Freddie's Dead Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 (edited) Well deserved and long overdue. Bruce is the GOAT at DE. Bad things indeed, he was one scary dude on a football field. And he was at his best in the biggest situations. When you needed a play, #78 delivered. I see others mention the time Bruce knocked out Boomer Esiason. That was actually a false start giving Bruce a free shot at Boomer, but you couldn't hear it with the crowd noise. Bruce said later that it was the most violent play he was ever a part of, and that he feared for Boomer's safety. Edited May 11, 2016 by Freddie's Dead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Can you imagine how nuts the stadium will go if they played this before the ceremony? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 @buffalobills Bruce Smith: "Thank you to the Pegulas. They are leaving no stone unturned in reaching back into the rich history of the Buffalo Bills." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 @SiriusXMNFL AUDIO: Marv Levy: "Bruce Smith was the best defensive lineman to ever play the game." http://bit.ly/1T4UhoV #Bills Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChevyVanMiller Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Can you imagine how nuts the stadium will go if they played this before the ceremony? Oh man, that is exactly what they should do, Eball. Imo, the greatest sports commercial ever!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 @buffalobills Russ Brandon: "It's going to be an electric night on September 15th. It's an honor for Bruce and our organization." @ChrisBrownBills Brandon - No. 78 hasn't been issued to another #Bills player since Bruce retired & now 78 will be officially retired as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 @TyDunne Marv Levy speaking with us now on a conference call. He says he'll be there for the No. 78 retirement with "great enthusiasm." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North Buffalo Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 (edited) Ill never forget when he hurdled a lineman believe it was Richmond Webb of the fins, to get to the QB, man I am gettin old. I remember OJ in old fashion cars throwing us oranges and slapping us five in old fashion convertables going down Deleware Ave. Bad Things would be awesome before the game! Edited May 11, 2016 by North Buffalo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy10 Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 78 is the greatest number of all time. Not only does it belong to Bruuuuce, it's also the year I was born. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jr1 Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 about !@#$ing time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guffalo Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Well deserved Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie's Dead Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 (edited) Can you imagine how nuts the stadium will go if they played this before the ceremony? In today's PC world, it probably won't happen. I remember when the commercial came out, there was some backlash about Dennis Hopper playing a mentally ill ref (apparently they'd never seen any Dennis Hopper movies). My guess is that Nike will want a fortune for the rights. But it would be awesome if they had the nad to do it and the cash to pay Nike. BTW, my favorite Bruce play was against the Jets. He tips a pass into the air, and just before it hits the ground, he lays out fully stretched in midair, grabs the ball with one hand and pulls it in for the INT. As Tom Jackson said later on Prime Time, "Look at the soft hands on the big fella". Just an amazing athlete. Edited May 11, 2016 by Freddie's Dead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Number 32 is "unofficially" retired for obvious reasons. I'm thrilled the Bills will be retiring Jim Dunaway's number during the Home Opener! The great teams of the distant past are quickly being forgotten and ignored in Pegulaland. Jim was ranked the 28th Best Buffalo Bill of All Time. Congrats, Jim! btw, like OJ, Jim 'dunaway' with his wife too.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apuszczalowski Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 They broke the news on 96.9 (97 Rock) to Steve Tasked thinking he may have already known and he said he had no idea. He was actually breaking down on the air a little bit because he was happy and excited for Bruce saying g how much he deserves it. He said he wants to be there but thinks he will probably be somewhere else for CBS that game (don't think he realized this was the Thursday night game) Definitely deserving for Bruce, and in the near future for Thurman. #83 for Reed could be debated (he was one of my favorites back then) but I wouldn't argue that one either. Some players are Wall of Fame locks, but number retirement is debatable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie's Dead Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Definitely deserving for Bruce, and in the near future for Thurman. #83 for Reed could be debated (he was one of my favorites back then) but I wouldn't argue that one either. Some players are Wall of Fame locks, but number retirement is debatable. I don't think the Bills have handed out 78 or 34 since Bruce and Thurman left. Lee Evans wore number 83 though, so there's that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad Things Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Bruuuce!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machine gun kelly Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Didn't Bruce do the same to Jeff George against the Colts in 1990? Ended his day with one play. I remember that day and the proverbial "welcome to the NFL baby". Well deserved for the best DE of all time. Reggie White always gets the pub, but there was no one like BRRUUUUUCCCEEE! I actually feel bad for the young posters who didn't get to see him week in and out in every game. For the young guys, we just expected to harass the QB every week, and it came to a point where you're sitting there, and we have 48 seconds left in the game, add we're saying, "that's enough time for 7 points". We were that good. I really feel for the 30 year olds who never had that kind of fun with our Bills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 What the hell is Russ Brandon doing behind the podium?!? Here he goes, ruining the franchise again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 What the hell is Russ Brandon doing behind the podium?!? Here he goes, ruining the franchise again Well ... you know ... he makes all personnel decisions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie's Dead Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Well deserved for the best DE of all time. Reggie White always gets the pub, but there was no one like BRRUUUUUCCCEEE! Reggie White was a racist homophobic ordained minister of God. Bruce passed out on TV and fell asleep drunk in his car. I'll take Bruce both on and off the football field, thank you very much. Bruce is Lancey Howard, and Reggie is The Cincinnati Kid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Reggie White was a racist homophobic ordained minister of God. Bruce passed out on TV and fell asleep drunk in his car. I'll take Bruce both on and off the football field, thank you very much. Bruce is Lancey Howard, and Reggie is The Cincinnati Kid. I know this thread is a tribute to Bruce but this is still one of the funniest things I've ever seen...particularly when Trev Alberts tries to continue the conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdxF6YhUg1Q Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fadingpain Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 I wouldn't retire numbers lightly, but #78 is a great one to retire. He's gotta be on a very short list of greatest Bills of all time. Assuming he'll be in the stadium for opening night, the place will be rocking and rolling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fansince88 Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Going to my first opener....Going to my first home night game....Going to my first home Thursday noght game....AND retiring #78!!!!!!! AWESOME Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Brandon: "It's Going To Be An Electric Night" (9:44)Team President Russ Brandon talks about the decision to retire, Bills' and NFL great, Bruce Smith's number 78 at halftime of the home opener on September 15th, 2016. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 The 2 people who whipped Bruce into shape As a rookie, Bills Hall of Famer Bruce Smith was a doughy defensive end, who thought his ability was good enough to get away with it. That is until a Bills teammate got on his case about his fitness level, along with someone from his alma mater at Virginia Tech. Bills Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy relayed a story about the two people who helped to change Smith’s approach to the game. Bruce: No real significance of No. 78 for me With the news of Bruce Smith’s No. 78 to be retired at the team’s home opener on Sept. 15th, Smith was asked if he chose to wear 78 for any special reason. Smith explained there wasn’t any significant tie to the number and that he came to wear more on happenstance than anything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 @si_nfl From the Vault: Rick Telander on Bruce Smith's transformation into the Bills' sack master http://on.si.com/24OU2WF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Best Player Available Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 yea Bruce!!! The most deserving of that honor. I kind of wish Kent Hull's # would get retired. he was a bad ass MOFO and really helped Kelly more than waht he is already given credit for. RIP Kent. Congtats BRUUUUUUUce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Bruce is the one Buffalo Bill (sorry OJ) for whom a reasonable argument may be made that he is the best ever at his position. This will be a great night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punching Bag Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Awesome..Cant wait to be there! Anybody else think they are doing opening night to keep people out the beer line? I do not know but IMO poor marketing to do it at home opener rather than another game during year. BTW, my favorite Bruce play was against the Jets. He tips a pass into the air, and just before it hits the ground, he lays out fully stretched in midair, grabs the ball with one hand and pulls it in for the INT. As Tom Jackson said later on Prime Time, "Look at the soft hands on the big fella". Just an amazing athlete. Compare year 1 Bruce with years after - he credits it to Rusty Jones and I am hoping Rusty is on field with him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TakeYouToTasker Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Bruce is the one Buffalo Bill (sorry OJ) for whom a reasonable argument may be made that he is the best ever at his position. This will be a great night. Garrison Sanborn? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChevyVanMiller Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Garrison Sanborn? Chris Watson? Greatest Punt Catcher in NFL history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 @JohnMurphyShow On the line with Bruce Smith at 730pm-on his #78 being retired by the #Bills Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie's Dead Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Bruce is the one Buffalo Bill (sorry OJ) for whom a reasonable argument may be made that he is the best ever at his position. This will be a great night. No argument at all. He is the GOAT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickelCity Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 God I miss that team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Didn't Bruce do the same to Jeff George against the Colts in 1990? Ended his day with one play. My memory has a way of waning too.. But it was Biscuit Bennett who smashed George to the turf in the 4th quarter of the Season Opener. The start of the K-Gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Bruce Smith: "I'm in shock and in awe" (15:58)Bills Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith joined The John Murphy Show to react to his number 78 being retired at halftime of the Bills home opener against the Jets on September 15th. Smith also looked back at his career here in Buffalo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Russ Brandon: "It's an honor well-deserved" (13:22)Bills Managing Partner and President Russ Brandon sat down on The John Murphy Show to discuss the upcoming honor for Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith, who will have his number 78 retired at the Bills home opener against the Jets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDD Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Smith was a once in a generation player. Levy and Polian made the right choice and didn't let him go to Denver for two #1 draft pics. He always gets compared to Reggie White but I'd take Smith over any DE ever to play the game including White. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Frenkle Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niagara Bill Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce!!!!!! Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce!!!!!!!! nothing else needs to be said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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