OCinBuffalo Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 Hold on a second....let's get our history right before we talk in terms of Buffalo being cool, BEFORE the 90s teams made it that way. Kelly....went to the USFL rather than playing for us. Then later, only after negotiation, came to Buffalo as obligated. Thomas....a RB with a knee injury that basically was passed over in round 1 and had to feel lucky to be here at all in round 2 Lofton....a scandal in Green Bay forced him out of there, and he landed with the Bills Bennett....we traded the farm to get him, he had no choice to come here...but he left didn't he? B. Smith....we had to go through hell just to get him on the field his first year, and clearly this attitude didn't change....until the 90s when he had a chance to grow up, and with, his teammates Reed...hell he was amazed he was even drafted....same can be said for a lot of Polian's picks. Most of the team was "just lucky to be here, gonna make the most of it" Tasker...cut, "lucky to be here", etc. Shane Conlan was the only guy that I recall came here without issue and remained positive on the city. Oh, and hell, Fred Smerlas? Where the hell else was he gonna go? So, please, the 90's team was formed in the most unconventional way possible....which is why people called Bill Polian a genius. Certainly that formation was not dependent on Buffalo being a "cool place to play". Rather, Polian's achievement seems based a lot more on finding players who wanted to win, but had some defect, little or big, that was preventing them from getting a big opportunity elsewhere. (That's why this new team is so exciting....cause I seem to be reading the same headlines all over again) What made it "cool" was the player's effort on the field, and the eventual tight bond they formed with each other, and by extension, with all of us. What made it cool? It was REAL. It was never about the status of the city, domed stadiums, corporate ass kissing, team ass kissing, or whatever the hell else that has 0 normative effect on playing football on Sunday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThurmasThoman Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 It's pretty simple, not a place that gets made fun off being bass ackwards. When you have players making jokes about Buffalo (long list), reporters making jokes about Buffalo (Peyton to Buffalo:LOL), it gives the town an air of not being a good place to play, even if it's not true. Perception means a lot to people whether you credit that statement as accurate or not. Miami sucks, but the town is a vacation spot, so player would consider signing off of that alone. Buffalo needs to create a player-friendly culture. Not in easy workouts or anything, but being known as a good place to live and supportive of the players. Ha. Look man. When people laugh at the buffalo bills... 99.9% of them (over the age of 25) are laughing because they lost 4 straight super bowls. They are very unique across all 4 major sports in that they made it to THE premier sporting event in all of the land... FOUR TIMES IN A ROW... and lost... FOUR TIMES IN A ROW. This is something that has been forgotten over the course of our decade and a half of missing the playoffs. We, as Bills fans, think "people are picking on the bills because of buffalo... because we lose so much... because ralph wilson is a bad owner... because ralph is cheap... because we might not resign stevie... " no. ice cube - 1992 "cause im the one with the mad fat skills and i wont choke like the buffalo bills" EVERYONE over the age of 25 has this ingrained in their psyche - like it or not. its like word association: george bush - not a good public speaker 9/11 - national tragedy buffalo bills - cant win the big one so no. buffalo isn't UNCOOL. and when we make the playoffs this year, we'll be everyones darlings.. just like we were for the first 8 weeks of the season. everyone loves an underdog. the bills in the super bowl will be like the year the sox won the series. toughen up pansy. no one hates buffalo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorkington Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 I don't see Green Bay as any different than Buffalo as far as "cool" town factor is concerned. The big difference is, they have a culture of winning, we have a culture of losing. Get a couple successful years going, and things will change in regards to attitude towards Buffalo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 It doesn't hurt signing free agents from their own locker room, who all say they want to be in buffalo. Winning and opportunity attracts players that want to win and cool or scenic cities attract players that want to have the nightlife most 20 yr olds do, party and chase tail. Cities with both top the list and it drops off from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Jose Bills Fan Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Since the advent of free agency, the Packers have probably signed only one or two significant free agents. Yes, they're a good team but they are not a free agent destination… for whatever reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThurmasThoman Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Since the advent of free agency, the Packers have probably signed only one or two significant free agents. Yes, they're a good team but they are not a free agent destination… for whatever reasons. its because ted thompson doesn't WANT to sign free agents. you gotta realize. if a player is worth keeping, if you have him under contract, you can perpetually resign him and lock him up before he hits free agency. why do you think peyton is a free agent for the first time in a 14 year career? because he chose to be, or because the colts want him to be? lets say in 3 years, stevie is the best wide out in the league. we have a 2 year head start on every other team in terms of resigning him! how many teams have had a chance to sign brady? big ben? aaron rodgers? it has absolutely NOTHING to do with a city being cool. ask yourself this - would you truly want a player to sign with your team because he values the women and nightlife in your city above all else? a team full of pacmans? come on. this thread is stupid. draft well. sign those players to long term deals. use veteran free agents as stop gap measures (ala barnett) when necessary. we're doing that right now. be patient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zow2 Posted March 21, 2012 Author Share Posted March 21, 2012 I mean seriously...it's not THAT long ago when the Bills would split with the Jets and Pats nearly every year (from the early 80's on the Phish too). Those teams were never looked upon as being such better programs than Buffalo. In the last 10-12 years we've taken a beating, while our AFC East rivals have become "destination" cities for free agents and the hot coaches. Luckily Miami has stumbled all over themselves but they are bound to get it turned around and possibly get Manning too. Can Nix, Gailey, Stevie, Fitz, Merriman, Dareus, etc... make Buffalo "cool" again? Just ranting here but I gotta believe we're coming into an era where it's OUR time to shine. Ok, well i'm dregding up this topic and answering my own question. Thank you Buddy, Ralph, Chan, etc.. Buffalo has indeed become a cool place to play again! - Down to earth GM who players like and respect, *check* - Head coach who players like and respect *check* - coaching/staff continuity in place *check* - owner who is willing to open his checkbook and get talent here *check* - not letting home grown talent pick up and leave *check* - Mario, Kyle, Stevie, Fitz, etc.. propping up Buffalo image and as a "great working environment" *check* - and on and on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevWarRifleman Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 It's pretty simple, not a place that gets made fun off being bass ackwards. When you have players making jokes about Buffalo (long list), reporters making jokes about Buffalo (Peyton to Buffalo:LOL), it gives the town an air of not being a good place to play, even if it's not true. Perception means a lot to people whether you credit that statement as accurate or not. Miami sucks, but the town is a vacation spot, so player would consider signing off of that alone. Buffalo needs to create a player-friendly culture. Not in easy workouts or anything, but being known as a good place to live and supportive of the players. What??!! Buffalo IS a good place to live! And the city doesn't have to appologize for not being a Miami, or Las Vegas or any place else. The self-esteem of the city is not based on the perceptions of star players who have never been here and have a limited knowledge, if any clue at all, what the city is like. "Needs to create a player-friendly culture"? The Bills have been like family to this city, all the way back to 1960 when they began. Sure there's been some lean years, but there's been plenty of great years to, just like all families go through. But to imply that the city is just not good enough/friendly enough is buying in to what some other players ( the estute W. McGahee comes to mind) say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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