Position in the Spotlight: Buffalo

Our Position in the Spotlight feature starts off at the smallest metropolitan area with at least 2 professional sports teams: Buffalo. One thing you can say about Buffalo fans is that they are very dedicated to their teams. They have no problem sitting outside in the snow when it's below freezing cheering on their Bills, and they also love their Sabres. Buffalo is also one of the few multi-sport cities that has never won a major championship, but they have had a lot of winning teams over the years.

My pick for the Position in the Spotlight in Buffalo is Buffalo Bills RB. The Bills have an outstanding history at the running back position, going all the way back to Cookie Gilchrist, who was a 4 time AFL pro-bowler from 1962-1965, leading the league in rushing twice. The Bills wound up sending 2 RBs to the pro bowl in 1965, Gilchrist and Wray Carlton, who also went in 1966. Even Keith Lincoln dropped in for a year in 1967, his only year as a starter, and put up 601 yards and made the pro bowl.

The man that solidified the Bills RB place in history was drafted out of USC in 1969. Yes, none other than O.J. Simpson. I'm not here today to discuss O.J.'s performance in Brentwood in 1994, but his performance in Buffalo in the 1970's. Simpson became the first man to rush for over 2000 yards in a season....in only 14 games, in 1973. He also had fantastic seasons from 1972-1976, leading to 6 pro-bowl selections and a Hall of Fame induction in 1985. Being involved in the trial of the 1900's also doesn't hurt the celebrity factor of this position.

Shortly after Simpson left, Joe Cribbs stepped in to the position in the early 80's, and didn't disappoint, putting up 3 1000-yard seasons. The Bills had their greatest success as a franchise with another Hall of Famer, Thurman Thomas. Thomas rushed for over 1000 yards 8 times in his illustrious career, and was a great pass catcher too, leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage 4 years in a row, from 1989-1992, and helped lead the Bills to 4 consecutive Super Bowl appearances (which they lost).

The Bills struggled to find another solid running back for a few years after Thomas left, but the risk they took drafting Willis McGahee and his completely destroyed knee in 2003 paid off. McGahee came just 10 yards shy in 2006 of having 3 1000 yard seasons to begin his career with the Bills. The Bills made another wise move in 2007, trading McGahee to the Ravens for a 3rd round pick, which turned out to be current starting QB Trent Edwards, and drafted Marshawn Lynch in the 1st round. Lynch has already shown promise, starting his career with back to back 1000 yard seasons and making the 2008 pro-bowl. Will he become the next great Bills running back, or who will be the next person to step into the spotlight?

Honorable Mention:
Buffalo Sabres Goalie: The other team in town hasn't had quite as much success as the Bills, but in the 1990s the Sabres revolved around future hall of famer Dominik Hasek, who lead the Sabres to the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals. Ryan Miller has shown some promise to potentially follow in Hasek's footsteps.
University of Buffalo Strong Safety: Apparently, the Raiders drafted SS Megan McLain with the 168th pick of this year's draft. Can anyone live up to the high bar that she set? I think not.