billsfan89
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Posts posted by billsfan89
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It will be great to see the Bills back in the playoffs and since it has been about ten years since that has happened, there are many younger WNY fans that have not experienced that yet. When I was a kid, I attended my first season ticket game in 1978. So I have seen the good and the bad and the problem that I have with DJ is there does not seem to be the sense of urgency that you might like to see for a team that has the goal of making the playoffs. Maybe that will change this year - at least let's hope so.
All the troll accusers and Bills marketing kool-aid drinkers/apologists can say what they want, but not being able to win one game in the AFC East or formulate a sucessful game plan - or make game day changes to that plan while managing the clock is not going to get you back into the playoffs. A little more killer attitude instead of playing not to lose might be nice to see for a change of pace. You can choose to read on not read what is posted, just like you can be content with 7-9 year after year or voice your concerns. Some people are happy with the status quo and that is great for those folks. For other fans, ending the season over .500 and having a chance to gain a spot in the playoffs after ten years should not be too much to wish for.
So are you going to change your team because your franchise is having trouble competing? My point is you are a fan you can't change your team because they are stuck in a below average decade. Sure they make bad moves and their coaching stinks but they are your team and you root for them no matter what.
We all complain how Ralph is cheap but he isn't a bad owner. The Chicago Blackhawks owner actually blacked out his own teams home games so people had to go to see them. Than the Blackhawks owner said winning a Stanly Cup is too expensive. Well that guy died and now the Blackhawks are good and the fans are happy.
Those fans had a legitimate gripe with their team. Ralph might not spend too much money but he doesn't black out home games and he fields a small market team so he at least has a reason to be money conscious (Unlike a team that plays in Chicago). So yeah if I had to put the odds of the Bills making the playoffs it would be below 50%. But I will be watching every Sunday and hoping against hope.
And when the Bills make bad moves I will be on this board moaning and groaning. But I will never as long as the Bills play in Buffalo ever turn my back on this franchise. That is why being a fan isn't easy but it all becomes worth it when your team has success.
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Fair enough. Like Steely Dan said having a slightly above average QB is more valuable than most think.
I do think anyone who insists Romo is a choke-artist should watch the Giants playoff game on NFL Network next time it's on. The guy was running for his life the whole 4th Qtr, his only int was a 4th down desperation heave at the end of the game, and Patrick Crayton dropped two gimmes that probably would've won the game. Both Eli and his brother have multipe far-worse playoff performances on their resume. But I guess that's the price you play for being a Dallas QB.
Its not that Romo preforms badly in the playoffs its just that the whole can't win in the playoffs/December is in his head. And until he dispels that he will always be labeled a choker and it might turn out to be a self fulfilling prophecy. So until he turns in a good playoff run I can't put him over Eli who has a ring and solid numbers (Not as good as Romo's but its not a huge gap).
I hate to label someone a choker because its a team game BUT I just don't think that asking someone to win a playoff game is all that much and the QB has the biggest impact over the game. Eli is an above average QB who is cool as a cucumber in clutch situations while Romo is a good QB who plays average in clutch situations. I would take Eli because the clutch is more important.
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Imo Peyton Manning had his best year in 09. Harrison got old, his line was all banged up, and his defense lost their best players for a considerable amount of games.
I used to think that Brady was better than Peyton. Not any more. Again....jmo.
It was weird Brady use to be underrated while Peyton was the guy who was putting up great stats. Now that Brady put up that 50 TD year he is the flashy stat guy and Peyton is kind of the underrated guy who is doing very good but not putting up the great stats.
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He eased up (a little) the year the Giants went to the Super Bowl.
He eased up quite a bit when the Giants won the Super Bowl (according to his players and the media) . He effectively used the "Us against the world mentality" to motivate the Giants. While he was still a hard ass it wasn't any where near what he was when he got to the Giants.
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Fantasy numbers, while a dumb measuring stick by themselves, are still a better tool than "who wins".
I'd take all those guys over Eli except Cassel, and maybe Hasselbeck/McNabb due to their age.
Not saying that numbers don't play a factor but I balance them with who is better at winning games. In a sense I am saying its not just the best numbers but its who plays the best when you factor in what they are asked to do. For example Rothlisberger doesn't put up Tony Romo like numbers because he isn't asked to. Basically who is a more effective QB in terms of wins and losses and numbers.
I don't think you can put guys like Romo, Rodgers, Cassel, Hasselbeck and Cutler over Eli Manning. Romo shrinks in clutch moments. Rodgers is good but it remains to be seen if his numbers were more conducive to the fact that Green Bay was down a lot last year. Cassel could be a one hit wounder. Hasselbeck getting older and recent injuries. Cutler good numbers but remains to be seen if he will be a winner with less weapons plus his numbers aren't astronomical either.
So even if you put Matt Ryan, Rivers, Mcnabb, and Palmer over Manning he would still be number 10. You can argue it but either he is a top 10 QB or right around number 10 (If you feel Rodgers or someone else is better than Eli he is still number 11).
I don't think Eli is worth 100 million dollars but he is worth a lot to a team. Like I said in a previous post they will likely give him a 7 to 8 year deal worth 70-80 million with 35 to 40 million guaranteed.
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I did not say Namath was better than Bart Starr. I said Namath was the BEST QB of his generation. Tarkington was in the same generation as Starr, that is why Tarkington had to wait. Starr > Tarkington Even though both of his knees were SEVERELY injured while playing at Alabama, Namath was made the HIGHEST PAID player to come out of college for a reason, & it wasn't his boyish good looks. When I say highest paid, I mean by a LOT. The Namath signing by the Jets didn't make the front sports page, it made the FRONT page of the Newspaper due to the amount of money he was paid. The AFL & NFL were at war at the time. If he had not been injured in college Namath would have very likely been the BEST QB EVER.
But Namath played in the same era as Bart Starr and Tarkington who are both better than Namath. I don't know what Namath could have been but what he was wasn't better than Starr or Tarkington. You can't say because he had talent negated by injury that he is better than Starr or Tarkington.
Could Namath have been better than those guys I don't know but from what you say it sounds like he could have been. Buts its only speculation based off of speculation to wither he could have better than Starr or Tarkington.
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You must be young & never saw Namath play. He was the Greatest QB of his generation & played on TWO bad legs from his 1st day in the NFL. Had he not been injured in college he may have been the best QB EVER.
Really Nameth is better than Bart Starr? Nameth is in the Hall of Fame because of the Super Bowl win. It to this day pisses my dad off that Nameth (Who stastically sucked and only had 2 seasons with more TD's than Ints) got in the Hall of Fame first Ballot while Fran Tarkington had to wait a while despite the fact that he held almost every record for a QB at the time and had 4 Super Bowl Appearances under his belt as well as numerous winning seasons.
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If I had to take any QB now it would be Matt Ryan in a New York second...even over Brady due to age/injury factor.
I should have pointed out that my list was based off of winning in the short term. Basically if you had to win right now this season and next season who would you take.
If you had to take age into account yeah Matt Ryan is most likely the best guy out there for the long term.
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Taken from another post I made on another topic but it explains what being a fan is about
Thats exactly what makes sports great. You stick with one team through the good and the bad and one day when your team wins a title it all becomes worth it.
A Lot of my friends are Giants fans (I live in NJ) through and through even when they went 4-12 before the got Eli Manning they stuck up for their team. And when the won the Super Bowl last year they were the ones who got the most joy out of it. No not the girlfriends who were only there because the Giants were in the Big game it was the true fan who put up the bad in order to truly experience the satisfaction of the win that got the most out of that victory.
When the Bills make the playoffs its going to be so sweet why because I had to put up with so much to get there. You also put yourself up for so much dissapointment when they fall short but its having that be on line that makes the win more and more special. Sports are the ultimate reality show its real unscripted and anything can happen wither it be an entertaining game or a blowout. Its even more raw emotionally than a Broadway play because in a play odds are you replicate it over and over again in a game you only play it once and that circumstance can never be repeated.
So when the Bills make the playoffs that day will be really sweet and when they win the Super Bowl (God willing) that day is going to be one of the best days ever. Thats why we follow the team through thick and thin because you can't enjoy the sunny days without a few rainy ones. Now its OK to be critical of the Bills moves but never ever change your team once you hit 10 years old and you are a fan you are a fan for life. If you switch teams or are a fan of two teams in the same sport you are a phony no doubt about it.
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I think you're just about spot on with that assessment. Above average QB's with a SB ring aren't a dime a dozen. If they let him walk they'll be in the same situation so many other teams are. Looking for a legitimate starting QB and finding one isn't easy.
Well I consider Eli Manning to be a top 10 QB. Not in the top 5 but still somewhere in the top ten. His status may be more of a result of there just not being too many elite QB's in the NFL.
Top 5 (In no order But number 5 is at the bottom)
1- Tom Brady
2- Peyton Manning
3- Drew Brees
4- Kurt Warner
5- Ben Rothlisberger
Numbers 6-9 (In no order)
6- Eli Manning
7- Philip Rivers
8- Carson Palmer
9- Donavon McNabb
Than knocking on the door of being a top ten QB are (Once again in no order)
10- Arron Rodgers (Despite huge numbers has only played one season a losing one)
11- Matt Ryan (Probably the best of the bunch likely to be in the top 10 next season and top 5 down the line)
12- Matt Hasselbeck (Very good QB but health concerns and age issues)
13- Jay Cutler (Looks great decent numbers but needs to prove he can win)
14- Matt Cassel (Is he just a one year wounder?)
15- Tony Romo (Good QB but not good in the clutch)
So when you compare Eli to the rest of the league (Keep in mind these rankings are based off of who wins not fantasy numbers) his stock suddenly rises a lot. When you look at Eli's numbers and skill set you say solid but not elite yet you look at all the other guys in the league and there aren't too many guys you would take ahead of him.
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I don't think the Giants are going to give Eli a 100 million dollar deal. They Will likely give him a 7 or 8 year deal worth around 80 million with like 35 to 40 million Guaranteed. He has a Super Bowl ring and plays well in clutch situations and this year he got the Giants to a 13-3 record and a division title.
And before the Giants won the Super Bowl he did get the Giants to three Playoff appearances so its not like he hasn't had success before the Giants Super Bowl run. I like Eli but 100 Million is just too much for him. He isn't a QB that adds enough to the team in order to spend that kind of money on him. Eli isn't a guy like Brady where he can win with only some talent to work with. Eli needs other pieces around him to be effective.
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We have a bunch of Bills haters in the press talking about nothing. We had a great draft, revamped our O-line and picked up the highest producing WR over the past 3 years. Dallas didn't win any SB with T.O. either but they can buy anyone they want and we have their best offensive weapon now. Stroud was a weapon last year, POZ our highest producing tackler, we now have a new great first stepper in Maybin and have a few healthy people coming back.
I attribute all of this to our current coaching staff and give 0 credit outside of it. I see bigger things for us this year and the light will finally shine on Buffalo instead of the usual suspects. DJ, Russ and crew get this season to put it all together, they have my support, the bigger question is do they have yours?
When in the last 3 years have you ever heard about DJ out coaching the other team. Than how many times do you see DJ getting out coached. DJ sucks plain and simple. Now you can say that we have developed some players thanks to the coaching staff is a better argument to the merit of the coaching staff. Besides Bobby April I don't like the coaching staff one bit.
Simply put DJ gets out coached on a consistent basis thats why a lot of people think our coaching sucks.
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we've heard similar claims the past two years that the offense was going to do this and that next season but in reality when it came to crunch time the offense looked and the playcalling was exactly the same as it was the year before
True the Bills last year with a new offensive coordinator were suppose to air it out more and be less predictable. During the first 6 games of last year it looked like they were doing that. Than the league adjusted to our slightly less vanilla play calling and we looked like we have so many times before.
I think we will use the no-huddle but only like twice a game in non two minute drill situations. It will be sprinkled in but no way do I have confidence in the fact that we will have run it 50% of the time. I hope they don't use it a lot during the first quarter and than once the D looks tired pull in the reigns on it (Which is what I suspect will happen).
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I read the article and I am going to say nothing special. What are they suppose to say "Oh my God we have to start OH sh-- we are so not ready for that". But I did like the fact that both rookies and Hangardner are all smart guys (which means the front office targeted all smart guys during the off-season). Which means that they might be able to gel a little sooner. I also like the fact that all 5 starters on the line are smart guys which makes them more suited to do the no huddle.
Still the line is going to struggle this season. But I hope by the end of the season that they show improvement. Than I hope that the Bills either groom Bell or find a solid LT to take over for Walker. I think if we have patience with the growing pains of the line we will see a young core forming with 4 out of 5 of the positions on the line being set for a long time.
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The problem is the growing pains may take more then this season and with this being DJ make or break it year there's no telling what the new HC wants to do in 2010. Hopefully he'll shift Walker back to RT, and let Levetra and Wood develop. THe C from Carolina remains a question mark as thus far is just another name and fits the pattern of free agents gone wrong in the past ie signing spot starters/primarily backup players to be starters here, see Larry Tripplett, Robert Royal, Melvin Fowler and Matt Bowen as recent failures. Also it doesn't bode well for Trent Edwards, who has shown me to be half way decent but not sure he can taking the pounding of an experienced O-line in front of him and again no telling what a new HC would do.
Well I think that if the organization stays the course with the Wood, Levitre, Hangardner, and Butler I think that those guys could develop into a good unit down the line. If you give them a year to gel by next season they might become a solid unit that will only get better.
It takes two to three years for a line to develop into a great unit. I think by the end of this season we will see the potential of the unit and by the end of next season they will be good. You have to start somewhere and I would hate to see the line be broken up because they might play a little poorly at first. To me if I am Ralph I say keep those 4 in place for the next 2 years and see if they can gel.
As far as Hangardner goes he was a back up but over the last 4 years he started 56% of the games on the Carolina offensive line so its not like he was just a bench cast off we brought in. I think that he is a notch above the usual back up we usually bring in.
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I think that the thinking was that we could improve the OL faster through FA instead of waiting for draft picks to develop.
Well even if you get 5 all pros on a line they still take time to gel. And the interior O-line and RT develop quickly as rookies (a year or two tops). We had the really hard position set it was just a matter of realizing that we needed to put better talent around him. But yeah I got what they were thinking and if they had hit on a few of those acquisitions I might not be bashing them.
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listen i hate ellison as much as you do but they play two totally different positions. putting brooks there would be like getting Eddie Robinson again. too old and slow to play weak side in our scheme.
My ideal pick up would be Boss Bailey. But I still think that Brooks is better than Elison he played well in the Tampa 2 in Tampa. I might be wrong but didn't he play weak side in Tampa?
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Because we needed help at OG and quality guys like Kris Dielman nd Eric Steinbach signed elsewhere.
Honestly we should have drafted another guard instead of a guy like McCargo. We have (Until this years draft) never spent big resources (Draft wise) on the offensive line and the one big pick we spent was a bust (Fat Mike). We were really smart to develop Peters and Brad Butler worked out well but besides those two we haven't had much luck with our offensive line acquisitions.
I think that Fat Mike really scared off Ralph and the higher ups from putting many resources into the O-line. Than once we got Peters we tried to use free agency to fill out the rest of the offensive line. Walker worked out but Fowler and Dockery were busts. At least this year we got two top picks on the line which gives me confidence that the line is now being viewed as a priority.
I also am liking the Hangardner pick up. I think that he and the guards along with Butler could formulate a pretty solid line as long as we stick through the growing pains of a freshly assembled unit.
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I can't believe that the Bills don't want this guy. I have to think that either the Bills FO knows something we don't about Brooks skills declining or that Brooks has told the Bills that he doesn't want to play for them. I know that if he isn't picky about money he can play again.
Even at 36 he is better than Elison will ever be. I usually say don't go after big names but Elison is so bad that almost any name not Keith Elison is an upgrade. IF you sign a guy like Brooks and he has lost it than you simply put Elison back in but its worth the chance to get an upgrade at that position.
And judging by their pursuit of Pisa I think that they are not too confident in Elison either.
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From what I understand about HGH, it mainly just makes recovery time quicker in terms of muscle fatigue, which apparently mainly helps older players (a la Rodney "HGH" Harrison)--is there a muscle building benefit to it as well? What other kind of PED's are you talking about--are there others that aren't tested for as well?
You may be right, but I'd hate to think that 75% of the League is on something they shouldn't be on--football would be no better than baseball if that's correct.....
HGH also helps you build muscle by letting you work out more because your body will need less time in between lifting secessions to recover(steroids have the same effect you still need to workout to have them work). It also prevents injuries during the year because let say you get a minor injury HGH will help you heal that faster and it won't get worse.
HGH is rampant in the NFL. Think about it Lineman are 6 foot 6 340 pounds and can run faster than most people on the planet. Thats just not natural. Football is worse than baseball (PED wise) the only reason Baseball gets so much sh-- is because the records in baseball are viewed with more awe. In football we just don't care about the records so PED's don't really matter as much to some fans.
It sucks but when there are millions of dollars on the line people will find some way to cheat the system.
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I hate to say it, but maybe that's how he came out of relatively nowhere a couple of years ago. Might be mighty tempting to someone on the margins (either of just making the League or, slightly up the food chain, of starting) to start using. Ross Tucker wrote a good column on that temptation a ways back on SI.com. I don't know if I'd call this good news, however, in that even though it takes out an opponent's key player, it's almost like rooting for an injury, which isn't too cool and gives bad karma besides.....
Well most players in the NFL are on HGH. Its an undetectable substance by the NFL testing policy (because they don't do blood tests). There is also just too much money on the line for players not to cheat. About 75% of the league is on HGH or some sort of other PED.
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If he got caught for steroids man is he dumb doesn't he know all the smart players use HGH now. Steroids are so 1990's.
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wow, well i guess somebody had to pull the rush limbaugh routine, why not you? really, you stopped just short of saying that the media is desperate for a good white running QB, so they love on Tebow.
white, black, blue, green, or purple, they're different players.
as i tend to do, i'll refute one topic at a time:
- think about this: you want to knock the guy for playing with more highly-talented players...even if that were true, who do you think he'll be playing with in the NFL, guys less talented than his UF teammates? And just so you know, that Texas team that Young played on had at least as many offensive skill players drafted into the NFL as Tebow's National Championship team in his sophomore year. Texas had Young, Limas Sweed, Jamaal Charles, and David Thomas (that's not counting offensive lineman Casey Studdard and Justin Blalock--since they aren't skill position players); UF had Dallas Baker, Percy Harvin, and (I think) Earnest Graham.
- here's the definition of leadership personified: your team faces an early-season, possibly National-Championship-run-crippling loss on National television, and your starting QB goes to the podium, and not only accepts full responsibility, but makes a pledge to his coaches, teammates, family, and fans to do whatever it takes to win out the rest of the season...and then delivers on his promise. you think that kind of attitude and effort wouldn't have a positive affect on an NFL team? if so, you're kidding yourself. to say it'll be tougher to deliver on that kind of promise would be fine, but to pretend like that type of determination is meaningless inside an NFL locker-room is simple ignorance (note: not trying to insult you by calling you stupid, there's a big difference).
- show me where i said knowledge of the pro game...i thought what i said was "knowledge of the game". i realize that college and the NFL are different, which i think is your only discernable point. however, college football-regardless of what system you play in--is what prepares a kid to play in the NFL. since Tebow has already spent more time around the college game than either Young or Vick, and will spend another season honing his skills, i'd say that factor alone makes him more well prepared to play in the NFL than either of them. and yes, he is definitely more intelligent than Young (i cite Young's 6 on the Wonderlic), and I can't find Vick's Wonderlic score, but I seem to remember it being in the low teens.
- you know, there are plenty of guys that supposedly had funny deliveries in college that have been excellent NFL QB's. here are just a few of note: Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason, Bernie Kosar, Philip Rivers, should i keep going?
Anything else?
For every Dan Marino there are like 15 other guys who failed in the NFL because of their release. Thats not really good logic well Marino had a weird relase and he was good so Tebow will be good. Now I get your point its not like having an unconventional release means you won't be good but its more likely you won't. Its true thats the reason scouts look at release point so much.
As for leadership its all based off of winning. In the NFL Tebow is going to have to win to be a leader and anyone as long as they win can be a leader (EX Eli Manning). I am not saying being determined isn't going to help but being determined in college where you have won a championship isn't that hard (Because you know you can do it). If Tebow loses his first few starts in the NFL thats when his detirmination will be tested (Because you don't know for sure you can do it)
So leadership and detirmination is a little overstated in most cases (Not just Tebow I usually say that about most college guys). And knowledge of the game is still not enough for me to say well he isn't even comparable to Vick or Young. If you know a non-pro system better than most you still are going to have a big adjustment to make in the NFL. I just don't see how playing more ball in a non-pro system is enough to separate him from those guys.
Like I said Tebow is comparable to those guys because all of those guys lit it up in college with good running and unconventional passing motions. Now I know that Tebow is a little more enticing than those guys because he seems to have a better head on his shoulders but to say its not even a reasonable comparison is just wishful thinking.
The media loves the guy because not only is he white but he is a religious guy who gives a ton of interviews to the media and is always nice to the media. Its not an intentional thing but there is a little bit of racial element in the medias coverage of Tebow. When you hear columnists talk about Tebow its almost like talking to the guy will make your life better. If the guy is black I think he doesn't get the media attention and love he gets now. Florida fans would still love him but the media just wouldn't like the guys as much.
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Loyalty is the key word in this post
That's what made the Super Bowl run we had 3 times as sweet.
Because we went threw the 2-14 years that's why
Look at the Cards fans, they were shyt all those years, well umm decades and their fans were almost were given a Super Bowl Trophy.
Loyal fans will get rewarded if they stick around long enough.
Thats exactly what makes sports great. You stick with one team through the good and the bad and one day when your team wins a title it all becomes worth it.
A Lot of my friends are Giants fans (I live in NJ) through and through even when they went 4-12 before the got Eli Manning they stuck up for their team. And when the won the Super Bowl last year they were the ones who got the most joy out of it. No not the girlfriends who were only there because the Giants were in the Big game it was the true fan who put up the bad in order to truly experience the satisfaction of the win that got the most out of that victory.
When the Bills make the playoffs its going to be so sweet why because I had to put up with so much to get there. You also put yourself up for so much dissapointment when they fall short but its having that be on line that makes the win more and more special. Sports are the ultimate reality show its real unscripted and anything can happen wither it be an entertaining game or a blowout. Its even more raw emotionally than a Broadway play because in a play odds are you replicate it over and over again in a game you only play it once and that circumstance can never be repeated.
So when the Bills make the playoffs that day will be really sweet and when they win the Super Bowl (God willing) that day is going to be one of the best days ever. Thats why we follow the team through thick and thin because you can't enjoy the sunny days without a few rainy ones. Now its OK to be critical of the Bills moves but never ever change your team once you hit 10 years old and you are a fan you are a fan for life. If you switch teams or are a fan of two teams in the same sport you are a phony no doubt about it.
How much time do fans have to see the Bills in the playoffs again?
in The Stadium Wall Archives
Posted
Well as long as you recognize that the Bills are your number 1 team and that Tampa is a team you root for but they will always be your second team than I can say you aren't a phony. I directed that towards people who say they root for two teams equally. You can't say you are a fan of the Jets and Giants (in fact if you have two teams in a city and you are a fan of one you are obligated to hate and root against the other team) because you just can't have it both ways.
If one team loses you can't just hop the fence to the other. Simply put you can't pick a few teams and root out of convince.