Buffalo natives use shovels and snow blowers to help dig up grateful Bills players
Buffalo natives use shovels and snowblowers to help get grateful Bills players out of their homes in time to catch their flights to the game in Detroit after 77 INCHES of snowfall
The city of Buffalo is nicknamed “The City of Good Neighbors” and after this week’s massive snowstorm, Bills players saw that nickname in action.
After a storm blew through the area on Thursday, the NFL elected to move Buffalo’s game against the Cleveland Browns from Sunday. Parts of Orchard Park – the town in which Highmark Stadium is located – saw up to 77 inches of snow.
Western New York is still under a travel ban in some areas — including Buffalo — and a state of emergency is in place as roads are covered in snow and more are on the way.
In order to make their flight in time on Saturday, the players started digging up their homes – with the help of a few neighbors who joined in, brought snowblowers and even provided transportation.
TE Dawson Knox (R) and Dan Sweeney (L) were dug out of their home by neighbors
The Bills’ Twitter account showed photos and videos of players and people living nearby helping them get out of their homes.
QB neighbor Matt Barkley came with a snowblower to clear his driveway.
Other neighbors, such as those of OT Spencer Brown, TE Dawson Knox and FB Reggie Gilliam came with several people and shovels.
Eventually, the entire team was able to make it to the airport and they arrived safely in Detroit for the game. According to the Bills’ Twitter account, more than 56,000 tickets were sold for this relocated game.
WR Isaiah McKenzie struggled to walk in the snow while QB Matt Barkley had a neighbor to help him
Brown was then seen atop his truck in the snow while FB Reggie Gilliam received help
The Bills canceled Friday practice with head coach Sean McDermott holding a virtual meeting to check on players instead.
“I want to make sure I can look the guys in the eye and most of the guys got along, including the staff,” coach Sean McDermott said of the team’s morning zoom. “But for the most part everyone seemed to be safe and doing well.”
“Sometimes things get a little bigger than football and I think the thing that we also have to understand and remember is that there are people who work in this and have to go to hospitals. And so on.”
“So there are a lot more things going on that are more important than football today.”
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