Thursday was a special day for the rookies of the Buffalo Bills, after practice they got a full tour of Buffalo nearby and surrounding areas. This was the sixth year that the team has done this tradition that shows what the city has to offer in its rich historic and scenic places as well.
Beginning at Ralph Wilson Stadium, the rookies headed to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park. Home to several decommissioned US Naval vessels, including the Cleveland-class cruiser, the Fletcher-class destroyer USS The Sullivans, and the submarine USS Croaker.
Additionally, they visited the New Era Cap Flagship Store based in Buffalo, NY. As in previous years, the rookies got to take a hat of their choosing home with them as a keepsake. As of April 2012, New Era became the official on-field cap provider for the NFL which is a major coup for the city of Buffalo.
Afterwards, the rookies, on behalf of the Buffalo Bills, presented a $10,000 check to the Buffalo Zoo for its ‘Bear Necessities Campaign’. Players presented polar bears Luna and Kali with personalized Bills jerseys. Besides the rookies, students from a United Way Closing the Gap School (formerly Buffalo Public School 80) joined the players in touring the zoo.
After the zoo, they went to scenic and historic Niagara Falls. For most of the players it was their first time to the natural wonder that most Western New Yorkers take for granted. At the end of the day, the rookies enjoyed a dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe up in the Falls in the Prospect Point area to conclude their tour of the great city of Buffalo.
21 rookies were involved in the tour including all eight of the draft picks. All and all, it was a fun day for the rookies of the Buffalo Bills. They should learn a lot from the Queen’s City and its people especially the kids the will look up to their home town heroes.
