The 12th Man South

Andre Reed’s “OVER THE MIDDLE” All-Purpose Sauce

2011-01-28T12:40:00.001-05:00

Andre Reed, former NFL and Future Hall of Fame Receiver of the Buffalo Bills, is known for being an all purpose “Over the Middle” receiver. Now, he has taken this reputation off the field and into the marketplace creating a signature all purpose sauce for sauce lovers everywhere.

Andre is pleased to announce and introduce Over the Middle, his very own signature all purpose sauce!

Over the Middle was created with the vision to make an impact on the local economy and aimed at raising money for the youth of his hometown, The Lehigh Valley. Fifty cents from every bottle sold will benefit The Second Mile, a non-profit organization dedicated to children who need additional support and who benefit from positive role models.

When you purchase a case of

Andre Reed’s

“OVER THE MIDDLE” All-Purpose Sauce

from our website

www.andrereedOTM.com

Be AUTOMATICALLY entered

to win

a round of golf for 4 players with

Andre Reed!

One lucky grand prize winner will receive:

-a round of golf for 4 players in The 2^ndAnnual Andre Reed Celebrity Golf Classic

at Lehigh Country Club^*on Sunday, July 17^th*

-an autographed Andre Reed photo for each golfer

-round trip coach air transportation

-hotel accommodations for two nights

*Subject to change

no purchase necessary

The Second Mile, founded in 1977 in State College, Pennsylvania, is a statewide, non-profit organization for children who need additional support and who would benefit from positive role models. The Second Mile plans, organizes, and offers activities and programs for children - and adults who work with them - to promote self-confidence as well as physical, academic, and personal success. www.thesecondmile.org

Please note that a Buffalo Based Charity will be chosen in the near future for product sold at Buffalo area retailers.

Former Buffalo Bill Andre Reed Unveils New Business Venture

2010-12-04T09:43:00.001-05:00

Contact: Greg Tolver
(858) 829-1854
gtolver@pmmgllc.com

Buffalo Bills legend and Future Hall of Fame Receiver, Andre Reed, has launched a new
business aimed at raising money for the youth of his hometown, The Lehigh Valley.
For 15 seasons, he was known for being an all purpose Over the Middle receiver. Now, he
has taken this reputation off the field and into the marketplace creating a signature all
purpose sauce for sauce lovers everywhere.

Andre is pleased to announce and introduce Over the Middle, his very own signature all
purpose sauce, at a launch party Thursday, December 9, 2010, at Melt Restaurant in
Allentown, PA beginning at 6:00 PM. The event will feature a three course protein meal as well
as entertainment. Andre and his Over the Middle team will be present along with Primo
Produce and The Second Mile, his partners on this venture into the sauce category business.
Over the Middle is a signature all purpose sauce that comes in a 12.7oz bottle. Starting in
mid-December, fans can purchase a bottle of Andre’s signature sauce at Lehigh Valley-area
retailers. Retail grocers such as Weis Markets, Wegmans, Giant Food stores and Redners Rite
Aid have all shown interest in carrying Over the Middle on the shelves. Foodservice
customers, such as restaurants, caterers and institutional accounts can purchase
Over the Middle all purpose sauce delivered direct with their regular order from U.S.
Foodservice. Fifty cents from every bottle sold will benefit The Second Mile, a non-profit
organization dedicated to children who need additional support and who benefit from positive
role models.

In addition to retail purchase from stores, Over the Middle can also be found on the
company’s website www.andrereedotm.com. Purchases made on the company’s website will
also include a special opportunity for football fans to enter to win a chance to golf with Andre
Reed at his 2nd Annual Celebrity Golf Classic in Allentown, PA July 10th, 2011.

“My father, who passed away fifteen years ago, told me, ‘Son, if you have a chance to make a
difference, if you can have a voice, then you’ve got to take advantage of that and make a
difference,’” said Reed founder and owner of OTM. “My passion for giving back combined with
my father’s vision inspired the creation of OTM. I’m excited about entering the marketplace
and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the youth of The Lehigh Valley.”

A limited number of tickets to the launch party will be available for $69. For tickets to the
event, please contact Sarah Petryk at (610) 798-9000 or email spetryk@meltgrill.com.
The Second Mile, founded in 1977 in State College, Pennsylvania, is a statewide, non-profit
organization for children who need additional support and who would benefit from positive
role models. The Second Mile plans, organizes, and offers activities and programs
for children - and adults who work with them - to promote self-confidence as well
as physical, academic, and personal success. www.thesecondmile.org

For more information please call (858) 829-1854 or go to www.andrereedotm.com.

The 12 Man Report

2010-10-07T10:39:00.001-04:00

By Rick

While attempting , in vain I might add , to enjoy our Bills take on the visiting Jets , I found myself musing about what's gone so terribly wrong in the world of One Bills Drive . Most of the answers are so obvious to us fans that I'm almost embarrassed to pass along my own thoughts on the subject . It seems to me that we have five basic areas in urgent need of serious upgrade . As I see it , they are Offensive Line , Defensive Line , Linebackers , Quarterback and Tight End . See ....recognizing the needs isn't so very difficult , is it ? But " WHY " , is the question that I kept asking myself . If it's so easy to see the problem , why is it still a problem . The answer , of course , is that we're paying the price for the sins of ineptitude committed be the various General Managers of the Bills and anyone with input into our Draft process . In the decade since the year 2000 there have been eleven NFL Drafts . In those Drafts the Bills have selected a total of ninety three ( 93 ) players , Here are some examples listed by the position groups that I named earlier .

Offensive Line . An area of dire need that has screamed for help for the entire decade . In the face of that obvious need the Bills have selected only fourteen ( 14 ) Offensive Linemen , out of 93 total selections . Out of that fourteen , only three ( 3 ) were chosen before the Fifth Round . One of those was OT Mike Williams , and we all know his story . The other two high picks were Eric Wood and Andy Levitre , selected just last year . The other twelve were selected in Rounds # 5 through # 7 . By the way , of the fourteen linemen selected only four are currently with the team , Wood , Levitre , Demetrious Bell , and Ed Wang , picked just this spring .

Defensive Line . Just a tad more attention has been given to this group . In eleven Drafts we've selected eighteen ( 18 ) potential pass rushers and run stuffers . Of that number eight are still Buffalo Bills , three of which are from this year's draft alone . But , don't by any means think that maybe we're stocking up on Defensive linemen . No , no . Four out of those eight men have been converted to Linebacker , with varying degrees of success .

Linebacker . Yeah , let's talk about the LB's , shall we ? This Unit of the Buffalo Bills just plain stinks . There's no other , nicer , way to say it . They might be the worst group of LB's in the NFL . If you disagree , just think back to any of the first four games . In eleven drafts we've addressed that need by selecting a total of eleven ( 11 ) players . Seven ( 7 ) of them were chosen in later rounds # 5 through # 7 . Only three of them still remain Bills today .

Tight End . No wonder the Bills have no clue how to cover a Tight End . We haven't had one on our roster worthy of practicing against since Pete Metzelaars left in 1995 . The decision makers have endeavored to come up with a serviceable TE by drafting a total of six ( 6 ) over an eleven draft span . Only one was deemed worthy of being picked earlier than Round # 4 Just one of these men is still with the team . The bad news is that he's been serving a suspension for using banned substances .

Quarterback . We've searched high and low . We've wrung our hands and wailed . Why , oh why can't we find the next Jim Kelly . Why can't we come up with a Quarterback to lead our team out of the NFL wilderness and return us to football respectability ? I'll tell you why . It's because in spite of the glaring , screeching , dire need for a competent QB , the deep thinking football men at One Bills Drive have selected only three QB's in eleven drafts . The latest being a 7th Rounder just this past April . At this point I'm going to a bit of an apologist for the other two men who have tried and failed to be " the guy " . Personally , I believe that both J.P. Losman and Trent Edwards were intelligent , physically talented QB's who were victimized by the incompetence surrounding them . Granted , neither one is the second coming of Jim Kelly , but they could both have played if not for their shared inability to overcome the problem . Which problem you ask ? The one that comes from attempting to pass from behind our virtually non - existent offensive line . Compound that with what can only be described as a constantly chaotic coaching mess . Suffice to say that just one of the three " Chosen Ones " remains a Bill . And he's only a Bill because of being resigned upon the release of Trent Edwards . He had been cut before the start of the current season . Do you suppose that they brought him back only because they already had jerseys with his name on them ?

So , do you see what I mean about paying for our sins of incompetence ? An age old adage of how to build a football team is that you do it from the inside out . In other words , build those lines before you bother addressing the so called skill positions . And make no mistake , LB's are to be considered linemen . A succession of decision makers , namely John Butler , Tom Donahoe , Marv Levy , Russ Brandon and now Buddy Nix , have had the final say at the Draft table . They've brought in what seems a constant stream of Defensive Backs , Running Backs and Wide receivers . It's as though they all learned Drafting 101 at the knee of Matt Millen . Of the ninety three players selected in the past eleven drafts , there were fifty two at the position groups that I've discussed . A whopping seventeen ( 17 ) are Buffalo Bills today , and six of those came from this years' draft . That leaves a sum total of eleven players to show for eleven drafts . Only six of them are starters on this totally dysfunctional team .

Well , there it is . Granted it's only my opinion , but I suspect that a few of you agree . If not , I'd welcome your input . just write your thoughts to this site and I'm certain that they'll appear in the next newsletter . Like all Bills fans everywhere , I anguish over not just the losses on the field , but also the continuing sorry state of the team we love . Now , at least in terms of some numbers we can see why .

I hope to see all of you at AlliGators next Sunday for the 1:00 PM kickoff against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the return of Trent Edwards .

2010-10-06T23:12:00.000-04:00

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Bills Vs Pat's 1 2010

2010-09-27T19:23:00.000-04:00

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2010-09-20T20:05:00.000-04:00

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Bills VS Fins September 2010

2010-09-14T14:06:00.000-04:00

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Bills Backers SWFL Fan Photo's

2010-04-19T20:50:00.000-04:00

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BUFFALO BILLS NFL DRAFT PARTY

2010-04-18T12:33:00.000-04:00

BUFFALO BILLS NFL DRAFT PARTY
Beef O'Brady's (Corner of Sumter & Price Blvd, North Port, FL)
Thurs., April 22nd, at 7:30 PM
50/50 Raffle
Food & Drink Specials

The Bills draft 9th in this years NFL draft. Will the Bills trade away their #1 draft pick or select a new quarterback?

Come join us for a Buffalo Bills draft day party on Thursday, April 22nd at Beef O'Brady's (Sumter & Price Blvd in North Port).

John Downing from Niagara Falls, and his wife Glenda owners of Beef O'Brady's are going to have specials for food and drink items.

If you have never been to a Draft Party, this can be the best party of the off season. We will have a 50/50 drawing so get there early and get your tickets.

Please reply to this E-Mail so we can get a head count for reserved seating.

Hope to see you there.

Mark Maefs
President, Buffalo Bills Backers of North Port

Post Season Report

2010-03-14T09:54:00.001-04:00

By Rick

It's been several weeks since the end of our 2009 season of discontent , and as we all know , big changes were in store for our beloved Buffalo Bills . As the season was winding down , Ralph Wilson promised that no stone would remain unturned in their search for the best possible football minds in order to fulfill our quest for a championship . Great coaching names passed the lips of every fan with a great deal of anticipation . Mike Shanahan , Bill Cowher , John Gruden and Mike Holmgren to name a few . Ralph was even quoted as ready to offer megabucks , as much as $10 million a year , for the the services of one of these Super Bowl Champion coaches . Aah....the things that dreams are made of . First in the order of business was to appoint a new General Manager to oversee the entire football operation . It would then be his responsibility to conduct the coaching search . Ralph went all out in his quest . He actually interviewed and considered two people . Must have really tired him out . Afterward he said that on the list of potential interviewees , he knew only those two . What better reason to not go further ? Buddy Nix is our guru for the foreseeable future . This isn't meant as any knock on Buddy Nix . His credentials are , indeed impressive . A half century of involvement in the NFL is impressive in and of itself , but he's been intimately involved with the building of a pretty formidable team out in San Diego . He was also a integral part of the scouting apparatus that assembled the Bills Super Bowl teams of the early '90s . After his introduction as GM he embarked on an exhaustive search for just the right man to head up the new coaching staff . Given all of the available names . Impressive up and coming coordinators and recycled head coaching retreads , he finally found the best man for the task . Chan Gailey . Yep . Chan Gailey . I , for one , couldn't have been any more stunned if he had brought back Hank Bullough . Coach Gailey , in addressing questions about potential staff members , said that nobody would recognize most of the names he had in mind . He was so right . The FBI and Interpol wouldn't have recognized the names of most of these new assistants . To his credit he retained a few key members of the previous staff . George Catavolos for the DB's , DeMonte Cross handling the inside linebackers and the defensive line coach of last year , Bob Sanders , handling the outside linebackers . I feel that these coaches are particularly important in that they handled some of the most stout and cohesive units on the 2009 team . Bob Sanders in particular could prove to be invaluable in the conversion of Aaron Maybin to outside linebacker in the newly installed 3-4 alignment . Chris Ellis , the DE who has has languished on the fringes of our roster for two seasons is also being mentioned as a potential 3-4 outside linebacker . These players have a history and familiarity with Coach Sanders which might help in their transition . The new Offensive Coordinator is Curtis Modkins . Who ?? Not exactly a household name , just as Gailey indicated . Most of his credentials are college related , but he spent the past couple of seasons with the Arizona Cardinals . Not too shabby of an offense there , is it ? Oh , by the way , he'll also handle our running backs . As Quarterback Coach , Gailey tapped the Canadian Football League for arguably their best QB guru . Anyone who has ever seen Canadian football knows that they have to play a passing game , since they have only three downs , not four . George Cortez has been the man who has developed a good number of the best QB's north of the border for a good many years . The newly installed Defensive Coordinator is George Edwards , late of the hated Miami Dolphins . His promise is to install an aggressive , ball hawking , 3-4 defense . In the past I've not been a fan of the 3-4 , but things change , and it's about time to get on board with the trend . Being the only AFC East team not employing a 3-4 has hurt us immeasurably for several seasons . Coach Edwards comes to us with excellent credentials . I'm sure that every Bills fan feels that the Piece De Resistance of the coaching hires is the return of Bruce De Haven as the Special Teams Coach . Who better to follow Bobby April . That's a real tough act to follow and there's no one that I'd rather have than De Haven . Back to Front Office hires for a moment . When Ralph interviewed Buddy Nix , he also interviewed John Guy for the post of General Manager . Obviously he felt that these two men were the most eminently qualified to lead the Bills out of the wilderness . Two weeks later he fired John Guy . This step begs the question , why did he interview him in the first place ? Was it solely to satisfy the Rooney Rule ? If so , shame on you Ralph . That's bush league and should have been beneath you . Another hire that might seem to be under the radar , but could prove to be a real coup , is Doug Whaley as Assistant GM and Director of Pro Personnel . He comes to us from the Pittsburgh Steelers , where he was considered by league insiders to be a serious up and coming star in the field of talent evaluation . Boy , do we need some of that .

Like you , I'm sure , I had hoped to have one of the " big name " coaches and GM's in place to guide the Bills into the new decade . I had envisioned a Bill Parcells type of strongman at the helm to turn things around immediately . Was I disappointed with the selection of our new GM and Head Coach ? You bet ! BUT......now that we have our guys in place , I'm ready to settle back and let them see what they can do . As let down as we fans may feel at not having the " name" to rely on , I believe in giving people a chance to succeed on their merits . Gailey isn't the superstar we hoped for but he hasn't been a slug in his career either . He's generally regarded as an extremely bright offensive mind who gets a great deal of production out of the talent that he has at his disposal . Buddy Nix does know a football player when he sees one . Hey , he's no Russ Brandon , but a half century in the NFL scouting players counts for something .

Upcoming shortly we have the annual " meat market " of the Indianapolis Combine , Free Agency beginning on March 5th and the Draft in late April . Already , we've released nine on 2009's players with certainly more to come . The BIlls we saw are not the Bills we'll see , believe me . As much of a curmudgeon as I can be , I love the Buffalo Bills and I can't wait for the future to show itself for us . Stay tuned , you don't want to miss a single thing .

The 2009 Awards

2010-01-08T16:39:00.002-05:00

The 2009 Pink Slip Awards go to...

1st Place Trent Edwards
2nd Place Terrill Owens
3rd Place Ralph Wilson

Honorable Mention: R. Parrish, C. Chambers, M. Lynch and the Coaching Staff ( who have already been served their pink slips)

The 2009 You're A Keeper Awards go to

1st Place F. Jackson
2nd Place J. Byrd
3rd Place P. Poz

Honorable Mention: B. Moorman, A Schobel,Terrill Owens, Rian Lindell, Lee Evans, R. Fitzpatrick.

Congrates to all this years award winners!

The Grand Finale.....

2010-01-03T18:08:00.000-05:00

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Bills at ATL 2009

2009-12-27T17:50:00.000-05:00

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Bills Vs Pats 2009 Part 2

2009-12-21T09:28:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!

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Lehigh Elementary Christmas Program

2009-12-18T18:14:00.002-05:00

Each year we as a club donate money raised from the raffles to the children in the Pre-K program so that they may have presents for the holidays. Each year the children put on a special Christmas program. The pictures are from the program. Thanks to all the club members for making the holidays for these children special.

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Bills at KC 2009

2009-12-13T20:59:00.000-05:00

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Bills and Dolphins 2009 Part 2

2009-11-29T17:27:00.000-05:00

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Bills at Jags 2009

2009-11-22T20:06:00.000-05:00

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A Fan's Perspective

2009-11-20T11:59:00.001-05:00

By Peter

The problems with your football team in Buffalo are sadly similar to the
hockey problems we have experienced for over 4 decades in Toronto. When you
have a lack of leadership and vision at the top of an organization it
permeates throughout.

In Toronto when Harold Ballard owned the hockey team no competent general
manager wanted to work under him and the Leafs front office was always in
shambles. As Ballard got older and realized even he wasn't immortal, he
brought back an aging and out of date Punch Imlach to be the Leafs GM. As
you know, Imlach had led the Leafs to 4 cups between 1962 and 1967. Things
went from bad to worse and eventually all of the Leafs top players were
dealt away.

Since Ballard's death, while there was an ongoing dispute over his estate in
the 90's, the Leafs were actually run by a competent GM Cliff Fletcher and
were the most competitive that they have been in the last 40 years. Once
the dust settled, and the Teacher's Pension fund emerged as the majority
shareholder, corporate/non-hockey people were placed at the top of the
company. To evaluate their success (other than the financial bottom line)
just look at the Leafs record over the past 7 seasons.

Sadly Ralph Wilson is approaching the end of the road. A few years ago,
much like Ballard, he tried to turn back the clock to the man who had last
brought him winning football Marv Levy who had led the Bills to 4 Super
Bowls in the previous decade (much like Imlach).

Over time, I think it is clear that the best organizations are those that
are strongest at the top. Obviously, you can find exceptions such as the
Yankees who through sheer bankroll can buy their way out of mistakes, but
those are the exceptions. Look what new competent ownership did for the Red
Sox and the Patriots in this decade. The owners brought in competent people
to run, manage and coach their teams and for the most part you only see the
owners sipping champagne in the locker room and riding at victory parades.
You sure as hell don't see them firing coaches.

The situation in Buffalo has an added wrinkle as no one knows what the
future of the team will be after the owner joins the big league in the sky.
Ralph Wilson has done a lot for Buffalo and certainly for football in
Buffalo. In my view his biggest and most long lasting contribution could be
if he were to find a way to transfer the Bills to new ownership himself
rather than having the process carried out by executors and the Probate
Courts. I think it would be better for everyone, and especially the
football fans in Buffalo, if this was done through the business and
football people now rather than through the lawyers and accountants later.

As far as winning goes, that will come with leadership from the top. New
ownership would mean a chance to hire new competent people to manage the
organization and coach the team.
Not that many years ago, it was announced that the Patriots would be
leaving Foxboro and moving away. Rather than suffering that fate, with
stability at the top of the organization, their fans have been treated to a
decade that they could not have previously imagined.

Can the Bills fans too avoid the fear of losing their team, and instead
through stability and leadership at the top of the organization, achieve
new success their fans can only dream of?

For the sake of the 70,000 people we spend every other
Sunday with in the fall, I hope they can.

Bills loose AGAIN!

2009-11-16T10:05:00.000-05:00

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Texans visit Da Bills

2009-11-03T20:41:00.000-05:00

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2009-10-25T22:37:00.000-04:00

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2009-10-19T20:12:00.001-04:00

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Bills and Browns

2009-10-12T21:18:00.001-04:00

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2009-10-06T08:55:00.001-04:00

2009-10-05T20:40:00.001-04:00

2009-09-27T21:32:00.000-04:00

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2009-09-22T00:19:00.001-04:00

2009-09-15T20:51:00.001-04:00

2009-07-28T20:40:00.001-04:00

2009-07-28T19:55:00.001-04:00

Where in the world is Anthony Hargrove?

2009-05-20T00:18:00.001-04:00

DE Anthony Hargrove, who was suspended by the league for a year after violating the league’s substance abuse policy on the heels of other off the field incidents signed with the New Orleans Saints. That according to the Times-Picayune.
Former Rams interim head coach Joe Vitt is now the Saints’ linebackers coach and reportedly put in a good word. But Hargrove though talented is anything but stable upstairs.
I once had a long conversation with him about the voices in his head. He said there are 11 people living up there and they all “come out” at different times. At first I thought he was pulling my arm, that it was an act, but he rattled off their names like it was nothing. The list by the way included three or four female personalities.
Some of his teammates at the time were convinced he was nuts. Still he was pretty talented and he was a monster on kickoff coverage on special teams. The league re-instated him just this past February.
His former Bills teammates will be able to see him in Week 3 when the Saints come to town, that is if he’s still on the roster. New Orleans has an awful lot of distractions.

The 12th Man South Off Season Report By Rick

2009-04-26T12:26:00.000-04:00

Well , here we are gang , half way through the Buffalo Bills off season . With our guys finishing this past season in such disappointing fashion , we all knew that some changes were called for , didn't we ? Well , it's changes we got . Gone are three fifths of the starting offensive line . Yeah , the line that Marv Levy put together to be the backbone of the offense . It turned out to be the tail bone . First Derrick Dockery was released , and none too soon if you ask me . What en expensive mistake he turned out to be . A hard worker in practice , from all reports , and a terrific technician in the art of line play . But , he seemed better suited for the role of spectator since he spent more time watching plays unfold than actually participating in them . The Free Agent period was soon to follow , and with it came the departures of Duke Preston , Melvin Fowler and Jason Whittle . Ah , the memories these guys gave us , huh ? It's a miracle of sorts that Trent Edwards is still alive , having operated behind this group . Last , but certainly not least , among the O - line departures was the trade of Jason Peters to Philadelphia . To be sure , Peters is among the elite left tackles in the NFL . When he feels like it . Last season he obviously didn't . Mr . Peters allowed 11 1/2 sacks in only thirteen games , the most by any starting left tackle in the league . His hold out last year single handily scuttled the plans to install a no huddle offense which might have proved to be of great value competitively and certainly fun to watch . Gone with him is a huge locker room distraction . Also lost in free agency was Jabari Greer . For my part , I'll miss him . All he did in his time with us was to develop from an unheralded rookie free agent signee , into a very capable and dependable cornerback . Best of luck Jabari , and thank you , you'll always be a Bill in my book . Oh , I almost forgot . J.P. Losman is gone too . Bye !!

Now , lets look at the newcomers . Our first Free Agent acquisition was Goeff Hangartner from the Carolina Panthers . Who ?? I have a strong feeling that he'll show us " who " . A couple of days after his signing I had occasion to watch a replay of the game from last season between Carolina and the NY Giants . Hangartner started at right guard for Carolina and more than acquitted himself well . He showed me a trait that none of the departed Bills linemen ever displayed . This guy is nasty . He displayed a real nasty streak that has him lock onto his man and keep going until he finishes the block . Sometimes he kept going after that too . If you get the feeling that I was impressed with Goeff Hangartner , you're right . Buffalo envisions him as the newest answer at Center . Not a Kent Hull maybe , but then again who is ? The good news is that while he may not be the second coming of Kent Hull , he's not Melvin Fowler or Duke Preston either . Another O - lineman signed to shore up the depth is Seth McKinney . He's a seven year veteran who has spent time with both Miami and Cleveland . Cornerback , Drayton Florence , a seven year pro came to us from Jacksonville . Just a year ago he was among the most sought after free agent corners in the league after playing for the Chargers since his rookie year . He never seemed to fit with Gregg Williams defense in Jacksonville but he's capable of providing good depth at that all important position . Now to the Big Enchilada . The Piece De Resistance of our off season . Terrell Owens . Do you believe that TO was signed by Buffalo ? We all know that he's the kind of guy you love to hate , but he is a remarkable talent . He gives our receiving corps , and the entire offense , instant credibility . Which defensive coordinator would dare to double cover Lee Evans now ? The passing game isn't the only beneficiary of his presence . Defenses won't be so quick to load " the box " at the line of scrimmage in order to stop our running game with this new found receiving threat . Marshawn Lynch , when he eventually returns from suspension , along with Fred Jackson and their new sidekick , Dominique Rhodes should love that . Terrell Owens . I still find it hard to believe .

As I write this , we've just completed the first two rounds of the Draft . We've selected four players in those two rounds and the Bills have done something that hasn't been done in some years . They've addressed needs on both defensive and offensive lines with three selections out of the four players chosen . Their first selection in round one is Aaron Maybin , a " tweener " sort of defensive end from Penn State . This guy's forte is the pass rush . To say that he's fast doesn't quite cover it . His initial move off the edge is more like a strong gust blowing by an unsuspecting tackle . He has an enormous amount of potential upside but he also carries some risk . You see , he was a starter for less than one full season at Penn State so there are some who wonder if he is just a " one year wonder " . We better hope not . I'd much rather see him be another DE like Bruce Smith than like Erik Flowers . Maybin was rated the number one DE prospect by many scouts . In keeping with that nastiness theme they've added Eric Wood , a center / guard from Louisville and Andy Levitre , a guard / tackle from Oregon State . Both of these players are reputed to be rock solid , blue collar types who would drive block their own Mother if she stood between them and the goal line . Wood is rated as one of the top three centers available and Levitre is the number one guard prospect available this year . It would seem that the Bills are changing their line play philosophy from one of finesse to just plain mean , smash mouth football . Yahoo , it's about time . I'm anxious to see them bloody some noses this coning season . These two young guys were academic All Americans as well as standout ball players . Both are slated to be guards , at this time . The other draft pick is Jairus Byrd , from Oregon , one of the top rated cornerbacks in the country . I think that Buffalo sees him as a free safety prospect . We've traded away our third and first fourth round draft choices . Remaining are another fourth and one each in rounds five , six , and seven . It's about time we had a great draft . The team is still suffering from those awful Donohue drafts . Ralph said it last season , we need more talented players . I think that we're on our way to achieving that goal .

It's not quite May yet and I'm already getting that September feeling . OTA's begin in about a week and before we know it training camp will be here . Personnel transactions are taking place , players are working out , and we fans should start gearing up too . Some of us qualify as Senior Citizens so we have to take a little extra time to gear up for the season . If we were to start too quickly , we may just strain something . So ease into it , but start getting yourselves ready for that Monday Night opening game against the Patriots . Won't it be great to see those guys go down on a Monday Night ?

2009 Schedule

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PreSeason

Sunday 8/9 Bills vs Tennessee Titans (HOF Game) 8:00 PM

Saturday 8/15 Chicago Bears 7:00 PM

Saturday 8/22 At Green Bay Packers 8:00 PM

Saturday 8/29 At Pittsburgh Steelers 7:30 PM

Thursday 9/3 Detroit Lions 6:30 PM

Regular Season

Monday 9/14 At New England Patriots 7:00 PM

Sunday 9/20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4:05 PM

Sunday 9/27 New Orleans Saints 4:05 PM

Sunday 10/4 At Miami Dolphins 4:05 PM

Sunday 10/11 Cleveland Browns 1:00 PM

Sunday 10/18 At NY Jets 4:15 PM

Sunday 10/25 At Carolina Panthers 4:05 PM

Sunday 11/1 Houston Texans 1:00 PM

Sunday 11/8 BYE WEEK

Sunday 11/15 At Tennessee Titans 1:00 PM

Sunday 11/22 At Jacksonville Jaguars 1:00 PM*

Sunday 11/29 Miami Dolphins 1:00 PM *

Thursday 12/3 NY Jets (Toronto) 8:20 PM

Sunday 12/13 At Kansas City Chiefs 1:00 PM*

Sunday 12/20 New England Patriots 1:00 PM*

Sunday 12/27 At Atlanta Falcons 1:00 PM*

Sunday 1/3 Indianapolis Colts 1:00 PM*

Red = Home Game

* = Game subjectt o Flex Scheduling

The Bills and the HOF

2009-02-01T10:20:00.002-05:00

Yes Bills fans..2 yes 2 of our Bills will be in the HOF come August! Congrates to Bruce Smith and owner Ralph Wilson Jr for this great honor!!! This will be something to see come August!

Sophie's Players of the Year Awards

2008-12-29T18:18:00.003-05:00

Presenting this years award winners......

The Preparation H Award - Dick Jauron for his questionable coaching skills

The Hero of The Year Award - Freddie Jackson for being a HERO when we needed him to

The Rookie of The Year Award - Leodis McKelvin for being the best of the bunch

The Anchor Award - Marshawn Lynch for being steady and true throughout

The Most Improved Award - Steve Johnson for improving throughout the season

The Goof Ball Award - Jason Peters for making more goofs that cost us plenty

The Major Disappointment Award - Lee Evans for performing less than he is able to

The Clown Award - JP Losman for playing like a real clown

History of The Bills Backers of SW Florida

2008-09-30T18:15:00.000-04:00

The Bills Backers of Southwest Florida were officially formed in March of 1992 by Tom Austin, who served as the Club's first President. Club members attribute the success of the club to the early efforts of Tom Asutin. His dedication and diligence to every detail gave the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida a strong foundation for the Club to grow. The founding Board of Directors consisted of three Officers and six Board Members. The first seated Officers were: Tom Austin - President, Julius Salgado - Vice President, and Shirley Trippany - Secretary/Treasurer. The first seated Board Members were: Michelle Austin, Skip Bentley, LuAnn Boyle, Cy Brancato, Don Brown, and Bill Johnson. This Board was seated for the first two year term. It was decided that after the first year to appoint David Trippany to a Board position to complete the second year of the term. The Bills Backers of Southwest Florida are members in good standing of Bills Backers International and governed by By-Laws drafted by the founding Board of Directors.

The Club's first home was Pott's Sports Bar, in South Fort Myers, which we out grew after the first year. The Club's second home as B.T. Boomers, in central Ft. Myers, which was a Sports Bar that was indeed fitting to host the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida. A great working relationship was formed between the two organizations, giving the Bills Backers a home they could be very proud to call their own. After two years it was decided that a change was in order and the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida moved to R.J. Gators, again in central Ft. Myers, another local establishment that catered to sports fans. While the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida called R. J. Gators home, the Mayor of the City of Buffalo, The Honorable Anthony J. Maciello, sanctioned by Proclamation that R.J. Gators was part of the City of Buffalo on game days. The relationship with R. J. Gators lasted only one year and the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida were once again on the hunt for a new fan club home. A new local Sports Cafe was very interested in the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida and continually recruited the Club. In 1996, Shoeless Joe's Sports Cafe (affiliated with the Holiday Inn Select, now known as the Crown Plaza) officially welcomed the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida to their new home. This was indeed a bold move for the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida as the Club was growing and large places that could accommodate our fans were becoming increasingly harder to find. Through the relationship that had been established with Shoeless Joe's Sports Cafe and Holiday Inn Select, the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida have evolved to one of the largest and most active chapters within Bills Backers International. In 2000, Shout! magazine confirmed this fact by awarding the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida with their annual Best Fan Club of the Year Award.

The Bills Backers of Southwest Florida have made annual activities common place where other chapters in Bills Backers International could only watch in envy. The Club has prided itself in all of their activities, but truly stand proud when their charity efforts both in Southwest Florida and within the Buffalo area. The Club is also very proud of their accomplishments with their Annual Player's Weekend which has become an event recognized by the Buffalo Bills and the Buffalo Bills Alumni Association.

Through Super Bowl parties and the loss of key team members, the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida have stood as one big happy family that was relocated to a strange new area. The Club has built a name for itself that even Miami Dolphin and New England Patriot fans are impressed with, no matter how much they may actually deny it.

The Bills Backers of Southwest Florida suffered a deep loss in February of 1996 when the founding President, Tom Austin, resigned at a Board of Director's meeting. He cited both personal and health reasons for his decision, further stating that it was one of the hardest decisions he had to make in some time. The Board of Director's were then hit with a second blow, yet another loss from the Board of Directors as then Club Vice President, Skip Bentley, also tendered his resignation effective immediately citing personal reasons for his decision. The remaining members of the Board were left in total shock, not sure which way to head. The timing of the resignations hit the Board of Directors even harder as each member of the Board knew the their Annual Player's Weekend was quickly approaching, only six weeks away and the member's of the Board were now faced with the Club's first crisis. The remaining Board Members quickly regrouped and appointed Board Member Earl Wiggins to complete the remainder of Tom's term and Cy Brancato to complete the remainder of Skip's term. The vacant Board Positions would be filled by membership vote at their Annual Spring Picnic. The silent fear of the remaining Board Members was that with the loss of Tom Austin the Club may not survive. Most members felt that he was the sustaining force behind the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida. The Board of Directors knew that the next several months would be crucial to the survival of the Club. The Annual Player's Weekend came and went without a hitch, but the "new" Board of Directors sincerely felt how the membership looked at the loss of Tom Austin. Some Club members were lost and the Board of Directors knew that they had some very difficult and trying times to get through. In hind sight it should be noted that at this point in time, the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida needed to go through a major crisis such as this, as it was a time like this that gave way to the belief and knowledge that the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida were a unit of individuals that had created an entity that could with stand problems and still survive as that entity known as a Sports Fan Club. Further it made the internal workings of the organization stronger and more aware of the little details that keep the club strong and growing. It also gave the Club's membership confidence in the Board of Directors that through any situation the seated Club members running the club can and do have the drive, determination, and Club's best interest at heart to ensure the Club survives any situation.

Since that fateful night in February, President Earl Wiggins has made the Board of Directors a very strong, organized and well rounded unit. He was able to bring out the special talents of each member of the Board of Directors, creating a new organization for the club. Innovative ideas, raffle improvements, the addition of weekly Silent Auctions, and the advent of "Alumni Player Game Day" have vastly improved the efforts of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors continued their relationship with Shoeless Joe's Sports Cafe and Holiday Inn Select, creating a situation that enhanced the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida. This strong relationship has made the Club's annual events stronger and more beneficial to the desired outcome, raising funds for Children's Charities. The Club had always held their relationship in high regards with Shoeless Joe's Sports Cafe and Holiday Inn Select and did at that time look forward to many more years with its extended new family. Earl Wiggins gave notice to the Board of Directors that he would not seek another term as Club President and completed his last year as Club President in April of 2000. At the Annual Player's Weekend Banquet, held in April of 2000, Earl stunned the audience in attendance by stating he would not seek nor accept the nomination as Club President. He had stated that it was time to turn the leadership of our Club to the "younger generation" of our Club and heartily nominated David Trippany for Club President and urged the Club to not only elect but offer their full support to him. The Board of Directors then honored out going President, Earl Wiggins, awarding him the "Distinguished President's Gavel" award for all of his efforts and achievements during his Presidency. During Earl Wiggins exit speech to Club members, he informed the membership of the distinguished award awarded to the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida. Shout! magazine has named the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida the "Number One Chapter within Bills Backers International. The efforts of Earl Wiggins - President, Cy Brancato - Vice President, Shirley Trippany - Secretary/Treausrer and Board Members Judy Agos, LuAnnBoyle, Jackie Call, Bill Johnson, Mary Pasquale, David Trippany, and Carol Waite had finally been recognized by an organization closely associated with the Buffalo Bills Football Organization. Every member of the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida heartily congratulated this seated Board of Directors for their outstanding efforts towards making this the "Best Chapter in Bills Backers International".

In April of 2000, David Trippany, accepted the nomination of Club President of the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida and was elect to the post of President during the Club's Annual Election held at the Annual Spring Picnic. While David Trippany took over as the Club's President when the Club was enjoying phenomenal success in all areas, he would soon be President during a time period that would serve to become some of the Club's darkest hours, testing not only the abilities of the Board of Directors but the very fabric of the Club itself. In 2001 the Club was informed by Shoeless Joe's Sports Cafe and Holiday Inn Select that we were no longer welcome within their establishment, citing that they could make more money without out Club's attendance on NFL Game Sundays. The Board of Directors quickly activated themselves into action and in no time found a new Fan Club Home. Groove Street Grill and Discotheque had heard the Club was looking for a new home and through Board Member Bob Call had schedule a meeting with the Board of Directors. The deal was sealed at the meeting that the new Fan Club Home would be Groove Street. Owner Joe Gallanis was thrilled to have the Club at his establishment. Tough times were indeed in the Club's future. Internal Club problems threatened the once prosperous Club, a football's team inability to have a successful ball club, deteriorating relations with our Fan Club Home owner, a major decline in membership and member attendance at games, and a severe Club debt passed on from the previous Club President that had nearly crippled the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida. Taking all this in stride, Club President David Trippany kept focused on the fundamental ideals that formulated the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida and lead the Board of Directors in a direction that always pointed toward success of the Club. Under the leadership of Club President David Trippany, the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida would not only survive but would again begin to flourish as a successful entity.

In the spring of 2008, Groove Street owner, Joe Gallanis, informed the Board of Directors that he no longer wanted to be host to the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida. He cited the lack of profits for his reasoning and his rising costs. Club President David Trippany, Club Vice President Fred Johnson and Board Member Rick McCarthy quickly moved into action and within one month had a deal sealed with Alli Gators Neighborhood Bar and Grill for the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida to meet exclusively in the restaurants main room. To date the relationship between the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida and Alli Gators, while it is quite new, continues to get better with each passing week. We look forward to a long stay at our new Fan Club Home, knowing our future here will not only be bright, but successful as well.

The current Board of Directors consist of the following: Club President - David Trippany, Club Vice President - Fred Johnson, Club Secretary/Treasurer - Shirley Trippany, Board Members - Pam Addy, Judy Agos, Rosanne Agos, Mary Kay Hammerl, Jerry King, Rick McCarthy, Mary Merkley, and Greg Silcox, Board Assistant Positions - Mary Anne Cipressy (Editor of "The Two Minute Warning" and "The 12th Man South") and Edith Robinson (General Board Assistant). Each member of the Board of Directors brings with them unique qualifications to ensure the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida remains a strong and viable entity not only within Southwest Florida but also with Bills Backers International. This current Board of Directors looks forward to the new challenges the future will bring, knowing that each Board Officer and Member has special leadership abilities that continue to enhance the diversity of the Bills Backers of Southwest Florida. The Club membership has not only come to expect this of their Board of Directors, but demands it.

The Bills Backers of Southwest Florida have remained strong over the last seventeen years of existence, from the Super Bowl years to the leanest of years, the Club has survived everything that was thrown its way. This year, our 17th year we are beginning to see membership's on the rise, a football team that is achieving success, the likes we haven't seen since 1992, and an internal strength of the Club that can only be attributed to good direction from a strong and unified Board of Directors that truly has the best interest of the Club's membership at heart.

We look forward to a great season, both at our new Fan Club Home and with our team, the Buffalo Bills. In typical Buffalo Bills fashion...............GOOOOOOOO BILLS!!!!!!!!!!!

2008 Schedule Scores and Win/Loss Record

2008-09-30T16:27:00.014-04:00

September 7 - Seattle Seahawks at Buffalo Bills - 10-34 W
September 14 - Buffalo Bills at Jackson Jaguars - 20-16 W
September 21 - Oakland Raiders at Buffalo Bills - 23 - 24 W
September 28 - Buffalo Bills at St. Louis Rams - 31-14 W

October 5 - Buffalo Bills at Arizona Cardinals 17-41 L
October 12 - BYE WEEK
October 19 - San Diego Chargers at Buffalo Bills 14-23 W
October 26 - Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins 16-25 L

November 2 - New York Jets at Buffalo Bills 26-17 L
November 9 - Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots 10-20 L
November 17 - Cleveland Browns at Buffalo Bills 29-27 L
November 23 - Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs 54-31 W
November 30 - San Francisco 49ers at Buffalo Bills 10-3 L

December 7 - Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills (Toronto) 16-3 L
December 14- Buffalo Bills at New York Jets 27-31 L
December 21 - Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos 30 - 23 W
December 28 - New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills 13-0 L

Season Standing 7 - 9

NOTE: RED indicates win BLACK indicates loss

About The Bills Backers of SW Florida

2008-09-29T14:00:00.001-04:00

Greetings all Buffalo Bills fans. The Bills Backers of SW Florida meet to cheer on our team at Alli-Gators on the corner of Colonial Blvd and Veronica Shoemaker. We are open to any and all fans of the Buffalo Bills. We have our own area that is exclusive to fans of the Buffalo Bills.

You can join our club, as membership does have its benefits, for $25 for one person and additional $10 for anybody else who lives in the same household. When you join you get a membership kit that includes among other things a club t-shirt. If you are interested in joining email us at: billsbackersswf@aol.com or visit our website: http://www.billsbackersofsouthwestflorida.com/

Membership benefits:
1. Club T-shirt
2. Entry into a members only drawing for each game you attend.
3. Entry into the year end members only drawing for each game you attend.
4. 10% discount off of your Alli-Gators bill when you show your membership card.

Game Day Activities:
1. Raffle drawing for prizes at the end of the 1st Quarter and at half time.
2. $5 square for an autographed full size Bills Helmet.
3. Trivia Contest for 2 free raffle tickets when you buy your raffle tickets.
4. 50/50 drawing at the 2 Minute Warning of the 4th quarter.
5. Membership contest- for each new member you sign up your number goes into a drawing for a $25 gift certificate at Alli-Gators. The drawing will be held at the Monday night game on November 17th. You MUST BE PRESENT to win.

Club EMail Newsletter
We have a club email newsletter that is sent weekly during season and as needed off season. This is the best way to keep with with all club news as well as commentary on the games.
To sign up email us at BBSWFL2003@aol.com

The Board of Directors and Board Assistants
President - David Trippany
Vice President - Fred Johnson
Secretary/Treasurer - Shirley Trippany
Raffle Chair - Judy Agos
Think Tank Chair - Jerry King
Fan Club Home Liaison - Rick McCarthy
Charity Chair - Mary Merkley
Game Day Liaison - Greg Silcox
Board Member at Large - Pam Addy
Roseanne Agos
Mary Kay Hammerl
Board Assistants:
2 Minute Warning/The 12th Man South Editor - Mary Anne Cipressy
General Assistant - Edith Robinson