NoSaint Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I'm just curious -- i'm sure it's hard for any fan to answer but how do the buffalo facilities match up to those around the league? I know some places (Cleveland with the staph infections, for example) have reputations. If I were looking at a team (as a coach or player) it's the kind of thing I'd look at closely. A reflection of setting up a winning environment. The best weight room, training facilities, film rooms, meeting rooms, offices and more. Arizona had a reputation for locking the fridges on off days -- you'd think if a player wants to come in they would be able to give him a couple bottles of water. A coincidence that they haven't had a winning culture with something like that going on? So what do we know about the things at one bills drive? Any stories good or bad? Comments from players? I'm just curious how we stack up on the most fundamental of support systems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beerme1 Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I toured the stadium and facilities during a club season ticket renewal. I thought everything was top notch. I was surprised. There were fridges everywhere with water, gatorade and that type of drink. Everywhere and they were unlocked help yourself. There is a kitchen with buffet stations that the players go and help themselves to food and it was alll color coordinated as to what it would help you achieve. This section was high carbs, this section was low fat etc etc. I felt the training room was excellent and if a player were touring the facility they would not walk away thinking they wouldn't want to be in that environment. They did not want for anything while in ota's. It really is one area I would have to give the Bills very, very high marks on. Just my two cents and I rarely give the Bills anything other than my money which is all they are concerned with from me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSaint Posted January 29, 2010 Author Share Posted January 29, 2010 That's excellent to hear. I'm sure all are very high end, hence I was so amazed by that sill Arizona example. It got me thinking about all that though. As much as Ralph, Russ, scouts, etc all get debated, I hadn't heard much good or bad about our setup on the physical property. When players and coaches come through, I am sure that's something they look at and are curious about. Granted, I'll take 5 million more and sit in a less comfortable chair at team meetings, but some subtle things can add up within building a culture. Have we heard any player remarks either coming or going, comparing obd to their other homes? Do I leave early cause I'm just not as comfortable in the film room. Cut a workout a little short cause I don't feel like waiting for someone to finish there bench sets so I can. Skip a meal at the facility where I might be bonding with teammates and talking game strategy cause the food just plain sucks. Sometimes a single misstep can cost a game, and one game can cost the playoffs. By noooooo means am I implying our cook is the key to leading us back to the promise land, but there are so many threads on draft picks, and coaches -- I am curious to learn more about the culture day to day in the building -- the little things being done that don't warrant a press release, and fans don't always see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalobillsfansince1918 Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I have often wondered the same myself. If Ralph Wilson doesn't/won't spend on a proper coach time and time again, I seriously doubt our facilities are on league standards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thoner7 Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I cannot offer anything towards the Bills staff, but if you want to compare to other teams... http://gomustangsports.com/information/Fac...es/MLLockerRoom Owings Mills It served as the Colts' corral before it was the Ravens' nest, but what once went the way of the birds has been returned to the world of the equine. The former Baltimore NFL facility in Owings Mills is now the athletics home of the Stevenson University Mustangs. The Ravens former practice facility (I have no idea when they go their new one) was baught by Stevenson U. (formerly Villa Julie) and has been used as the schools facility for some time. Click around the links at the top center of the page and you can see lockers rooms, weight rooms, and indoor bubble, training rooms etc. As far as the internet goes I think this is the best look into what these teams have behind closed doors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsWatch Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 What I heard from a few retired players is Buffalo has a top notch medical department with ability to call in specialists from all over Buffalo including medical schools who actually will drop case load/work/classes when Bills call. It was like that as far back as 1980's when I worked in health science library and would get urgent calls from doctors who needed certain textbooks for emergency trip to stadium. If I was an older player who was worried about quality of medical care Buffalo would be high on the list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aristocrat Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 i've heard the away teams lockerroom is worst in the league. this is from a friend who was a trainer for the panthers. but i could care less about the away team and i wish it would work more to our favor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSaint Posted January 29, 2010 Author Share Posted January 29, 2010 What I heard from a few retired players is Buffalo has a top notch medical department with ability to call in specialists from all over Buffalo including medical schools who actually will drop case load/work/classes when Bills call. It was like that as far back as 1980's when I worked in health science library and would get urgent calls from doctors who needed certain textbooks for emergency trip to stadium. If I was an older player who was worried about quality of medical care Buffalo would be high on the list. I know the Kevin Everett situation seems to support this. Is buffalo in general known for specialists in sports injuries? I'd imagine somewhere like NYC would be better but you get guys like James andrews in a city like Birmingham so you never know. I imagine having a top notch facility might reflect that reputation and location might be more of an issue then we think. A top player has many close choices, a top weight machine, anyone can buy. If we are willing to invest in top notch facilities does this mean maybe mean we are more willing to spend then we realize? That's purely speculation of course but the mind is wandering on the topic. Could also, sadly, be that we are better at scouting equipment and interior designers then we are football players haha... Truly, to this point I can't say we are better then anyone either. I'm sure any facilities are impressive, so maybe ours tho nice are truly average for NFL standards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsWatch Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I know the Kevin Everett situation seems to support this. Is buffalo in general known for specialists in sports injuries? I'd imagine somewhere like NYC would be better but you get guys like James andrews in a city like Birmingham so you never know. Lots of top notch doctors trained at UB medical school who have specialities even more important than sports medicine in Buffalo area. There are lots of research doctors who get called in by the sports medicine doctors. The Kevin Everett situation more connected to Ralph Wilson's donations than UB in that case however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike in Syracuse Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I was just going to say, someone should ask Kevin Everett how he feels about Buffalo's attention to detail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSaint Posted January 29, 2010 Author Share Posted January 29, 2010 So we kind of established we are an nfl team in this regard --- any idea where we sit in relation to others? are we the top of the heap, somewhere in the middle? if a coach like cowher walks into the HC Office, does he think to himself wow because its better then pittsburgh, or wow cause his OC in Pitt had a better view? chan, are you reading this? what do you think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebandit27 Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 i've heard the away teams lockerroom is worst in the league. this is from a friend who was a trainer for the panthers. but i could care less about the away team and i wish it would work more to our favor That is absolutely correct. In fact, my best friend (as a current AP guy) played for me his recorded comments from the Texans (post-game) last season, where they pretty much said that they couldn't wait to get out of that room...that it was the worst visiting locker room in the league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperKillerRobots Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I have often wondered the same myself. If Ralph Wilson doesn't/won't spend on a proper coach time and time again, I seriously doubt our facilities are on league standards everything I've heard is the exact opposite of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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