Bills Players-Fan Encounters Thread

[muppy]

I just had a really cool interaction with an ex Bill from the glory teams Clifford Hicks. Dude used to wear a Dr Seuss hat on the sidelines which was always memorable for me. 

 

I asked he if he still had the hat and he said "yes its in storage" And since I had mentioned I was from Batavia it ends up he works currently with a guy I went to high school with.

 

Small world:-)

 

It made me think there have got to be a lot of you whom have met or interacted with Bills players. I know I'd love to read about them.

 

Made my day!

[RoyBatty is alive]

I have had a lot.

 

Two that stand out, JP Losman and and some other Bills in San Antonio at the Marriot before the game.  JP could not have been nicer.  Also talked to Lawyer Malloy, man had an incredibly deep and resonant voice, smart man.

 

Meet Kelly twice, once in the French Quarter during Super Bowl weekend and when the Bills and EJ Manual were in Houston, the game where Manuel threw an 80 yards TD to JJ Watt, saw that play like it was in slow motion like watching a car wreck.  Both Times Kelly was incredibly gracious.

[Iiiiiiiiive Got a Feeeelin]

My cousin got to meet Stephon Gilmore and he told her "the pleasure is all yours" to which she replied "Wait who are you again?"

[That's No Moon]

Met Kelly at a promotional event at Anchor Marine. He was nice enough but I was 8 or 9 years old and he was a god at the time so I don't think it really would have mattered if he wasn't.  Also ran into Kent Hull buying long underwear for hunting at a store by Eastern Hills Mall. He was super cool. Also ran into Kevin Knox at the Boulevard Mall but I think I was the only one who recognized him and he got a little spooked once other people started paying attention. Also ran into Glenn Parker at a Sabres game.  Ran into Bill Polian at the airport one time when I was again about 8 or 9, he was nice. I know they aren't Bills but I was also on a plane with Marv Albert and Paul McGuire immediately after the Bills Dolphins game right before Christmas in 1990. We went to the game, drove straight to the airport, changed out of longjohns at the airport and got on the plane to Chicago (we were going to LA to see my aunt, I dunno where Marv and Paul were going)

Edited July 21, 2021 by That's No Moon

[Brennan Huff]

37 minutes ago, That's No Moon said:

Met Kelly at a promotional event at Anchor Marine. He was nice enough but I was 8 or 9 years old and he was a god at the time so I don't think it really would have mattered if he wasn't.  Also ran into Kent Hull buying long underwear for hunting at a store by Eastern Hills Mall. He was super cool. Also ran into Kevin Knox at the Boulevard Mall but I think I was the only one who recognized him and he got a little spooked once other people started paying attention. Also ran into Glenn Parker at a Sabres game.  Ran into Bill Polian at the airport one time when I was again about 8 or 9, he was nice. I know they aren't Bills but I was also on a plane with Marv Albert and Paul McGuire immediately after the Bills Dolphins game right before Christmas in 1990. We went to the game, drove straight to the airport, changed out of longjohns at the airport and got on the plane to Chicago (we were going to LA to see my aunt, I dunno where Marv and Paul were going)

Paul McGuire is a former Bill

[Mr. WEO]

Sammy Watkins once told me to continue working my little job for the rest of my life.

 

I thanked him.

[RiotAct]

Met Thurman Thomas, Jim Kelly and Darryl Talley at the United Way Day of Caring in August 2019.  All three were incredibly gracious.  

 

Thurman was posing for pictures with anyone who wanted them inside Key Bank Center while everyone gathered to be bussed off to their volunteer location…. and Jim and Darryl came to our location (African American Cultural Center in Buffalo) later that morning and thanked us all, then went inside to talk to the kids (there was a summer school program going on there; I think)

[Dablitzkrieg]

Billy Brooks in the gift shop at the Sheraton in Buffalo the night before a home game against GB.  He wished me a happy Thanksgiving.   Nice guy

[JÂy RÛßeÒ]

At a bar the night before the last game we played in New Orleans, I turned to my right and standing there was Leonard Smith.  I drunkenly yelled in his face "YOU'RE LEONARD FU(#ING SMITH!" to which he smiled and quietly replied "No, I'm just Leonard Smith" and then walked away.

Edited July 21, 2021 by JÂy RÛßeÒ

[thenorthremembers]

Met a few.  My Father took me to the Thurman Thomas show they use to have at one of the local malls.   The guests were Keith McKeller, and JD Williams.  They signed autographs after the show, I reached out to shake McKeller's hand while he signed, but he was too busy talking to the two blondes behind me.  I was probably 8 years old at the time. 

 

My son goes to Kelly's Football Camp, so I've met Jim a few times.   Seems like a good guy, is always the first to say Hi and engage in conversation.   Losman, Cardale Williams, and Eric Striker at training camps.  Striker told me it was good I brought my son because he wouldnt have signed for me.  Wasnt completely sure what he meant as I wasnt exactly seeking out Eric Striker for an autograph.

 

Had the opportunity to meet with Marv for a few minutes as he was doing a signing at a book store I worked at during college.  Came across as a super genuine and intellectual guy, just as he does in interviews.

 

The most vivid recollection of meeting a Bills player/executive was when I worked at the same bookstore in the early 2000's.  Nearing the end of the night around Christmas Tom Donahoe walked in and I cant tell you how absolutely defeated the guy looked.     Looked like he was carrying 1000 pound Gorilla under his trench.  Told him I was a big fan of the team, just kind of nodded and walked out.  

[4_kidd_4]

Nicest guy, Gibran Hamdan.

 

Biggest prick, Thurman Thomas.

 

From my personal encounters.

[Buffalo Boy]

    I moved to Charlotte in 98. My first job was managing an IHOP in Matthews.

    I was on the register up front when in walks Pete Metzelaars. Unmistakable!!! He had four young boys with him who he was doing some kind of charity/ big brother sort of event with. 
   I introduced myself and thanked him for all the great memories. He was super gracious and down to earth.

Edited July 21, 2021 by Buffalo Boy

[SoCal Deek]

I’ve told this story before:

 

My wife and I were standing in front of Buckingham Palace the weekend before the Bills game in London. Some guy is fumbling with his camera trying to take a photo of his wife and daughter. I ask if he wants me to get all three in the photo. He turns around and it’s Jim Kelly. I took the photo, and thanked him for all the memories. He was super thankful and just like any tourist would he said ‘thanks man, I’m never in the family pictures’! 

[stevewin]

After a Bills game, just after Thurman Thomas was announced for Hall of Fame, I am walking to my gate at the airport and the area was mostly deserted (might have actually been the next day) and Thurman is walking all by himself from the other direction.  I shook his hand and congratulated him on the HOF and he was very nice.

 

My son has actually gotten selfies and  been on flights after games on separate occasions with both Croom and Shaq Lawson - in each case there was some issue they were going home for right after the game.  He also got a selfie with (retired) Fred Jackson in the airport after a game.

 

Also - my son went to UNCW and one day he was in class and one of his friends who knew he was a Bills fan said 'Brandon Beane is here today' (UNCW is Beane's alma mater) and told him the building where he just saw him.  After class my son booked over to the building and literally was just wandering around halls looking for Beane and he found him!  My son was wearing a Bills hat that he always wore - and he said when Beane saw him he just lit up - he LOVED seeing a random Bills fan far outside Buffalo - seemed genuinely happy to see a fan and interact.  He was there with his family and was super nice (think this was within a year of him getting job - he might have been there to accept an alumni award).

 

Years and years ago I spent a night drinking w/ Matt Kofler - he was married at the time to a girl I went to HS with.  I remember trying to be cool and not ask too many Bills questions - but it's also not like there were "glory days" stories to tell from his era .. He seemed a nice guy (RIP)

 

I've told this story before:  Years ago I went to Jimmy V charity golf tournament which was right next to where I lived, and James Lofton was in one of the groups.  Things were winding down, and as I was headed out I saw Lofton on a tee.  For some reason I got the great idea I was going to run home and get a camera (oh the days before cell phones) and get a picture with him.  I soon realized the distance was longer than I estimated, and I was not quite in the shape I thought I was.  By the time I got back I was dying - could hardly breathe and sweating my a$$ off.  I stumbled toward Lofton and will never forget the look on his face when he saw this heaving, sweaty, crazy-looking person approaching.  Barely able to breathe I blurted out "JamesisawyoucatchalotofballsatrichstadiumthoseweregreatdaysGoBiils!canigetapicture" and he accomodated me as one might accomodate an insane person while fearing for their life.  He showed a lot of poise in that situation 😛 

Edited July 21, 2021 by stevewin

[Draconator]

Working at Waterbeds and Stuff, players from the late 80's and 90's would come in all the time. Nate Odoms especially would come in after practice and hang out. They had an event at the Marriott on Millersport that they sponsored. Bruce, Thurman, Bennett, Tasker, Reed, all of them except for Kelly were there. In a football toss I got 2 out of 3 through the tire, and won a pair of RayBan sunglasses. I'm sitting at a booth with a girl who worked with me, her friend, and Thurman (who was seriously going after my co-workers friend). I got up to get drinks for the table, come back, and Thurman is wearing the RayBans. I said "Thurman, give me back my glasses" to which Thurman said, "they were your glasses". He was a rookie at that time so it was easy to forgive him. 

[Tenhigh]

1 hour ago, 4_kidd_4 said:

Nicest guy, Gibran Hamdan.

 

Biggest prick, Thurman Thomas.

 

From my personal encounters.

Biggest guy, Cordy Glenn.

Nicest, oh, nevermind. 

[Draconator]

Oh, Ruben Brown hit on my wife before she was my wife.

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

3 hours ago, Muppy said:

I just had a really cool interaction with an ex Bill from the glory teams Clifford Hicks. Dude used to wear a Dr Seuss hat on the sidelines which was always memorable for me. 

 

I asked he if he still had the hat and he said "yes its in storage" And since I had mentioned I was from Batavia it ends up he works currently with a guy I went to high school with.

 

Small world:-)

 

It made me think there have got to be a lot of you whom have met or interacted with Bills players. I know I'd love to read about them.

 

Made my day!

I got a hat signed my Joique Bell and I truly thought they would keep him on the roster because of his awesome preseason performances. Then the Lions picked him up and he became a pretty decent change of pace RB.

[BigAl2526]

The only significant encounter I've had is with Steve Tasker.  He and I were both delegates to a conference I attended.  I sat next to him at a dinner table with about five other people at the table.  This was well after his playing days.

[H2o]

Ran into Percy Harvin after he retired down in VA Beach at a gas station. It was just a quick what's up, you coming back out of retirement, talked Bills for a minute, and then he was on his way. 

[CommonCents]

I ran into Vontae Davis, I couldn’t get a good read on his personality as he left halfway through the conversation. 

[loveorhatembillsfan4life]

I was playing golf at the Copper Head golf course at Innisbrook  (Tampa) with my Dad. It’s a great resort for families and after the round we hit up one of the bar lounges on site. I just happened to notice Andre Reeed sitting at a table with a couple guys.

This never happens to me so we went over and introduced ourselves as being bills fans and congratulating him on his recent induction into the Hall of Fame. He was really cool about it. 

 

I kind of regret not getting a pic but it was a cool experience none the less.

 

 

[Mark Vader]

Most of the Bills players that I have met over the years were very cool and unassuming. I never had real conversations with them, these were mostly meeting up with them and getting autographs.

 

Terrence McGee was such a down-to-Earth person. Very nice and just seemed like an ordinary guy. Seeing him in person you would not believe that he was an NFL player, that guy was short.

 

Takeo Spikes & London Fletcher were fantastic. Great attitudes, they were like regular guys.

 

Drew Bledsoe was a very nice guy too. He is one big guy.

 

Fred Jackson, Josh Reed & Lee Evans all super cool.

[NoHuddleKelly12]

At the Bills/Panthers scrimmage in 2019 I remember Reid Ferguson signing patiently long after all other players had left the rope lines—seemed like a really chill dude. But the highlight was Beane—he stayed just as long until everyone who wanted one got his autograph, and posed for selfies. When it was my turn I told him it was super cool to have the Bills that far South so fans like me who live half a country away can interact with the team, and he was very gracious and talked about how glad he was it’d worked out, etc. 

[machine gun kelly]

When I was in HS I used to deliver pizza for Blasdell Pizzeria, so I would constantly deliver to the McKinley Park Inn during the SB years.  Biggest man I ever met was House Ballard.  I remember bringing him a sheet pizza, and asked him if anyone else was there, and he said “no, it’s just for me”.  Yes sir.  I met a lot of those guys back then and after.

 

I have a pick from a few years ago of my son who found Stevie Johnson at Hammers lot and still have a pic of the two.  The one that was significant to me of all people was Pete Metzelaars when I was little at the Blasdell convenient store. He was the tallest man I ever saw at that point in life as a grade schooler.  
 

When you grow up in the Hamburg/Blasdell area, you can’t help but bump into these guys.

[muppy]

the chance of running into players clearly is easier in WNY vicinity unfortunately I've not been a local since 1978. But Andre Reed is a known san diego local and has been known to hang at the billsbacker bar in pacific beach on occasion. The word I got was he was flocked with beautiful socal hotties and Loving the attention LOL 

[That's No Moon]

7 hours ago, Brennan Huff said:

Paul McGuire is a former Bill

I know that, but that's not the context in which I saw him so I didn't count it that way. I also met Ed Rutkowski but not as a Bill.

[NoHuddleKelly12]

It would be remiss of us here at TBD to leave off Levi Wallace, who gave out his real # during the onset of Covid and spoke/texted words of encouragement with a lot of us on here, myself included. Genuinely good dude right there. 

[Tenhigh]

Anybody bump into Gabe Northern at Hammers?  I did once and he was wasted. Like Bills Fan wasted.

[Brennan Huff]

41 minutes ago, Tenhigh said:

Anybody bump into Gabe Northern at Hammers?  I did once and he was wasted. Like Bills Fan wasted.

Hes one of my all time favorites and that makes me happy

Edited July 22, 2021 by Brennan Huff

[BillsFan619]

12 hours ago, Muppy said:

I just had a really cool interaction with an ex Bill from the glory teams Clifford Hicks. Dude used to wear a Dr Seuss hat on the sidelines which was always memorable for me. 

 

I asked he if he still had the hat and he said "yes its in storage" And since I had mentioned I was from Batavia it ends up he works currently with a guy I went to high school with.

 

Small world:-)

 

It made me think there have got to be a lot of you whom have met or interacted with Bills players. I know I'd love to read about them.

 

Made my day!

Love the stories. Great topic, OP!

 

My friend gave me two suite tickets for the Toronto series game against the Falcons. Me and my cousin go to the game. I’m the only fan (if I recall correctly) that had a JK jersey on in the suite.

 

Mind you the odds since there was the capability to have 40,000 to 50,000 fans in the stadium. In walks JK into the suite and he sits right next to me for a little bit. We took a couple pics and he signed my jersey.

 

The Toronto series was an awful idea (we were only 1-5 for the series and lost that game in OT, 34-31). That said, I’m thankful for the Kelly memory. I still have the jersey.

 

Go Bills!

Edited July 22, 2021 by BillsFan619

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

1987 training camp. I was 9 years old. Me and some other kid were waiting for Scott Norwood to give us his autograph. He said he only had time for one more and signed the other kid’s paper. It was only the two of us standing there!! He couldn’t take 10

more Seconds to sign for me too!?   

[BruceVilanch]

Met Jairus Byrd in Eugene Oregon while he still played for U of O before he was a Bill, we had drinks at a party we were both at, seemed like a cool dude.

[Metal Man]

Used to play Halo on Xbox with a handful of Bills.

 

Xbox had a promotion where you could game with McGahee one night so I added his gamertag to my friends list. I couldn't get in that night but he continued to use it because I saw him online a month or so later and joined his game. Once there I saw a Law36 and Jburns gamertag in the game as well. I assume there were some other Bills or NFL players in the game too as most of the people playing seemed to know each other and were constantly talking smack back and forth but they didn't have obvious gamertags. Milloy must have added me to his friends list after that night because I would get invites to his Halo games all the time after that and played with that crew a bunch of other nights.

 

Milloy was decent but most of the other guys weren't great. Definitely the only time in my life I could say I was able to compete with NFL players and win most of the time. 😁

[Tenhigh]

7 hours ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

1987 training camp. I was 9 years old. Me and some other kid were waiting for Scott Norwood to give us his autograph. He said he only had time for one more and signed the other kid’s paper. It was only the two of us standing there!! He couldn’t take 10

more Seconds to sign for me too!?   

 

Is that when you gave him the Gypsy curse? 

 

"One day, your whole life will be ruined because of ONE missed field goal!  And it won't even be a chip shot!"

[Juice_32]

19 hours ago, Iiiiiiiiive Got a Feeeelin said:

My cousin got to meet Stephon Gilmore and he told her "the pleasure is all yours" to which she replied "Wait who are you again?"

I “met” Gilmore at a Charlotte Hornets game. I said “go bills, have a great year man” and he stared at me with a very confused look on his face and turned around.

[muppy]

6 hours ago, BruceVilanch said:

Met Jairus Byrd in Eugene Oregon while he still played for U of O before he was a Bill, we had drinks at a party we were both at, seemed like a cool dude.

his father  ex Chargers cornerback Gil Byrd I met at a movie theater in the popcorn line for I THINK it was The Lion King, my impression was dang this man is SOLID I mean built like a brick outhouse. Devout Christian man. Spoke to me kindly

[Canadian Bills Fan]

I crashed Jim Kelly's tailgate party outside the Bills stadium one year. Not really crashing it as you could just easily walk up. He was drunk I think because when I asked him to sign my hat, he said no you are wearing a #13 jersey (SJ at the time) he then said he was only kidding and gave me his drink to hold which smelled very strong lol My dad then asked him if he could sign his hat and he said no you're not wearing a Kelly jersey. My dad said ok and turned to walk away and Jim yelled "I'm just kidding old man get over here!" it was funny.

 

He posed for a picture with my father and I and then asked who we were with and I said no one and he politely said that we would need to leave and we cant be there. Thurman was there too and he signed my hat as well and he was very nice. Just standing by himself drinking a beer.

 

The next year, I brought the framed picture to a game hoping to get it signed but wouldn't you know, his tailgate party was moved to a more secure location that wasnt accessible from the stadium parking lot.

 

Biggest prick: Bledsoe. My brother who was 10 at the time waited for him after training camp and caught him as he was walking to his car and asked him for his autograph and he stared down my brother and just kept walking.

 

Brian Moorman was awesome too, I was at the tunnel before a game getting players to sign my helmet and when I asked him he said he had to go warm up and he would get me after the game. He got to the 50 yard line on the far side and I see him turn around and run back to me and said "I just realized these probably arent your seats and you wont be here after the game" and he signed my helmet. 

 

2 years ago I went to the tunnel and asked Coach McDermott if I could get a pic with him as he walked back towards the dressing room before a game. He smiled and said "I would love to but I have to go work" Made me love him even more.

 

Same game at the tunnel I saw Beane walking by the goalposts and I yelled ":Hey Brandon" he turned and looked at me and I yelled "you're my hero!" he chuckled, smiled, and waved and kept walking.

[muppy]

These posts are  giving muppy much joy and smiles  Thanks for sharing these stories. It almost feels like a tailgate hanging around shooting the chit :-)))) . #billsmafia

[shrader]

I used to caddy at Crag Burn back in high school.  It was first come, first serve, whichever caddy showed up first was assigned to the first player who asked for one.  One day, this other kid and I showed up at the same time.  I let him sign up first.  It wasn't a very busy day.  After waiting a bit the other kid finally got someone... Steve Tasker and BIll Polian.  I didn't get anyone that day.