Welcome to Buffalo T.O.

Hello Mr. Owens,

On behalf of four generations of Bills' Fans (my Granddad, my Dad, myself and my future kids) I would like to personally welcome you to the most resilient football family in the NFL.

Who knows, somehow you might actually end up reading this post and if that's the case, then I just want to thank you in the strongest way possible for coming to play for Buffalo.

We have a proud, steadfast heritage here and we're known for being extremely loyal to guys who give it everything they've got for our team both on the field and in the community.

With that being said, it seems to me that you've landed yourself in an especially perfect situation.  For example, when Curt Schilling went to Boston and ended their World Series drought...his tough, gritty performance became nothing less than a legend.

To be honest, you have that same opportunity here with the Bills, but to an even greater degree.  As I'm sure you're well aware, people all over the country are facing some particularly difficult circumstances these days and it can be a real stretch to figure out how to get the whole family out to see a ball game together.

Why would we do such a thing when everybody's lookin' to tighten their belts like never before?

Because sometimes, good memories are more important than money.

Case in point: after my folks got divorced I moved pretty far away from my father at a young age.  Even though he called at least once a week, we only got to see each other twice a year (once during the summer and then for a couple of days after Christmas).

Later on as I grew up, the one special gift that I wanted the most of all was to go to a Bills game with my Dad.  Of course, this cost more than just the price of  admission.  Even though Dad's budget wasn't that great, he'd work overtime at the chemical plant for Kodak and then he'd be able to kick in for plane tickets just so we could have nosebleed seats at the Ralph.

I didn't mind one bit.  More than anything, I just loved being out in the snow with 80,000 people all pulling for our guys with a playoff spot on the line.

Now you're one of our guys.  Yes, you've joined a Hall of Fame tradition along the lines of Bruce Smith, Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Marv Levy and Ralph Wilson.

And, you've joined the ranks of players like Kent Hull, Mike Lodish, London Fletcher and Steve Tasker...hard working guys who out-hustled everyone else just for the sheer love of the game.

Frankly, those are some the memories we cherish the most.  Perhaps it's sad that one of the best images we have as a family is when Don Beebe chased down Leon Lett from behind during the Super Bowl...not only to preserve our dignity, but also to give us something to hang our hats on.

Because no matter what, at the end of the day, those memories make it known that nobody can take away our ability to give an all out effort...and that is most certainly what we ask from you.

Not because you'd like to stick it to Dallas (although we're not above that at this point), and not because you're getting paid X number of dollars and maybe, just maybe not because you're playing to land a huge contract somewhere else next year.

Maybe, just maybe you'd be willing to take your prodigiously talented game to a whole other level because yes, if you won a Super Bowl with us, you would most certainly land in the Hall of Fame; but think about it like this...

My Dad's already made it into my Hall of Fame for going the extra mile so that we could share some memories that will most definitely last forever.

When Buffalo beat Houston in what still stands as the greatest NFL comeback ever, I remember picking him up in the air with this gigantic bear hug, and we jumped up and down all over together in a state of complete disbelief and total joy.

What I realize now is that my Dad didn't get tickets so we could see the game at the stadium, he paid to take a plane all the way out to Wisconsin just so we could watch the game together on TV. 

So, if it would be extra-memorable for you, I encourage you to make your time here in Buffalo truly special.  There's a lot to learn here from a group of fans who have essentially trademarked our ability to "Circle the Wagons."

Which, to be candid, is an experience that you seem to be familiar with and is something that our whole country needs to have an example of now more than ever.

So, if you want to ride of into the sunset with a community of people who will absolutely have your back from here on in, I recommend not only giving your all on every play, I also suggest that you leave the fancy touchdown dances in Dallas and do everything you can to celebrate with your teammates.

Nothing would win over the fans here in Buffalo more than by scoring a ton of points and then inspiring the rest of the guys on your squad to do the same. 

As you'll soon find out, we pride ourselves on being a blue collar kind of team that gets our recognition based on an unquestionable work ethic (something you exemplify) and our willingness to make sure that the whole group gets the credit.

That's our recipe for success in football and in life, and we're proud to pass on these values to our kids and hopefully to their kids as well.  You're part of that heritage now and we're trusting you to uphold it with respect.

With that being said, it's understandable that the community in Buffalo might want you to do things the way that we would do them if we were in your shoes...it seems to be human nature to say something like "we'd feel more comfortable if you were more like us."

It's also all too common for a new relationship to embody that old saying "I love you, you're perfect, now change."  Maybe we have as much to learn from you as you might have to learn from us.

Clearly you have a searingly intense passion to make plays and win games, while not being afraid to be outspoken if that what it takes to get the job done. 

Of course, if we really face the facts, neither one of us has won a title yet, so this could be the turning point where we all finally realize that "if we keep doing what we've always done, we're gonna get what we've always got."

Or in other words, "the best definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results."

Well, signing you is definitely something different and new, and I have a hunch that it's going to produce awesome and unexpectedly beneficial results for us all.

Now, some would say that bringing you on board here is a huge gamble, but I for one am willing to believe that the story can go something like this: have you ever met a guy who always went for the most popular girl and even though they had some good times together, neither of them was ever really, truly happy?

Then one day this man meets the kind of woman that isn't flashy, doesn't have a whole lot of money, glamor or fame, but is just plain solid? 

You know, the kind of woman that makes a good mother for your kids...the one who won't let you get away with being anything less than your best and then makes you feel like you can do absolutely anything as long as you stay together and give it everything you've got?

Well, maybe Buffalo is just that kind of place...and maybe you're just that kind of guy who's ready to settle down for a long run at something great...and maybe now's just the right time to put everything else aside and finally win a championship.

I'm sure you've thought about the Michael Jordan-Scottie Pippen comparisons you and Lee Evans could inspire.  Maybe you've also thought of taking your game beyond the world of sports and considered accomplishing something that moves people to achieve something during these tough times that they previously couldn't even imagine.

Seriously, you could do this in two simple ways: 1) by talking with Bills' fans in hospitals, homeless shelters, schools and factories about their favorite memories over the years and then by asking them what it would it would be like if the Bills won the big one and 2) You could take all this fuel, all this good will and all of their stories with you in a way that unites our guys on the field, binds our community with a common purpose and gives us the extra oomph needed to not only win the Super Bowl, but also to go the extra mile needed to win the real games of our lives (just like my Dad has done over all these years).

Then, when you're visiting the White House and the current President pulls you aside to thank you for being such a good example of perseverance and team success, you might find that the best memory of all comes from sharing the credit with the people who have truly become your family, your team and your life long friends.

With Hope and Gratitude,

Joshua Home Edwards

Bills' Fan for More than 25 Years