A fond farewell to Bills fans

By Connor Byrne  |   Monday, June 09, 2008  |  Comments( 48 )

Buffalo Bills
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Covering the Buffalo Bills for RealFootball365.com for nearly the past three years has been a unique, enjoyable experience. Alas, today will be my final column for this great Web site. I have decided to pursue other career ventures as a writer; however, I will be remaining with RF365 in a behind-the-scenes capacity as one of its primary editors. On my way out the proverbial door, I'd like to heartily thank all Bills fans who have frequented this site during my 33-month span as the head columnist for their team, especially the ones who opine daily in the comments section beneath every article written. You're the lifeblood of this site, the people who make RF365 one of the best Internet destinations to find NFL- and NCAA-related football commentary.

In addition to the audience I've been so grateful to have cultivated during my time here, I'd also like to thank the brothers Guzman, Hugo and Alex, who run this site and make it a fun company to work for. They took a chance when they hired me in September of 2005, and I have great appreciation for that. Of course, I'd also be remiss if I didn't say thanks to the numerous fan-run Bills sites and message boards that regularly linked the columns I wrote and helped drive traffic to this still-young, but ever-growing site.

Though my presence won't be felt in a concrete way here anymore by you Buffalo loyalists, you can take solace in knowing our new go-to writer, Anthony Bialy -- whom you're all certainly familiar with -- is tremendous at what he does and will easily fill whatever void I may leave behind. You're in good hands, that's for sure.

Enough about me, though; this wouldn't be much of a Bills column without some football commentary, right? As I depart, allow me give some thoughts on the 2008 Bills.

The team has taken a lot of steps in recent years by acquiring high-end young talent through the draft. Trent Edwards, Marshawn Lynch, Paul Posluszny and Donte Whitner jump to mind immediately, for instance. It's my opinion that Buffalo's highly skilled young veterans and offseason acquisitions of three-time All-Pro defensive tackle Marcus Stroud and Super Bowl-winning linebacker Kawika Mitchell, not to mention what looks like another solid draft, will put the franchise over the top and back into the playoffs this season. Given what looks like a relatively manageable schedule and their improved talent, the Bills -- albeit early -- have the makings of a 10-win, wild-card-caliber squad this year.

If you think 10-6 is being a little generous, keep in mind that recent Bills-related prognostications from me have been fairly accurate. This is my third season prediction for the Bills at RF365. Prior to 2006, I forecast a 7-9 mark for the Bills in Year 1 of Dick Jauron's era on the sideline; in the end, they finished 7-9. Then last September, it was my belief the Bills would worsen slightly in 2007 and end up 6-10; once again, though, they went 7-9. Without coming off as a braggart, only being off by one game in two years isn't too bad, is it? So hopefully, then, Bills fans, I'll be on the money again (or close to it) in '08.

For a fan base whose team hasn't been to the playoffs in eight years, you all surely deserve some success for a change; may your undying loyalty finally pay off sooner than later.

It's been a privilege, folks. Thank you very much indeed.

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No.1
8and8Forever		08:30 AM
06/09/2008
10 - 6 would be welcome indeed. As long as the team is very healthy throughout the season and Lynch is not suspended by the...
No.2
danoooo		09:16 AM
06/09/2008
Thanks Connor, Your insight and observations will be missed...Thanks! 10-6 would be a very good year...I hope your 'on the...
No.3
bflobob8		09:29 AM
06/09/2008
Good luck in your new position Connor and here's to hoping your replacement, Mr Bialystock, has some thick skin. It seems that...
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