When I first heard the possibility of Brett Favre being traded to the Jets, I actually thought that was a very good fit. The team is similar in a lot of ways to the Green Bay team he played with last season. Very young, unproven talent... good potential. Maybe now that he really has been traded to NY, he can take the Jets to the next level?

Wouldn't it be interesting if all of a sudden, the up-and-coming Bills and the Favre-powered Jets were not only competing with the dominant division leader, New England, but actually ended up 1-2 in the standings at the end of 2008? If Favre can play like he did last year, I don't think it's that far fetched. The games against the Jets are just a bit harder for the Bills now.

Will be interesting to see how Brett does in another jersey. (Best headline, from NFL.com: New Jersey For Favre. Ha! ... the "NY" Jets play in the state of New Jersey...) :-) It won't feel right at first, but will definitely add to the competition in the AFC East. Jets face the Bills first in 2008 on Nov 2nd, in Buffalo. I've mentally circled the date.

Welcome to the AFC East, Brett!

Labels: AFC East, News, NFL, Players

Emotions are all over the map in Western New York these days. A few are excited by the five-year plan that will have the Buffalo Bills playing three pre-season and five regular season games in Toronto, Canada. More seem to be near paranoid that this signals the end of the nearly fifty years of Bills football in Western New York.

And who can blame them? The Buffalo Bills message boards are replete with frustrated fans following not only each move of the plan named the "Toronto Initiative", but all of the comments made by the aging Bills' owner, Ralph Wilson.

"I can't speculate what's going to happen in the future. But don't worry. Don't worry right now," Wilson said at last week's press conference in Toronto. This comment, among others, (including Wilson referring to this "Initiative" as a "trial basis") has led many Bills fans and media pundits to speculate on the Bills future.

With the end of the current 15-year lease of Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, NY coinciding with the end of this "trial" in Toronto, there are many reasons to speculate that the team could well end up north of the Border by 2013. Or even sooner, if Wilson were to die before that time is up, as he has publicly stated that the team will be sold to the highest bidder following his death.

But a closer look at who is saying what reveals that there is much more to be hopeful about for Western New Yorkers. More positive than negative regarding this Toronto Initiative.

First there are comments from the Buffalo Bills themselves. Wilson has repeatedly said - including most of his comments from last week's press conference - that his intention all along has been to keep this team in Buffalo. "We've always been on record saying we were going to try to regionalize our brand north of the border," said Bills new Chief Operating Officer Russ Brandon. "We think this is another step in keeping our franchise financially viable in the Buffalo marketplace."

The Bills have already begun to regionalize the team by moving their annual training camp to St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY. This has been a big success according to the team. Toronto is merely the "next step" as Brandon says.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (a native Western New Yorker) was asked about the Toronto Initiative in a press conference and responded by saying the Bills "very thoughtfully" put this plan together, and carried it out. He has said the NFL is not looking to expand right now, and said the Bills would play a "limited number of games" in Toronto over the next five years. Granted, five years is a long way off, but his words have to be reassuring to Bills fans. (And it can't hurt that he is a native of the area, and so, a Bills fan!)

Add to these voices the somewhat public rumors that former Bills Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly has designs on buying the Bills when they become available. Kelly is rumored to be building a team of people - including perhaps former Buffalo Bills Thurman Thomas and Steve Tasker, among others - to purchase the Bills following Wilson's passing.

Western New York billionaire, and current Buffalo Sabres' owner, Tom Golisano is one potential investor in Jim Kelly's plan. This past week Golisano was interviewed during a Sabres' game and said, "If the situation arises, I would do what I can to try to keep the team in the area.'' This again buoyed Buffalo fans hopes that this talk of losing the Buffalo Bills was just that. Talk.

In the end, Wilson is right, we can not know what will happen in the future. But it's also true that worrying about the future doesn't change anything either. Bills fans can worry that the team will move (I think that has been a fear of Bills fans since I moved to Buffalo back in 1986!) or listen to the voices of the people who really matter. Sports writers can say what they want, and fearful fans can say what they want, but the people who make the decisions are saying the Bills are staying in Western New York.

And, for now, that's who I'm going to listen to.

---

Related Article: 10/25/07 (BBR)

Labels: Bills History, News, NFL, Toronto

Yes folks, I am that crazy. Every year about this time, our Bills are somewhere near the .500 mark and visions of playoff dates dance in our heads. Well, in mine at least.

So I broke down the five contenders' schedules today, and believe it or not, things are looking very promising for our Buffalo Bills!

First, let's look at who is still in the race:

1. New England: 12-0
   
2. Indianapolis: 10-2
   
3. Pittsburgh: 9-3
   
4. Jacksonville: 8-4
   
5. San Diego: 7-5
   
6. Cleveland: 7-5
   
7. Tennessee: 7-5
   
8. Buffalo: 6-6
   
9. Denver: 5-7
   
10. Houston: 5-7

Wow! When you look at that list, what shot do the Bills have?? Assuming the Division winners are set (New England is, then Indy, Pittsburgh, and San Diego) that leaves the two wild card spots in contention for SIX teams! Ouch!

But let's take a look at those six teams, and their schedules.

Denver & Houston
These two teams are at 5-7 and are going to need a LOT of help. Basically, I'm just being kind to their fans putting them on here. They would have to win out, and get some serious help from teams above them in order to make the playoffs. Let's count them OUT.

That leaves four teams who are in the thick of the race. We'll look at them one by one.

Let's start from the top down.

Jacksonville (8-4)
Jacksonville beat the Bills so, they own the tie-breaker over us there. And, with a two-game lead, they are definitely in command for one of those two spots. Their remaining games include: Carolina, @ Pittsburgh, Oakland, and @ Houston. Three of those games could be tough, but I see the Jags winning three of those four. That would put them in the playoffs as the top wild card seed, finishing 11-5.

Cleveland (7-5)
With Cleveland losing to Arizona yesterday, the Bills are in a much better position against this team. Even if the Browns win all of their games except the game against Buffalo, both teams could end up 10-6, with the Bills owning the tie-breaker having defeated them. That makes the game on Dec. 16th pretty crucial for both teams' playoff hunt. Cleveland plays @ NY Jets, Buffalo, @ Cincinnati, and finishes at home against San Francisco. I see them winning at least two, maybe three of those, finishing 9-7 or 10-6. OUT of the playoffs.

Tennessee (7-5)
Tennessee has been quietly efficient this year. Like everyone else, they have fought through injuries, suspensions, and other roster changes to be two games above .500. Vince Young can win a game at any time, and their defense plays tough, too. They have some pretty difficult games on their remaining schedule, however. They start this week at home against San Diego, then @ Kansas City, home vs. the NY Jets, then finish @ Indianapolis. It seems very likely that they will lose at least two of those, and I think they lose three. That makes then 8-8, and OUT of the playoffs.

Buffalo (6-6)
That leaves the Bills. Our injury-riddled Bills who have been starting rookies and first-year players who have no NFL experience, and are at the bottom of the league statistically on both offense and defense... and yet, they are 6-6. And surprisingly, they Bills are in a pretty good spot. Their remaining schedule includes: home vs. Miami, @ Cleveland, NY Giants, then they finish @ Philadelphia.

Here's the key. If the Bills win out, they will make the playoffs. Because winning out puts us at 10-6, AND includes beating Cleveland (who could then finish no better than 10-6) the Bills really "control their own destiny" as the saying goes. (Of course, Tennessee could disrupt that with a surprisingly good finish.)

So with that look at the schedules and the standings, and assuming the Bills can play smart, efficient, productive football for four straight games, the Bills look to be in pretty good shape for ending their playoff-less drought!

Every game counts, and the biggest one will be two weeks from now in Cleveland.

Go Bills!!

Labels: NFL, Playoffs, Schedule

I have been meaning to write many articles this week. A thorough recap of the game this past Sunday against Baltimore, highlighting some of the pretty amazing things I see in our rookie quarterback, Trent Edwards. Another article breaking down the stats on how the Bills truly did shut down Willis McGahee on his first visit to his old stomping grounds—on his birthday no less. And, I have wanted to weigh in on the whole Bills-games-in-Toronto issue.

But I haven't. And, I won't.

(Quite) Unfortunately, I do not get paid to write about the Bills, and my work load at the moment seems insurmountable. Tack on the fact that we leave for California in less than 24 hours, and yeah... I'm feeling the pressure!

For that reason, here are a few quick thoughts on all of the above topics.

QB Trent Edwards
It is now official. Trent Edwards is the starting QB for the Buffalo Bills. Not just for this week. For good. Dick Jauron said, "Hopefully we won't have to make a change there," in his press conference yesterday. The Bills like what they see in Edwards, and for good reason.

Not only does Trent have a good arm, is very accurate, and can put some zip on the ball, he's also a very quick learner and very confident in the pocket. His abilities to handle the offensive schemes were showcased when the Bills ran the no-huddle offense for most of the game against Baltimore. The QB has to read the defense, and make the call from some pre-set plays in that situation. And he did a great job with it! His confidence and poise in the pocket are demonstrated by the number of sacks he has taken. Some of the credit goes to the offensive line, but much of it goes to Trent for knowing when to release the ball, and where to put it.

One of the more amazing things from Sunday's game was the FIVE offsides penalties Edwards was able to pull the Ravens into! It could have been six, but the call went against the Bills when Michael Gaines jumped at the same time as the Ravens defender. His cadence was excellent, keeping the Baltimore defense either moving backward by penalty, or at least a little hesitant to jump at the snap.

Add to his very good play for a rookie the fact that the team is now 2-1 when he starts (and could, almost should be 3-0, barring the miracle finish by Dallas) and you have a no-brainer decision. Edwards gives the team the best chance to win now, and most likely in the future.

Good decision by the Bills.

Willis Held In Check
When Willis came out on the Ravens' first drive of the second half and just started getting huge chunks of yards, I was definitely worried. I thought maybe he or the Ravens had figured out something, and it was going to be a long day. That was every Bills fan's worst nightmare... Willis running wild on us, leaving with the win.

But he didn't.

Really, the Bills did a great job stopping McGahee all day. An amazing job, actually. I knew what I saw, and what I saw was a great performance by the Bills defense, and a completely shut down performance by Willis. Well, almost completely.

So late that night I broke down the stats. I wanted to see if I had just imagined that we did shut him down. I did not.

On that one drive to open the third quarter, Willis had 4 carries for 72 yards, including the one TD run of 46 yards where the Bills only had ten guys on the field (but I don't think the eleventh would have mattered). Willis finished the day with 19 carries for 114 yards. Take away 46 and he has 18 for 68 yards. That's 3.7 yards/carry. Take away that drive (were the Bills still in the lockeroom or something?) and he has 14 carries for 42 yards! OUCH! That's 3 YPC.

More stats? The Bills held Willis to 1 yard on 2 receptions (and he also dropped one, that was thrown behind him). The Bills also held him to zero or negative yards on 4 carries. 9 of his remaining 15 carries were for 4 yards or less. Mostly less.

The Bills came into the game having done very well against the Jets runningbacks and the Cowboys runningbacks. They wanted to do the same against Baltimore, who are a run-oriented team. And, they wanted to shut down Willis.

They did.

The Move To Toronto
First of all, the Bills are not moving to Toronto. They are merely playing a game or two in Toronto—where many Bills fans reside. All of this speculation is definitely premature, and completely unnecessary. In my opinion, of course.

Here's what we know. The NFL decided that up to two regular season games per year would be played outside of the US through the 2011 season. Their hope is that each team would be able to participate in that. The Bills stated that they would like to be proactive in that experiment by suggesting that they play a game in very nearby Toronto, which is currently a major region that they draw from.

The Bills have played there before. In 1995 and 1997, the Bills played two preseason games in the Skydome. (They won both!) So they are no strangers to Toronto, and those games did not precipitate a move to Canada. They broaden the region that the Bills cover.

Seven years ago, the Bills made a similar move when they shifted their annual training camp to St. John Fisher College in Rochester. There are many Bills fans in the stadium on Sundays who make the drive from Rochester, and moving training camp to their city only made sense. It gave the Bills more of a presence in Rochester, and likely has won them some more fans.

That is precisely what the Bills are hoping would happen with a regular season game in Toronto each year.

This is not without NFL precedent, either. The Green Bay packers played several games a year in Madison, WI several years ago now. They are also a small-market, regional team, and wanted to have a more regional appeal. It worked just fine, as far as I know.

The Bills are not moving to Toronto. The NFL will not allow that. Ralph Wilson certainly won't. And I would say, as much as they are able, NY State will not allow it either. But one game in Toronto, even annually, makes a lot of sense for expanding the reach of this small-market team. Bring in more fans, more corporate luxury box buyers... and the Bills remain in Western New York.

The Bills will likely play a pre-season game in 2008 in Toronto. It remains to be seen what the NFL will decide as far as regular season games there. The Bills have crossed a few hurdles, getting approval on the first stages of this plan. Next is the NFL.

Seems like a great plan to me, and I hope they can make it happen. I'd love for them to play a game over here in Rochester, closer to where I live, but we don't have a facility like the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

So north of the border we go!

(But just for one game.) :-)

Labels: Bills History, Current Bills, Games, News, NFL, Players, Training Camp

If my memory serves me correctly, the Bills played a pre-season game in Toronto during the Super Bowl years. But that was pre-season.

The Bills posted a press release this week, stating that they would like to play a regular season game in Toronto, maybe even next year (2008)! Is this a good thing? Is this a precursor to moving the team to Toronto?

Actually, I think this wouldn't be a bad thing. The team is trying to be a "regional" team, focusing on Buffalo, Rochester, and Toronto, Canada. It's a good marketing strategy in a small market. There are already many Canadian fans who travel to Orchard Park to attend Bills games. And from Rochester and Syracuse send their share of attendees as well.

Not sure where the NFL is on this request, but it will be interesting to see if the Bills get their wish.

LINKS:
Bills Want a Home Game in Toronto to Expand Ontario Fan Base (Buffalo News)

Labels: Games, News, NFL

It was another dismal showing for the AFC East division today. Miami showed a spark or two against the improved Browns (their own Ronnie Brown enjoying several productive moments on the day), and the Jets donning their ancient Titans of New York blue and yellow uniforms also made a play or two against the visiting Eagles... but in the end, both lost rather handily.

The Buffalo Bills were resting their weary bodies, glad to not add to the debacle that was AFC East football in week six.

Save for the division leading Patriots, that is.

The Patriots let the Cowboys hang around for a time, even allowing them the first second half lead of the season for any Patriot opponent. But it was very short lived, and New England ran away with the game in the fourth quarter, winning 48-27.

The Patriots are 6-0 atop the AFC East. The Bills are in second place at 1-4. The Jets follow at 1-5 and the Dolphins have yet to break into the win column at 0-6. So far in 2007, the Patriots competition is a combined 2-15. Ouch.

Is the AFC East the worst division in football? Every other division has at least two teams vying for the top spot, with the second biggest margin being two games. The Patriots hold a rather cozy 4.5 game lead in their division race. After only six weeks???

It's hard to argue that New England is the class of the league right now. They defeated one of only three previously undefeated teams in the NFL on Sunday, and they made it look rather easy.

The Patriots have scored 230 points in six games, which is 138 more than their opponents have scored on them. They have scored no less than 34 points in each game, while the most any other AFC East team has mustered is 31.

Tom Brady has thrown 21 touchdown passes in that span, which is 6 more than the combined total of six other QBs from AFC East teams! (J.P. Losman, Trent Edwards, Chad Pennington, Kellen Clemens, Trent Green and Cleo Lemon have a total of 15.)

The Patriots looked good on paper heading into the 2007 season, and they are proving to actually be even more frightening after watching them play just six games so far this year. Providing they can stay healthy, this team will be nearly impossible to beat.

Now with only two remaining undefeated teams, the stage is set for an even more enticing "game of the year" on November 4th. The Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts will host the New England Patriots—just as they did in last year's AFC championship game—for major bragging rights, and maybe the Patriots only real remaining challenge to a perfect season.

Well, there it was. I said it. It's only been six weeks, and I've brought up the undefeated angle. I'm sure I'm not the first, and I know I won't be the last. Read on...

Indianapolis faces a tough game next week on the road at division rival Jacksonville. Indy has lost to the Jaguars, and that will certainly be a very difficult opponent. They then play Carolina on the road before coming home to face New England. Both games could be a challenge, but I'd expect Indy to come out on top, and be 7-0 when they face the Patriots.

The Patriots, on the other hand, have a bit of an easier road. Next week they face the winless Miami Dolphins in Miami, and then come home to face the Washington Redskins. Washington iscurrently 3-2, and may pose a bit of a threat to New England (who might be looking ahead to their rematch with Indianapolis) but I would also expect New England to escape unscathed to enter the Indianapolis game at 8-0.

If New England can atone for the loss to the Colts last year, and move on to 9-0, their remaining schedule seems almost too easy. They travel to Buffalo to take on the Bills (whom they have completely dominated winning all but one of the last fifteen or sixteen games), followed by games against Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, NY Jets, Miami, and NY Giants. Four of those are home games, with the only road games being against Baltimore and the Giants. Assuming home field advantage means something, New England has a seemingly easy path to an undefeated season, with six of their wins coming against their own division.

Which brings me back to my original question. Is the AFC East as bad as they seem, or are the Patriots simply that good... making the rest seem vastly inferior by contrast. Maybe it's a little of both, but my money's on the Patriots being that good. (Figuratively, of course.) And they even have a few injuries at the moment. They will only get better.

With the state of the AFC East, the 2007 NFL season could see two very rare occurrences, both from the same division. New England has a good chance to go undefeated, while the Miami Dolphins have almost as good a chance of going winless. We're too early to say that, but it's quite clear to this writer that while the Patriots may face a challenge or two on their remaining schedule, it will not likely come from within their division.

If the Patriots do complete a perfect season, they can thank their opponents in the AFC L-East for six of those sixteen wins. They don't appear to be offering much resistance.

Labels: AFC East, NFL

There is a football site that has us (the Buffalo Bills Review) on their mailing list. They have some interesting articles over there, including one I read today regarding "parity" in the NFL. The word is used a lot, and according to ColdHardFootballFacts.com, inaccurately. They have some interesting stats to back it up.

Check out their article: Our Pigskin Police Breaks Up The Parity

Labels: Links, NFL

OK, not the whole network, but I found out tonight that the NFL Network is offering their team previews for each NFL team for FREE on iTunes this week. Don't know how long this is going to last, so go download! They are only seven minutes long, but hey... they're FREE. :-)

EDITOR'S NOTE: I should have known that this was too good to be true. After downloading about EIGHT team previews... I discovered that they are all the same!!! Lousy NFL. It's a fun seven minute video, but ... come on. Why you gotta test the market like that. Get my hopes up and all. Oh well. Let's all download the via the Bills link and let them know the BILLS are the most popular team out there! (At least on iTunes...)

Labels: Links, News, NFL

Don't get me wrong. I have enjoyed each visit to training camp this season, as have my family. And friends. It's done fantastically, and it's a great, up-close football experience.

But it just seems silly.

I'm actually not talking about all the extra stuff. If you've ever been to Bills training camp at St. John Fisher College here in Rochester, you'll recall that it's quite a production. When you first arrive - by RTS bus, as there is no parking on campus - you are herded through a large, air-conditioned tent full of everything the Buffalo Bills Pro Shop sells. It's the mobile Bills store, conveniently placed at the entrance to the free training camp. Very good marketing. :-)

In addition to all the Bills gear, you get to stroll past maybe a dozen or so vendors/marketers who also have their booths set up to offer you their wares (or services) as you pass by. Once you do exit the tent, and head for the practice fields, there are still a few more vendors set up just outside the tent. Only four to six more perhaps. You're almost to the football part!

As you approach the main field, there are also a few food vendors on the right, however. :-)

Again, I actually really like all of this. It makes it feel fun. Big. Exciting. This Tuesday, Turkey Hill Dairy was represented there, and they were giving out FREE, decent-sized samples of their Buffalo Bills Stampede Sundae ice cream! That was awesome!! :-)

When you finally do get to the football - if you have kids with you - you will notice that there is a large "interactive area" set up just past the playing fields. It's chock full of inflated bouncy things, and more chock full of children. They can push through the Bills-colored inflatable obstacle courses, or toss footballs through big inflated football players hands, or even play basketball? (That one is sort of out of place...) :-) It's tons of fun, and well used by visitors ages 12 and under. (Including most of the Campbells!)

But again... this article is not about all of the extras that make Bills training camp one of the best free events you can be part of, and probably one of the best NFL training camps, at least for the fans.

Now, for the players - or, as a strictly football fan - each visit to training camp this year has just made me wonder, "What is the point?" Is it only for the marketing aspect? I mean, it certainly does that well. Bills fans come out in droves for this carnival experience where they get to be very up-close and personal with their favorite football team (the guys are literally only a few yards away from where you can sit or stand, and there are many opportunities to get autographs, photographs, or even chat briefly with the players.) and all of this is free. (Basically free. A $1 donation for folks over the age of 12 gets you free public transportation to and fro.)

But the practices almost seem silly.

First, the players are often not in pads. They are just "going through the motions". Motions are good. They are necessary. The players need to know how the plays unfold. They need to know where they should be. But do they really? If they are not actually in pads, they're not going full speed. And if they come close, they don't finish the plays. It's not the real deal. I'm know there's a place for that speed of practice, but it dominates training camp, and rightfully so. You don't want to go full speed against your own team. You want to save that for another team.

Which is precisely my point. Even when they are running at full speed, they don't finish the plays. The defense gets in position to make the tackle, but never gets to make it. The offense is running plays that the defense already knows. The defensive linemen never get to hit the QB.

(Funny story... there's a guy whom I do not think is a coach, but has been an on-field assistant for as many camps as I can remember. He's not big at all. He's a relatively small guy. But he's obviously tough. They put him in as the "QB" taking the snaps on a DL drill. Well, I guess he was trash talking, trying to get the linemen fired up. It worked. A couple of times these nearly 300-pound guys pancaked this tiny sub-200-pound guy. And he'd just get up and taunt them some more! I talked to him afterward and he said he kept asking them, "Where was that on Friday??" Crazy man.) :-)

What I suggested on our show was that instead of 5 or 6 weeks of training camp, cut it down to a maximum of three weeks. And, instead of four or even five meaningless pre-season games, cut that down to two (or a maximum of three, with those bonus games like the Hall of Fame game) and add two games to the regular season. Make the games count. Make it worth getting out there and risking injury. But even better, make it worth playing. Make it real football.

Interestingly, I am not alone in these thoughts. A reporter (not sure who) asked Jauron in a press conference this week what he thought about just that idea. Shortening training camp and pre-season, and making two of the pre-season game regular season games. Jauron hesitated and said, "You know what I'm going to say, right? (Another pause.) Talk to the league office." There was laughter, and when asked if he had an opinion, he said he did, but he was not going to share it.

Apparently, coach would like to see less meaningless football as well.

It only makes sense. How can you really practice if you're not really playing football?? But why would you play real football - against your own team for six weeks?? Of course you wouldn't. It makes sense to take it easy "until it counts". Well, MAKE IT COUNT.

And, let's not forget that we fans are shelling out the same amount of dollars to see this so-called football. Pre-season games are a step up from training camp practices, obviously, but they still carry that feeling of "meaninglessness". The "real" players don't play much - if at all, LT - and the goal of the game is almost never to win, unless it comes down to a two-minute drill situation at the end. Then they're still not trying to win, they're just practicing their two-minute drill. (I do have to admit, that is when is starts to be real football, as there is an actual goal in sight, even if the end result is "meaningless".)

---

Camp is fun. Keep it. It's a great experience for the fans, and I'd have to imagine that a lot of good comes from it for the players and coaches. But you can probably get a lot more out of playing actual football. I would even keep the roster cut-down dates the way they are. Play two regular season games with maybe 70 players. See how the guys who are really right on the fringe do in a game that matters. You've seen all of the guys the entire off season in mini camps and other team activities. You know what they can do. If you as a coach don't want to put them in when the game really counts... then why would you keep them on the team, anyway?

It does sound a little crazy, but those were some of my main thoughts as I sat there watching pseudo-football at training camp this past week, and on our visit three weeks ago. Remember, it was totally enjoyable, and we're heading back for the Monday night practice - and I can't wait. But it seems like our team would be better served if they weren't in this "practice" mode for so long. If they're going to practice, shouldn't they actually be doing what they are practicing?

My vote is to make the practice more real by making the meaningless part shorter. And though he can't say it, it sounded like Coach Jauron is with me.

How about it, NFL?

Labels: Bills Fans, NFL, Pre-Season, Training Camp

I got an e-mail from NFL.com today, promoting the upcoming Hall of Fame inductions. As a Bills fan, you know that Thurman Thomas will be one of those inductees on August 4th. If money were not an issue, I am pretty sure we'd be there. The e-mail that was sent had each player in their uniform as a collage of NFL players for the header of the e-mail. It was neat. Seeing Thurman with that group of great players... just brought back memories.

But one of those players, Bruce Matthews, is shown in a Tennessee Titans uniform. Now, I remember Bruce Matthews. I believe he mostly played for the Houston Oilers, am I correct? I realize that the Houston Oilers moved and are now the Tennessee Titans, but can't you give the Houston fans something to remember their team by? Yes, they have the Texans now... but come on. Do they even compare? Not yet, they don't.

That got me thinking about the Bills. Rumors have abounded since I first became a Buffalo Bills fan way back in 1988 that our team "might not be here much longer". Rumors of moving the team to L.A., to Toronto... and maybe some other places. But for now, the Bills remain in Western New York, and I remain a Big Bills Fan.

But what if Mr. Wilson passes on in the not-too-distant future? I'm sure he's making some plans... but, you can't know what will happen when someone else is calling the shots. Will they keep the team in Buffalo? With the new contracts that players are signing, I really don't see how the Bills can remain a viable franchise in this region. (Note. I am no financial wizard. So, take my "business sense" with a grain of salt...) I do know that as player price tags rise, the only way to compensate is to charge more money. Who mostly gets charged? Western New Yorkers. Bills fans.

If nothing changes, and the Bills get moved to a larger market to survive, what will you do Bills fan? Will you continue to follow the team? (Any Clippers fans out there still?) Or will you root for the Browns, the Steelers, or whatever team (if not the Bills) shows up just north of the border?

I have to say that if no team were here in Buffalo... I might follow them in whatever town they were moved to for a year, maybe two. But, I really don't think I would continue very long. I am a BUFFALO Bills fan. I am (sorry NFL) not an NFL football fan. Yes, I like football, but my allegience is to my team here in my area. I really don't care much at all about any other team. Ask my wife. She's the one watching the other games on weekends, while I find something else to do around the house.

What would you do if the Bills left town, and 10 years down the road they are still inducting members of those Buffalo Super Bowl teams into the NFL Hall of Fame, but instead they are shown as Toronto Loons, or Los Angeles Gang Members? "This year's Hall of Fame class includes Steve Tasker, from the Toronto Loons." Ouch.

No, Bills fans, I'm sad to say it... if the Bills ever left town, I would quickly forget about the NFL. I would move on to other things. (There actually is more to life than football, though with only nine days to training camp... it's hard to remember that!) I just wouldn't care if the NFL did not have a team in my area.

So listen up, NFL. If you want fans from this area... don't expect us to root for our Bills if they are based in Toronto. Don't certainly don't expect us to latch on to the Browns, Steelers, Jets, or Giants. We're Bills fans. BUFFALO Bills fans. I know I am. And forever shall be.

Go BILLS!

Labels: Bills History, Current Bills, Hall of Fame, NFL

The Buffalo Bills have announced their 2007 regular season schedule today, which includes their first time back in the national spotlight in several years.

On Monday October 8th, the Bills will host the Dallas Cowboys under the lights at The Ralph. It's a rare trip to Orchard Park for the Cowboys, and will be a hyped-up crowd on an autumn evening in Buffalo.

The schedule is among the hardest (based on opponents 2006 winning percentage) in the NFL. The Bills open the season against the Denver Broncos at home, and then hit the road for games against Pittsburgh and New England, two recent Super Bowl champs.

Following that road trip, the Bills return home for three games, with the bye week following the Monday night game against Dallas. The New York Jets will visit The Ralph on 9/30, then the Bills host the Cowboys, and after the bye week, the Bills will host the Baltimore Ravens, with their new running back Willis McGahee. That should be an interesting match.

The Bills only other nationally televised game (at least until the possible flex games from week 10 on) is on 10/28 against the New York Jets. It's a 4:05 kickoff on that Sunday, meaning a greater portion of the country will see that game.

The Bengals come to town to start off November, breaking up a stretch of games against AFC East opponents. Starting with the Jets game the week prior, the Bills will face 3 AFC East teams in 4 weeks. They head to Miami on November 11th, then back home for game two against the Patriots to end the divisional series.

The Bills take to the road again with 4 of their last 6 games on the visitor's turf. They will play back-to-back games against Jacksonville and Washington. The game in Washington will feature a few familiar faces on both teams as the Bills acquired former Redskins guard Derrick Dockery in free agency this season, and the Redskins signed former Bills LB London Fletcher.

Finishing out AFC East play for 2007, the Bills will face the Miami Dolphins at home on December 9th. Gotta love those December games in Buffalo against Miami! Hoping for snow...

In a strange bit of scheduling... the Bills will face 3 non-division (and two non-CONFERENCE) opponents for the last three weeks of the season. They travel to Cleveland on December 16th, and then come home to play the NY Giants on Dec 23rd, followed by a trip to Philadelphia to face Takeo Spikes and the Eagles to end the season.

All in all, should be a fantastic season, and the days can't go by fast enough! BRING ON BUFFALO BILLS FOOTBALL!

Labels: BuffaloBills.com, NFL, Schedule

The Bills posted their pre-season schedule today at BuffaloBills.com. The first game will be at New Orleans on August 10th televised nationally at 8pm on CBS. How about that? Our first nationally televised game (for real) in a very long time. Pre-season, yes... but still. :-)

The Bills will also play Atlanta, Tennessee and our obligatory game against the Lions. The date of the popular "Kids' Night" will be announced later.

For more info, follow these links:
Bills Announce Pre-Season Schedule
NFL Pre-Season Schedule at NFL.com

Labels: BuffaloBills.com, NFL