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What in the world is going on in this corner of the world!? Buffalo, once a grim shadow of a bright city that once was, has catapulted into the national spotlight. Not only the players and personnel, but the people and spirit of the Queen City. 

Not sure about you, but seeing ESPN’s Outside The Lines special report on BillsMafia was certainly enough to bring a frog to the back of my throat. I’d be lying if it didn’t get me choked up. Well done by everyone involved. 

It’s been only a few days since Mondays drubbing of the Patriots, but so much to talk about on today’s Humpday Checkdown..

Beasie Does It

I hate to say it, but this is what I was afraid of. First was seeing Jordan Poyer go HEAD2HEAD with Cam Newton, and get up like a UFC fighter, exit and then return (scary). Next star waterbug WR Cole Beasley would come up lame in garbage time on a Matt Barkley (unnecessary) pass. 

Didn’t like the look in the eye or body language of 10 or his teammates in the immediate after. Not good signs. His walk to locker room appeared more confident. Coach McDermott listed Beasley as week to week. The Bills signed Gary Jennings to the praccy and had Kenny Stills in for a visit. No word yet on Stills officially. Even Josh Allen’s best bud WR Tanner Gentry from Wyoming is visiting. No word yet.

6,699 Fans Allowed

New York State Governer Andrew Cuomo announced a plan that would include 6,699 fans to sit in the 100 and 200 club level in pods of 2’s or 4’s. Cuomo would also announce he’d be in attendance. You have to factor in maybe, say 50 players, 4-5 family tickets each, and media. 

It’s going to bring about a dramatic whirlwind of political bullshit and banter. It’s toxic to a good team. It can creep into the heads of young players. It’s a distraction.

It’s toxic to a happy fanbase. Drama of who goes in, who passes tests, who was where when. Drama of if there should be fans or not. Blah Blah Blah. 

Look, whatever. I just hope the team stays focused. The fans ain’t gonna matter. The game is played between the lines and in all honesty it’ll probably be more of a letdown for players in comparison to the typical noise than anything else. 

If they really did it right, they’d have ONLY BillsMafia behind the HOME SIDE. Similar to how Section 6 Football is done, but spread out further. So literally the other side would be crickets, behind the opponents bench..just a thought.

In and Outs

Diggs and Allen were like two kids in a high school video yearbook in their MNF postgame interviews after the game, in all the right ways. They carried themselves with class, but also had a confident sense of self about them. 

It seems Coach Mac truly has a way of bringing the real inside out of every player. 

It is a strange sport, football. 

You have an identity on the field, and off of it. 

You have an identity within your huddle, and an identity to the other team. 

When the lights go on, the other team thinks of you by only what you do on the field. But its what is inside that comes out.

Josh and Stefon are both guys who have come a long way off the field for this opportunity, and both have proven on the field who they really are, on the inside. 




Stay tuned to the end of the week for the weekly Pregame Dump Scouting Report and Preview on the Dolphins. Remember to tweet/follow me on twitter @jer7rej and remember don’t let the political stuff take away from the ride! Players…. STAY FOCUSED AT THE TASK AT HAND! #bleumafia