This is just something that popped into my head during the recently revived debate about getting a franchise quarterback. Maybe Fitzpatrick will end up making the ultimate sacrifice, just like Bruce Wayne had to!

The setting: Buffalo Bills clubhouse, midway through a lost 2012 season. A discussion between coach Chan Gailey and starting QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Chan: Our poor record won. All of Buddy's draft picks, everything he scouted for, undone. Whatever chance you gave us of fixing our team dies with Buddy's reputation. The losses took the best of us and tore him down. People will lose hope.

Fitz: They won't. They must never know what he did.

Chan: 27 draft picks. None of them franchise quarterbacks. You can't sweep that up.

Fitz: But those failures can't win. Buffalo needs its true hero.

Chan: (realizing what Fitz meant)...No!

Fitz: "You either retire a hero, or you play long enough to see yourself become the villain." I can do those things,because I'm not a hero, not like Nix. I lost those games, that's what I can be.

Chan: No, you can't! You're not!

Fitz: I'm whatever Buffalo needs me to be. Call it in.

Chan: They'll bash you.

Fitz: You'll bash me, you'll condemn me, set the media on me. Because that's what needs to happen. Because sometimes... the truth isn't good enough. Sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded.

Later, during another close Bills loss...

Stevie: Fitz? Fitz? Why are the fans booing him, Chan?

Chan: Because we have to call him bad.

Stevie: He didn't do anything wrong.

Chan: Because he's the quarterback Buffalo deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So, we'll slam him, because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a bearded guardian. A watchful protector. A Dark Knight.