Former Bills Round 2 Pick Shocked After 40–9 Loss to Buffalo — “They Are Not the Same Team I Left”
Charlotte, NC — October 2025
Boogie Basham’s reunion with the Buffalo Bills was supposed to be an opportunity to prove he still belonged in the place that once invested a premium draft pick in him. Instead, it became a humbling reminder of how far the Bills have surged ahead — and how drastically his career has shifted.
Now with the Carolina Panthers, Basham watched his former team crush Carolina 44–9, dominating every phase of the game in one of Buffalo’s most lopsided performances of the season.
After the loss, the former 2021 second-round pick (No. 61 overall) didn’t hide his shock about what he saw on the other sideline:
“That is not the same Bills team I left. They are sharper, faster, and more unified. Josh is playing with complete command — and that defense is relentless. They look like a group that is finally ready to finish the job.”
Basham spent his first two NFL seasons with Buffalo, appearing in 36 games while posting:
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29 tackles
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4.5 sacks
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1 interception
Viewed as a developmental edge rusher with upside, he never became the impact player Buffalo needed. In August 2023, the Bills traded him away — a move many felt symbolized the team moving forward with a tougher, more disciplined defensive identity.
Two years later, the gap has widened even further. Carolina has dropped key games and struggled to protect its quarterback, while the Bills continue to stack dominant wins behind a suffocating defense and MVP-caliber quarterback play.
For Basham, it’s a bitter contrast. Pride for his old teammates. Frustration with the result. And a sting of what-if.
Still, he insists the embarrassment will fuel him:
“They are chasing a championship. I need to chase my chance to get back on that level.”
As the Bills surge toward the AFC’s top tier, the Panthers will search for answers. And Basham — once a part of Buffalo’s future — now faces a fight to ensure his NFL future remains intact.
Entire Dublin Stadium Rises to Honor Former Steelers Chairman & U.S. Ambassador Dan Rooney — A Tribute Like No Other
Dublin, Ireland – September 29, 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ historic game in Ireland turned into more than football. Before kickoff against the Minnesota Vikings, the entire Aviva Stadium rose in unison to honor the late Dan Rooney, Pittsburgh’s beloved former chairman and U.S. Ambassador.
Most of the Steelers’ current roster never met Rooney, but the tribute was impossible to miss. Fans in Ireland waved black-and-gold flags alongside Irish tricolors, chanting his name as a video montage played across giant stadium screens.
Mike Tomlin, who often credits Rooney for giving him his head coaching opportunity back in 2007, was visibly moved. “We talked a lot about the late, great Ambassador Rooney last night. I know he’s smiling,”
Linebacker Patrick Queen revealed Tomlin became emotional the night before the game. “He got teary-eyed and everything. You could tell how much it meant to him. That’s when we knew this game was about more than football.”
On the field, the Steelers delivered. DeShon Elliott, returning from a sprained MCL, produced a sack and interception. Keeanu Benton added another sack, saying afterward the tribute made him feel connected to a leader he never met.
Veteran corner Darius Slay explained how Tomlin’s words set the tone. “He reminded us what this trip was really about. We weren’t just playing to win — we were here to honor the man who built this bridge.”
The energy in Aviva Stadium matched that mission. Thousands of Irish fans stood shoulder to shoulder with Steelers Nation, uniting in applause that echoed through Dublin. It was more than a game — it was a shared legacy.
For the Steelers, the 24-21 victory over Minnesota will be remembered not only as a win abroad, but as the night Ireland and Pittsburgh together paid tribute to Dan Rooney in a way no one will ever forget.
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