Can the Bills ink Charles Clay and add another chapter to their most historic 365 days in franchise history?
Try to imagine the place you were in with this football team just a year ago? It’s difficult to even think about it, but it wasn’t that long ago. Things have certainly changed over the course of these last 11 and a half months, but just try to imagine the possibility of believing the timeline of actual events that have happened since:
- March 25, 2014- When I heard that Bills legendary owner Mr. Ralph C. Wilson had passed away I immediately stopped what I was doing and called my dad and then my brother. It was something we all just never expected. Something we always feared but never talked about. We worried what the future had in store for us, but just like everyone else we didn’t think it would be like this. Love Mr. Wilson or hate him, there will come a time in the near future where we learn how involved he really was in our soon to be dream ride. At least I hope so.
- May 8, 2014- I have always loved the NFL Draft, and when news broke that the Bills were looking to move up to take Cleveland’s pick it proved that they saw something in someone who they believed was a cut above the rest. Is there still an issue at the quarterback position? Yes. Did the Bills take a huge risk by moving up and losing their 2015 first round pick? Absolutely. However, Sammy is that good. The Bills and Sammy will not say it but Watkins played hurt all season and still produced. This move has many critics taking shots at Doug Whaley, but there doesn’t appear to be any quarterbacks the Bills could have picked in the 2015 draft anyway. Sammy can fly and will be a nightmare for any safety over the top. If the Bills sign Clay and finally have a big play threat at the Tight End position both Watkins and Woods will have big numbers next season.
- July 2, 2014- It would be very hard to say I didn’t enjoy watching Kiko play with the type of tenacity he brought to the gridiron. The guy was tough and certainly has a nose for the ball. He made plays and Bills fans loved him. Problem is he broke the golden rule of professional sports. You never get hurt playing another sport. You just can’t. It is something that will follow him everywhere he goes whether you believe it or not. Honestly, I think he was able to shine here partly because of how well that front four played. Kiko is good, but the guy we got in return is someone Bills fans will be thankful for right around week two.
- August 29, 2014- After watching one of the scariest preseasons in Bills history, I feared thing would only get worse when we signed Kyle Orton. I have made it no secret that I would like the Bills to give EJ a shot, but I completely understand why they pulled the plug on him after the Houston game. I traveled to Detroit to watch Orton, the laser show, and the Bills win and jumped right on the bandwagon. Once the party ended after the Raiders game I couldn’t understand why Marrone let Orton play in New England. It all made sense when Uncle Rico announced his retirement on December 29, 2014. I hated Marrone and always will, but at least he let the old gunslinger get one more win.
- September 9, 2014- Terry and Kim Pegula are responsible for millions of charitable donations that touch the hearts of people all across the globe. When they finalized the purchase of the Buffalo Bills they not only touched the hearts of all Bills fans, they sowed that heart back together stronger than it has ever been. The Pegula’s launched their OneBuffalo campaign soon after their record breaking deal and have been adding soldiers to their empire ever since. Mr. Pegula addressed the media on October 10, 2014 in one of the most memorable press conferences in Buffalo history. I listened to every word he had to say that Friday afternoon and loved every minute of it. My prayers were answered. No more talk of relocating. No more LA. No more Toronto. No more Bon Jovi.
- January 1, 2015- As news started to surface about the possibility that Marrone was going to opt out of his contract I was one of the few who understood why. Sure he made off with a lot of cash in our eyes, but the new ownership was happy to cut him his 4 million dollar out the door check. If we all knew he wasn’t part of the big picture so did he. Marrone was a below .500 coach with the Bills, but over played his own value by opting out. Once it was official I knew the front office would turn over every stone in their search for the next head coach. It took eleven days before they named their next head coach and on..
- January 12, 2015- The Buffalo Bills name Rex Ryan as their new head coach. The Pegula’s made a statement to the entire league when hiring the defensive mastermind. Once the new ownership had their man for the job Ryan made it clear that he planned on building a winner by any means necessary. Rex has the personality that will mix very well with the typically open and honest Buffalo sports fans. He knows his hockey and a thing or two about the history of the franchise he now represents. Rex has been given an opportunity few coaches would get after what he did in New York last season. I like all Bills fans hope he takes the ball and runs straight to the top.
- January 21, 2015- I watched or listened to every snap Jim Kelly ever took with the Bills. He was the franchise from the day he started until his final game against the Jaguars. In 2002 I was introduced to him at Cradle Beach Camp and he always remembered my name after that. He loved being around those kids and has made sure for years to come that places like that will be available to families that need it most. I have been keeping this timeline hoping that Jimbo would get the news that he is cancer free. I’m aware that he had received the news earlier on, but after reading that he had returned for the second time on this day to learn that he now needs to get stronger made me so happy for him and his family. It is only right that our Hall of Fame quarterback is along for the ride.
- February 7, 2015- Richie Incognito has had a lot of time to think about how he should have behaved while down in dolphin land. Lucky for him Rex doesn’t want him to change a thing. Look, I get the bully thing I really do but these aren’t the locker rooms at your local high school we are talking about. Prior to what happen in Miami, Incognito was viewed as a leader in the locker room as noted by even the individual who called him out. These guys are competitive and often cross the line to get their teammates to respect them. It doesn’t make what he did right by any means, but I feel the guy deserves another shot. Bottom line is that the Bills need a good guard and if the big cornhusker can protect whoever is back there he will have a job.
- March 3, 2015- If you play fantasy football and win at it like I do than you know that LeSean McCoy is special. The guy puts up numbers week in and week out. He was the best player on the Eagles but just didn’t fit into what Chip is trying to do. In other words, McCoy wouldn’t restructure his deal which meant Kelly’s hands were tied when trying to get the players he wanted. Philly shopped him around because they didn’t want to pay him what they all initially agreed upon. All but Chip Kelly. I am very confident that Shady will get over the negative perspective so many professional athletes have about our city. McCoy is scary good and is always on the field. The Bills play the NFC East next season and will travel to the City of Brotherly Love at some point. Pretty sure our new superstar will be looking forward to that matchup.
- March 4, 2015- As I said before, I want EJ to have a shot to compete for the quarterback position during training camp. Hearing that they had traded for Matt Cassel I initially thought he was going to come right in and start and he still might. In a perfect world, EJ could live up to Whaley’s expectations, the Bills find a younger cheaper backup, and cut Cassel before the season starts to save the 4 million dollar cap hit. Tall order for EJ but after the year we are having anything is possible. Cassel is Cassel and we all know what he can do. If he is back there come opening day I hope he can hand it off to McCoy more often than not. That is unless we have a dangerous tight end who can get open off of play action. Let’s say someone like ..Clay?
- March 9, 2015- I never doubted the Bills desire to keep Jerry Hughes in Buffalo, but I just didn’t think it was going to happen. The Bills worked hard to get this deal done and may have left themselves a little nest egg to land a big name free agent on the other side of the ball. Hughes will be a terror in Rex’s defensive scheme next to the rest of the Cold Front. Once Kiko was gone the Bills had to have this deal finished before he hit the open market. Now, they can continue to restructure some contracts to make room for another guard and hopefully Clay. Fred Jackson had no problem restructuring his deal to be a part of this team demonstrating the leadership it is going to take to keep this unit together. I was very excited to hear that he will still be a part of this organization next year. Knowing Freddie, he can’t wait to get out on the field and continue to prove people wrong just like he always has ever since he started here.
You couldn’t make this stuff up if you tried. Mr. Wilson has only been gone for 350 days. So much has changed in such a short time that one has to wonder, “Are we done?” Chances are we aren’t. Chances are we will see a few more moves over the first week or two of free agency. The Bills can essentially cap off one of the most tragic, anxious, joyous, confusing, interesting, life changing, and crazy years of all time with one more piece to the new puzzle. Is it definitely Clay? Who knows, but the organization has demonstrated that they have big plans moving forward which will likely involve at least one big free agent signing. Hopefully that someone can make the quarterback look a lot better too.