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15 Questions: Mark Ricotta

Last season all eyes were on the Herculean AFC with their battle of undefeated teams in their Conference Championship game. Denver and Buffalo had a magical season where both of them went 14-0, only to meet in the conference final to determine who would go on to the Super Bowl.

Buffalo jumped out to a big 20-6 3rd quarter lead only to see Broncos QB Reggie Albert rally his troops to four straight scores and win 30-27.

But we all know what happened next in the Super Bowl. Sadly, Mark Ricotta, the GM of the Buffalo Bills, fell 3 points shy of one of his ultimate goals.

To meet his brother Todd Ricotta, the Green Bay GM, in the Super Bowl.

Mark joined the USAFL when it re-launched in May of 2001 as Todd's AGM in Buffalo. For months he was a silent member of the league. Sitting back and watching and learning. As the months passed, Todd gave Mark the opportunity to start helping him with rookie evaluation. It wasn't long before Mark was making draft night selections.

"When Mark reached that point," recalls Todd, "I began to consider the possibility of moving on to another franchise and letting Mark step up and take the reins of the Bills."

The rest as they say, is history ........................

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BUFFALO BILLS GM Mark Ricotta

1. What an incredible season you had last year. Fifteen straight wins followed by a heart stopping loss in the AFC Championship to the Denver Broncos. I know that loss had to be crushing. What are your thoughts on that game and your season now?

Much different now than the night after the game. :)

I was disappointed in the loss, but soon realized what a great season I had, regardless.

After the first sim, I admitted that I would have been pissed had I not gone at least 4 - 1. After going 10 - 0, I figured I had a shot at going undefeated because I felt I matched up well with my last 4 opponents.

Once the regular season ended, I was disappointed that I didn’t get home field, because I knew it would probably come down to playing Denver on the road. But the article I posted was true to life, I didn’t consider the Miami game a done deal.

In fact, I was very concerned because I swept them in the regular season and I’ve realized the game doesn’t always favor the team that won the first two games. So my sigh of relief turned into thoughts of the first (annual! he he) Ricotta Bowl. I felt I had the defense to slow down Denver and while I usually try to remain cautious in my predictions, I let my emotions get the better of me.

But what a great game it was! And when the dust settled, I re-evaluated and realized there’s no shame in getting beat by a team that was in the Super Bowl the year before. And I also realized that going 15-1 was a great accomplishment. It was a great season that helped me see I can build a winning team in this league.

2. Nine seasons ago your brother, Todd Ricotta, stepped down from his GM position with the Bills after winning the 2020 Super Bowl and headed west to takeover the Green Bay Packers. You were immediately named the replacement and took the team to the 2021 Super Bowl, winning it all in just your first season. Right or wrong, everyone looked at that team and gave all the credit to Todd. But last season, there was no doubt who built that team. How rewarding was that?

I knew it was Todd’s team that won the Super Bowl, so it was hard to get really excited about it. But it was my team to keep together, and I knew it was going to be a tough task to take over a great team and make it my own while remaining competitive. At the start of last season, I felt I had built a contender, so I’m proud of my record and most definitely proud of the GM of the Year award.

3. With Ben Breeden stepping down and Bill Barnwell taking his place as the Broncos GM, what advice can you give Bill, coming from someone who has great experience taking over a great team?

I guess there are two possible strategies: dismantle and rebuild or maintain and re-tool. With the Buffalo franchise’s history of success, I chose the latter. I didn’t want to tank the team’s average wins per season.

It’s a difficult task and I think the key is good evaluation of talent. Determine which players you can let go for good value, while keeping the competitive core intact. Then try to stockpile draft picks for the first few years so that core can be replenished.

That is, assuming you don’t draft a bunch of bums. :)

4. With Todd's success in Green Bay and Breeden's surprise resignation, could the 2029 Super Bowl be an All-Ricotta Championship?

I hope so - I have a 22 - 3 loss to avenge! I definitely think it could happen. My team is poised to take that next step and I’m sure Green Bay will do their part to make it a possibility. Just as long as the AFC brings the Cup back to where it belongs. :)

5. How many seasons did you serve as the Bills AGM? Were you completely prepared for the task of being a GM?

I was Buffalo’s AGM for 20 seasons - since the inception of the modern day USAFL. And that was really my first exposure to the FBPro simulations, so I don’t think I was as prepared as I could have been.

It took me a few seasons to really feel comfortable and I’ll say that I’m still learning. But I had a really good teacher and the character of the league helped to make the transition painless.

I got killed in Free Agency early on because I wasn’t real familiar with the strategy of the system, but I’ve done pretty well recently. I feel my trades at the start weren’t very good. I think the toughest part to learn, though was roster management because I didn’t deal with it much as an AGM. There’s nothing worse than losing a promising rookie to retirement. But I’ll say I’m completely prepared when I win another Cup.

6. Two words, Sonny Vail. Knowing that he has played for Buffalo his entire 14 year career and will break Miles Pollara all-time career passing yardage mark this coming season, what has he meant to your organization?

He’s lived up to every expectation bestowed upon him since three players and three picks were traded to Green Bay for the opportunity to chose him #2 overall. He started as a rookie and never looked back. He’s definitely been a key in this team’s success.

It’s nice knowing you have a star in such an important position. It’s one less thing to have to worry about. But you still have to surround him with capable players. I’m just glad I didn’t have Thad White. ;)

7. Vail stands just 2,422 yards shy of the 50,000 career yardage landmark. Can he become the first QB to break it in this, his final season?

No doubt. Sonny Vail will solidify his position as arguably the best QB ever. Now he just needs that last Cup.

8. In our league, there are several different levels of competiveness. Describe your competitive spirit when it comes to the USAFL. What keeps you involved?

I’d say I’m pretty competitive.

There’s so much personal investment in building your team that it’s hard not to be passionate about it. I think that’s what keeps me involved. And you all have created such an amazing simulation that it would be difficult to not stay interested.

I look at it as a way to finally put my money where my mouth is for all the times I’ve complained about or questioned my pro sports teams’ decisions. It’s as close as I’m gonna come to being the GM of the Buffalo Bills.

9. What one feature of the USAFL would you say is by far, the best component to the league?

Hmmmm. One feature.

For actual team management, I’d have to say the draft. It’s an intense time for me because it’s the basis for your team’s future.

But there are so many features that make this league so much fun. Besides the draft, FA, Trades, etc., the community feel of the league is great.

And the article section, it adds more fun to the simulation.

10. If you could have any ACTIVE player in the USAFL on your team right now, who would it be?

Definitely QB King Meats. I know he wasn’t drafted, but he should be active because of his name alone. :)

Talent wise, there are probably too many true actives to chose just one. But I’d have to say RB Cornelius Brooks for sentimental reasons.

Brooks was taken in the 8th round of my first draft as GM and I always felt he was a great pick so late.

Or maybe a solid kicker. Did you see Tracy Barry’s field goal % last year??!!

11. Let's say you do make the Super Bowl this season, which team would you like to face?

One guess: PHILLY!

I have a Super Bowl loss to avenge!

Seriously, though, it would have to be Green Bay. Surprised, huh?

12. How many of your family/friends know that you are a hard-core USAFLer? Do you talk about it with them? Or are you a closet USAFLer?

I’ve told friends and co-workers about it, but they can’t get past the "fantasy football" mental block. I’ve tried to convey the level of simulation, but inevitably I just give them the link so they can check it out if they want. But most don’t appreciate how much fun this league is. So I’m probably a middle-of-the-road USAFLer since I’ve only told a handful of people.

13. Which GM makes you laugh the hardest?

That’s a tough question. There’s some good banter that goes back and forth. I don’t think I can pick any one person. I’m always checking the message board to see what the latest wise crack is.

14. Describe your environmental setting on a draft night. Do you draft from work/home? Do you order out for pizza/wings/etc? How much paperwork are you looking through to make your selection, or is all your scouting work done on the computer?

As AGM I always went to my brother’s. When I became GM we continued doing so, except now we don’t necessarily compare draft boards. :) But it’s become a tradition, really. I go right from work, usually getting there just in time to eat dinner then sit down to draft.

I use print outs of my rookie sheets for tracking.

15. Which of the following would you rather have in your trophy case? One Lorne Sundby Cup, three James Maurer GM of the Year Awards, six AFC Championship trophies, four Bing Bennett Most Valuable Player Awards, five Tim Arkwright Rookie of the Year Awards, or ten AFC West Division Championship trophies?

If I really had to pick, I’d say the three James Maurer GM of the Year Awards since it’s voted on by other GM’s.

I respect everyone in this league, so being honored by my peers is a great accomplishment.

I guess it’s one down, two to go!

Plus, I already have one Lorne Sundby Cup. :)

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Next week: Cleveland Browns GM Ed Pamer