For the duration of the 2010 NFL season, Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has been growing out his facial hair, resulting in the most glorious, wonderfully full beard the sporting world has seen in some time. Recently, Fitzpatrick announced that he plans to shave his beautiful beard following the Bills regular season finale on January 3, 2011.

We, the undersigned fans of the National Football League, hereby declare our love of Ryan Fitzpatrick's beard, and request that he let it continue to grow beyond his self-imposed shave deadline. We believe that these fantastically bushy facial locks add an heir of distinction to the Harvard graduate, in addition to protecting his face from the cold Buffalo winters, and therefore should be allowed to grow and blossom to realize their full potential.

In the grand tradition of Phil Jackson, Kimbo Slice, Brian Wilson and Zach Galifianakis, and for those of us who can only grow patchy, creepy, or otherwise lame beards ... please Ryan, don't shave the beard.