A View from McFadden’s – 10/2/11

Where are they now?

A rough (and deserved) loss last week. No time to dwell on that, however: the Eagles are 1-3 and will be desperate for a win. After that, the Bills face a very tough stretch of the Giants, Redskins and Cowboys, with the traditionally early bye week wedged in.

At least the schedule actually matters this year.

We all know how long it’s been since the Bills played meaningful October football. A lot of players, and managers, have come and gone through the leans years. Ah, memories. Makes me wonder where some of them are now.

Well, rather than focus on the Bengals game, let’s play a little “Where are they now?” with some of the Bills’ brilliant, recent standouts.

Trent Edwards: cut by the Raiders at the end of training camp; currently a free agent.

JP Losman: starting QB for the 2009 United Football League (UFL) champion Las Vegas Locomotives, he is currently a free agent.

Gibran Hamdan: this former 3rd string QB and first NFLer of Pakistani descent, Hamdan retired from the Canadian Football League last year – and this year launched the roll-off-your-tongue clothing line, Alial Fital (www.alialfital.com).

Shaud Williams: my NYCBBB colleague Kevin Smith’s favorite former Bills RB now plays that position for the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL.

Travis Henry: Going back in time a bit…our former star RB is serving a three year sentence in federal prison for financing a cocaine trafficking operation. And that’s probably the best thing he’s been involved in since leaving us.

Coy Wire: one of the few part Asian American football players, this forebearer to Ed Wang is currently a free agent.

Ko Simpson: Another stellar find of an old regime, Simpson’s also a free agent. In 2009. He was arrested in South Carolina for hindering police while they attempted to break up an unruly crowd (this wasn’t at McFadden’s). Simpson reportedly told the police, “I’m Ko Simpson with the Buffalo Bills. I am worth millions!” If that didn’t work for OJ Simpson, it ain’t working for Ko Simpson.

Josh Reed: I liked this guy. But, after signing a one-year deal with the Chargers last year, the wide receiver was cut and is currently a free agent. I’m beginning to think “free agent” is a euphemism for “involuntarily retired.”

John McCargo: Oh, John McCargo. Drafted far higher than anyone else thought he would (or should) be, the DT did nothing for Buffalo before signing with Tampa Bay, which waived him last month. He currently resides in free agent land.

Aaron Maybin: Congratulations are due to every Bills fans’ favorite top draft pick, who registered his first career sack in this past week’s Jets loss to the Ravens. This came after resigning with the Jets last week (they had waived him in early September.)

Our current roster’s looking better all the time.