Herding Up the All-Time Buffalo Bills Team

Many times I have been in debates with my family or friends over whom the best quarterback was of all time, or the most destructive defense, or the most talented wide receiver.

And while names such as Favre, Montana, Rice, and "the Steel Curtain" spring up in the conversation, my mind has often wandered into a debate with myself. A debate starting with the names Kelly, Thomas, and Simpson. What is the best team the Buffalo Bills could have sent on the field in a fantasy world?

Here is was I came up with.

QB

Jim Kelly

Basically a no brainer. Led the Bills to four-straight AFC Championships (a better way to word it, right Bills fans?). And when I say led, I mean led. His attitude and toughness on and off the field made him one of the most favorite Bills players ever. He could throw the ball a little, too.

Backup: Jack Kemp—A little before my time, but from what I've gathered, he could play the game as well. He gets the nod as Kelly's backup because he was the quarterback when the Bills won their last real "championship."

RB

O.J. Simpson 

First 2,000-yard rusher in league history. Tough, quick, and everything you'd need in a back, he had. I really applaud him for his production on some pretty bad Bills teams as well. Writing this part of the article makes me drool over the vision of seeing Kelly handing the ball off to "the Juice."

Backup: Thurman Thomas—Ok, all you Thurman fans out there, the vision of Kelly handing the ball off to the Thurmanator is a pretty good one, too, and it actually happened. This guy won an MVP on the team that I believe is the best Bills team ever. He could do it all. Marshall Faulk was the second coming of Thurman Thomas.

WR

Andre Reed

12th in all time TDs and was there for all the clutch moments in Buffalo. Also, he had a 14-year stay in the Queen City, where he was always the go-to receiver. He wasn't the biggest or most fleet of foot, but he got in done, week in and week out. This guy made the blizzard games in December in Buffalo a little bit warmer.

Eric Moulds

One of my favorite Bills. Mould's biceps alone probably scared DBs across the league, and he wasn't afraid to go up against any of the them. Big, physical, fast, great route runner, and great hands, we really couldn't have asked for more out of this guy. His attitude and hard work really defined the Bills to me.

Don Beebe

I needed a slot guy, and he was one of the best. Similarly to Thurman and Marshall, he was Wes Welker before Wes Welker. Beebe might have been a bit faster and was definitely more of a deep threat. To put the icing on the cake for No. 82, who can forget his play on Leon Lett in the Super Bowl in Pasadena?

WR: (Reserves) Dubenion and Lofton—Had to be on here, and "Golden Wheels" is such a cool nickname.

O-Line

Delamielleure, Hull, Brown, Members of Electric Company

You can't say much from a stat perspective from the offensive linemen, but these guys could block. Period. All consistent players, all consistent Pro Bowlers.

DE

Bruce Smith

Obviously numero uno on the all-time sack list is my starter and RE. Only the havoc brought upon quarterbacks by Reggie White could be comparable to this guy for the long period of time he did it. Nothing was better than his bloodstained pants and chants of "BRUUUCE" from the crowd each Sunday.

DTs

Ted Washington, Pat Williams

These guys were absolute loads. They laughed at double teams and clogged the middle in Buffalo for a few years. Williams made this list immediately following his fumble recovery TD against the other team I lovvvvve, the New England Patriots in 2003.

CB

Antoine Winfield

This one is another guy that exemplified Buffalo Bills football. Though he was pretty small, he took all the downhill runners head on. His ball skills were amazing, and he seemed to be in every receivers' back pocket. One of the best secondary tacklers to don a Bills uni.

Nate Odomes

Another leader in INTs during the golden years of the Bills franchise. Had a pick in "The Comeback" and seemed to have a connection with Henry Jones, as they swarmed to balls thrown their way consistently.

S

Henry Jones

Led the league in INTs in the early '90s, and was a defensive leader for a great secondary during the playoff runs of that era. Played when he was banged up, he fit the Bills' mold perfectly.

Mark Kelso

You should be seeing a re-occurring theme here, the Bills in the early 1990s were good, and were filled with great players. Kelso isn't the first name that comes to mind when thinking of great Bill defenders but he did the little things to get the job done.

Also, in 1992, he snatched seven interceptions away from opposing quarterbacks. Not bad.

LB One

Darryl Talley

How could you not love his Spiderman underarmor-ish gear he wore beneath his jersey? That just made him scarier, not that he needed it. Led the team in tackles year in and year out, he really anchored the defense, with his play on the field and with his locker-room spirit.

LB Two

London Fletcher

The second linebacker was a bit more challenging because it seems as if not many linebackers have stayed around long enough to really be able to be put on an all-time team, but this guy could play when he was with the Bills, and he still can play. His leadership and character displayed how the city of Buffalo wants their players to be.

FB

Sam Gash

1. We brought him over from New England

2. That neck roll just spelled hurt to opposing linebackers and safeties on blitzes.

3. Absolutely amazing blocker.

P

Brian Moorman

As long as Mohr stood behind the center on fourth downs for Buffalo, Moorman adds more intrigue to the punter position. From his occasional 70-yard punt to his occasional lightning quick runs to catch the defense off guard, he is just more exciting than Mohr.

K

Steve Christie

All time leader in a lot of Bills kicking categories. If Norwood makes the kick against the Giants, maybe he's in this spot.

That sums up my all-time Buffalo Bills team. This team would have made it to the Super Bowl four-straight times and would have won all of them. Go Bills. Let me know your thoughts.