KRC

Yes, I spend a lot of time on football history. I run the Professional Football Researchers Association, a non-profit educational organization dedicated to pro football history. We have been around since 1979 and have over 450 members in 11 countries. Football history is my passion. I love talking to players. A lot of times, their stories outside of football are far more interesting than the ones on the field. However, there is no substitute for the inside-the-huddle stuff they tell me. Remarkable men and I am doing everything I can to preserve their legacy. Bob Callahan was one of those players. Shameless plug... The Original Buffalo Bills: A History of the All-America Football Conference Team, 1946-1949 It is unfortunate that I was not able to get a hold of Bob Callahan before this book went to the publisher. I would have loved to have added his story. Turmoil vs. Triumph: The History of the Syracuse Athletic Association Football Team (18901900)

Yup. One of the Original Buffalo Bills. There are not too many left. I have about 10 in my little black book, with one or two that I have not been able to contact.

I have never heard of me, either.

R.I.P. Bob Callahan. He played for the original Buffalo Bills for two years. After he retired from playing, he joined the FBI. I spoke to him a few years ago. Real nice guy.

Brodie will be replaced with: Lydell Mitchell Position: Running Back Teams: Baltimore Colts 1972-77, San Diego Chargers 1978-79, Los Angeles Rams 1980 You are not alone in your opinion.

Nice catch. Nope. We just make a notation that they were subsequently inducted into the HOF.

The PFRA will be announcing the Hall of Very Good finalists for the Class of 2011 on Monday and a couple of Bills are on the list. Here is the press release that will be going out:

I have a ton of game films from the 30s, 40s and 50s that I need to watch. It will give me an opportunity to catch up on analyzing players.

I am not sure I would say that he writes for a living, but he does do a lot of blog writing as an advocate for retired players. As far as the stories about players, you are correct. I talk with retired players all the time and hear their stories. Some will break your heart. Alumni are bitter about Upshaw. He did not care about the retired players, but was happy to exploit their names and images to make money for the NFLPA*. They see De Smith talking about caring for the retired players, but he has yet to make a meaningful gesture to help those in need. While the owners are no saints in this, they have at least done something to help retired players. They even send out a quarterly report of exactly how much they spend on retired players and where the money went. They need to do more and the NFLPA* needs to get off their butts and do something. Just think...all of the money that is currently going to lawyers in this mess could have helped a lot of players in need. Now, it is going to getting bigger homes and more cars for the lawyers.

Nixon has been critical of both the owners and NFLPA*. All he is concerned with is getting more money for retired players. He feels that both need to do more. Brees and the NFLPA just happen to be his target this particular time.

What is even more sad to me is that all of the money that is now going to lawyers could have been used to help retired players in need.

I talked to a former NFL GM (will remain nameless) this afternoon. We discussed this very topic. His philosophy was that you always draft the BPA. His mentor (who will also remain nameless) had the same philosophy. The mentor violated that policy once. They had the first pick in the draft. They traded down to third to take a specific player based on need. They missed out on two Hall of Famers to select from one of five guys they had on their board that won't even sniff the HOF. That was the last time they violated their philosophy. The other GMs I have talked to have the same philosophy: draft BPA, not for need.

Well, we are getting better. Instead of three years, "historical" goes back to the mid-1980s. Maybe someday we can go back to the beginning of pro football...you know...Super Bowl I. <sigh>

Historical perspective is only three years? Damn. I have been going about this whole pro football history thingy all wrong.

Never said you started it. Use the search function.

Well, it was 22 hours since the last one was started. We were due.

Honestly, I do not think it is going to hurt the court case. I still see the players winning it. However, the players are going to have a more difficult time with the NLRB. Look, we all know that since De Smith was put in place, they were going to decertify and go to court. It had nothing to do with the owners, their actions or their potential actions. They wanted this from the start. The owners were going to opt out of the CBA and lock out the players. They realized they screwed up the last time and were going to remedy the situation. For anyone to point fingers at any one side and say, "See...look what they did!!" is ridiculous. They BOTH have had this in place for a LONG time. One did not trigger the other.

Correction, first black quarterback for the Bills. Willie Thrower was first (albeit not starting), with Marlin Briscoe after him (starting) if you are only considering modern-era players. SIDE NOTE: I interviewed Briscoe last year and he told me an interesting story. He was in a bar in Chicago with one of his receivers. The receiver introduced Briscoe to the bartender as the "first black quarterback." A gentleman was sitting next to them said "No, you aren't." Briscoe said, "Yes I am." The gentleman said, " No you aren't. I am." Briscoe replied, "Who are you." The gentleman said, "Willie Thrower." They talked for several hours. Let's just say Saban was not a fan of black QB's.

People actually live to be that old? Damn. HFBD!!

Technically, he can, but not in a team environment. He just has to organize it himself (which a team leader should do). You are correct on the other aspects that are hurting the team, namely the interaction between the coaches and players. When you have a team that is bad, but showed some potential last year, you want as much time as possible to build on any successes and work on the failures. Get 'er done.

My guess would be this one.

I thought you were an old person. Hatin' on your own people?

There is a private group looking to put together a Buffalo Sports Museum. It is still in the preliminary stages, but you can check out their website for more information: Fandemoneum They are looking to put it on the Buffalo waterfront.

Johnson also didn't get his second start until year 4. I also think that he didn't play the entire game in his second start, which skews the numbers. But, getting back to the point of the thread and Tebow, I agree with a majority of the posters that it does not make sense to evaluate a player after three starts. Three years of starts...yes. Three starts...no.

Unless I have my numbers wrong, Johnson's stats over his first three starts were 38-56-503-3-2. His first start was in his third year.