Volume XXI- Bills, Takes And Dad Mistakes

Bills PSL drama, Bills season preview about QBs, Christian Benford slander? Dad duties

The Business of Being a Bills Fan

I think the first time I realized there was an “us” and a “them” when it came to the Bills was back during the Business Backs the Bills telethon of the late 90s. I remember like it was yesterday reading an SI article that indicated the Bills wanted more corporate money and could move. The whole campaign was about keeping the Bills in Buffalo by selling luxury suites and attracting businesses and high-income ticket holders. Even as a kid, I remember thinking this wasn’t really about me or the average fan. It was about convincing people with deep pockets to invest in the team.

That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s business. But it was the first time I noticed there was a difference between “us” and “them.”

Fast forward to today, and we’re having the exact same conversation.

Only this time it’s about PSLs.

The thing that really made me think about it was the outrage over the Bills making the Return of the Blue & Red scrimmage exclusive to PSL holders and season ticket members.

People lost their minds.

Suddenly social media was full of fans without season tickets ripping the people who did have them. The narrative became that the rich were getting all the exclusive experiences while the average fan got left behind. A few days later the Bills stated that they were going to have an open practice which was Joe Brady’s idea last month as a way to dose cold water on the fire. I’m skeptical, as always, that this was planned a month ago and all of a sudden they decided to announce it after we had a Royal Rumble between the PSL holders and non-PSL holders on X. It felt that the Bills doing their best to serve both parties.

If you’ve been a Bills fan your whole life and can’t get into an event because someone with a PSL got priority, it’s easy to feel like you’re on the outside looking in. Still, I do think if you have a PSL, you deserve perks and I’m not against this outing being tied to it.

But the reaction also made me ask another question.

How many people are actually being priced out...and how many are just complaining because they never really intended to go down that road in the first place?

Those are two completely different conversations.

There are absolutely lifelong Bills fans who simply can’t afford a PSL. I feel for those people. Between the license itself, more expensive tickets and everything else that comes with the new stadium, there are fans who have been priced out. That’s real. But I also know plenty of Bills fans who never had season tickets, never planned on buying season tickets, and maybe went to one game every few years. They tailgate. They watch from home. They go to a bar. That’s how they’ve always enjoyed Bills football.

There’s nothing wrong with that.

So when the Bills announced that PSL holders and season ticket members would get first crack at events, playoff tickets, concerts and special experiences, I didn’t really have a problem with it. If you dropped thousands of dollars on a PSL and committed to buying season tickets every year, shouldn’t you get something in return?

Otherwise, what’s the incentive?

People can say, “It’s not fair.”

But that’s kind of the point of being a season ticket holder.

It’s no different than airline miles. The person who flies every week gets upgraded before the person who flies once every three years. Nobody gets mad at Delta because frequent flyers get priority boarding. That’s the benefit of loyalty.

The Bills are doing the same thing.

Now, where I completely understand the frustration is this: taxpayers helped build this stadium. Fans who have bled Bills colors for decades feel like they’re slowly getting pushed farther away from something they helped pay for. That’s a legitimate complaint.

But I also think fans need to be honest with themselves. If there were no PSLs, would you actually be buying season tickets? Would you really be going to eight or nine home games every year? Or are you mostly upset because someone else is getting perks that you never planned on paying for?

I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer. I just think we’re lumping two very different groups together. One group genuinely can’t afford the new reality of NFL football. The other just doesn’t like that loyalty now comes with exclusive benefits.

The Bills almost have to reward the people making the biggest financial commitment. That’s part of selling PSLs in the first place. My only hope is that, somewhere along the way, they don’t forget about the fans who built Bills fan base long before PSLs, luxury suites and exclusive events became part of the experience.

Because the heart of this fan base has never been measured by who could afford the best seat. And maybe that’s the real takeaway.

This debate isn’t really about the Return of the Blue & Red scrimmage or who got first dibs on tickets. It’s about something that’s been brewing for decades. Ever since that Business Backs the Bills telethon, the organization has been trying to attract corporate dollars and higher-income fans. The difference is that back then, most of us didn’t feel the effects. Today, with PSLs attached to almost every conversation about the new stadium, we do.

Some fans have every right to feel priced out. Others are upset because they don’t like that season ticket holders are getting rewarded.

Both feelings can be true.

But before we lump everyone into one category, it’s worth asking ourselves one simple question:

Are we mad because we can’t afford to be part of it anymore...or because someone else is getting benefits we never planned on paying for in the first place?

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From Queens to the Box: QB Room

Joe: Well Chris, it is July, Team USA did what they normally do and that’s make us believe in the group stage and then have a letdown when they face a soccer power. The Sabres have been kind of boring since the draft. I just had a 2nd kid, so life is a disaster. I’d ask how your summer’s been, but Luke is screaming next to me as I type this. Bills season is coming and I want to break down each position with you as we lead up to the regular season. I want to break down the QB room. We got Josh Allen, Kyle Allen and I forgot who else they have, but they suck.

I guess my question to you about Josh Allen...do you think he can get better?

Chris: Are we asking if Josh Allen can be better or if his TEAM can be better? Because he’s been superhuman for the majority of his career and it hasn’t been enough. It’s hard to fathom Allen having another level to go to.

Joe: So you don’t think he can be better. You feel this is the top he will be at? I’ll tell you what, we both agree Allen is awesome. Maybe the best player in the game. However, there are moments/games I can cherry-pick from last year where he didn’t look right. I feel we always have a two-week midseason Josh Allen crisis where his hair looks like shit and he wants to die. Of course, he rights the ship and everything is fine.

I just wonder if there’s another level to him.

Case in point...Tom Brady. Brady was a better QB in his 30s than his 20s. He got better. His numbers say so. Can Allen become that guy, or is he more inclined to drop off like, say, Cam Newton did, when he had a bunch of injuries and he was done at 32?

Chris: I don’t mean that he can’t get better, just that he’s already been so good for them that it’s hard to imagine him finding another gear now that he’s 30. I also think there are tendencies in his game that he just can’t shake. For example, I think the Broncos loss sits squarely on his shoulders. He was careless with the ball and trended heavily towards the hero ball that he relied on in his first couple of seasons, and they couldn’t make up the ground.

There were also a couple of instances in late-game situations where I thought he simply missed throws. In fact, I believe there was an opportunity late in the Broncos game where he missed Dawson Knox. Had he completed that pass, they might win the game in regulation.

Point being, for all the progress that converted him from a fairly reckless young QB to one of the best players in the entire league, he’s still prone to some of those old antics.

The good news is that Allen has managed to keep himself healthy through this run, which gives me a fair bit of confidence that he can maintain his playing style without a huge drop-off. But I’m not sure if there’s another level. Maybe if they manage to add some actual weapons and the offense opens up again. But the dink-and-dunk, everybody-eats approach makes me doubt that outcome.

Joe: What is it that you want Allen to do better? Is there anything? I guess for me, I’d like Allen to go down the field more. I felt the death-by-a-thousand-paper-cuts offense is fine if you’re facing a defense that stinks against the short passes, but it needs to go more down the field.

I kind of miss the 2021 Josh Allen when he was throwing for 300 yards, three touchdowns and one interception over the 200-yard Josh Allen with one or two touchdowns.

Chris: We’re on the same page there.

The offense feels far more conservative these days. I know that’s by design and is in response to the way the entire league has shifted defensive play-calling. But it wouldn’t hurt if they were a little more electric. A little more dangerous. But I think that’s more of a team issue than Allen. Maybe D.J. Moore helps open that up a bit. Maybe Dalton Kincaid really pops. But I also wouldn’t care if they ran the ball 50 times a game if it meant they’d win a Super Bowl.

Joe: A few stats I wanted to run by you to let you know where Allen ranked last year:

• Passing Yards: 11th

• Interceptions: 12th

• Completed Air Yards Before Completion: 29th

• Completed Air Yards Per Attempt: 24th

• Yards Gained Per Completion: 15th

What out of these numbers jumps out at you?

Chris: That everybody appears to be eating appetizers. Clearly a lot of this stems from a general lack of outside weapons. Khalil Shakir is a really strong slot receiver, I think we can all agree on that. Keon Coleman has had well-documented struggles staying on the field and producing. I think his lack of development is a key factor in the lack of more explosiveness in the passing game. Not that he’s a field-stretching game-breaker, but he was drafted fairly high and he’s been average to this point. Kincaid’s injuries are another issue. But it all adds up to an impotent group of outside weapons for Allen to distribute to.

Here’s another stat. Of the top five reception leaders on the team, only two were receivers. Shakir led the team with 72 receptions. Kincaid was next with only 39, and he did that in 12 games. Coleman had 38 catches and the next wide receiver is Josh Palmer, who caught 22 balls.

That’s not good enough.

Joe: I think every fan is hoping that the lack of down-the-field passing was more about what McDermott wanted with not risking turnovers and that he was basically the governor on the Josh Allen bus. I don’t think we need to talk about Kyle Allen. He stinks. Let’s hope he doesn’t play a snap until the finale. As for someone like you who remembers a lot about Buffalo sports, I’ve been thinking about the Bills/Josh Allen window.

Is it getting smaller because of age?

I flash back to the Hasek years of the Sabres when he was a top-three player in the world and they failed to build around him. Right now, do you feel Hasek and Allen are kind of the same, with pressure mounting that they have to win a championship or, in a few years, we could have a situation like with Dom where he wants to get traded to a better situation?

Chris: Is there a position in all of sports where there is such a big difference between the ability of a backup and the starter? I don’t think there’s a single NFL backup quarterback who is worth a damn, and I think it’s kind of wild how big of a gulf there is between the two. Some of these backups look like they were pulled out of the stands when they get into games.

I think your Hasek comparison is a good one. The only difference is probably that Allen hasn’t shown any indication that he’s getting impatient. Hasek finally had enough in 2001 and forced his way out, and the Sabres suffered for it as that trade was a disaster. I think the damage was only mitigated by the lockout, but that’s another story for another time. I’d agree on the parallels between the two situations, though. Allen is a true superstar and one of the absolute best players in the entire league. Even at the top of the ‘90s Bills dominance, I don’t think Jim Kelly was in that category. Bruce and Thurman were right up there at their respective positions, but at quarterback, I don’t think the Bills have ever been in this position.

But I’ll circle back on that point I made above. He hasn’t made any indication that he’d want out. That can change overnight, so I wouldn’t rule anything out. But as of now, it kind of feels like he’s on the trajectory most other great quarterbacks follow, where they play out their prime with their original team, eventually leave as a free agent as they get on the wrong side of the aging curve, and bounce around a bit.

So I don’t expect to see him request a trade unless something really crazy happens.

Joe: Last question:

Over/Under for Allen this year based on last year’s numbers:

• Passing Yards: 3,668 (11th in the NFL)

• Passer Rating: 101.8

• QBR: 65.4 (7th in the NFL)

• Total TDs: 39 (25 passing, 14 rushing)

Chris: Over on passing yards. I think I’d push on passer rating and QBR, and I’d go over on total touchdowns as well. I’m optimistic that D.J. Moore helps open them up a bit and creates some opportunities for some of the guys below him on the depth chart. I don’t expect a breakout season from Keon Coleman or Josh Palmer, but I think they’ll be more successful than they were last year.

Check out Chris Ostrander’s work at Two in the Box

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STATHEAD OF THE WEEK

Last week, ESPN ran some sort of piece—I didn’t click on it—where NFL front office employees ranked their top 10 cornerbacks in the league. Christian Benford didn’t make the list, and Bills Twitter immediately did what Bills Twitter does: quote-tweeted it into oblivion demanding a recount.

Look, I don’t watch every NFL game, so I’m not going to sit here and scream, “Outrageous!” I do know one of the great time-honored traditions of Bills fandom and content creation is getting mad whenever a national list doesn’t include one of our guys.

Benford is a very good player. I actually thought he got off to a bit of a slow start last season before really finding his groove. He’s a really good corner.

Is he elite?

I’m not there yet.

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Dad Shots

—So…we had another kid.

It was definitely a surprise baby, and this may be TMI, but I’m pretty sure my wife and I could grow an entire civilization on a deserted island with how fertile we are. But I digress.

We’ve been adjusting.

The lead-up to Baby Luke was completely different than it was with Andy. With Andy, I was a wreck. I felt like I was counting down the days until his birth like I was about to storm the beaches of Normandy.

Then Andy arrived…and we survived.

I got cocky.

That confidence carried over to Luke’s arrival. I was as cool as a cucumber waiting for him.

Then, of course…

Chaos.

When you have your first kid, those first few months are one giant blur. You remember being exhausted and miserable at times, but you don’t really remember why.

Then the second kid comes along and, as Celine Dion once sang…

“It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.”

• The cry that sounds like a pterodactyl.

• The nonstop diaper changes.

• Remembering newborns don’t drink 3-4 ounces like Andy does now…which we literally had to Google because we forgot.

• Trying to swaddle a baby. The nurses make it look like they’re folding the perfect burrito. I make it look like I’m trying to fold a road map from 1989.

• Saying we weren’t going to use pacifiers this time…then giving in about three days into his existence.

• Hating those stupid button-up onesies where you have to line up 47 tiny snaps while the kid is kicking like he’s in the UFC. Fuck that. Zippers only.

It’s baptism by fire all over again, but everything is going great.

The Mrs. is thrilled with how breastfeeding has gone this time around after what was a difficult journey with Andy.

As for me…I’m working during the day, which means I don’t have to do as much with the baby.

Which totally breaks my heart.

(shifty eyes)

But my Job just ended so I’ll be more on dad duty during the day.

—The Sabres are boring again. Sorry. I know there’s a more optimistic way to frame this offseason. You can talk about the younger players. You can talk about the assets they acquired. But as the roster stands today, they’re not better than last year’s team.

That’s disappointing considering the progress they made and all the excitement surrounding Jarmo coming in.

Should they still be good?

…Right?

RIGHT?

Maybe they’ll still make another move, but right now this offseason has felt pretty underwhelming.

—With the Bills’ new stadium—which still resembles a bedpan—about a month away from opening, we’re going to hear a lot about developing businesses and apartments around the stadium. We all know Orchard Park is pretty rural. Outside of Bills games, it’s not exactly a destination where people go to spend a Saturday. If you’re building a stadium, you want something that’s a year-round attraction. I’ve tweeted this before, but now it’s time to will it into existence.

A Beer Hall of Fame.

Picture it.

• Brewing stations where you can make your own beer and come back six weeks later to pick it up.

• The history of beer.

• Beer memorabilia.

• Exhibits honoring the inventors of different beer styles.

• Chugging contests.

• Tastings.

• Beer hall

• Food trucks.

• A playground with beer-themed equipment because…why not?

You’re driving down I-90 before the 219 and see a sign that says Beer Hall of Fame. I don’t care where you’re going. You’re pulling off the highway. And if that doesn’t work…

Just build the biggest fucking Wegmans of all time.

—Death. Taxes. USA Soccer not getting over the hump. Every World Cup, they make us believe in the group stage before running into a true soccer powerhouse and falling short.

I don’t know enough about soccer to tell you exactly how to fix it. Maybe it’s the pay-to-play system. Maybe it’s because elite athletes have too many sports to choose from growing up.

Whatever the reason, it feels like this has been the story of U.S. soccer for my entire lifetime.

—Donald Trump reportedly calling FIFA to try to block a suspension is the Spider-Man pointing meme brought to life. Corruption meeting corruption.

—Definitely recommend Dark Side of the Ring on TNA and Jeff Jarrett. The talking heads were excellent…even if a few of them are completely full of shit.

(Cough…Vince Russo…cough.)

It definitely didn’t paint Dixie Carter in a flattering light, which isn’t surprising since she declined to comment.When that happens, I always wish productions could at least find someone who worked closely with that person to provide some balance.

Instead, it kind of came across like nobody wanted that job.

—I have no idea what’s going on creatively in either AEW or WWE right now. AEW gave Takeshita a six-week title reign where I barely remember him defending the belt…only to put it back on Kyle Fletcher. Kenny Omega is past his prime, and I don’t think Omega vs. Ospreay is the money match people think it is anymore. I know it’s the trilogy, but they probably should’ve pulled the trigger a couple of years ago. Also…

Can we get more heel vs. babyface main events again?

As for WWE, I still don’t understand the Sami Zayn title switch. CM Punk is still the bigger star. He doesn’t need the championship.

—Rhaenyra is headed for one hell of a heel turn on House of the Dragon. She does not seem well as she’s alienating everyone. I still don’t have a hero to root for on this show.

—Going back to PSLs, I got curious about what other NFL teams actually do for their PSL holders.

Some franchises treat PSL owners like premium customers with exclusive events, draft parties, stadium previews, training camp access, merchandise discounts, or priority access to concerts and other stadium events.

Others?

You basically get exactly what you paid for the right to buy your season tickets.

With so much attention on the Bills’ PSL rollout, I think it’s worth looking at what the rest of the league offers and asking whether Buffalo’s perks stack up…or if fans are expecting benefits that most PSL holders around the NFL don’t actually receive.

—If there’s one thing you’re going to take away from this post, it’s this: Press Your Luck with Elizabeth Banks is the best game show on TV and you need to watch it. Yeah, I said it.

The new season just started, and the premiere featured all football fans. The prizes on the Big Board were absolutely ridiculous—in the best way possible. We’re talking a 500-foot sub, Bud Light for life, a personal Jumbotron, Super Bowl tickets, and wings for life…I’m pretty sure Pat Moran would’ve passed out from excitement if he landed that one.

And here’s what really puts the show over the top. If you finish with the most money, you advance to a bonus round where you have a chance to win $1 million. But the best part is that the prizes become personalized to you.

The contestant who advanced was an Eagles fan who also loved Bad Bunny and going to the movies. So her bonus board included Eagles season tickets in the exact section where she and her dad used to sit when she was a kid, a trip to Paris to see Bad Bunny, and movie tickets every week for the next 25 years.

That’s such a cool concept. Instead of generic prizes, they’re giving people things they’ll actually remember forever. More game shows should steal this idea.

—Saw news outlets pick up on how there was an online petition about having OJ Simpson being honored at the new stadium. Can we please stop covering online petitions? It is played out. And yes, I’m going to start an online petition to stop online petitions.

— Folks are up in arms about Zohran not including Little Italy in NYC immigrant enclaves map

Let me be the first to tell you that Olive Garden is more Italian than Little Italy.

Little Italy is basically a tourist trap at this point. It’s packed with overpriced NYC souvenir shops and Italian restaurants where, more often than not, nobody running the place or working there is actually from Italy. The neighborhood itself isn’t even heavily Italian anymore. Most Italian American families moved to places like Bensonhurst, Staten Island, or Long Island decades ago.

If you’re looking for an authentic Italian neighborhood in New York, the conversation should start with Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. That’s where you’ll still find family-run bakeries, butchers, delis, and restaurants that have held onto those traditions.

So, if anything deserves to be on an “Italian America” map, it’s Arthur Avenue—not Little Italy.

The outrage over leaving Little Italy off the map feels like it’s coming from people who know the postcard version of New York, not how the city’s neighborhoods have actually changed over the last several decades.

—If you made it this far without falling asleep, I thank you! I have a 2nd kid now so now is the time to buy a shirt, subscribe, donate, share, or send prayers.

On Monday, I make my podcast return to ball bust the Thrill Seek Chicken Finger Eater of West Seneca. Please give a listen and fast forward through Pat’s parts. Have a good rest of the week and eat some ice cream!