Chance encounters with current/former Bill players. Did it change your opinion of them?

[Big Turk]

I have not had any of these since I was a teenager but I went to Jim Kelly's football camp and talked to Jim a few times when I was there and he seemed like a pretty cool guy...the kind of guy you'd like to sit down and have a beer with and talk football(looking back on it, not then obviously, I was awe struck as it was during the SB years).  Also got a chance to meet and talk with Andre Reed, Mark Kelso, Warren Moon, an Marino and a few others I can't remember that Jim had at his camps over the 2 years I went.

 

Have a buddy who lives down the street from Jake Kumerow and said he sees him walking his dog a lot(not recently I am sure), but never really had any interaction with him.  

 

Always curious as to hear stories about any interactions with current or former Bill players that you had and what that was like.  I am NOT talking at places like training camp when they wouldn't sign an autograph or something like that...more interested in the stories you have when you have interacted with them "in the real world" away from the football field.  

 

What were they like and did your interaction change your opinion of them?  I know eating dinner at a restaurant is probably going to be a common one, not sure if that might be the best measuring stick for what they are like towards fans tho.

Edited October 6, 2022 by Big Turk

[Beast]

I ran into Travis Henry at Family Court.

[jayg]

Jim Kelly in Richmond,  VA in 1991.  Let's just say he wasn't very nice and I'll leave it that.

[Draconator]

One time at a church concert I saw Don Beebe and Steve Tasker when they played. I told them both what Art Wander had said, draft Phillip Bobo so we would have a receiver duo of Beebe and Bobo. Beebe laughed. Tasker said he would tell Marv. 

 

A bunch of players went to a Waterbeds and Stuff fundraiser during a Monday Night Football game. Thurman, Bruce, Talley, Reed, etc. Thurman was a rookie and I was sitting at a booth with him. During a halftime contest I won a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses. I went back to the booth, and I got some drinks for those at the booth. I came back and Thurman is wearing the Ray Bans. I said "Thurman, give me back my glasses". Thurman goes, "They were your glasses". No harm, no foul. 

 

There have been other small encounters. All good. 

[NewEra]

Yes.  I used to run the front door @ the Ghostbar at The Palms in LV.  Our boy JP came into the club a few times.  Nicest guy ever.  Well, maybe not ever, but he seemed genuine and always offered me tickets to games, in which I never took advantage of.  I’d go up and have a beer with him and Mike Gandy-  both drank Bud Light.  No wonder they sucked.  Both nice guys and made it hard for me to hate JPs play on the field.  
 

Working @ the Wynn Cabanas, Donte Whitner came in with his friends.  Smoking blunts and smuggling in bottles of Hennessy. Meanwhile, in the cabana next to him, Larry Fitzgerald and his friends.  Sipping on watermelon juice eating fruit.  Donte was a prick.  Didn’t surprise me.
 

Eric Wood and Andy Levitre came to the Wynn pool every offseason.  Both great guys.  Didn’t change my opinion of them.  
 

Nate Clements had a cabana with us the year after he joined the Niners- he and his wife and baby were both super nice. 
 

Edited October 6, 2022 by NewEra
Edit- when I was 10, I saw Bruce Smith at BJs in Fredonia. I went up to him and challenged him to a game of centipede. I beat Bruce. Then I whooped Byron Franklin 3 times in a row.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Watched SuperBowl XXXVIII -Patriots - Panthers with Drew Bledsoe at a mutual friend's house. He was super nice. We talked some football strategy and also cars and wine. This was before he started his Doubleback winery. 

[BillsShredder83]

8 minutes ago, Beast said:

I ran into Travis Henry at Family Court.

The man likes his woman the way he sold his drugs... raw

[Royale with Cheese]

Nate Odomes promised me an autograph 3 different times and never gave me one.

 

I was at the hotel where the Bills were staying at for Super Bowl 28.  I got several autographs including OJ and Ralph Wilson.

 

I saw Nate Odomes standing by the elevator and I walked up to him....I was 12.  I asked him for an autograph and he told me he's got to run up to his room and get something...he will be back down and then sign my card.

 

I was a persistent kid so I waited.  He came back down about 10 minutes later and as he walked out of the elevator.  I asked again and he said he's got to run outside real quick and he will be back in.  

 

I waited again.  About 2-3 minutes later, he walks back into the lobby and heads towards the elevator.  This time he's got a white guy with him who had long hair.  I asked him for the 3rd time and he pretended like he didn't hear or see me.  I didn't know who that white hippie looking guy was but I now I'm pretty sure he was buying weed from him lol.  Nate rejected me 3 times.

[JohnNord]

Yes, I’ve met several at event, training camp at Fisher, and autograph shows but also a few random public encounters.  
 

Back in the day I ran into Gabe Northern at Eastern Hills Mall.  He was freaking huge and stood out like a sore thumb.  He also had a pretty nice looking leather jacket.  I immediately recognized him and he chatted for a few minutes.   Very cool guy that didn’t seem to be bothered that he was recognized.

I also got to talk to Dick Jauron at a special Training Camp VIP reception  at Fisher.  I was not happy with him as coach at the time but he couldn’t have been a nicer and more personable guy.  After leaving the event that day I remember feeling pretty good about the direction of the Bills….little did I know!  

 

Edited October 6, 2022 by JohnNord

[Process]

6 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Yes.  I used to run the front door @ the Ghostbar at The Palms in LV.  Our boy JP came into the club a few times.  Nicest guy ever.  Well, maybe not ever, but he seemed genuine and always offered me tickets to games, in which I never took advantage of.  I’d go up and have a beer with him and Mike Gandy-  both drank Bud Light.  No wonder they sucked.  Both nice guys and made it hard for me to hate JPs play on the field.  
 

Working @ the Wynn Cabanas, Donte Whitner came in with his friends.  Smoking blunts and smuggling in bottles of Hennessy. Meanwhile, in the cabana next to him, Larry Fitzgerald and his friends.  Sipping on watermelon juice eating fruit.  Donte was a prick.  Didn’t surprise me.
 

Eric Wood and Andy Levitre came to the Wynn pool every offseason.  Both great guys.  Didn’t change my opinion of them.  
 

Nate Clements had a cabana with us the year after he joined the Niners- he and his wife and baby were both super nice. 
 

Funny....in college I valet parked cars at a spot bills players would go to all the time. Donte whitner's car always smelled like weed.

 

Ryan Fitzpatrick tipped one dollar, cheap ***. Still love him. 

 

One time Roscoe Parrish left the Bills playbook right there in the passenger seat. A huge binder. I didn't look at it. 

[teef]

20 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

I have not had any of these since I was a teenager but I went to Jim Kelly's football camp and talked to Jim a few times when I was there and he seemed like a pretty cool guy...the kind of guy you'd like to sit down and have a beer with and talk football(looking back on it, not then obviously, I was awe struck as it was during the SB years).  Also got a chance to meet and talk with Andre Reed, Mark Kelso, Warren Moon, an Marino and a few others I can't remember that Jim had at his camps over the 2 years I went.

 

Have a buddy who lives down the street from Jake Kumerow and said he sees him walking his dog a lot(not recently I am sure), but never really had any interaction with him.  

 

Always curious as to hear stories about any interactions with current or former Bill players that you had and what that was like.  I am NOT talking at places like training camp when they wouldn't sign an autograph or something like that...more interested in the stories you have when you have interacted with them "in the real world" away from the football field.  

 

What were they like and did your interaction change your opinion of them?  I know eating dinner at a restaurant is probably going to be a common one, not sure if that might be the best measuring stick for what they are like towards fans tho.

I think we were at the camp at the same time!  i was there the year they brought warren moon in, (i'm guessing between 97-99).  Everyone was very nice, but i remember thurman thomas being the least pleasant out of the group.  almost off-ish to the kids.

 

i've met john fina a number of times.  incredibly nice.  my mom and his aunt went to church together, and the aunt was the head secretary at my high school.

i met steve christie in his rookie year, and he was just happy to have someone interested in him.  Saw ruben brown at the mall...said hi and was very nice back.  i've also meet flutie on a number of occasions while in college, and he was super friendly and engaging.  

[JohnNord]

12 minutes ago, jayg said:

Jim Kelly in Richmond,  VA in 1991.  Let's just say he wasn't very nice and I'll leave it that.

Why even bother with posts like this?  Either share your story or don’t 

1 minute ago, teef said:

I think we were at the camp at the same time!  i was there the year they brought warren moon in, (i'm guessing between 97-99).  Everyone was very nice, but i remember thurman thomas being the least pleasant out of the group.  almost off-ish to the kids.

 

i've met john fina a number of times.  incredibly nice.  my mom and his aunt went to church together, and the aunt was the head secretary at my high school.

i met steve christie in his rookie year, and he was just happy to have someone interested in him.  Saw ruben brown at the mall...said hi and was very nice back.  i've also meet flutie on a number of occasions while in college, and he was super friendly and engaging.  

How was Jim Kelly’s camp?  Was it actually helpful for you as a player or more of a chance to rub elbows with NFL stars?

[Starr Almighty]

I met Drew Bledsoe at the Sundowner #TrueStory

 

I've met others but this is my favorite one to tell people.

[GunnerBill]

Not a player but had the pleasure to meet Wade Phillips at an NFLUK event on draft night when we ended up trading up and taking Sammy. I asked him who he thought the Bills should take at #9 (think that is right) and I remember he was super high on Anthony Barr. Despite that (I thought Barr was meh) he was a great guy. 

[DCofNC]

10 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Yes.  I used to run the front door @ the Ghostbar at The Palms in LV.  Our boy JP came into the club a few times.  Nicest guy ever.  Well, maybe not ever, but he seemed genuine and always offered me tickets to games, in which I never took advantage of.  I’d go up and have a beer with him and Mike Gandy-  both drank Bud Light.  No wonder they sucked.  Both nice guys and made it hard for me to hate JPs play on the field.  
 

Working @ the Wynn Cabanas, Donte Whitner came in with his friends.  Smoking blunts and smuggling in bottles of Hennessy. Meanwhile, in the cabana next to him, Larry Fitzgerald and his friends.  Sipping on watermelon juice eating fruit.  Donte was a prick.  Didn’t surprise me.
 

Eric Wood and Andy Levitre came to the Wynn pool every offseason.  Both great guys.  Didn’t change my opinion of them.  
 

Nate Clements had a cabana with us the year after he joined the Niners- he and his wife and baby were both super nice. 
 

I sat in the luxury boxes with Nate Clements’ family for a game, Super friendly, his little one fell asleep half in the chair and half on me, cute kid.

 

Met Flutie once, unfortunately that did change my opinion of him, he was quite smug towards everyone around.

 

Not a player, but had a drink or two with Doug Whaley not long after Mario Williams signed.  Super nice guy, loves the game, saw the value of getting big time players in the building.  He was enjoyable to talk with, I was rooting for him to succeed, but IMO nobody was going to have any sustained success with the organization the way it was at the time.

[Herc11]

Lived in an apartment below George Wilson at a complex near the stadium that many players live at during the season. George was super nice, always said hi in passing. Would hold the door open when we were carrying in groceries, etc... Ran into Jason Peters coming down the stairs, this was around the time he was still relatively unknown outside of Bills fans. Said "Hi" in passing and didn't even acknowledge me. My wife worked in the apartments office. When he first got there he stopped in asking for the owner. Owner wasn't there so she asked him if he wanted to leave a message. He said to let him know Jason came by. She asked Jason who? and he replies, "Just Jason." He was a prick even when he was a fresh undrafted tight end on special teams.

[teef]

5 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

 

How was Jim Kelly’s camp?  Was it actually helpful for you as a player or more of a chance to rub elbows with NFL stars?

it was actually a good camp for technique and concepts.  they had regular "chalk board" meeting, clinics, and brought in coaches from around the area.  i remember entire offensive lines of schools being there.  more of a camp than you would think.  i was a bit late coming out one morning for stretches, and jim kelly made me run laps.

[DCofNC]

7 minutes ago, teef said:

I think we were at the camp at the same time!  i was there the year they brought warren moon in, (i'm guessing between 97-99).  Everyone was very nice, but i remember thurman thomas being the least pleasant out of the group.  almost off-ish to the kids.

 

i've met john fina a number of times.  incredibly nice.  my mom and his aunt went to church together, and the aunt was the head secretary at my high school.

i met steve christie in his rookie year, and he was just happy to have someone interested in him.  Saw ruben brown at the mall...said hi and was very nice back.  i've also meet flutie on a number of occasions while in college, and he was super friendly and engaging.  

I have Fina’s autograph from probably 30 years ago now haha, he was a super nice guy.

[Florida Bills Fanatic]

I worked with Charlie Ferguson for a number of years.  He is a great guy.  He was an effective manager and his employees really liked him.

[Yawning Frog]

I'm just an old country bumpkin and never met anybody in my life.

[ToGoGo]

10 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

Why even bother with posts like this?  Either share your story or don’t 

How was Jim Kelly’s camp?  Was it actually helpful for you as a player or more of a chance to rub elbows with NFL stars?

 

Everyone seems to have a Jim Kelly story they don't want to share. 

[teef]

2 minutes ago, DCofNC said:

I have Fina’s autograph from probably 30 years ago now haha, he was a super nice guy.

he was a genuinely nice guy.  i almost have too much of his stuff as he would give things to give to his aunt to give to my mom.

 

i first me him at a saturday practice walk through, and he wanted to talk to the point of where he needed to be called back to practice.

[Big Turk]

8 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

Why even bother with posts like this?  Either share your story or don’t 

How was Jim Kelly’s camp?  Was it actually helpful for you as a player or more of a chance to rub elbows with NFL stars?

 

It was pretty helpful actually. You were with your position groups learning things(I was at TE/DB) and then they would have the QB group come in and throw with you and you'd work on things together and then you ended up having scrimmages.  

[teef]

1 minute ago, Big Turk said:

 

It was pretty helpful actually. You were with your position groups learning things(I was at TE/DB) and then they would have the QB group come in and throw with you and you'd work on things together and then you ended up having scrimmages.  

and those scrimmages, while flag, were pretty intense.

[Marcus Aurelius]

Old guy here. This reminds me of a story from my Bethlehem Steel days when I was a mere 19 years old. I was working with a grizzled old Hells Angel (old being like 30 years old). And I asked him where did he get hit the chip on his shoulder. He related to a story of him waiting outside the dressing room door of Lou Costello of Abbott and Costello fame when he was a kid. He asked Lou Costello for an autograph, and Costello turned around and said to him - EAT SH*T, KID and calmly walked away ...

[PonyBoy]

I was volunteering for a fight  cancer celebrity fund raiser. Mark Kelso was one of our celebrity bartenders. When he walked in, the girl I was working with didn't know him. She asked for the cover charge please. I told her no he's a Buffalo Bill, he's one of our celebrities. We all laughed, but you know what? He paid the cover charge anyway. Pretty cool moment. 

[BIGFOOTspaceman]

Ran into Josh Allen at the Super Market.  I said hi. He just mean mugged me and kicked me in the nuts, and then I thanked him.....best day of my life. 

 

 

 

[Big Turk]

9 minutes ago, teef said:

and those scrimmages, while flag, were pretty intense.

 

Hell yeah...lots of trash talk going back and forth both ways. Flag but full contact flag with blocking.

 

 It was funny because I was kind of "husky" growing up...not really fat per se, but just kind of a bigger kid that didn't look athletic, but I was super athletic. Both in terms of quickness and I was pretty fast, but the first scrimmage game the other team didn't know that so they put some fat kid on me that was an OL type player and I laughed, told him "you better get some help over here" and looked at our QB and was like, I'm open deep and he just nodded and basically I took off from the line and blew past the dude within like 10 yards and went for a TD.  After that the dude was like "I need some help over here!!" until they finally put someone good on me...

 

I used to love doing stuff like that...be the last dude picked when choosing teams with new kids and then dominate them and they'd be stunned hahaha

Edited October 6, 2022 by Big Turk

[Nextmanup]

38 minutes ago, jayg said:

Jim Kelly in Richmond,  VA in 1991.  Let's just say he wasn't very nice and I'll leave it that.

What fun is that?  We need details.

 

 

[Matt_In_NH]

I was visiting my parents in Fort Myers and I was walking from their clubhouse to their house and I walked right by Sammy Watkins....he waived and said hello.  He had a familiar face but I was not expecting him and I couldn't place it til about 20 seconds later.  My parents had no idea he lived around the corner.  This was his 2nd or 3rd year.

[Nextmanup]

34 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Watched SuperBowl XXXVIII -Patriots - Panthers with Drew Bledsoe at a mutual friend's house. He was super nice. We talked some football strategy and also cars and wine. This was before he started his Doubleback winery. 

I'm a gearhead myself.  Do you recall what car he was driving then?  Or did that not come up.

 

 

[1bufwarfan]

Met Andre Reed at Hall of fame , during Bruce Smith's induction.

Really nice guy, took time to take a picture with me ...👍

[aristocrat]

Ran into Jp in New Orleans during St Patty's day. Bought a buddy of mine and I a beer and shot. Super nice guy. 

[boyst]

met charles woodson when he was in high school - watched him play a game against my future high school. best athlete i've ever seen. his speed was unmatched. he took a 3 step drop into coverage, ran across the field through traffic to make the stop on the RB option sweep to the other side. i've never seen anything like that. so fast

 

have met a bunch and ran into plenty. just treat them like anyone else. i don't groupy.

[Logic]

When I was in Buffalo for the Titans game a few weekends ago, AJ Epenesa was eating wings two tables down from me. 

I didn't bother him or talk to him, but I came away with this thought: That guy is ***** enormous. In my mind, I considered him one of the "smaller" defensive ends on our squad. I don't know WHY I thought that, since he's listed at 6'6", 260 lbs.

Anyway...I'm an idiot. The guy is massive.

[BuffaninSarasota]

Takeo Spikes at a PGA Superstore in Atlanta just after he retired....super nice & approachable. Told him I watched him play at Auburn & that I'm from Buffalo - his face lit up, he smiled from ear to ear and said "y'all are the BEST". Got his autograph.

 

Yes, he has the biggest neck on a human being I've ever seen.....

Edited October 6, 2022 by BuffaninSarasota
add

[teef]

11 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

Hell yeah...lots of trash talk going back and forth both ways. Flag but full contact flag with blocking.

 

 It was funny because I was kind of "husky" growing up...not really fat per se, but just kind of a bigger kid that didn't look athletic, but I was super athletic. Both in terms of quickness and I was pretty fast, but the first scrimmage game the other team didn't know that so they put some fat kid on me that was an OL type player and I laughed, told him "you better get some help over here" and looked at our QB and was like, I'm open deep and he just nodded and basically I took off from the line and blew past the dude within like 10 yards and went for a TD.  After that the dude was like "I need some help over here!!" until they finally put someone good on me...

 

I used to love doing stuff like that...be the last dude picked when choosing teams with new kids and then dominate them and they'd be stunned hahaha

they really were like games minus the tackling.

 

funny you mention that story.  they loved weird  matchups.   a coach who brought a number of his guys with him had a tackle that was an absolute monster.  they were running OL/DL drills, and while i wasn't even part of it, i was called over to go against this giant kid because i assumed they thought it would be funny.  i couldn't go right at him, (i was 5'9" and 180 lbs) so i tried to quickly skirt around him.  well...this kid just took a weird turn and fell right to the ground.  he must have twisted something because he didn't take part in a single drill for the rest of the camp.  just bad luck.

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

I have a few:

Matt Cassel and Jerry Hughes were on my plane in the offseason we signed Cassel.  After this I KNEW Cassel didn't have the mental makeup to be a good QB.  

• Cassel - had priority boarding in first class.  hung out away from the gate after he checked in. basically waited with sunglasses on and snuck on the plane, then sat in the window seat with his hat and glasses covering his face.
• Hughes - Sat at the gate, signed autographs and talked to fans, with his wife and kids in tow.  While eating fried chicken.  

 

This past spring (maybe cinco de mayo, place was a freaking zoo) i went to Maizal in East Amherst and McKenzie and Moss were there with a few of the rookies.  I know i saw Shakir Cook and maybe Bernard?  In any case, they sat in the middle of the restaurant and i believe we sang happy birthday to Bernard and then obviously they got the restaurant bumping the shout song.  

 

The last one was way back in my younger days at encore.  Met Eric wood and a few other linemen.  Wood was quiet, Chris Hairston made out with my friend and was among the largest humans ive ever met.  

Edited October 6, 2022 by Bleeding Bills Blue

[Nextmanup]

My good friend's father used to have a pair of season tickets right across the aisle and like 1 row down from Kent Hull and Will Wolford...in the old Aud for Sabres games.

 

I saw them more than once when my friend's dad couldn't go and I got the ticket instead.

 

What I remember is how huge they both looked and how they literally did not fit in the little seats...and their knees were seemingly up around their chins as they sat that watching hockey.  Their bodies were just out of scale to the seats.  

 

Never said anything to them, but they looked like nice guys, always minded their own business.

 

I think they were genuinely fascinated by hockey and trying to learn the sport.

 

 

[Big Turk]

8 minutes ago, teef said:

they really were like games minus the tackling.

 

funny you mention that story.  they loved weird  matchups.   a coach who brought a number of his guys with him had a tackle that was an absolute monster.  they were running OL/DL drills, and while i wasn't even part of it, i was called over to go against this giant kid because i assumed they thought it would be funny.  i couldn't go right at him, (i was 5'9" and 180 lbs) so i tried to quickly skirt around him.  well...this kid just took a weird turn and fell right to the ground.  he must have twisted something because he didn't take part in a single drill for the rest of the camp.  just bad luck.

 

You were probably about ready to be killed by that coach after that hahahaha

 

Also, I smoked my roommate in that same camp in the drills as he was with the DB group and I got him like 3 or 4 separate times on routes and his group was getting on him for it and were like "You made your leagues all-star team and you can't even cover a fat boy??" and after the last one he was like "Man...you try to cover him, the dude can move!"  I used to be able to cut almost in a straight line without losing speed on in/out routes and used to give people fits...I have double jointed knees and always thought that gave me an advantage with that type of change of direction stuff...I found it funny but they usually didn't. 😂

 

Edited October 6, 2022 by Big Turk