Who is the Greatest Bill of all time?

[Dr. Lecter]

Vote here! (http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/polling?event_id=3565)

Voting at ESPN.

The candidates are the same as the poll here.

[Jan Reimers]

I think it's a very close call between Bruce and OJ. I'll go with Bruce.

[Historian]

Tom Sestak

[djjimkelly]

i agree very close between bruce and OJ.

just think if OJ had 16 games to play instead of 14 when he rushed for 2000 yards he may have ran for 2300.


and bruce is by far the best modern day bill. we will be lucky to have a talent like him again.

[The King]

I saw it the same... between Bruce and OJ. I had to give it to the juice.

[patmoran2006]

I went with Jimbo.. I think he's the best, not because of numbers--- but because his ability and his swagger completely changed the culture of the entire organization once he came to town.

[OpIv37]

Odd- I was going to start the same exact thread.

But the answer is Bruce- hands down. Kelly and OJ are the only other ones who warrant consideration. If you're talking all-time best at a position, Reggie White and Bruce Smith are ALWAYS 1 and 2. No other Bill has earned that kind of respect. As good as Kelly and OJ were, no one would ever say they're the best or second best all time at their position.

[justasportsfan]

BJ Hobert

[yordad]

Odd- I was going to start the same exact thread.

But the answer is Bruce- hands down. Kelly and OJ are the only other ones who warrant consideration. If you're talking all-time best at a position, Reggie White and Bruce Smith are ALWAYS 1 and 2. No other Bill has earned that kind of respect. As good as Kelly and OJ were, no one would ever say they're the best or second best all time at their position.Deacon Jones gets top consideration most of the time (just a note, I do see your point).

"Greatest Bill" is ambiguous. This is tough. I do think it is between OJ, Bruce, Kelly, and maybe even Thomas. I think Kelly had a bigger impact then any single Bill during the SB days. The year OJ broke 2000 yards, they didn't even win the devision. Not only did Jimbo put up numbers, he demanded results, respect, and teammate's best efforts. He ran the K-gun. He led the Bills to four straight AFC championships.

Kelly was a first ballot NFL Hall of Fame inductee. And, he was the face of the franchise for over a decade. The leader of the Bills, on and off the field.

Jim Kelly

[patmoran2006]

BTW, I believe it was in 2002 when I was working with Buffalo Sports Report, I remember we did a story counting down the 30 greatest Bills of all-time. A panel of people were polled, including former coaches, players and writers. I can't remember the entire list, and I'm not even sure where to find it (I'll look) but it was a really good read, and I do remember the top four. Thurman Thomas was fourth, Jim Kelly was third, Bruce Smith was second and OJ was first.

[SABuffalo786]

Maybe it's because I was in 1st-4th grades during the Superbowl years but Jim Kelly is ALWAYS going to be the face of the Bills for me.

[madness]

Bruuuuuuuuuce!

[Luisito23]

Juuuuuuuice!!!

[DrGraves]

i dont think we go to those superbowl back to back to back to back without thurman

[Confused]

Open Jugular...errr I mean OJ.

[Dozerdog]

on pure onfield talent- I would say OJ.

If the 1975 Bills offense and the 1965 Bills defense were combined, they would have beaten all comers in either era in either league

[coastal]

As Thurman goes... so goes the Buffalo Bills!

Thurman Thomas was AMAZING!

[BAM]

Toss-up for me between OJ, Bruce Smith and Jim Kelly. Went with the Juice!

[Homegrown]

I like Thurman.

Bills would have won SBXXV if Kelly had passed less; and Thurman had run more.

[SABURZFAN]

i have to go with Bruce over OJ. i'm fortunate to see both play for the Bills too. a lot of people only remember OJ for the death of his wife, which is very sad. some of us old timers remember his feat of rushing for 2003 yards in 14 games.

[chernobylwraiths]

Deacon Jones gets top consideration most of the time (just a note, I do see your point).

"Greatest Bill" is ambiguous. This is tough. I do think it is between OJ, Bruce, Kelly, and maybe even Thomas. I think Kelly had a bigger impact then any single Bill during the SB days. The year OJ broke 2000 yards, they didn't even win the devision. Not only did Jimbo put up numbers, he demanded results, respect, and teammate's best efforts. He ran the K-gun. He led the Bills to four straight AFC championships.

Kelly was a first ballot NFL Hall of Fame inductee. And, he was the face of the franchise for over a decade. The leader of the Bills, on and off the field.

Jim Kelly

Not even close. Jim Kelly would be third behind OJ. OJ will lose a lot of votes because of the whole murder thing. Bruce is considered top 5 DE of all time. Kelly wouldn't make the top 10 QBs.

The only reason that ESPN poll is close is because people can only look at stats. Well, if it weren't for Kelly, the Bills would have won the first Superbowl. Belechick completely played right at Kelly's ego in that first superbowl by daring him to keep throwing, and Kelly did. It wasn't Kellys fault for the other three, but that first one was mostly on him, and the "bend but don't break" defense.

[njsue]

There is a tie between Thurman Thomas & Bruce Smith.

[Mr. Pink]

The Juice is by far the best player to ever don a Buffalo Bills uniform.

[HHURRICANE]

Bruce Smith and O.J. are the greatest Bills ever. Period.

O.J. should get the slight edge because he was a freak of nature and he didn't play on a very good team. He made the O-line better than it really was.

Remember the battle of the Superstars?? O.J. out lifted every single player and won it by a land slide.

Bruce didn't show up in the biggest games and that's why he falls a little short.

[imbondz]

I grew up with the late '80's Bills and early '90's, for me it's Bruce first, Jim a close second, then Thurman.

[Mr. Pink]

And, how come Andre Reed is on that list but Elbert Dubenion isn't?

Dubenion might be the most underrated Bill of all time.

[VeggieMan14]

Drew Bledsoe:rock:

[HHURRICANE]

I grew up with the late '80's Bills and early '90's, for me it's Bruce first, Jim a close second, then Thurman.

Than you are too young to be relevant.

[HHURRICANE]

I grew up with the late '80's Bills and early '90's, for me it's Bruce first, Jim a close second, then Thurman.

I was ripping on you a little for being younger than me.

The Kelly teams were my favorite as well but the thread is "greatest bill ever" not "team ever".

[tampabay25690]

OJ

[Mitchell55]

I saw it the same... between Bruce and OJ. I had to give it to the juice.



I guess we found out that the juice meant fruit punch.

[VeggieMan14]

I guess we found out that the juice meant fruit punch. what?