When your dad is a Bills legend, there's no pressure, right? For Bruno Fina, the son of former Buffalo offensive tackle John Fina, this week's rookie minicamp is both a homecoming and a golden opportunity.
Bruno, an undrafted free agent offensive lineman, is following in his father's footsteps—but carving his own path. John Fina was a first-round pick in 1992 and spent 10 of his 11 NFL seasons protecting quarterbacks in Buffalo. Now, it's Bruno's turn to make a first impression.
The younger Fina brings versatility to the table. After starting his college career at UCLA, he transferred to Duke for his final two seasons, where he played almost exclusively at left tackle. But the Bills' coaching staff, led by Joe Brady, is likely to test him on the interior as well. "I'm here to be a versatility guy," Bruno told reporters on day one of camp. "I'm here to plug holes and be a Swiss Army Knife."
It's a fitting attitude for a player who sees the bigger picture. The Bills have openings on the offensive line depth chart, and Bruno admits the fit was almost too perfect to pass up. "I chose coming to Buffalo because it was just the best place for me in terms of the depth chart and the possible playing time. It was like... this is almost too weird... the best place for me is the place where my dad was... it was just kind of a random coincidence."
But the connection runs deeper than football. With family and friends still in Western New York—including his grandfather, who hails from Rochester—Bruno has a built-in support system. "The best part I think is that my dad had so many close friends here and my family... so I got friends, I got family, people I can go have a home-cooked meal with and it just feels like family away from family."
So what advice did a Bills legend give his son before camp? Simple and direct: "Do the little things right... go make that team."
Bruno is one of 58 participants at rookie minicamp, including 10 draft picks and 12 undrafted free agents. For a player with bloodlines and a Swiss Army Knife mentality, the opportunity is there for the taking.
