Which Narratives From The Bills Fanbase Do You NOT Subscribe To?

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

Opinions are facts 

[Doc Brown]

We would've won the Super Bowl if we picked Marino instead of Kelly.  We would've lost six in a row.

[GunnerBill]

#1 - that Doug Whaley never built talented rosters. The 2015 Bills roster was one of the deepest all round rosters I have seen any team in the NFL have. Go look at it on paper again. Stacked. They were just horribly, horribly coached. 

 

#2 - that McDermott is some reincarnation of Dick Jauron. He isn't. He is a leader and a communicator in a way Jauron never was. It is as yet unproven as to whether his team plays like a Jauron team or whether circumstance made it appear so. 

 

#3 - Brandon Beane is an obsessive pick collector. There is no evidence on this score based on his history. I am convinced that building his war chest of picks was done for one reason only. To get his Quarterback.

 

#4 - Doug Marrone sucks. He doesn't and he didn't here either. Arse of a man - good NFL Head Coach. 

 

#5 - it is a rare one on this site but the one I hate most is "Rex wasn't that bad... he was practically .500" first of all he was not .500 and second of all he was the worst coach of the drought. No other coach did less with more. And it was predictable the day he arrived. Washed up, over promoted trash. The day his stench was erased from the building was a good one. 

Edited March 24, 2018 by GunnerBill

[Bing Bong]

6 hours ago, NoSaint said:

If you are going to start a thread for every random idea that pops in your head, I appreciate that you consolidated all of today’s into a single post 

It's the off-season why do you have to get butt hurt over a fresh random fun thread

[CaptnCoke11]

7 hours ago, BuffaloRush said:

Buffalo Bills fans are probably the most loyal fanbase - perhaps in all of professional sports.  With that being said, like most fanbases (or most families) it doesn't mean that everyone always agrees.  There are several narratives floating around this message board, and conflicting opinions which arise in conversation when talking Bills.  I am curious to know, which narratives that are out there, do you not buy. There are several that I can think of off the top of my head, and I'm sure I'll be able to add more.  Here's a few:

 

Doug Whaley was a good GM

Sorry but it's hard to make this argument.  You can say that Doug was good at finding free agent talent and that he did have some circumstances which made his job tough, but at the end of the day he didn't draft well, never knew how to build a team, and left the Bills in salary cap hell.

 

The 2017-2018 Bills "backed into the playoffs" and were lucky to get in. 

Many teams have gotten into the playoffs and even won the Super Bowls thank to fortunate situations.  No one goes back and says "yeah the Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2001 but they were lucky because of the tuck rule."  I could rattle off countless scenarios.  Could have. Should Have. Would Have.  Get over it.  

 

Bill Polian Was Overrated as a GM

I was quick to point out how often Polian missed in the draft, but that doesn't mean he was a bad GM.  He probably is one of the biggest factors in turning around the Bills in the 80's and is well deserving of a Hall of Fame selection.

 

John Butler Rode Bill Polian's Coat Tails

Again, completely untrue.  Butler was a great GM who often draft well (sans 2000) and made some excellent free agent acquisitions.  The Bills team in 1999 was extremely talented and was perhaps on Special Teams play from making a serious run at the Super Bowl.

 

The Bills Never Should Have Traded Sammy Watkins

ln hindsight, this was the right move for the team as it is clear they probably never would have resigned Sammy for the $16M a year he received on the open market.   By trading him, they received a 2nd round pick, a competent start for one season, and they still made the playoffs.

 

Those are a few - I'd love to hear yours

 

I’ll go with Fill the holes and wait on QB

[JM57]

Polian was absolutely overrated. Maybe not in the Buffalo days, but  definitely  in the Indianapolis days. The teams he put around Manning were laughably bad outside of the offensive skill positions.

[BobbyC81]

 

7 hours ago, dpberr said:

My favorite: Ralph Wilson was a "cheap" owner. It's the "flat Earth" of Bills fandom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

But I just read the OJ interview and he said Ralph didn’t want the Bills to win because then he’d have to give everybody raises.

Edited March 24, 2018 by LittleJoeCartwright

[CSBill]

9 hours ago, BuffaloRush said:

Buffalo Bills fans are probably the most loyal fanbase - perhaps in all of professional sports.  With that being said, like most fanbases (or most families) it doesn't mean that everyone always agrees.  There are several narratives floating around this message board, and conflicting opinions which arise in conversation when talking Bills.  I am curious to know, which narratives that are out there, do you not buy. There are several that I can think of off the top of my head, and I'm sure I'll be able to add more.  Here's a few:

 

Doug Whaley was a good GM

Sorry but it's hard to make this argument.  You can say that Doug was good at finding free agent talent and that he did have some circumstances which made his job tough, but at the end of the day he didn't draft well, never knew how to build a team, and left the Bills in salary cap hell.

 

The 2017-2018 Bills "backed into the playoffs" and were lucky to get in. 

Many teams have gotten into the playoffs and even won the Super Bowls thank to fortunate situations.  No one goes back and says "yeah the Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2001 but they were lucky because of the tuck rule."  I could rattle off countless scenarios.  Could have. Should Have. Would Have.  Get over it.  

 

Bill Polian Was Overrated as a GM

I was quick to point out how often Polian missed in the draft, but that doesn't mean he was a bad GM.  He probably is one of the biggest factors in turning around the Bills in the 80's and is well deserving of a Hall of Fame selection.

 

John Butler Rode Bill Polian's Coat Tails

Again, completely untrue.  Butler was a great GM who often draft well (sans 2000) and made some excellent free agent acquisitions.  The Bills team in 1999 was extremely talented and was perhaps on Special Teams play from making a serious run at the Super Bowl.

 

The Bills Never Should Have Traded Sammy Watkins

ln hindsight, this was the right move for the team as it is clear they probably never would have resigned Sammy for the $16M a year he received on the open market.   By trading him, they received a 2nd round pick, a competent start for one season, and they still made the playoffs.

 

Those are a few - I'd love to hear yours

 

 

All of them . . .

[dollars 2 donuts]

9 hours ago, Commonsense said:

The Bills should have closed down BBMB.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you're going to throw me an alley oop I'm going to dunk it.

 

 

Trsut the Process includes the Internet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

jk...glad to the MB people here.

Edited March 24, 2018 by dollars 2 donuts

[BuffaloRush]

7 hours ago, dpberr said:

My favorite: Ralph Wilson was a "cheap" owner. It's the "flat Earth" of Bills fandom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Except the fact that he was cheap.  Look at all of head coaching hires.  He was a cheap skate

4 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

#1 - that Doug Whaley never built talented rosters. The 2015 Bills roster was one of the deepest all round rosters I have seen any team in the NFL have. Go look at it on paper again. Stacked. They were just horribly, horribly coached. 

 

#2 - that McDermott is some reincarnation of Dick Jauron. He isn't. He is a leader and a communicator in a way Jauron never was. It is as yet unproven as to whether his team plays like a Jauron team or whether circumstance made it appear so. 

 

#3 - Brandon Beane is an obsessive pick collector. There is no evidence on this score based on his history. I am convinced that building his war chest of picks was done for one reason only. To get his Quarterback.

 

#4 - Doug Marrone sucks. He doesn't and he didn't here either. Arse of a man - good NFL Head Coach. 

 

#5 - it is a rare one on this site but the one I hate most is "Rex wasn't that bad... he was practically .500" first of all he was not .500 and second of all he was the worst coach of the drought. No other coach did less with more. And it was predictable the day he arrived. Washed up, over promoted trash. The day his stench was erased from the building was a good one. 

 

I disagree... Doug Whaley could identify talent but he had no clue how to build a team.  He severely overpaid for certain talent and left the team in salary cap hell.  

 

He was a good scout but a terrible GM.

Edited March 24, 2018 by BuffaloRush

[SouthNYfan]

9 hours ago, BuffaloRush said:

Buffalo Bills fans are probably the most loyal fanbase - perhaps in all of professional sports.  With that being said, like most fanbases (or most families) it doesn't mean that everyone always agrees.  There are several narratives floating around this message board, and conflicting opinions which arise in conversation when talking Bills.  I am curious to know, which narratives that are out there, do you not buy. There are several that I can think of off the top of my head, and I'm sure I'll be able to add more.  Here's a few:

 

...

 

The 2017-2018 Bills "backed into the playoffs" and were lucky to get in. 

Many teams have gotten into the playoffs and even won the Super Bowls thank to fortunate situations.  No one goes back and says "yeah the Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2001 but they were lucky because of the tuck rule."  I could rattle off countless scenarios.  Could have. Should Have. Would Have.  Get over it. 

 

.... 

 

 

Um.

#2 isn't a narrative, you're memory must be fuzzy.

The Patriots didn't "back into the playoffs" that year.

They were 11-5, the #2 seed in the AFC (behind the Steelers) and ranked #6 in the NFL on both offense and defense.

The Pats didn't sqeueak into the playoffs in 2001.

They, again, were the #2 AFC team.

 

They beat the raiders on the "tuck rule" which isn't a "narrative" but a fact.

The rule was in place from 1999-2013.

They would not have won without that rule.

 

Kordell Stewart collapsed against them.

They filled the Rams final pregame walkthrough, then upset the Rams with Warner throwing 3 picks.

 

 

As for the Bills last year, #22 offense and #18 defense in NFL, made it into the playoffs because ANOTHER TEAM had to win a miracle game.

Then proceeded to have one of the worst wild card showings ever.

 

We backed in.

We were nothing like the 2001 Pats.

 

 

As for another narrative , 1999 we were #16 offense but #2 defense.

We might have had a shot in the rest of the playoffs, but I wouldn't say we were serious contenders.

[NoSaint]

3 hours ago, PetermanThrew5Picks said:

It's the off-season why do you have to get butt hurt over a fresh random fun thread

 

Simmer down

 

It was a joke because he posted his silly thread earlier this week about the topic of catching flack for starting too many threads. 

[BuffaloRush]

17 minutes ago, SouthNYfan said:

 

Um.

#2 isn't a narrative, you're memory must be fuzzy.

The Patriots didn't "back into the playoffs" that year.

They were 11-5, the #2 seed in the AFC (behind the Steelers) and ranked #6 in the NFL on both offense and defense.

The Pats didn't sqeueak into the playoffs in 2001.

They, again, were the #2 AFC team.

 

They beat the raiders on the "tuck rule" which isn't a "narrative" but a fact.

The rule was in place from 1999-2013.

They would not have won without that rule.

 

Kordell Stewart collapsed against them.

They filled the Rams final pregame walkthrough, then upset the Rams with Warner throwing 3 picks.

 

 

As for the Bills last year, #22 offense and #18 defense in NFL, made it into the playoffs because ANOTHER TEAM had to win a miracle game.

Then proceeded to have one of the worst wild card showings ever.

 

We backed in.

We were nothing like the 2001 Pats.

 

 

As for another narrative , 1999 we were #16 offense but #2 defense.

We might have had a shot in the rest of the playoffs, but I wouldn't say we were serious contenders.

 

Doesn’t matter, they still put themselves into a position to win a tiebreaker.  They defeated Miami during the last week of the season.  I don’t buy into the “backed in” theory.   Like I said there’s similar scenarios that you can point to.  If, “if’s & but’s” 

7 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

 

Simmer down

 

It was a joke because he posted his silly thread earlier this week about the topic of catching flack for starting too many threads. 

 

I did specifically because of the members who whine about a message board 

[Your Brown Eye]

Pinto Ron is a cool guy.

 

Sorry but he's a clown with a gimmick.

[NoSaint]

2 minutes ago, BuffaloRush said:

 

Doesn’t matter, they still put themselves into a position to win a tiebreaker.  They defeated Miami during the last week of the season.  I don’t buy into the “backed in” theory.   Like I said there’s similar scenarios that you can point to.  If, “if’s & but’s” 

 

I did specifically because of the members who whine about a message board 

 

 

What was that address you posted where someone could start their own board?

[BuffaloRush]

1 minute ago, NoSaint said:

 

 

What was that address you posted where someone could start their own board?

 

Proboards.com - you are welcome to start your own there, Saint.  The lack of whining about trivial things like starting threads will be a breath of fresh air

[WhoTom]

1 hour ago, LittleJoeCartwright said:

 

 

But I just read the OJ interview and he said Ralph didn’t want the Bills to win because then he’d have to give everybody raises.

 

It's difficult to consider OJ as a credible source of information.

[SouthNYfan]

1 minute ago, BuffaloRush said:

 

Doesn’t matter, they still put themselves into a position to win a tiebreaker.  They defeated Miami during the last week of the season.  I don’t buy into the “backed in” theory.   Like I said there’s similar scenarios that you can point to.  If, “if’s & but’s” 

 

I did specifically because of the members who whine about a message board 

 

But it does matter.

You're using the 2001 #2 seed 11-5 Patriots, who were #6/#6 offense and defense, and beat the raiders on a stupid "tuck rule" that was eventually dropped by the NFL, and comparing to the 2017 9-7 Buffalo Bills, #22/#18 offense and defense, who got into the playoffs by winning 4 of their last 6 (chiefs were reeling on a 5 game losing streak, the colts and dolphins finished a combined 10-22) and finally got in BECAUSE ANOTHER TEAM CHOKED ON A MIRACLE PLAY to try and justify your point.

 

They are literally not even close to each other.

Seriously.

 

[BuffaloRush]

 

The Bills put themselves in a position to capitialize of the “miracle” play.  If they lose to Miami or Kansas City, they don’t even have a chance.  My point is, if everyone used an asterisk next to teams like that, we wouldn’t get very far.  Give the Bills credit

[NoSaint]

6 minutes ago, BuffaloRush said:

 

Proboards.com - you are welcome to start your own there, Saint.  The lack of whining about trivial things like starting threads will be a breath of fresh air

 

 

Nah. Im going to have to find a new secret one. You know, in case this place closes. Don’t need to be at the first place you show up at telling me to leave ?

 

seriously though, simmer down. You start a thread like that, youre likely to catch a joke or two 

[SouthNYfan]

3 minutes ago, BuffaloRush said:

 

The Bills put themselves in a position to capitialize of the “miracle” play.  If they lose to Miami or Kansas City, they don’t even have a chance.  My point is, if everyone used an asterisk next to teams like that, we wouldn’t get very far.  Give the Bills credit

 

Your point is you have no idea what you are talking about because the two situations are not the same.

YOU are making up your own "narrative" and trying to justify it with another situation that isn't even remotely similar.

Teams "back into the playoffs" all the time.

The chargers were a hotter team than we were, but dug too big a hole earlier in the season.

I would bet that if you asked and NFL GM about who they would have played in the wild card: 2017 "3 point, Cincinnati miracle, tyrod Taylor led" Bills or the "Joey bossa qb eating and Phil Rivers led" chargers, every single GM and coach would say they would rather have faced the bills.

 

You sound like you're WHINING about the 2017 Bills barely making the playoffs and not getting enough respect.

Maybe you should scroll up and take your own advice about whining on another board.

[NoSaint]

5 minutes ago, BuffaloRush said:

 

The Bills put themselves in a position to capitialize of the “miracle” play.  If they lose to Miami or Kansas City, they don’t even have a chance.  My point is, if everyone used an asterisk next to teams like that, we wouldn’t get very far.  Give the Bills credit

 

 

For me - it’s the difference between a playoff team that’s a true championship contender vs the next tier of a half dozen teams that are separated by a funny bounce or rolled ankle. Whether you are the 6th seed or the 8th seed doesn’t drastically change my view of a team most years 

[BuckeyeBill]

10 hours ago, T&C said:

Bills "mafia" is the dumbest thing I've heard lately... I'll just stick to being a Bills fan. Mafia? lol... 

Careful that you don't get green-lit.  LOL

[BuffaloRush]

34 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

 

 

For me - it’s the difference between a playoff team that’s a true championship contender vs the next tier of a half dozen teams that are separated by a funny bounce or rolled ankle. Whether you are the 6th seed or the 8th seed doesn’t drastically change my view of a team most years 

 

Thats fine.  I will agree that the Bills were in that second tier of playoffs for sure.  But like a lot of teams there, they got a few lucky bounces there way.  That’s why I don’t buying into the “backing in” argument.   It happens to a lot of teams

[hemma]

Mayfield is too short

Zay Jones is a bust

Peterman is the worst ever and will never improve

Josh Allen is a pre-bust and will be a bust

 

Current topics,  current events.

[BuffaloRush]

38 minutes ago, SouthNYfan said:

 

Your point is you have no idea what you are talking about because the two situations are not the same.

YOU are making up your own "narrative" and trying to justify it with another situation that isn't even remotely similar.

Teams "back into the playoffs" all the time.

The chargers were a hotter team than we were, but dug too big a hole earlier in the season.

I would bet that if you asked and NFL GM about who they would have played in the wild card: 2017 "3 point, Cincinnati miracle, tyrod Taylor led" Bills or the "Joey bossa qb eating and Phil Rivers led" chargers, every single GM and coach would say they would rather have faced the bills.

 

You sound like you're WHINING about the 2017 Bills barely making the playoffs and not getting enough respect.

Maybe you should scroll up and take your own advice about whining on another board.

 

Again I think you need to read a little closer to what I wrote Mr. Southern Tier.  

[DriveFor1Outta5]

Trent Edwards career was ruined by one hit in Arizona. 

[BuckeyeBill]

The fact that Buffalo has the worst weather is overblown.  Yeah, we get snow, a lot of it.  But there are other teams that have rough weather too.  The media talks about Buffalo like it is in the Arctic Circle.

[DriveFor1Outta5]

59 minutes ago, Your Brown Eye said:

Pinto Ron is a cool guy.

 

Sorry but he's a clown with a gimmick.

That pretty much sums up every “cool” guy on the planet. 

[NoSaint]

2 minutes ago, BuffaloRush said:

 

Thats fine.  I will agree that the Bills were in that second tier of playoffs for sure.  But like a lot of teams there, they got a few lucky bounces there way.  That’s why I don’t buying into the “backing in” argument.   It happens to a lot of teams

 

It happens all the time- not just 6 seeds either. We’ve seen division champs skate in with luck or circumstance 

 

Again, why I’m saying I don’t think simply getting in is that big of an accomplishment or the 7 that much of a failure. I’d obviously rather land 6 and have a shot than 7 and be home but don’t think I change my evaluation at all based on whether cincy completes that pass

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

since it is all past related, I'll pass on subscribing to any and look forward to the future.

 

 

trust the process

[RememberTheRockpile]

"The duel threat QB is the wave of the future in the NFL".  Been hearing this one since the 60's. Still waiting for it to come true.

[Chuck Wagon]

McBeane has a grand master plan and we just need to trust them.

[mead107]

I am just a Bills fan. Go to Buffalo for the tailgating. 

Game is just a bonus.  

[SouthNYfan]

1 hour ago, BuffaloRush said:

 

Again I think you need to read a little closer to what I wrote Mr. Southern Tier.  

 

I read it three times.

 

The bills backed into the playoffs.

Their situation was nothing like the tuck rule pats.

 

1 hour ago, BuffaloRush said:

 

Thats fine.  I will agree that the Bills were in that second tier of playoffs for sure.  But like a lot of teams there, they got a few lucky bounces there way.  That’s why I don’t buying into the “backing in” argument.   It happens to a lot of teams

 

And those teams also "back into the playoffs"

[Dadonkadonk]

Darryl Talley was a grat player.  He was a B- player who played behind the greatest DE in NFL history.  He missed more tackles in SuperBowl XXL than any other player and was the second reason they lost the game.  He just was never that great and does not deserve a spot on WOF.

 

Marv Levy was a great coach. He was a very good coach but not a HOF coach. He is the number one reason they lost SuperBowl XXL. He didnt control the players during the week and let Kelly keep throwing. Thurman would have had 250 all purpose yards had he told Kelly to stop.

[SouthNYfan]

12 hours ago, BuffaloRush said:

 

 

The 2017-2018 Bills "backed into the playoffs" and were lucky to get in. 

Many teams have gotten into the playoffs and even won the Super Bowls thank to fortunate situations.  No one goes back and says "yeah the Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2001 but they were lucky because of the tuck rule."  I could rattle off countless scenarios.  Could have. Should Have. Would Have.  Get over it.  

 

 

I'll even requote your original post.

 

pretty much EVERYBODY agrees they got lucky with the tuck

[buffalobloodfloridahome]

I'm honestly sick of fill the holes and wait on a QB. We didn't load up on draft picks this year to sit tight and watch what could possibly be one of the best draft classes at QB go to waste while we have two backup QB's on the roster. Anyone who thinks Beane isn't moving up hasn't been paying attention. We are moving up deal with it and pray it is for the right guy.

[Bing Bong]

13 hours ago, BuffaloRush said:

THE AUDACITY of a member creating a thread in a message board.

100% agree with that sentiment. Everybody's getting PO'd don't realize it happens literally every off season. Plus bad threads get bumped down immediately so how does it directly affect their lives

4 hours ago, NoSaint said:

 

Simmer down

 

It was a joke because he posted his silly thread earlier this week about the topic of catching flack for starting too many threads. 

Gotcha. That's been my crusade of the week. My COTW

[Domdab99]

That Mason Rudolph should be drafted in the first round.