For over a decade, the Buffalo Bills have been more than the laughing stock of the NFL; they have been the league's biggest joke. The franchise hasn't been to the playoffs since 1999 and has boasted 10 losing seasons out of its previous 11. A proud fan base has been completely embarrassed. One guy asked me the other day if they still played in the CFL as rivals of the Toronto Argonauts.
The NFL Draft is supposed to be a time for rebuilding and solace, especially for teams in peril. For the Bills though, it has represented more belly-flops than a fat kid at summer camp. Erik Flowers, Lee Evans, J.P. Losman, Mike Williams, John McCargo and Aaron Maybin were all first-round busts. The good picks -- Donte Whitner, Willis McGahee, Nate Clements, Marshawn Lynch -- are no longer on the roster. Moreover, Buffalo has become an absolute last resort for players. Despite a history of success and cache, the franchise failed to lure big-name free agents from other organizations, even if the dollars were favorable.
With a cast of misfits that nobody wanted, though, the 2011 Bills have jumped out to a 4-2 start and revitalized a dormant franchise.
Case in point? Ryan Fitzpatrick. A Harvard kid that St. Louis drafted as a seventh-round insurance policy in 2005, his near-1,500 yards passing (including the bye week) currently rank him eighth in the NFL, ahead of far more marquee names like Tony Romo and Michael Vick. Fred Jackson -- the NFL's leader in yards-per-carry at 5.7 -- was a wandering nomad who went undrafted and played for the Sioux City of the AFL, making $200 a week, and also played for the Rhein Fire of the now-defunct NFL Europe. Second leading receiver David Nelson also went undrafted, yet has become a third down machine for the Bills, totaling 319 yards and two touchdown catches thus far. Even its head coach, Chan Gailey, was an outcast who was demoted in Kansas City and out of football just two years ago.
Bryan Scott is a recording artist who recently co-wrote a single with his brother called "Dedicated," to help inspire others to follow their dreams. He also happens to be in his fifth year with the Bills, having endured four-straight losing seasons, capped off by an atrocious 4-12 campaign last year that left little hope around the league. Scott, who is one of the team's most versatile defenders as both a linebacker and strong safety, attributes a change in mindset to the resurgence.
"There's just a different attitude and mentality in the locker room," he said. "The confidence is there. You go out and win a few games early, and that just builds momentum. That's kind of what's exuding now. Last year was such a critical piece in our building phase because we lost so many games by three points or less, and this year we're able to win some of those games."
One of those wins came in Week 3 against the mighty New England Patriots. After quickly falling behind 21-0 with everyone expecting the Bills to falter like normal, Scott made perhaps the play of the year when he picked off Tom Brady inside the Buffalo 15-yard line in what proved to be pivotal points in a 34-31 win.
"There was this one formation that they came out in a few times," Scott said. "I just knew it was my responsibility to get out to the flat as fast as possible. Sure enough, Tom threw it out there and Danny Woodhead kind of botched it. I do think it was a huge turning point for us, because it was a six-point swing and allowed us to stay in the game."
But as much optimism as there is right now surrounding Buffalo, this is after all, still the Bills. The defense ranks dead last in both pass and rush yards against. Before the bye week, it struggled to contain an inconsistent New York Giants' offense that had just recently been outgunned by Tavaris Jackson and a woeful Seattle team.
"Obviously the last few weeks, we're giving up way too many yards," Scott added. "We took it into the buy week to correct those mistakes, because in this league, that leads to huge, explosive plays."
With three crucial games approaching against surprising Washington, the Jets and the always dynamic Dallas offense, we will soon find out just how much the defense has augmented its mistakes and, if their current second place standing in the AFC East is a fluke or not. But, for the first time since the Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas days, it is finally fun to be a Bills fan.
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