Fitzpatrick's beard is now history

HAMBURG, N.Y. (WIVB) - It's been a major topic of conversation for Buffalo Bills fans this season, and now quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's infamous beard is history.

The scraggly beard became Fitzpatrick's trademark, and the butt of jokes around the NFL. Fitzpatrick was the "Amish Rifle" to his teammates, and some said he looked like a professor. With the season over, Fitzpatrick walked into Corto's Salon in Hamburg to get a shave and a haircut.

Fitzpatrick said, "Time to say goodbye. When I first started playing, I think it was laziness more than anything. And I let it go, and it became...something, so I figured I wasn't allowed to shave it until the season was over with. I'm sad to see it go today."

Joe Corto, a 50-year veteran barber and uncle of Bills safety Jon Corto, did the honors. After a quick haircut, Corto used a trimmer to get things started. Afterwords, he brought out the straight razor to finish the job.

"I'm fighting the tears right now," said Fitzpatrick.

In 15 minutes or less, it was all over. The NFL's most-talked about facial hair since Dan Fouts was history.

Fitzpatrick joked, "Who is that guy? I look like I'm about 12!"