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

[Franco_92]

54 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.

Around the same time period my father in law got in a fist fight with Jim at a bar. I'm sure they share blame, but he still does not think fondly of Jim. Jim has obviously long since grown up!

[dwight in philly]

During the  mid 70's , on Sunday nights during the football season, was a regular with a few friends at Mulligans on Hertel.. OJ, McKenzie and few Bills were there lots.. Ran into OJ, and few in the Private club in the back, or coming in and out of the Men's room.. all were good guys.. friendly nods, "Good game "  type stuff.. I didnt want to intrude .. but seemed like regular nice  guys.. 

[Shake_My_Head]

I once saw Bruce Smith in our local Tops during his peak years.    I've never seen another person quite like him. 

 

His build made me think of a praying mantis--huge upper body, tiny little waist and great big thighs.    It was pretty cool.

[mushypeaches]

44 minutes ago, Process said:

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. 

 

I'm not sure that Roscoe looked at the playbook a lot either...

[TheWei44]

Just had a chance encounter with Scott Chandler this past Saturday!  Randomly met him at the Aspen airport with his wife and four kids!  Extremely nice guy (wife was super nice too) who indulged me in a selfie (see attached).  I let his son use the bathroom ahead of me on the plane and assisted him with the door and his dad (I didn't know who it was) thanked me on the plane.  Then at baggage claim, he thanked me, saw my Bills hat and said he used to play for the Bills.  He said he was at KC playoff game and I told him how hard it was for me not to be with my 11 yr old son for that game.  Again, super cool guy!

[mushypeaches]

Thurman & Andre were at the Bills Backers tailgate in Baltimore this past weekend.  

 

Thurman was super friendly and warm with fans getting pictures, etc.

Andre maybe a little less so, but still cool and smiling

 

I couldn't believe how skinny Andre is these days - I mean he was thin during his playing years, but all the muscle made him look less so

But we pointed out how big and strong his hands still look - I mean those are still HOF WR hands.  I'll bet Lofton's look the same too

[Ta111]

3 minutes ago, TheWei44 said:

Just had a chance encounter with Scott Chandler this past Saturday!  Randomly met him at the Aspen airport with his wife and four kids!  Extremely nice guy (wife was super nice too) who indulged me in a selfie (see attached).  I let his son use the bathroom ahead of me on the plane and assisted him with the door and his dad (I didn't know who it was) thanked me on the plane.  Then at baggage claim, he thanked me, saw my Bills hat and said he used to play for the Bills.  He said he was at KC playoff game and I told him how hard it was for me not to be with my 11 yr old son for that game.  Again, super cool guy!

Hung out with Chandler at the pregame of the Chiefs playoff game in Jan. Really good guy.

[Big Turk]

10 minutes ago, Bleeding Bills Blue said:

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.  

 

I was there one time when Wood and a few other OL were there in the club but I never approached them, they seemed to be kinda hanging out doing their thing.

[Nextmanup]

4 minutes ago, Shake_My_Head said:

I once saw Bruce Smith in our local Tops during his peak years.    I've never seen another person quite like him. 

 

His build made me think of a praying mantis--huge upper body, tiny little waist and great big thighs.    It was pretty cool.

There is something about Bruce's build that is weird.  It's like he has the broadest shoulders/widest upper chest of any human ever...but then other parts of him are more normal, as you are saying.

 

 

[Richmond_Bills]

Jim Kelly - twice.  

 

Both in Richmond, VA (for those of you that don't know, a couple of his brothers played at University of Richmond and settled here and Jim actually built a house down here, but it was when Hunter was still alive and they decided it best to keep him with consistent treatment, etc.).

 

- First time was at the airport.  I was ironically checking in for a flight to Rochester and he was checking in for a flight to Buffalo.  I was wearing a Bills polo shirt and he shook my hand and said "nice shirt".  Was a bit star struck, but managed a "thanks - go Bills"

 

- 2nd time, my Dad had caught wind that Jim was going to be in town for a charity golf tourney.  It just so happened that one of his nephews had a HS football game the same night.  We guessed that he may attend the game, so we went.  Had been wanting to see the kid play anyway.  We were standing on the track against the fence and the team came out of the locker room.  Sure enough, Jim comes out with the coaches and walks to the sideline, passing right by us.  My dad yells "hey Jim, we're from Buffalo".  Jim turns around, looks my dad straight in the eyes and said "sorry to hear that".  Gave a little ***** eating grin and walked away.  

[Nextmanup]

2 minutes ago, Richmond_Bills said:

My dad yells "hey Jim, we're from Buffalo".  Jim turns around, looks my dad straight in the eyes and said "sorry to hear that".  Gave a little ***** eating grin and walked away.  

Having been there, what was your interpretation of Jim's comments?  Having fun?  Being an ass?  Something in between?

 

 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

Andre Reed and his family never left a good impression on me.

 

[JohnNord]

44 minutes ago, ToGoGo said:

 

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

Exactly…but why leave that out there?  Either share or don’t, but teasing it is just lame

[Gunsgoodtime]

So I live in a fairly small town where Tremaine Edmunds is from.  His father, Ferrell is well known amongst sports people here. A few years ago I saw him in a store, and as uncomfortable as I was asking, I still did.  I told him how I had been a die hard Bills fan all my life, and if it would be possible to get a Jersey autographed, he said sure, get it to him when I got it.  I followed up a couple times with him, the whole family is super busy obviously.  One day he said Tremaine is at the house now!  So he invited me over and I met Tremaine, he signed my jersey and took a couple pics at their home.  I only stayed a couple minutes because they were in a rush leaving to go somewhere. Some of the nicest people you will ever meet.  I also ran into Tremaine 1 time later crossing paths at a resteraunt and spoke just passing by.  It was such a great experience.  Times have changed, I remember leaving their house and telling him take those Patriots out!  They didn't that year but did the next.

[TH3]

Lived in East Aurora for 25 years:

 

Tasker - exactly as you would think he would be - always on the phone - regular guy in town...kids and wife are great people

Mark Kelso - great guy and his kids were a coaches dream whether it was football or baseball..

Bledsoe for a while - Aloof

Bruce looks like he was chiseled from a mountain...

 

 

 

 

[US Egg]

1 hour ago, Process said:

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

.....bet he didn't either.

[JohnNord]

15 minutes ago, arcane said:

Around the same time period my father in law got in a fist fight with Jim at a bar. I'm sure they share blame, but he still does not think fondly of Jim. Jim has obviously long since grown up!

I wouldn’t be surprised… to be fair, back in the 80’s and 90’s athletes and entertainers could get away with being a ***** person and were often enabled.   Jim has been fairly open about his issues in the past.  
 

I’d also agree that Jim has changed over the years, yet people want to drag ***** up from 30-40 years ago to disparage him.  I see it a lot on Twitter and IMO a big part of it has to do with his political views.  

5 minutes ago, Joe in Winslow said:

Andre Reed and his family never left a good impression on me.

 

Ok…why?

[ALLEN1QB]

Met Jimbo & Andre Reed @ a fundraiser event. Had a picture taken with both. Jim was a class act Andre was a real jerk. I asked for a pic he said make it fast very arrogant. He was behind me on the way out I let the door slam on his face. PAB!!

 

[Shake_My_Head]

My brother's the Forest Gump of our family.    He's met dozens and dozens of former Bills over the years, just by happenstance.   He's actually become friends with a number of them, including Thurman, Tally, Christie, Metzelaars and probably half a dozen others I can't think of right now.   

 

He retired from Disneyworld a few years ago.  One of his best stories was of Terrence McGee, who he was getting in the park for free.   

 

In those days, you had to pay for parking and then get free admission with the employee pass.    My brother drove through the parking gate ahead of McGee, who just stopped at the booth and didn't move.    My brother went back to see what was wrong.    Turns out McGee didn't have enough money to pay for parking--apparently his agent only gave him a small monthly "allowance" and he'd burned through it all (even before entering the park!).   It always brought home the reality that some of these guys really needed help with managing life off the field.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

3 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

Ok…why?

 

Arrogance.

 

[JohnNord]

39 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

What fun is that?  We need details.

 

 

Why details when it’s more fun to be extremely vague?!?!?!?!?!?

[somnus00]

1 hour 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 seem to remember reading a lot of stories about JP being a good dude and really wanting to embrace the city of Buffalo.

[JohnNord]

29 minutes ago, Shake_My_Head said:

I once saw Bruce Smith in our local Tops during his peak years.    I've never seen another person quite like him. 

 

His build made me think of a praying mantis--huge upper body, tiny little waist and great big thighs.    It was pretty cool.

I waited for Bruce’s autograph at the mall - probably back in 1992.  The line spanned the entire length of the mall - from one end to another.  It was incredible.  
 

Unfortunately, Bruce was hired to sign from like 6-8 PM or something and it was going to be impossible to accommodate everyone.  At one point probably right at 8:00, Bruce simply got up and walked away with his entourage.
 

But unlike the parents who took to Twitter complaining about autographs at Training camp, we weren’t that disappointed and thought it was cool we got a chance to see Bruce up close as he walked away

Edited October 6, 2022 by JohnNord

[gonzo1105]

I mean I had an interaction with Marv at the old Fredonia Training camps back in the day where a thin piece of rope separated fans and the players. My brother and I were inside the rope and asked Marv for the autograph. He gave it to us but also lectured us that we shouldn't be in this area. I mean this area was empty there was really no one else around. 

 

My only other real interaction with a football player was when I was young as well. I met Walter Payton. I mean I was like 6 but it was at the Canton Hall of Fame and he came up and talked with my grandparents and shook my hand and told me it was a pleasure to meet me. Obviously being a young kid he took the time, but to talk to my grandparents as well and smiling ear to ear the whole time. I can understand why the NFL named their man of the year after him. Its a shame a guy like that was taken way too soon. 

Edited October 6, 2022 by gonzo1105

[Toledo Bill]

Aging myself, met Harry Jacobs at a church event in the 60’s. Hell of a nice guy. Stuck with me all these years that he talked about how all the Bills worked second jobs. Boy, have times changed.

[JohnNord]

8 minutes ago, Shake_My_Head said:

My brother's the Forest Gump of our family.    He's met dozens and dozens of former Bills over the years, just by happenstance.   He's actually become friends with a number of them, including Thurman, Tally, Christie, Metzelaars and probably half a dozen others I can't think of right now.   

 

He retired from Disneyworld a few years ago.  One of his best stories was of Terrence McGee, who he was getting in the park for free.   

 

In those days, you had to pay for parking and then get free admission with the employee pass.    My brother drove through the parking gate ahead of McGee, who just stopped at the booth and didn't move.    My brother went back to see what was wrong.    Turns out McGee didn't have enough money to pay for parking--apparently his agent only gave him a small monthly "allowance" and he'd burned through it all (even before entering the park!).   It always brought home the reality that some of these guys really needed help with managing life off the field.

Even back in McGee’s playing days, I’d be curious to see how much he considers “a small monthly allowance” 😂

[mrags]

Brian Moorman

Jim Kelly

Andre Reed

 

all absolute @$$holes. I wouldn’t piss on them if they were on fire. 

[TheFunPolice]

We ran into Losman once at the art gallery on one of the free Friday night events they did (maybe they still do, not sure). 

 

He actually held the door for us going in and we saw him inside later and chatted for a few minutes about the art, never mentioned football. Mostly we didn't want to bother him but he started the conversation by mentioning something about the exhibit we were all looking at. 

 

He was a super nice guy and seemed very intelligent too. I knew a few people who were friends with him and all said he was a really cool dude. 

 

 

 

 

[JohnNord]

9 minutes ago, Joe in Winslow said:

 

Arrogance.

 

What made him come off as arrogant?  Did he deny you an autograph?

[LabattBlue]

I wonder if anyone wants to share recent starstruck encounters with OJ? 😈

Edited October 6, 2022 by LabattBlue

[BillsFanNC]

Grew up in Hamburg/OP area so I had numerous encounters with 80's/90's era Bills.  Even as a kid I never did anything more than maybe say something to them in passing, never asked for autographs.  A few off the top of my head...

 

A friend of mine growing up in Hamburg had a rental house next door that Bills fringe players would often rent.  One tenant was Ulysses Norris a TE I'm guessing sometime in the mid 80's.  He'd toss the football with us every once in awhile.

 

Will Grant 1987.  I was playing a round of golf at the old Hamburg public course with my dad.  Those who remember the layout when it was only 9 holes, it was easy to finish on 9 and then walk over to the 7th tee and play 7-9 again.  So my dad and I are on the 7th tee and two guys walk over from the 9th and ask if they can play with us.  One of them was Will Grant.  When we got back up the fairway on 9 he said that he had to play ahead and get going.  So he's on the green with me about 100 yards out and he motions for me to hit on.  I stuck a shot about 5 feet from the pin.  He yells great shot kid and walks to the parking lot.  A few days later I hear on the news he got busted for weed and the Bills cut him.  I still wonder if he was in a hurry from the course to meet his dealer.

 

Many encounters with Jim Kelly.  Two were at church.  Once he was making a beeline to his car after mass on Sunday since the Bills were playing on Monday night the next day.  My dad said good luck tomorrow Jim and as he passed us he just said thank you sir.  Another time I turned around in my pew to offer the sign of peace and there is Jim Kelly with his hand stretched out.  Peace be with you Jim!  When I lived in OP I was heading into work downtown for a shift that began at 10 am.  So I'm driving down a deserted California road and I see in my rearview a SUV coming up like gangbusters behind me.  As he swerved around me to pass I looked and it's Jim Kelly in his Bronco.  Doing 80-90 mph easily.

 

I encountered Bruce a few times.  My favorite was walking out of the Tops on McKinley and there's Bruce walking out just behind me in his muscle shirt with arms as thick as my thighs, carrying nothing but two cases of Genny pounders.  If only there were smart phones then that would have been a great picture.

 

I'd often see Phil Hansen at the Hamburg public library with financial periodicals spread out on the table in front of him.  Never bothered him.

 

Met Tasker the night of the 95 playoff loss to the Steelers in Jim Kelly's old club downtown. He must have went there straight off the plane. Just congratulated him on the season and he said thanks.  Biscuit was there as well and he just stood like a statue out in the open with multiple people coming up to him and he pretended like they weren't even there.  Weird.

 

Met Jim Ritcher at a Canes-Sabres game in Raleigh a few years ago.  We shot the ***** about the 90's Bills for most of the intermission. Really nice guy. I'm 6'1" 210 and he looked smaller than me.  

 

About 10-12 years ago my friends and I walked into the Buffalo airport the Monday after the home opener and as I look to my left just inside the door and there's Marv standing there alone with a bunch of suitcases.  As we walk by I say hey Marv.  Marv looks over, smiles and enthusiastically says "How ya doing fellas!"  Great stuff.

 

[damj]

The T.O. season, we were at the 6-3 Browns game where Derek Anderson completed 2 of 17 passes for 23 yards ... and won.

 

We left in the 3rd quarter and Jim Kelly was on the aisle a few rows behind me. We looked each other ... didn't say anything ... just the looks on our faces spoke volumes.

 

Another time, we had a football watching party for the EJ Manual London game and Ken Jones was there. Nice guy.

Edited October 6, 2022 by damj

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

4 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

What made him come off as arrogant?  Did he deny you an autograph?

 

No, nothing like that. Have you ever been around a person who behaved like he was better than everyone around him

 

[BigAl2526]

I had dinner with Steve Tasker at a church conference once.  He's smart and congenial.  I enjoyed it tremendously.

[HereComesTheReignAgain]

I once ran into a guy that I was pretty sure played for the Bills but I couldn't quite place him.  I asked him if he was a Buffalo Bill and he simply stated "I’m Ko Simpson with the Buffalo Bills. I am worth millions!” over and over again.

Edited October 6, 2022 by HereComesTheReignAgain

[Your Brown Eye]

I saw CJ Spiller at Cheesecake Factory after a practice eating at the bar, I was at a table next to him. A few (2 or 3) Pittsford floozies were up in his business and he was looking annoyed, they me asked if that was a football player, I shook my head no out of respect for his privacy and they walked away. I went up to him to shake his hand and wish him well on the upcoming season and he rejected the handshake as I stood there with my hand out to shake his. He just said thanks and turned around. So I went back to my table, paid for my meal, found those floozies, told them he was CJ Spiller the starting RB for the Bills, and they ran back up to him at the bar and I walked out. Suck it, Spiller.

[transient]

Used to live down the street from Joe Devlin growing up. He coached my then girlfriend's brother's tee ball team. He couldn't have been a more unlikeable person if he tried. He used to intimidate umpires and parents and was generally an insufferable jerk. He coached a childhood baseball team like a psychopathic meathead.

 

Used to work at a country club that Pete Metzelaars was a member at. He had to duck to miss a support beam walking in the front entrance to the restaurant. He played a fair bit of golf in the offseason. Seemed like a nice guy, but I didn't talk to him a ton. If it wasn't for the fact he was 6'8" with bright red hair you'd never know he was there. He was was very quiet and unassuming.

 

I ran into Antowain Smith at a mall once. I remember being surprised at how big he was in person for a running back.

 

I used to run into Sabres players all the time in my 20's during my bar hopping days. I ran into Jason Dawe and talked to him so many times that he'd say hi to me if he saw me first. The craziest was running into Danny Gare at either Mother's or Fat Bob's one cold winter post-game evening. He was drunk and telling stories to me and my roommate of his time with the Oilers and how he told off Glen Sather. I can still hear him in my head saying "F*** you, Glenn!" as he recounted the story. He then signed a bar napkin and gave it to my roommate for an autograph unrequested. It was a bit surreal.

[TheBrownBear]

Got to meet Bruce, Talley, Jim and Andre on the set of a United Way shoot back in the day.  Tossed the ball around with Andre.  All seemed like nice enough guys to the 11 or 12 year old me. 

 

Saw Bruce grabbing two buckets of KFC the night before a game.  I think this may have been when he was either injured or on his substance abuse suspension.  We said hello and he returned the greeting with a smile.

 

Went fishing with House Ballard on Lake Erie as a kid.  He was a real mild mannered, nice, and kind of quiet dude.

 

Chance encounter with Glenn Parker while golfing in San Diego a couple years back.  Said hello and thanked him for the good Bills memories from the 90s.  Really friendly and outgoing guy.

[US Egg]

52 minutes ago, TheWei44 said:

Just had a chance encounter with Scott Chandler this past Saturday!  Randomly met him at the Aspen airport with his wife and four kids!  Extremely nice guy (wife was super nice too) who indulged me in a selfie (see attached).  I let his son use the bathroom ahead of me on the plane and assisted him with the door and his dad (I didn't know who it was) thanked me on the plane.  Then at baggage claim, he thanked me, saw my Bills hat and said he used to play for the Bills.  He said he was at KC playoff game and I told him how hard it was for me not to be with my 11 yr old son for that game.  Again, super cool guy!

Is Chandler the one on the left?

Edited October 6, 2022 by I am the egg man

[Process]

2 minutes ago, Your Brown Eye said:

I saw CJ Spiller at Cheesecake Factory after a practice eating at the bar, I was at a table next to him. A few (2 or 3) Pittsford floozies were up in his business and he was looking annoyed, they me asked if that was a football player, I shook my head no out of respect for his privacy and they walked away. I went up to him to shake his hand and wish him well on the upcoming season and he rejected the handshake as I stood there with my hand out to shake his. He just said thanks and turned around. So I went back to my table, paid for my meal, found those floozies, told them he was CJ Spiller the starting RB for the Bills, and they ran back up to him at the bar and I walked out. Suck it, Spiller.

You went up to him while he was in the middle of eating and wanted a handshake? You should be happy to even get a "thanks"