Jonahan.com

That's all I have to say: really!?

 

Ok, maybe that's not *quite* all I have to say, or this post could have just been a tweet.

 

I actually have quite a lot to say on the T.O. "issue" if we can call it that. I say it like that because it's a non-issue, or at least it should be.

 

The Western New York media has been fawning all over T.O. since his arrival. Every little thing has been reported Entertainment Weekly style: "T.O. found a place to live now", "It's a place overlooking the lake", "It has 5 bathrooms and 2 jacuzzis", "Oh no, the deal fell through". I wouldn't be surprised to read a story about how T.O. farted and it smelled like broccoli with a vague hint of paprika. 

 

The great WGR 550 itself even has a section on their site devoted to "T.O.'s Tweets", and devotes a good deal of on-air time to the guy.

 

Granted, it's good entertainment. Granted, the T.O. drama train helps sell tickets (and apparently, according to the Buffalo News, that's going really well). And granted that it elevates Buffalo's stature nationally somewhat having a prime NFL star come here.

 

But this media circus is going to kill the Buffalo Bills as a team.

 

Hear me now and believe me later (but listen to me sometime soon), all the "me me me hey look at me hey I am the best" logorrhea coming from T.O.'s mouth has to have an effect on the other players.

 

Weren't we sold the whole "team-based" concept when Marv Levy came back? Levy installed Jauron, a firm yet underspoken coach that would build a team that had quiet confidence. The main precept of the philosophy being that the whole was greater that its parts. 

 

For several years now the Bills have been building that machine; a team comprised of players that have attitude, strength of character, a commitment to the team and last but not least, very little ego.

 

Now along comes a huge cog thrown into that machine in the form of a brash, me-first wide receiver. How long will it take before the some other players start losing their discipline and start taking plays off like T.O.? "Why should I put out 100% when the other guy isn't?", is what many players start thinking and that line of thinking has a snowball effect.

 

T.O. has been not only a disruption everywhere else he's been, but a downright menace. Yes, Philadelphia went to the Super Bowl with him, but it could be argued they were a better team without him. Let's look at Dallas this year and see if they do better without him.

 

The Bills are going to be dragged into the muck this year,  thanks to T.O. and the media circus that follows him like flies swarming around a pig.

 

Ah, but I always like to end my ranting on a happy note, so here it is: at least with T.O. in the fold, the upcoming Bills season will be entertaining.  (And perhaps that explains why the Bills got him in the first place.)  So hold onto your hats and, dare I say it ... get your popcorn ready ... but moreso for off-the-field antics.