With a media landscape filled with radio shows bashing the Bills, writers breaking stories that border on libel without doing any investigative work to support their work, and others who fabricate "sources" that certain players are being cut, it's pointless to even bother reading most of this stuff (thanfully we have supremely talented guys like Chris Brown, Tim Graham and Joe Buscaglia on the beat).
To put myself out on a sadly short limb, I just wanted to highlight things some of the Bills are doing right. You know, the stuff that won't get on the news, or on hack websites because it's not controversial and isn't just written to generate pageviews.
GASP, are you ready for it? Positive stories! You've been warned.
Marcell Dareus Is The Man
Marcell Dareus is hillarious. His giantic, ever-present smile and his easy-going, "aww shucks" personality won't get him the attention guys like Stevie Johsnon get, but I think we all know on Sunday, Dareus' stock is going to shoot up when casual fans see just what he can do on the field.
But off the field this week Dareus showed what an absolute class act he is. It hasn't been reported anywhere, but at an autograph signing during the week, Marcell accidentally signed a fans' Marcell Dareus #57 Alabama Jersey with his signature and the number "99."
Catching his mistake (one that really wasn't that big of a deal), Dareus apologized to the fan, and offered him cash, out of his own pocket, to make up for the cost of the jersey. I'm a little too close to the scene to report publicly other things that have begun to earn #99 an overwhelmingly positive reputation around One Bills Drive, but I can say that the story of what he did at the autograph signing is just a small glimpse into what an absolute class act we have in the 7-1-6.
And yeah, being a beast on the field doesn't hurt. Let's hope his reputation as one of the good guys spreads while his work on the field speaks for itself. This kid has "one of my favorite Bills ever" potential.
Aaron Williams Is Alright Too
How good was last weekend with Bills' second-round pick Aaron Williams hitting up two local high school football games on Friday night and Saturday afternoon? He had no other intentions than the fact that he was a little homesick on the first day of high school football back home in Texas and wanted some of that "Friday Night Lights" juice.
We all know the Western New York high school football scene is to Friday Night Lights what a Bisons game is to Yankee Stadium, but still, the fact that Williams struck out on his own to discover our city and watch what we call high school football is cool beyond words.
Here's to hoping he didn't get too turned off so he'll stick around to take in the TNT game or Depew vs. Lancaster later in the year.
One more thing for Williams as well. He spent his Tuesday night signing autographs at Tops in Williamsville. Another class move by a rookie who clearly wants to be more than just a football player who plays in Buffalo. He wants to take-in this city that we love and be a part of this community. We need to embrace guys like #23.
C.J Spiller Signs For Fans
Much like Williams, Spiller, last year's first-round pick, was out at Tops in Hamburg signing autographs for fans. It's a big year for Spiller, not make-or-break like some would want you to believe, but he looked good in limited action against Detroit in the final preseason game of the year. He's another extremely likeable, devout guy who fans should be getting behind.
Our New #2 Receiver
Donald Jones has the potential to be Stevie Johson part two, both on and off the field. It's going to be hard to match the personality of SJ13, but, Jones is a character, and he loves the fans. Consistently at camp he was out signing autographs for every last person who stood there with a Sharpie hoping for a signature. A relative unknown coming into 2011, Jones is another good guy on a roster full of them. If there is a guy on the roster capable of a Stevie-like breakout this year, it's Jones.
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