IS “CHARACTER” BEING SACKED BY THE BILLS?

August 14, 2015 · No Comments

DON’T GET ME STARTED had my mind working its way to the great days of Hall of Famer Bill Polian, Marv Levy, John Butler and Ralph Wilson, among others.

What drifted around my cranium was the oft-repeated conversations those Bills had with the media and the fans. How often did we hear that in considering personnel for the Bills, the organization wanted those with character? This was important at draft time, in interviews, etc.

Character guys were important to Ralph Wilson. How often, during our chats in Fredonia, he mentioned that players with character were great for the team and the organization. He mentioned to me, Frank Reich, Steve Tasker, Pete Metzelaars, Kent Hull, James Lofton plus several others who had outstanding CHARACTER.

Fast forward to 2015 and what do the Bills have? Well, it might not surprise many if the Bills changed their colors to silver and black. They might be perceived as taking over the perch previously occupied by the Oakland Raiders – where players with some problems usually found their way to the Raiders when Al Davis was the main man.

Now the Bills have Richie Incognito; Percy Harvin and maybe some others. Now they added IK Enenkpali, the backup linebacker formerly of the Jets, who used his knuckles to break the jaw of quarterback Gino Smith of the Jets. The team wasted no time in sending IK on his way.

And the Bills wasted no time inking IK to a contract with Buffalo. It’s not that Buffalo needed a linebacker but taking one who wasn’t even a starter with the Jets has caused many to scratch their heads. But. of course, as he did with so many of his coaching assistants and others, head coach Rex Ryan is creating a Jets team well west of New York = Buffalo.

It’s surprising that owner Terry Pegula sanctioned the latest acquisition, a week or so after indicating he had no plans to rename the stadium that bears the name of the only owner of the Buffalo Bills during his some half century of ownership – Ralph Wilson, a true man of character. My question is why Pegula didn’t adopt Wilson’s character concerns.

Oh well……..remember Ryan’s words…..he said the Bills would be bullies on Don’t Get Me Started.

Filed under: Don't Get Me Started