Three Former Bills Likely Headed To Super Bowl XLVI

by Brian Galliford on Jan 19, 2012 9:01 AM EST in Buffalo Bills News

We're closing in on conference championship game weekend in the NFL, and between the four teams remaining, it's looking like at least three former members of the Buffalo Bills organization will be heading to Super Bowl XLVI.

AFC Championship Game: Both the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens have one player on their roster that spent time with the Bills. For Baltimore, it's receiver Lee Evans, who has had a terrible year (while dealing with injuries) after being traded there in August for a fourth-round pick. On New England's side, it's rookie long snapper Danny Aiken, who spent time with Buffalo's coaching staff at the 2011 Senior Bowl, who couldn't win the Bills' long snapping job in training camp, and who immediately latched on with New England upon his release. Barring injury, no matter who wins this game, at least one former Bills player will be in the Super Bowl.

NFC Championship Game: Both the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants have two former Bills. For the 49ers, they're players; safety Donte Whitner was a difference-maker in the team's divisional-round win over New Orleans, while reserve linebacker Blake Costanzo was a core specialist for the Bills from 2007-08. For the Giants, they're coaches; offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride (2002-03) and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell (2006-09) spent time as coordinators with the Bills under Gregg Williams and Dick Jauron, respectively. Barring injury to either 49ers player, at least two former Bills will be heading to Indianapolis out of this contest.

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I’d love to see Lee Evans have a couple of huge games here. That’d be cool.

Ron Paul 2012

by BuffaloBlueBlood on Jan 19, 2012 9:08 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Me too.

I’m rooting for Baltimore.

I hate that I love Buffalo.

by bflo on Jan 19, 2012 1:03 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

Me too, if for no other reason than it means no Patriots in the SB.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Jan 19, 2012 4:09 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Yup.
Lee paid his dues with our sucky teams for years and mostly kept his mouth shut.
Wish him the best.

"My new cat just farted on my lap. Smells like Bills football." BG.

by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Jan 19, 2012 8:17 PM EST up reply actions

Congrads to the Ex Bill coaches and players… Rumor in Tampa is that Fewell will be interviewing for the Bucs HC job as soon as the Giants win it all or get eliminated. Jerry Gray already has interviewed….

How come I always get blamed for everything I do ?

Dennis the Menace

by Goose22 on Jan 19, 2012 9:26 AM EST reply actions

that would be a mistake

He is a good d coordinator, not hc.

"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-

by billsoferie on Jan 19, 2012 9:44 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

How are you so sure of that?

He was only interim head coach for 7 games, and the Bills went 3-4 if i remember correctly. He also made the decision to stick with Fitz for the remainder of the season, where under Jauron there was a lot of flipflopping, and he’s still our QB.

Ron Paul 2012

by BuffaloBlueBlood on Jan 19, 2012 9:50 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

just a hunch

He is very good at what he is doing now, id stick with it and atleast build my resume and experience for a while. He has a great defense right now and i would ride the wave.

"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-

by billsoferie on Jan 19, 2012 1:54 PM EST up reply actions

I just don’t see how you came to the conclusion that he’ll be a poor HC, with that sample size..

Ron Paul 2012

by BuffaloBlueBlood on Jan 19, 2012 9:51 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Uhh

He said a hunch.

The Sum Of A Franchise Is Directly Proportionate To The Talent Of Franchise's QB. Get A QB OBD!

by buffalobacker on Jan 20, 2012 10:13 PM EST up reply actions

Fewell

I think the Bills should have retained him as head coach and hired Gailey as the offensive coordinator. Not sure if Gailey would have agreed to that, but it isn’t like he was popping up as a candidate for numerous vacancies. I always like Fewell and I think he is very deserving at a real opportunity to be a head coach, not a guy trying to hold things together after a coaching change midseason.

GET TO THE CHOPPA!!!

by hoosier3 on Jan 19, 2012 10:51 AM EST up reply actions

Rumor in Tampa is that Fewell will be interviewing for the Bucs HC job as soon as the Giants win it all or get eliminated. Jerry Gray already has interviewed….

I’d like to see Perry get a shot, I think he deserves it more than Jerry Gray.

Girls use hair spray, Men don't.

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GROW UP BY NOT USING HAIRSPRAY MALES!

Don't be a Paully!

by The Buffalo Kid on Jan 19, 2012 9:53 AM EST up reply actions

Donte

While he had that one nice hit at the goal line, he certainly was a difference maker at the end of the game…only he was a difference maker for the Saints. He was completely responsible for both of the Saints long touchdowns in the 4th quarter.

by CBATL32 on Jan 19, 2012 10:02 AM EST reply actions

Definitely

If the 49ers hadn’t driven back down the field for the game-winner, Whitner would have been remembered as the goat.

by SiriusRed on Jan 19, 2012 2:23 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

The Niners will find that out Sunday when Eli torches Donte at least 2 times.
Maybe more.
Good at run support.
Crappy at his real job.

"My new cat just farted on my lap. Smells like Bills football." BG.

by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Jan 19, 2012 8:20 PM EST up reply actions

Just like the draft

Hiring a coach is a crap shoot. For every Mike Tomlin there are 4 Steve Spagnola’s…

Fewell deserves a shot as much as the retread head coaches that are out there.

How come I always get blamed for everything I do ?

Dennis the Menace

by Goose22 on Jan 19, 2012 10:08 AM EST reply actions

safety Donte Whitner was a difference-maker

It is sad that this is most likely the first time this sentence has ever been written by Brian in 4 years of reporting on the Bills & Whitner.

Check out http://mocknfldrafts.blogspot.com/

by Billsdownunder on Jan 19, 2012 2:12 PM EST reply actions

I think Perry Fewell has a great chance to be a solid HC...

As long as he finds solid offensive coaches to work with he can have success. I hope he gets a shot….but I hope Jim Harbaugh gets the best of him this weekend.

The score dictated they pass

by norcaliangelsfan on Jan 19, 2012 2:49 PM EST via mobile reply actions