Jump to content

Who Is The Most Obscure Bills Player/Coach You Remember Meeting?


Recommended Posts

I do not remember his name, but he is the Grandfather of my son's friend from years ago. Fullback, early sixties. Fred, I think. 

 

I met him once when dropping my son off at their house. I was better acquainted with his wife, as I was a single dad, and she was a grandma raising her grandkids. We were just around the corner from each other. Still just a half mile away now. She and I actually got kinda schnokkered on white Russians once. She gave me a pair of ol' Fred's snow boots, which I still have.

 

 

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, BUFFALOKIE said:

I do not remember his name, but he is the Grandfather of my son's friend from years ago. Fullback, early sixties. Fred, I think. 

 

I met him once when dropping my son off at their house. I was better acquainted with his wife, as I was a single dad, and she was a grandma raising her grandkids. We were just around the corner from each other. Still just a half mile away now. She and I actually got kinda schnokkered on white Russians once. She gave me a pair of ol' Fred's snow boots, which I still have.

 

 

We need to hear more about you and the grandma.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Shaw66 said:

We need to hear more about you and the grandma.

She freakin loved me! Of course, most old ladies have always loved me! I have a certain southern charm, and I truly love old folks too. My grandma, bless her heart, still pines for my conversation every day. My  six other (younger) cousins, all rib me about being granny's favorite. Nothing wrong with making lil ol ladies happy!!!

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Outside the stadium at Super Bowl XXVII Petrino & I met former Bill Brent Griffith who was on the 1990 AFC champ Bills & got a ring for it.  We took a photo with him among the many photos we took that day.  

Eventually that AFC championship ring got him in a lot of trouble.  He once claimed the ring was stolen & cashed a check from his insurance company.  After he & his wife split up, his ex ratted him out to the authorities telling them he still had the ring.  https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/4339199-ex-professional-football-player-sentenced-insurance-fraud-west-central-minnesota

A former professional football player recently pleaded guilty in Swift County District Court to felony insurance fraud involving a championship ring he had allegedly reported as stolen.
Brent Dwayne Griffith, 51, of Sartell, formerly of Benson, was sentenced to serve two days in the Swift County Jail, followed by five years of unsupervised probation. He also was ordered by Judge Rodney Hanson to pay $4,805 in restitution to the Swift County court administration, plus fines and fees totaling $590.
The judge granted him a stay of adjudication, meaning no conviction will appear on his record if he successfully completes all the terms of his sentence.
According to the criminal complaint, Griffith filed an insurance claim in 2013, alleging the theft of an AFC title ring. The ring, which he won in 1990 while playing a season as an offensive lineman with the Buffalo Bills, was covered under his homeowner's policy.
The following year, after he and his then-wife had split up, his wife notified the insurer that he in fact still had the ring and that he had cashed a check for a $4,780 insurance settlement without her knowledge. At that point the case was turned over to the Minnesota Commerce Fraud Bureau for investigation, resulting in the filing of a criminal charge of insurance fraud this past summer.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Jauronimo said:

Our only Pro Bowler years 2001-2012 and perennial leader in yardage is hardly obscure.  Moorman was a f@#4ing star!!

 

He was not just a punter but a terrific athlete.  Not only that he did a lot for children in WNY.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My most obscure coach (and most embarrassing moment) was meeting John Ray. He was a defensive coach back in the mid 70s under Saban. He was at a diner with a Bill's shirt on. I met up with him in the bathroom and I asked him if he was a big fan of the team...he said yes with a big grin. We chatted for a minute. I saw him a few weeks later at Niagara University coaching the defense. Yeah... I felt like like an idiot not knowing who he was.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not obscure to us older folks, but for most of the younger guys and gals it would be. I met Billy Shaw in Atlanta’s airport late one night. I had a Bills hat on, and I was sitting in the concourse reading when someone tapped me me on the shoulder and asked How long I had been a Bills fan. We talked for almost an hour. He was wearing his HOF ring. Very nice gentleman. 

  • Awesome! (+1) 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went to bills/Panthers game around 10 years ago. Was going down the elevator with Dick Jaron about 6 AM on my way to golf before the game. He was such a gentleman. Had a great talk. Too bad he sucked at coaching. Bills won that day though ?

Went to bills/Panthers game around 10 years ago. Was going down the elevator with Dick Jaron about 6 AM on my way to golf before the game. He was such a gentleman. Had a great talk. Too bad he sucked at coaching. Bills won that day though ?

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, T master said:

I didn't meet him but i saw Jim Hassett at a function once up near Buffalo & he was a different kind of dude !! Loved to party ... Which if i remember correctly led to a altercation that evening .

assuming you meant Hasslett?

 

I met him too; back in 2011 at Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern in Herndon, VA.

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Scott Radecic at some HS event

Watched SB 38 with Drew Bledsoe

A former Dean of Coe College is one of my patients and he knows Marv really well.  He was there when they named a street after him.  I've known this guy for years.  Then in Dec 2017, I was having dinner at Russell's and who do I see dining alone - Marv.  I asked him about my patient the former Dean and we struck up a conversation and never once mentioned football. 

Edited by Ethan in Portland
  • Like (+1) 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have moonlighted as a high-end server (waiter) for a long time. In Orlando I often interacted with golf and baseball legends. In Dallas I dealt with NBA players all the time (as we were across the street from the hotel visiting teams used). In Buffalo for the past seven years I've had some consistent and incredible access to Bills and Sabres personnel up and down the orgs. 

 

A bit off-topic, but in Dallas in the leadup to George Strait's mega-concert to open Jerry World, I had a fifteen-top that included Jason Garrett, Jay Cutler, Kerry Collins, and someone else notable I'm forgetting. Garrett point-blank asked Collins what he thought of Vince Young (they played together on the Titans at the time). Collins gave an interesting but diplomatic answer: "he's an every-now-and-then guy. Every now and then, he'll do something that makes you go "whoa."" 

  • Like (+1) 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jason Bostic at the Outback Steakhouse bar in Blasdell waiting for a table after the 2002 season opener where we lost to the Jets in OT.  Had no clue who he was until he introduced himself after we chit chatted about the game on tv.  I wished him good luck for the rest of the year and he was a nice enough guy.  Just a weird encounter.

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I met a bunch of AFL guys when I was a kid.   The team had a basketball team in the off-season that played charity games, and my dad always reffed the one at Cardinal O'Hara.  So I'd hang out in the locker room with guys like Lamonica, Al Bemiller, Stew Barber, Paul Costa, Butch Byrd, Ernie Warlick. All great guys.

  • Like (+1) 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

Roger Kochman wasn't exactly obscure, because he made a splash for a couple of games before he destroyed his knee.   I met him after the injury.  

I remember that!

 

 

 

Not sure this meets the criteria, but I met Scott Norwoods college room mate and close friend at an Atlanta Airport Bar and talked for about an hour; Doctor Phil stuff! Interesting to say the least!

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 hours ago, Florida Bills Fanatic said:

Monte Ledbetter, Tom Day, Charlie Ferguson, and Wayne Patrick are some that I have met over the years.  All were great guys.

He lived down the street from me growing up. Don’t remember much about him other than people would point him or his house out.

 

Bobby Shaw at target, Ron brooks at target, Chris Watson also at target, grant irons. I don’t remember where but probably target. Brandon Spoon at the convention center.

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 hours ago, JimS said:

Scott Virkus. I played softball with him one Summer. Could hit the ball a ton every time.

I played softball with Scott for a couple years in the 50+ at Winton-Empire. Anything over the fence was an out. Very frustrating for him.

  • Like (+1) 2
  • Haha (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Not at the table Karlos said:

Bobby Shaw at target, Ron brooks at target, Chris Watson also at target, grant irons. I don’t remember where but probably target. Brandon Spoon at the convention center.

Here I am, trying to figure out if ‘target’ is some sort of code for ‘WR’...:doh:

*

?

*

?

  • Like (+1) 1
  • Haha (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have had a couple of encounters.   Got to know Charlie Fergeson as we worked for the same employer for a couple of decades and ran into each other at the golf dome after that.  Good guy for sure.

 

My other encounter was unusual.....I used to fly to Detroit on business regularily....this was late 70's I think, and we flew American Airlines direct in those days.  One day I got on behind a guy also on his way to Detroit on a business trip.....it was Chuck Knox...heading out meet w Ralph Wilson.  I think some of his staff were there also, but I didn't meet them.  Anyhow, Chuck was intense and clearly in charge of the group.  He was Head Coach for 5 years, but never got us to the playoffs I recall so he was ultimately fired.  He was the one who used to call out of town games  "business trips"....and he was all business from what I saw that day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, bigK14094 said:

I have had a couple of encounters.   Got to know Charlie Fergeson as we worked for the same employer for a couple of decades and ran into each other at the golf dome after that.  Good guy for sure.

 

My other encounter was unusual.....I used to fly to Detroit on business regularily....this was late 70's I think, and we flew American Airlines direct in those days.  One day I got on behind a guy also on his way to Detroit on a business trip.....it was Chuck Knox...heading out meet w Ralph Wilson.  I think some of his staff were there also, but I didn't meet them.  Anyhow, Chuck was intense and clearly in charge of the group.  He was Head Coach for 5 years, but never got us to the playoffs I recall so he was ultimately fired.  He was the one who used to call out of town games  "business trips"....and he was all business from what I saw that day.

Knox got them to playoffs in 80 and 81. If not for an injured Ferguson in 1980 they had a great chance to play in SuperBowl. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 hours ago, mrags said:

I met Brian Moorman more than once. One time at at bar with Lee Evans as well. I bought drinks for Lee and Brian. Lee was incredible. Such an awesome dude. Despite what many think and many people want to believe, Brian Moorman was one of the biggest C@(KBAGS I’ve ever met. I mean, dude, your the punter.  

Met and got a picture with Moorman at a tailgate that I randomly stopped into while walking into the home opener last year. He seemed like a decent dude to me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

30 minutes ago, bigK14094 said:

I have had a couple of encounters.   Got to know Charlie Fergeson as we worked for the same employer for a couple of decades and ran into each other at the golf dome after that.  Good guy for sure.

 

My other encounter was unusual.....I used to fly to Detroit on business regularily....this was late 70's I think, and we flew American Airlines direct in those days.  One day I got on behind a guy also on his way to Detroit on a business trip.....it was Chuck Knox...heading out meet w Ralph Wilson.  I think some of his staff were there also, but I didn't meet them.  Anyhow, Chuck was intense and clearly in charge of the group.  He was Head Coach for 5 years, but never got us to the playoffs I recall so he was ultimately fired.  He was the one who used to call out of town games  "business trips"....and he was all business from what I saw that day.

Bills made playoffs  in 1980 and 1981 with knox at the helm

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I forgot about another obscure player encounter. My cousins husband is best friends with former Bills backup QB Rick Strom. The year that he made the Bills he borrowed some extra furniture from my parents. I happened to be visiting my parents house one day and the doorbell rang, it was Rick dropping off tickets to the Monday night game against the Broncos when both teams wore their throwback uniforms. I'm guessing like 94 or 95. We watched that game sitting in the seats among the players' families. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Played basketball at Mark Pike's dad's church gym. Nice guy - he got Mark to sign a couple hats for my dad and me.

 

Also ran into Joe Ferguson in the airport, probably ~1980 (during the off-season).

He was sitting by himself trying to get some shut-eye with his legs stretched out wearing cowboy boots and a cowboy hat pulled down over half of his face.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

mine would be john fina. super nice guy.  his aunt ran the administrative office where i went to high school, and she went to church with my mom.  i have an odd amount of john fina signed paraphernalia.

 

i first met him at a saturday walk through practice.  few things i remember...bruce wasn't practicing.  he was just standing on this sidelines joking around wearing a big fur coat.  steve christie was also there, and if i'm not mistaken, it was his first year with the team.  he was so excited and gracious to give out autographs.

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...