bills and Buffalo and Mike Tirico said, and I am paraphrasing, that around the league players usually hate the idea of being drafted by, or traded to, or signing with Buffalo, because of all the points you just made. But once they are there, they usually love it and change their minds and think it's a great place to play. Do you think this is true, or has it been your experience talking to players that this is true? I could believe it. So while a guy like Willis McShakespeare doesn't like Buffalo because of the nightlife, the vast majority of players may indeed actually like being here.

 

What say you?

[JÂy RÛßeÒ]

in catches, yards and TDs

 

NYJ, 3 games

13-163-2

 

NE, 2 games (not counting Super Bowl XXXIV)

9-127-2

 

MIA, 2 games

9-140-1

 

BUF, 3 games

12-166-1

So in the 7 non-Bills games: 31 receptions for 430 yds and 5 TDs. Pretty pedestrian per game averages for all 3.

[TimGraham]

While I agree with this in full, I recall a NFL draft (I think it was the day the Bills traded for Drew Bledsoe) -- The pundits on ESPN were talking about the Bills and Buffalo and Mike Tirico said, and I am paraphrasing, that around the league players usually hate the idea of being drafted by, or traded to, or signing with Buffalo, because of all the points you just made. But once they are there, they usually love it and change their minds and think it's a great place to play. Do you think this is true, or has it been your experience talking to players that this is true? I could believe it. So while a guy like Willis McShakespeare doesn't like Buffalo because of the nightlife, the vast majority of players may indeed actually like being here.

 

What say you?

 

I would agree with that. Places are never as bad or as great as their reputations.

[Dawgg]

Yeah, but you guys get me every day.

 

I usually will be able to sit down and answer most questions at night, but I will try to stop by once or twice during the day.

 

Tim, thanks as always.

 

Does the Bills' brass realize that Donte Whitner has contributed more with his rhetoric than with his play on the field?

 

Or are they still smitten by him as they were on draft day when they reached for him at #8 overall?

[Steely Dan]

I think you hit on three big needs right there, but O-line needs to be addressed, too.

 

I think the odds of Pioli trading Waters to Buffalo are slim to none. He won't strengthen a team that plays against his precious Pets* twice a year but he will string Buffalo along for some time to keep them from signing anyone else as long as he can. JMO, would you agree?