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Bills Backers InfoNorthern VA Buffalo Bills Backers FeaturedBuffalo Bills Backers of Northern Virginia was recently featured in Buffalo Bills Backers newsletter. Membership cards orderedMembership cards were ordered and will be available for regular members from Jimmy in the Fall and may be previewed. This year we are planning a trip to an away Ravens game. More details will be released when 2004 Schedule is released. News and OpinionsSchedule Released - Somebody does not like RalphThe Bills have one national appearance and against the Patriots in their stadium on ESPN. Other teams such as Washington Redsucks whose team sucked most of last year in a weak division get multiple national appearances on MNF and ESPN. Madden is a jerk and I hate watching MNF since he joined so I am not too disappointed with MNF loss but I hate seeing the league trying to help certain teams sell merchandise while others are neglected. Bills have ONE September game due a bye in September and to the league's pushing of the schedule into later portion of the year in an attempt to aid networks during February sweeps week. The league decided to send to Buffalo on Halloween the team which has the absolutely worst appeal - the Arizona Cardinals. This game is guaranteed to not sell out. The NFL cares about ratings first and the fans last which will come back to bite them I think. Last year they move games to help ratings (Buffalo vs Redsucks game moved to 4 PM) so fans now need to consider twice and thrice whether they wish to invest their money into going games. If the league continues this, the only ones who will be willing to pay to go to games will be those with season tickets and those with money to burn; stating it that way makes me realize that actually may be their goal. Good-bye former Bills - You will always be Bills in out heartsSammy Morris is now a Dolphin, Sam Gash is a Saint, Phillip Crosby is a Patriot, Polk is a Texan, Winfield is a Viking - free agency and Bills management have made it very difficult to want to buy a jersey for very quickly the laundry is updated. This means one of two things - either you cheer for the Bills and the players only when they are Bills or you cheer for those who used to play for you when they do not play the Bills. It will be a lot easier to cheer for Sam Gash since he is in another division but I still wish Sammy well with Dolphins even if I hope he has outstanding performances on a losing team. Free Agency sucks but like Democracy it is best solution foundSlow Free Agency - more players going out than inThe Bills last year were the very first team on the clock signing LB Jeff Posy from Texans but this year they have been very slow in signing new free agents signing only one player and renewing contracts of two players - Guard 'Sulking' Sullivan who lost his position as starting OG in camp last year due to being unmotivated and OG Ross Tucker, a player who has previously for Redsucks and Cowpokes and who played well in 2003. Losses include eight time Pro Bowl Ruben Brown who was cut along with free agents Sam Gash, Sammy Morris, DaShon Polk and others who Bills seem to have no interest in resigning. CB Winfield was also lost but his was a different case - Bills wanted to sign Winfield but not at the price he demanded and he appeared to get it from Minnesota Vikings due to a CB market which dried up due to many of the truly premiere CBs being franchised. Free Agency started with a whimper and hopefully will end with a bangSeason ends on disappointing note then disappointing coaches let goThe Bills beat two losing NJ teams (Jets and Giants) and then goes on two game losing streak themselves losing to Miami and New England ending disappointing season with record of 6-10. The New England game was most disappointing where the Bills completely collapsed giving the Patriots a blowout game with a score (31-0) identical to that which the Bills imposed on Patriots in opener. The good news is disappointing coach Gregg Williams's contract was not renewed and two of the replacement coaches he hired were fired as first action by the new head coach Mike Mularkey. Coach Mularkey replaced the fired Offensive Coordinator with Tom Clements, QB coach at Pittsburgh and replaced the fired Offensive Line Coach with Jim McNally who held a similar role with the Giants. Next year is the mantra againNorthern Virginia Bills Backers raises money for Coy Wire "Caring" FoundationDuring the Houston Texans game the Northern Virginia Bills Backers raised $105 for Coy Wire Foundation to help youths in Western New York. We raffled a T-shirt and a hat both signed by Cow Wire and from his Most High Clothing line. Doing good is everyone's jobNorthern Virginia Bills Backers joins Drew Bledsoe Buffalo Bills Backers ChallengeThe Drew Bledsoe Foundation has sent us an autographed football which we raffled at the Cowboy game. The money we raised ($240.00) is to be used to fund the Parenting With Dignity foundation and the work started by his parents. Take the Buffalo Bills Backers ChallengeBills back on track (we hope)After disappointing home loss to Eagles and Zebras (5 of 10 penalties called on Bills were later determined to be wrong by league), the Bills defeated the improving Bungles in overtime. The win was costly though for Eric Moulds, Mr. Money, injured his groin and the rest of the team is going to need to pick up the load. Any win is better than a loss no matter how well a team looks losingSquish the Fish or be SquishedThe Bills were on an adrenaline high going to Miami for the annual visit to P. P. Park. Last year the Bills controlled the game in large part to inappropriate throws by ex-Jet Ray Lucas but this game despite a smothering performance by the defense in the hot, humid weather the Bills offense failed to perform either in passing or running game. A poor decision by Henry to throw the ball rather than take a sack cost them at least three points and other errant throws the game. None of the WRs seemed to be in sync with Bledsoe and running game was pathetic. Even worse Phillip Crosby, half of our LB punishment squad and top special teams performer, broke his leg and was put on Injured Reserve for the season. Never count your Fish until they have been scaledMore PhotosI have more photos from games and tailgate including Rams game with my lovely wife, Bills Opener game and Jacksonville Game at Jimmy's. Nothing beats watching a Bills win with friendsBills are on top of AFC East AgainWhat a great game! The offense played well and when they didn't the defense covered for them even making a few plays of their own. Maybe I was wrong about Sam Adams - he could have been playing "Bruce" during off season and saving his energy - I hope so. Moorman was booming the few (4) punts we have and on several occasions the punt catcher had to go backwards to get it. Looks like he is not going soft with his new contract. He leveled Patriots CB Law on a special teams play which was not caught by TV cameras. Law was stunned and needed to sit out for a while holding his head. Maybe he did not expect a punter to be willing to tangle with the Law? A number of previous players picked up their game a step this year besides Moorman - Sammy Morris looked possessed on the few snaps on offense he got running, blocking and catching well. Gash is back and he is good of course - you would not expect otherwise! Denney played as DE, a player who I thought was a waste of a pick last year, and handled his own. A few previous players seem to have trouble keeping the pace. Marques Sullivan did not even get on the field last week - he went from starting guard to inactive - and Josh Reed continued with his preseason blahs. Other than those players and some unnecessary penalties, the Bills seem to be on a roll again! "Where would you rather be than right here, right now?"Tailgate Time AgainIt is Buffalo Bills game planning time again. The Bills are planning their strategy for a new season. Jay Rosen (a.k.a. Jåy Ró§eñ on the stadium wall) bought tickets for the home opener game for the TBD crew. Tailgate was held at the Hammer's Lot for the fourth consecutive year. This tailgate had a mix of the newcomers and previous attendees. A number of former regulars did not show up but we had lots of newcomers. The lot was filled early with people eating, drinking (at 9 AM in morning, you bet!) and talking Bills. Enthusiasm was high regarding all the new comers to the Bills and one tailgater already had a Lawyer Malloy jersey! Weather was almost perfect. Hammer had a band on his lot courtesy of WGR but after being far too loud in beginning it settled down. The tailgate actually started the previous day at Danny's (photo #1, photo #2). That is the new Field Turf used by Bills courtesy of Hammer in 2nd picture. More photos of warm-up at Danny's courtesy of Jack in Syracuse, TwoBillsDrive's resident Blue Coat. Earlier in the season Bills fans from MD, NJ, NY, PA & VA held a tailgate at Sliders in Baltimore before Ravens Game. We planned on 40-45 people showing up and there was easily twice that number filling upstairs room at Sliders and spilling out into downstairs room and patio. Wy's Wings was the special and they were very, very good! Tailgates don't get any better than this.2003 Draft Selections
Buffalo Bills Draft PartyI had the good fortune to attend the Buffalo Bills draft party with some of my friends. From left to right OGTEleven (#82), LancasterSteve (in sweatshirt), R. Rich (#96) and Mark (#22). (Hover mouse over image to enlarge or click it.) Nothing like a little preseason party to get those football juices flowing!Sam 'Bash' Gash is back!Forget Fat Sam. Sam the Basher is back! Sam Gash, the FB who caught Drew Bledsoe's first TD pass (at the Ralph of all places!) is now a Buffalo Bill again. He was offered a chance to sign on again with Ravens but choose to return to Buffalo to the fans who love and respect him! Combined with Phillip Crosby, the Bills have the BEST one two blocking punch in the league! Bam Bam! - that will give some linebackers a headache!Bills add 300 pounds of Beef (and 60 pounds of Lard)The Bills have been trying for a good portion of off season trying to sign a mate for Pat Williams and they got him - Sam Adams. Sam Adams is a player when he is GOOD is in the Ted Washington class but unfortunately he has been described as 'lazy' and 'unmotivated' by a number of sources in the league and in the last two years he has only played one year before being cut. Hopefully Sam (who is represented by same agent as former Bill Ted Washington and current Bill Pat Williams) will have learned his lesson and will get his weight under control and keep it under control so he may be on the field more often. In fact if he keeps his weight under control he may be on the field LESS often because the improved Buffalo Defense will force more three-and-outs. Chicken Wing Futures are Sky Rocketing!Draft Season and Schedule outThe free agency has started and the Bills have picked up several semi-precious stones and a gem, Takeo Spikes, 1988 first round LB pick of the Cincinnati Bengalis. For the last few years the Bills have been penalized with bad sales due to their visits and now the reward is a number of years of direct observation of a prime LB. The Bengals had used the transition tag on Spikes but he made it clear that he did not want to play for Bungles any more and new head coach Marvin Lewis did not match the offer. This is the SAME Marvin Lewis who did not want to be head coach of Buffalo |