Well the Long period between free agency and training camp has since come and gone throwing us right in the middle of the yearly preseason hope for the taste of a Superbowl. It has been sometime since I have posted due to a career change. With that said I want to rewind a month or so and take you through my V.I.P day at Kim Kelly’s annual youth football camp at our second home; One Bills Drive. I took the opportunity to get some of your questions for Jimbo himself around the Billievers Network. I had the chance to Meet Jim formally for the first time. He is much bigger in real life then you would think…as most NFL players are, but the one thing that got my attention was the good old fashion manshake. I am not a small guy myself and I like to think I have a firm grip, but after I locked hands with our Hall of Fame QB I felt like screaming uncle. I arrived at the Camp bright and early to meet up with my contacts and take a tour around One Bills Drive. If you are a Bills fan and haven’t had the chance to see the ins and outs of Ralph Wilson Jr. Stadium, I strongly suggest you don’t pass up the opportunity. The first thing I did when I stepped on the field was marvel at our own little version of a colosseum. I then took the time to go around and sit in every section to see the different views for fans on Sundays. I have to say my favorite view was from the 200 section. This is a great area to sit and if your looking to buy a game or two this season I strongly suggest you target this section. I have season tickets in the 113 section myself and I felt a bit envious of the holders in the 200 section, but before I continue to rant about seating we’ll get back to the discussion at hand.

While touring the stadium I got to see the newly planted outdoors practice field. This is the first year of Jauron’s tenure where a request for the field to be replaced was granted (or asked perhaps). I am going to read into this myself and say the coaching staff has some serious plans for practices outside late in the year. This maybe a minor detail to the naked eye, but the once 3 point spread Vegas gave Buffalo for playing at home has since perrished after consecutive home losing records the past two seasons. This has to change! I was also informed there has been discussion about upgrading the turf although nothing definite had been decided.

After meeting Jim and his brother I had the chance to ask him one of your questions which was ” What is your best memory of being a Buffalo Bill?” Jim responded with: “My best memory as a Bill was the first time I ran out of the tunnel here at the stadium. I was overwhelmed for the opportunity and proud of all my hard work finally paying off.” I was a bit surprised by his answer, because most fans would think the first time they went to the superbowl would be at the top of his memory strand. He also commented on the potential game winning drive of their first superbowl performance to the tune of ” One of my best memories was driving the team down the field into field goal range on the edge of accomplishing everything we worked for as a team. As I walked off the field I felt like I had finally done it” Soon after that he commented: ” But sometimes things just don’t go your way.” AKA Wide Right.

After that I had the chance to sit in on his speech for the kids in one of the luxury suites in the stadium. I was looking forward to asking him some questions after, but god love those kids at the ripe ole age of 14. They actually managed to ask most of your questions here on the Billievers Network. I’ll do my best to list the Questions I received from ALL D on your behalf with his answers.
“…I’d like to know with the current Brett Favre situation going on, after Jim retired from the Bills, how close was he actually from signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers that off-season?”

When asked whether he ever thought about playing for another team Jim responded with ” Never” “I couldn’t imagine having played for another team. Buffalo gave me the chance and stuck with me all the way.”

“Ask him if he ever thought about trying to be an official member of the Bills coaching staff as a quarterbacks coach or heck, even offensive coordinator. When asked about his future with the Bills: ” I remain close with Mr. Wilson and look forward to that relationship continiung.” I am not sure what that means, but take it how you want it.

“You may want to ask Jim how his life has changed since being enshrined into the HOF and how/if that has given him a larger platform to raise awareness for newborn screening programs.” Kelly also touched on his accomplishments off the field. He specifically mentioned his son that passed away and how it made him realize what life was all about. Kelly~ ” I am extrememly proud of the Buffalo area for their contributions to are charity programs.”

Jim was also asked about his thoughts on the Bills this season and the acquisition of Terrell Owens. He replied with: ” I am excited about this year’s team” ” I believe they have a good foundation in place and can be competitive.”

He was then asked about his opinion on T.O to which he replied ” My opinion doesn’t really matter, but one thing I know is it reminds me of when we signed “Jimmy” Lofton.” “That helped our offense tremendously.” ” Regardless of hear say one thing I know is that guy can play football.” ” I also hope it works out for more than one year here in Buffalo, his career speaks for itself”.

Hmmm… and Optimistic Kelly on the T.O signing. I am not going to lie, I loved every second of his discussion about Owens. I actually agree on his comments because you can’t become a franchise cancer when there has been a tumor on the organization for the better part of a full decade (as far as the playoffs are concerned that is). Jim still lives in the Buffalo Area out in Holiday Valley (Elicotville, NY.). Your questions about his intentions for partial ownership investors in place for the team were unfortunately unaddressed. After speaking with my contacts there seemed to be a notion that if Kelly had no intention of being a part of the Bills organization at some point he may have long ago moved to a better year round climate. I was also impressed with the camp as well. Anyone looking to get their children into some good football camps look no further. Well thats all I have on my Adventure to One Bills Drive and Some of the quotes may be slightly off because I can only write so fast, but you can take from it what you like. I know I certainly did!

~Matty Coco

Thinking about the “State of the Buffalo Bills” right now is giving me a headache. My personal life is not anymore out of control than normal outside of cyberspace, yet I feel completely confused about this year’s Bills team. Maybe that’s good.

It’s hibernation time for the team for everyone but T-O, Donte, and Maybin who seem to tweet more than all the birds at our place at 6 AM in the morning (it gets loud around here).

So many posts I read talk about how stacked the Bills are at skill positions.This may prove to be true, but both lines have HUGE Qmarks and that is where I think the success of this year’s time will ride upon.

I wrote a thread recently at BBMB about how the defensive line’s performance was as big a concern to me as the newly tossed together Oline. But this no-huddle (depending on how much they use it) is going to really be dependent on how well conditioned and talented our defensive line proves to be this season.

Such a weird season. 50th anniversary season, all the T-O drama, MNF opener against the Patriots*, strange schedule with so many late afternoon games, Ralph’s induction to the HOF along with Bruuuuuuce, more Qmarks about the starting QB, and who knows how the AFC BEAST will fare?

The only thing I am certain about is if the Bills can’t win big in their own division, they are toast. 0-6 still makes me feel disgusted with this coaching staff. I’ve tried to be open minded about JaYawn, but his style has never inspired me much.

However, like Ralph, I’ll give the guy one more year to see if he can ever get past 7-9. I thought last season starting at 5-1 and Brady out for the year that the Bills REALLY had a chance. So not only do they blow it, they can’t even win a game in their own division. How pitiful is that?

Here are my biggest areas of concern for this team this season:

Maybin and Shawn Nelson intrigue me as far as what they might or might not bring to the table during their rookie year. Obviously Wood and Levitre need to make a quick adjustment to the NFL, but so does Maybin.

Beating the Patriots*. This has to be the year the Bills beat NE at least once. Got to get that monkey off the Bills back. Must be done this season, and it would be the coup de grace if they could pull it off in the opener. That’s their best chance, IMO… before BellyBoy gets too much “film” on this team. Really don’t like the guy, but I have to give it over to him as being the best in the business as far as taking advantage of other team’s vulnerabilities.

Trent’s head is still giving me headaches. We all know he wasn’t the same almost the rest of the entire season (except the Chargers game). This retooled offensive line better give him some protection, or I fear another concussion might put him in serious trouble.

I’m sick of listening to my spouse tell me that after that concussion, Trent might not EVER be the same as read and react time. If he doesn’t regain that “poise” that made him stand out early on, then the Bills will be back out hunting for another leader at QB.

The first fifty years of the Bills has been quite the ride. More downs than ups, but perseverance through adversity is what defines a Bills fan, IMO. But the times are a’changin’ and this old Bills fan is probably not going to change with it.

New ownership for the Bills continues to beat like a drum, louder and louder in the background noise in my head. So, I’m looking forward to training camp when my mind can stop wandering and I have something concrete to focus upon.

One thing I’ve started doing is trusting my instincts. Thanks to many Bills fans here and elsewhere in cyberspace, I’ve learned a great deal about the game.

Coupling that with a pretty good sense of intuition about human behavior and I have found that I’ve been right about a lot of things I see EARLY during the preseason… that DO carry over to the regular season.

One time soon I will post my thoughts and observations of T-O, and what comes along with having T-O on your beloved football team. He talks a lot about how he was raised and influenced by his grandmother. So was I, so I can relate to a lot of the comments he has made about growing up with Granny.

I see him in a very different light since I’ve watched him interact about being a Buffalo Bill. I’m very intrigued by the possibility regarding how his drama will play out in WNY.

Later, homies. I’m grateful to all of you who give me a chance to reconnect with Bills fans from all over the world.