- Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass received death threats after missing a field goal in Sunday’s Bills-Kansas City Chiefs game
- Ten Lives Club, a no-kill cat sanctuary in Erie County, NY, raised more than $100,000 in his honor
- The missed field goal brought back memories for Bills fans of 1991, when a botched punt cost the club a Super Bowl title
Buffalo Bills fans are determined to make it right after kicker Tyler Bass missed a game-tying field goal and online abuse prompted him to deactivate his social media accounts.
After Sunday’s game in which an NFL player missed a 44-yard field goal that would have tied the Bills with the Kansas City Chiefs with less than 2 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Bass began receiving threats. And after the 27-24 defeat was final, the 26-year-old switched off his x and Instagram accounts.
But the Ten Lives Club, a no-kill cat sanctuary in Erie County, NY, is determined to support the athlete. In the past two days, the organization has raised more than $100,000 in Bass’ honor, they say.
“Everyone at our cat shelter was a big fan of his, so seeing the negativity and hate coming at him was heartbreaking,” Kimberly LaRussa, the shelter’s public relations manager, tells PEOPLE. “We have a huge photo of Tyler and one of our kittens framed in the lobby of our shelter for everyone to see as soon as they walk into the shelter. We just wanted everyone to know what a great guy he is.”
Rescue is encouraging fans to donate $22 in recognition of Bass’ No. 2 jersey.
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The “wide right” field goal made Bills fans glow with another devastating moment in franchise history.
In 1991, Bills tight end Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard field goal on the same unfortunate trajectory — costing the club the Super Bowl XXV championship.
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Sunday’s outcome weighs heavily on Bass, who was selected by the Bills in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
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“It’s completely up to me,” he told reporters. “I have to do a better job in order to reach my goal. I need to do a better job of playing a little more to the left when you have left to right [wind]. I’ve been around long enough to know you have to do it.”
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For Ten Lives Club, however, Bass has already made a lasting impact.
“We are so grateful to everyone for their support and for having Tyler’s back,” says LaRussa. “We hope this makes him smile knowing what a difference it makes.”
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Source: HIS Education