Buffalo Bills share thoughts on bling

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - That gaudy expensive jewelry that we associate with the Bills, may be a thing of the past.

In today's vernacular it's known as "bling" and with the price of gold and silver these days, it's smaller and more refined.

Million-dollar athletes, the Buffalo Bills are Western New York's equivalent of rock stars.

With millions to spend on life's finer things, how are they with jewelry or bling?

"It's about finding something that's unique and classic, not gaudy," said Receiver Lee Evans.

Evans is one of the higher profile Bills players, but off the field, he's low key and so is his jewelry.

"Just finding a nice piece, or pieces, that say a little bit about me, and about my personality, something that I can wear anywhere and be comfortable.

Then there's Terrell Owens, whose well-publicized trip to Rodeo Drive netted him a six-figure pair of diamond-studded earrings.

Jeweler Brian Levine says, he could have made that set for a lot less.

Levine designs signature bling for rock stars, professional athletes, and Bills of a bygone era. He has a pretty good idea of what they want.

"Everybody wants their own identity, and through jewelry, this seems to help their persona," said Levine.

And a nice watch could be just the thing.

"It's a Swiss movement. It's very finely made. They are just spectacular time pieces," Levine said.

"I'm just more into the time pieces, have a nice clean watch. But I don't really do a lot of the flashy chains, and bracelets, and pinky rings, and things of that nature," said Levine.

Safety Jairus Byrd has shattered the Bills record for interceptions for a rookie, and he likes jewelry but doesn't spend a lot.

"A lot of people have jewelry made with their name on it, and different things like that. So jewelry speaks for itself, I guess," said Jarus Byrd.

Maybe the Bills are not flashing their bling because of teammate Donte Whitner's half million dollars worth of jewelry getting picked from his home. Or the Oakland Raiders' Javon Walker, getting mugged and robbed of $100,000 worth of jewelry with former Buffalonian, Arfat Fadel charged as a co defendant.

But for the most part many of the players we talked to seem like the rest of us. Running back Fred Jackson's wife picks his out.

"She's very meticulous, when she goes to pick for quality. The better the grade is what she generally goes for, more sparkle, and things like that," said Jackson.

Quoting rap lyrics, hard-hitting George Wilson puts the bling question in perspective. "You kind of let your actions do all your talking? You've got to. Actions and conversation rule the Nation, that's what I heard. Conversation rules the Nation. So you don't need all the jewelry to talk for you, do you?"