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Admittedly, I don't see a lot of Bills games where I live but do they ever wear the Jim Kelly era uniforms as "throwbacks"? Not throwback-y enough? Well...seems like shortly after the uniform change so did the fortune of the Bills. Just saying... I love the charging, or standing old school buffalo helmet logo but there was something simply classic about those red, white/silver, and (deeper) blue uni's. Gotta change the theme to force people to buy "new" stuff but I love seeing people walk around with their faded Kelly/Reed/Thomas/Smith/Tasker and even Moulds (yes he is one of the last "old school" uni guys) jerseys.

I live in a suburb of Raleigh, NC where there are a fair number of transplants. The town I live in, Cary, is jokingly referred to as "Containment Area for Relocated Yankees". This is more of a college sports area besides hockey. Raleigh in the home of the NHL Hurricanes. The NFL Panthers are 3 hours away to the west in Charlotte and the Redskins/Ravens 3+ hours to the north so you see people show a lot of hometown loyalty. The locals here do not even want to attend hockey games when the 'Canes play the Sabres because the Sabres fans outnumber the 'Canes fans and let's just say they are not used to the "positive passion" displayed by the Sabres fans. I have enjoyed a fairly close relationship with the Bills over the years after growing up in New York and attending college there. I see a lot of Bills license plate covers, bumper stickers, jerseys, etc. It usually puts a smile on my face to see such things but today a lady walked in to the coffee shop I frequent with a cartoonish sweatshirt on that read "Bad ol' Bills". Has it rally come to this...again? It's almost a cry for sympathy. The Bills brand was once so highly valued and recognized around the world that they garnered NFL sponsored trips to London and Germany. At what point did that pride turn to pity? It IS all about marketing but it's hard to market behind losses.

Remember where Buddy came from...he was Asst. GM in San Diego...he has a little insider knowledge and can definitely work the phones to get some information as to Merriman's health. You can bet that this is a very calculated, well informed move either way.

Ryan Fitzpatrick reminds me a lot of Jake Delhomme...obscure backup gets his chance and makes the most of it. Delhomme's Panthers always had the benefit of an above average O-Line and dominant running game. A bend but don't break defense with a dominant pass rusher. Bill Polian built that expansion team with free agents and has been coaches and had immediate success but left it in Cap Hell. It took a few years but Jerry Richardson and Marty Hurney brought in the right coach and stayed committed to him through the thin years while building the team back up through the draft. They got to the Super Bowl and almost won but have never quite been the same...one big reason, in my opinion, is they stayed committed to Delhomme for too long and ignored the quarterback position in the draft. Bottom line...be realistic with what you have in Fitzpatrick - celebrate the successes and endure the failures, have faith in the coaching staff and Buddy Nix, and be patient that the right draft room decisions get made in the future. Buddy Nix is the right guy but understand who is in that room when the picks are made. Todd Collins was picked largely on Jim Shofner's nod, for example...a lot goes in to who gets picked...not the least of which whether or not the guy will sign and will stay beyond his rookie deal. My vote, trade down, get a franchise left tackle and use the rest of the draft on defense.