Archives for March 2014

‘A strong believer in hometown projects, Mr. Wilson played an active role in obtaining matching grants from the NFL’s Grassroots program for Buffalo area athletic fields totaling over one million dollars in recent years. He also contributed significant funds for the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Athletic Field in Detroit as part of the NFL’s Youth Education Town Legacy gift during Super Bowl XL.’

‘”We are looking for certain things and things that Coach Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers bring to the table that would help us,” Marrone said. “I think there are things we can do that help them prepare for the season.”‘

‘”He’s a guy that we were all motivated by, but especially with his passing we want to continue to cement his legacy going into next season,” said Fred Jackson. “That’s something that all the guys here will focus on. We want to honor him and what better way to honor him than to win a lot of football games for him.”‘

‘The Bills and Steelers have agreed to hold joint practice sessions on a home-and-home basis during the 2014 and 2015 training camp periods. The Steelers will host the Bills this summer, with Buffalo serving as the host in 2015.’

‘”We were season ticket owners since 1960, my dad and I,” Mr. Lickfeld said. “It was very rare if you didn’t see him walking around at the game, always talking to fans. I was just a young kid then, but I remember my dad saying, ‘That’s Ralph over there.'”‘

‘Wilson did not put Buffalo on the map, but he did as much as anyone to keep it there.’

‘”There were tears,” Lurie said, “but it was just absolute quiet.”‘

‘”He would come in and high-five guys,” Darryl Talley said by phone from Florida. “Leonard Smith would run the length of the locker room and high-five you, damn near break your hand. The funniest thing I came remember, Ralph came in one time and I told Leonard, ‘If you hit him hard and break his hand so he can’t sign my check, I’ll kill you’.”‘

‘”My father had a great personality,” the Bills’ owner said. “He could sell ice to Eskimos. He was the world’s greatest storyteller, without using profanity. He never told a dirty story or listened to one in his life. He and I were more like brothers than father and son.”‘

‘”The entire Buffalo Sabres organization was saddened to learn of the passing of Ralph Wilson Jr.,” the statement read. “His contributions to the city of Buffalo over his 50-plus years of owning the Bills were immeasurable, and his legacy in Western New York and the sports world will be long-lasting. With his passion for the game and never-ending loyalty to the great fans of Buffalo, he embodied what all owners in sports strive to be.’

‘Five other NFL cities have faced similar questions in the last eight years. In four of those instances, controlling interest in the team was passed on to surviving family members. In the other, a minority owner exercised an option to purchase controlling interest.’