Welcome to the freak show
To the college players who are coming to Buffalo and about to call the 716 home…
First off, welcome to what might be the most intense, loyal, and downright strange football family you’ll ever be a part of. You’re about to land in a place where love for the team isn’t casual…it’s generational, emotional, crazy, and weird.
Yes, Bills PR will tell you about all the famous positive tropes: people jumping through tables in the snow, standing shirtless in freezing weather, and treating a Sunday in the fall like a sacred event. They’ll tell you it’s blue cheese or bust, and to scrub your social media of any trash talk about the cold because someone will find it. And yeah, you’re probably going to learn that you HAVE/FORCED to love the Sabres too, whether that means sitting in a suite wearing an Alex Tuch jersey or just figuring out hockey on the fly.
But your relationship with the fans? That’s where it gets different.
It’s obsessive. And if you let it, it’ll become something you’ve never experienced before.
You’ll notice it right away—airports, Wegmans, restaurants, gas stations, even the drive to the stadium. It doesn’t matter. Someone will recognize you. Someone will stop you. And they’re not just saying hello—they’re invested. They’ll ask about the playbook, your mindset, your offseason, your favorite wing spot.
Here’s the truth: it’s easy to connect here…if you’re willing.
Give your time. Have fun with it. Shake hands. Take pictures unless a fan is being an asshole. Ask Stevie Johnson, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Fred Jackson—guys who didn’t win big here but are still loved like they did.
This city doesn’t ask for perfection. It asks for effort, for heart, for authenticity. If you give that, they’ll give you everything back—and then some. But there’s another side to all that passion.
Don’t read the mentions. Not on Twitter. Not on Instagram. Don’t go searching for validation—or criticism—in places where the loudest voices can be unhinged and maybe just Botts. And if you do…keep it to yourself. If you invest yourself—your time, your energy, your care—you won’t just play here. You’ll belong here. And once that happens, you’ll understand why this place is the way it is. Why it’s loud. Why it’s loyal. Why it’s unhinged. And why, for so many people, it’s everything.
Oh…and one more thing.
There’s no hiding here.
This team is expected to win. Not someday…But now. Every snap, every gameday, every season carries weight. You’re stepping into something that matters, with a fanbase that feels every inch of it. If you help bring a championship to Buffalo, you won’t just be remembered—you’ll be immortal.
And if you don’t?
They’ll still watch. They’ll still care. They’ll still show up. They’ll also probably troll you on social media [raises hand].
Because that’s what we do.
The real question is….what are you going to give them?
The forced crossover
When Terry Pegula bought the Bills, I remember on my old website (Buffalo Wins) Chris Ostrander and I did a duel post on how exciting this partnership could be. We talked on how this opens up merchandising opportunities like putting a Bills logo on a hockey jersey, or having a giant fan fest for both teams, or having podcasts where the star player from each team interviews each other, or having Bills/Sabres tickets packages for one day where if you have a double header you provide a shuttle from both stadiums. It was exciting times.
For most of that time since then, it has basically been a forced partnership where none of those things I listed as possible exciting ventures happened. There was obvious favoritism towards the Bills due to success and that they make an incredible amount of money no matter what vs a red-head step child that lost on the ice and lost money off the ice. I’ve used the wrestling term “rub” numerous times on this site about having one person/entity -who was vastly superior- bring up another person/entity that was about as popular as ranch on wings.
With that the Bills/Sabres synergy has resulted in a Michael Jackson/Lisa Marie Presley marriage phony-ass spectacle.
here’s a crash course on remembering..
The Ryan Brothers going to Sabres games in turd jerseys and Bills twitter posting it like a TikTok influencer.
Brandon Beane calling Kevyn Addams to give him advice on being a GM on Sabres Embedded.
Bills night at the arena during a game when zero current players were in town and the intermission interviews were all about the Bills new stadium.
Tre White’s hockey academy that was just making fun of hockey, which was funny, but it also made hockey look stupid and that NFL players don’t get it.
I’m sorry, but having Brandon Beane in head-to-toe playoff gear during a Bills press conference screams “The PR staff just gave my this shit and I’m gonna wear it to show I love hockey!” It’s just been worse version of Kathy Hochel going to a Bills bar and posting a selfie in her god awful Bills jacket.
It just feels about as organic as a hot dog.
Meanwhile, does anyone recall any Sabres players or alumni leading the charge for the Bills, or taking a selfie with Billy Buffalo, or chugging Beers in the parking lot and being RT by the Sabres/Bills? I do remember when Bills twitter posted photos of Leafs players on the sideline of a game and Jack Eichel was rooting for the Patriots.
Now at different points, I understood while using the Bills “rub” to help the fledgling Sabres did make some sense. The Sabres weren’t making money and they sucked.
Now things are different.
The Sabres are good and are super popular. The vibes have been great for the last 5 months. And like when it was time for Roman Reigns to stand on his 2 feet and leave the Shield, it’s time for the Sabres to split off from the Bills universe and create their own social media legacy. You may like Chinese food and pizza, but you don’t eat them at the same time.
Yes, Josh Allen beating the drum for game 2 did fire up the crowd because he’s the most popular player in town, but getting over the hockey history with the beat of the drum will last longer than getting ESPN to tweet out a meme. You wanna have Bills players banging the drum or on the intermission of a Sabres regular season game? Fine. But not having the Sabres attached to anything with the Bills outside of a Lindy Ruff photobomb at training camp, is burying the Sabres.
I know. This is all stupid shit and If you come back with an “who cares?!” Or “Mr Curmedgon gotta bitch about something” line…You are correct. It is trivial.
I definitely know there are Buffalo sports fans who love this type of synergy and the Josh Allen rub tastes great. However, and allow me to throw out a blanket statement which I normally hate because I don’t know everyone, I don’t think hardcore Sabres fans want that. And those are the people who should count more.
The Sabres players/organization being nonexistent when it comes to them crossing over to Bills world. Stories from Tim Graham about the Bills not wanting the Sabres culture or the Pegula kids not really being enamored with taking over the hockey team. How for years it seemed like the Pegulas were spending way more on football than hockey, on and off the ice/field. The time is now to say something and stick up for the redheaded stepchild and let them get over on their own.
Sharing the spotlight just starts to look like standing in someone else’s shadow. And if the Sabres are as good as they look now, they shouldn’t be in anyone’s shadow.
The bullet proof trade down theory
The Bills trading down in the first round left me conflicted. I’ve seen this movie before—during the Patriots’ heyday, they treated trading down like a personality trait, and the ESPN talking heads couldn’t stop calling it “smart football.” Meanwhile, a decent chunk of those drafts aged like milk.
That’s what bugs me most about draft coverage. It’s all takes, no receipts. Analysts throw opinions at the wall, and nobody circles back to see what actually held up—especially when it comes to the whole trade-down philosophy. Once a consensus forms that a position group is “deep” or “weak,” it just gets parroted across X and the media ecosystem like it’s fact instead of a guess dressed up with accuracy.
And yeah, there are guys grinding film year-round who’ve built a brand doing this. Respect the work ethic. But even they’re hitting, what, .200? This whole process is subjective theater—both in the lead-up and in the instant draft grades that get handed out like condoms at a frat house five minutes after the picks are in.
On paper, I get the logic. The Bills have depth issues, the front seven is a question mark, so you trade down and collect assets. Fine.
But “more cards” doesn’t mean much when you’re trying to hit 21 and win now. Day 2 and Day 3 guys rarely move the needle immediately under the Brandon Beane tenure. And if we’re being honest, edge and corner didn’t feel like the most urgent needs anyway. Interior D-line and linebacker seemed like cleaner paths to immediate impact—especially with the uncertainty around Dorian Williams and the defensive tackle rotation being a mystery.
To be fair, the return on the trade down looks solid in terms of value. No argument there.
But if we’re evaluating Brandon Beane’s track record, immediate rookie impact hasn’t exactly been his strong suit. You can point to Greg Rousseau, Spencer Brown, Devin Singletary, and Deone Walker as early contributors—but none of them were exactly flipping games as rookies. And wasn’t the pre-draft messaging that this class wasn’t all that deep or talented? Now people are mad that these picks—who profiled as depth pieces—aren’t instant starters? It just feels getting caught up in the moment and forgetting what was said before or that what was said was probably wrong anyways.
I’m not losing my mind over it, but I’m also not pretending Beane is above criticism and wishing the Eagles GM was ours.
At the end of the day, we won’t know anything for a year or two. But it’d be nice if, just once, the Bills could hit on a draft class that actually moves the needle right away—because they haven’t come close to recreating what they got in 2017.
Stat of the week
Skyler Bell is the 2nd highest drafted WR by Brandon Beane. Here’s the list and what draft pick they were
Keon Coleman (33)
Skyler Bell (125)
Gabe Davis (128)
Khalil Shakir (148)
Justin Shorter (150)
Ray-Ray McCloud (187)
Marquez Stevenson (203)
Isiah Hodgins (207)
Kaden Prather (240)
Austin Prohel (255)
Dad shots
—Sabres/Bruins Game 4 recap- Yeah, that one flipped fast and it wasn’t subtle. Sabres scored 4 goals in first period and Boston had like 2 shots on goal. That forecheck was the story. Buffalo kept stacking pressure and forcing turnovers in dangerous areas. Noah Ostlund has definitely given them a jolt since Norris has been hurt and made him expendable. Byrum and Krebs were great. Boston just had zero energy and were trying to start fights as they knew they were toast. That’s what happens when your coach tries to create a narrative that it’s 1988 Burins hockey and the Sabres are dwarfs. Lyon was solid and I have no clue what Lindy is going to do for game 5 between the pipes. Anyways, this was fun and let’s end this Tuesday night. Would be only 2nd time this century that the Sabres can close out a series at home. (2007-Islanders and 2001-Flyers) .
—Sabres/Bruins Game 3 recap—Lindy Ruff made the right move going from UPL to Lyon. Lyon was great, and I feel like once he stopped the penalty shot by Victor Arvidsson, it changed everything. The Sabres took it to Boston and skated all over them. Dahlin was fierce, checking everyone into the sun. The Sabres’ fourth line has done what a lot of fourth lines are supposed to do: high energy, backchecking, and throwing in the occasional scoring chance. Also, what the hell is up with the random broken sticks?
—Sabres/Bruins Game 2 recap—This game sucked. Just no energy for the first 50 minutes, and UPL giving up that red-line backhanded flip sunk everything. As Lindy said after the game, there was a lot of clutching and grabbing by the Bruins, and that’s how they want to play. Sidebar: I would give anything for one team to decide to play without a goalie for one period of a hockey game.
—A few weeks back, I heard Paul Hamilton on the Bleav podcast do one of his “too many fans think” tropes about people panicking over the power play and why they shouldn’t because they were middle of the pack (they finished 20th). Right then and there, I knew the power play was an issue. They haven’t scored a power-play goal since March. I’m not a power-play specialist, but I’m open to anything—hire some 75-year-old power-play coach from the ’70s, park Stanley’s big ass in front of the net, or roll out five forwards. But it is bad, and it doesn’t make any sense why.
—I’ve hardly watched the hockey playoffs since the last time they were in it, but it always seemed like officials would swallow their whistles when it came to calling penalties. That’s definitely not the case now.
—The power plays for both teams have been a mess.
—So I found out if you download the Spectrum TV app and log into an account in Buffalo that has MSG, you can watch the Sabres feed anywhere for free. I’ve been using my mom’s account, which saves me money from buying the ESPN+ package. Let me tell you, some of these local commercials are…special. Is William Mattar like the My Cousin Vinny of Buffalo lawyers with his personality? Also, who is the random girl who doesn’t say anything in the Seneca Casino commercial with Kaleta and Ray?
—I don’t know anything about TJ Parker, but when Brandon Beane said it would be a while for Michael Hoecht to return, edge was back on the table in the higher rounds for me. We know Beane loves drafting defensive linemen as he’s talked up the 2003 Carolina Panthers D-line like it’s the Steel Curtain. It’s crazy they’ve selected eight DL within the first three rounds since 2019, and I only like two of them, which I’d like them to be better (Oliver/Rousseau) while the rest are either blah or still under consideration.
Per the Ringer on TJ Parker
Career Stats (39 games): 144 tackles, 41.5 tackles for loss, and 21.5 sacks.
Sophomore Peak (2024): He earned All-American honors with a standout season including 11 sacks and a school-record 6 forced fumbles.
Final Season (2025): His box-score numbers dropped to 5 sacks, though scouts noted he remained a consistent disruptor and improved his technical pass-rush repertoire (swipes and spins)
—No one seems to be happy about the Bills drafting a boundary CB as high as they did. Btw, couldn’t Beane call Davison Igbinosun by his full name instead of IGB. I guess the ESPN national mockers were onto something while local media did the standard trope of they aren’t here everyday to know what is going on. I thought it was somewhat easy to see the Bills being attached to DB help. The Bills did lose Tre White and Taron Johnson, who both played a lot last year, and replaced them with just one CB in Dee Alford. It is a passing league so you’ll be facing teams with multiple WR sets. I definitely thought it would be more of an early Day 3 pick, but not that high.
From what I’ve read (aka stealing stuff off the internet), he does bring a lot of physicality. I wonder if safety could be in his future, or if he’s—wait for it—a HYBRID MULTI-POSITION PLAYER that Beane always loves to talk about.
It was also classic Beane when he mentioned how the Bills’ CB depth was tested last year due to injuries and cost the team. I don’t know…maybe you shouldn’t have picked up a veteran CB off waivers without talking to his agent first, and then let Ja’Marcus Ingram go to Houston. But that’s just me.
Scouting report on Davison Igbinosun per Bleacher Report
long, physical “press-man” cornerback who is often compared to Pro Bowler Charvarius Ward. Scouts primarily view him as a boundary defender who uses his size to disrupt timing at the line of scrimmage.
Physicality at the Line: He excels in press coverage, using nearly 33-inch arms to jam receivers and reroute them early in their patterns.
Run Support: Unlike many corners, he is an aggressive, willing tackler who can shed blocks and set the edge against outside runs.
Durability & Experience: He was an “iron man” in college, starting 53 consecutive games across four seasons at Ole Miss and Ohio State.
Improved Discipline: While once highly penalized, he significantly cleaned up his game in 2025, dropping from 16 penalties in 2024 to just 4 or 5 his senior year.
Hip Stiffness: He has “tight hips,” which can make it difficult for him to transition quickly against shifty receivers or on sharp-breaking routes.
Grabiness: He has a natural tendency to be “handy” throughout the route; scouts noted he even wore “oven mitts” in practice to break the habit of grabbing jerseys.
Ball Tracking: He sometimes struggles to locate the football when his back is to the quarterback on deep vertical shots, leading to panic at the catch point.
— As for the rest of the draft…it seemed fine. As I wrote in my primer, I felt they needed to address OL as their depth needed to get younger, especially if Torrence leaves next year via FA. Steve Smith Jr loves Skyler Bell as he seems to be kind of like each other when it comes to their skill sets. Also, we can now use a bunch of Skyler White memes. Kaleb Elarms-Orr seems fine. Yes, I’m checked out now cause I’m just stealing takes.
— I wonder how much, if at all, salary and the fifth-year option factor into the Bills’ decision to move out of the first round.
— Name me one Buffalo sports athlete/Coach/GM who was still with the team and has gone from super popular to the biggest heel since Bobby Heenan. That’s Brandon Beane right now.
— Someone check if Shane Conlan had CTE or was drunk when announcing the Bills’ draft pick. “2016 draft??” Woof. At least Poz, who looks bigger than a Buick, helped him on the next pick.
— We reconfigured our apartment and switched our living room and dining room. Let me tell you, shelves are vastly underrated and can save your apartment.
— Why do we need to hear “God Bless America” during the NFL Draft? What am I missing?
— The Mike Vrabel / Dianna Russini saga has taken more turns than a Tony Soprano and Gloria Trillo affair. We went from “nothing to see here” to Russini potentially quitting her job and Vrabel admitting something went on. The timing of Vrabel breaking his silence—before more photos dropped—and then issuing a statement on draft night right after the New York Post published kissing pictures from six years ago at a New York dive bar was definitely not by accident.
Vrabel going to “counseling” on a Saturday is weird.
Like…who has counseling on a Saturday? Is this some kind of sex clinic he’s going to? Is the NFL or the New England Patriots trying to send a message after past controversies (see: Robert Kraft) or were the Patriots more concerned about whether Vrabel was feeding Russini information or is this just to show the world that there isn’t a double-standard.
I still don’t think Russini’s career is ending. Maybe it impacts her standing at places like The Athletic, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she lands on a FanDuel or Barstool Sports podcast by September.
— Why do Bills reporters constantly thank Bills PR for food or press conference access on social media? Am I supposed to be jealous of the food spread or does Bills PR keep track of the compliments?
—Andy ate an entire burger and fries this week. He’ll be 3 in July. Is that normal for a toddler to eat? He also graduate to an older soccer class and he’s still progressing. He’s still terrible, but progress is progress.
— Ric Flair is a five-alarm grease fire. His interview with Ariel Helwani was a 50-minute, self-absorbed “look how cool I am” rant because he’s 80, drunk, and has Donald Trump’s number. I used to think Hulk Hogan was the biggest asshole out of the ring, but Flair might have passed him with the belligerent tweets and how he comes off in interviews. It’s just sad at this point and he needs rehab.
-Business news…A few people bought Homage shirts from my link and I’d like to thank those people. If you purchase some shirts following this link, your boy gets a kick back. Some of the cooler Bills attire I’ve seen is this hoodie and this Tecmo Bowl Bruce Smith t-shirt. Also for your retro shirt of the day I give you this 1992/1993 Blue Jays World Series shirt. BTW, I was a giant Braves fan as a kid and went to game 3 of the 1992 World Series and saw Devon White crush my dreams with a ridiculous catch. Also, Jeff Reardon was the worst trade deadline deal ever. Remember you can get 15% off your first order if you sign-up for their emails.
—If you made it this far, thank you! Please share, like, hate read, and have someone buy you a shirt for Mother’s Day. If you want more of me like my wife does, you can listen to my weekly appearance on the Chicken Wing of West Seneca, Patrick Moran the IV by hitting this button.
I vividly remember Ed Sprague Jr’s pinch hit two-run homer in Game 2 off Reardon in the 9th to give the Jays the lead and a split in the first two games in Atlanta. At the time that felt like a turning point. The White catch was also just as spectacular as the famous Willie Mays catch in my opinion.