May Day 10

Im no bills apologist... but im on board. With where i view this team, any move made for the future is great. This franchise hasnt given attention to the future in a long time

Bad trades

I loved football as a kid, as a spectator. Tried little league football and didn't enjoy it. Kind of a nasty element to it as far as the participants and parents go.... and also a ton of nepotism in the lineup. Everything was/is so specialized too. My kid (still pre-K) loves baseball, hockey, and lacrosse so far. I'm cool with those, even though the latter 2 carry some risk. I am going to steer him away from little league football I think. There really isn't much need. If he is a good athlete and the high school football coach wants him to play running back or something (maydays are built like running backs), then I think I would allow him. Unlike other sports, I don't think refined skills are as necessary to play at the high school level. If you are athletic, you can play on the football team. To be honest, I wish he was more interested in musical instruments and art than sports... but he is trending toward meat head.

It is an interesting topic. There is/will be much less participation. I'm not letting my son play tackle football. I do think the NFL's rapid growth phase is saturated and over. They have 32 great brands people have immersed themselves in, and perfected the fan-participation by way of fantasy football, pools, and daily fantasy... I dont think it is going anywhere for awhile, but I could see a gradual recession in revenues. I think the NBA is going to supplant the NFL in the next 10-15 years. There is a global market there like the NFL could never have. I wonder if the owners will someday ease player conduct restrictions and drug testing and kind of open the door moreso for guys who truly do not have many other options in life than to put their brains on the line.

I always found it odd that fans of sports always froth at the mouth about relocating teams. You read the comments section and it is loaded with "move X to Y, that city is too small" and so on. People insisting that Buffalo should move.... and this is despite nearly 60 years of history and a very loyal fan base. As a Sabres fan I see it all the time too even with us. We are always quick to 'move' Phoenix or Florida or Carolina. Maybe because I came to terms with losing the Sabres back in 2002... and also thought the Bills moving to Toronto was a foregone conclusion.... but I feel like these leagues plant a team somewhere, they should be required to go through the good and bad. People become attached and emotionally invested. Kids are rooting for these teams and it probably breaks their hearts... I hate/loathe relocation unless it is a last-resort.

Im thinking the league will, before long, see the Jaguars to London.... and then create an expansion-derby. Pit cities/ownership groups in like Toronto, San Antonio, San Diego, Orlando, and St. Louis against one another to see who can get the nicest stadium with the most favorable tenant options.... complete with a multi-billion dollar expansion fee other than that, the league lacks ready-to-move franchises

First time an nfl owner has sounded off anti-new stadium? Haha

Head and health problems. Need to put in a mountain of work. I wouldnt bet on him

The pro-bowl point is something I have also been beating on. They should just do some sort of theatrics the Sunday before the Superbowl. Name All-Pro teams and also give end of season awards. They can have stars there, music performances, maybe a stunt like having a couple speedsters race one another or have QBs engage in some sort of accuracy/trick throw contest.... I don't know, lots of possibilities. If I were commissioner, that would be something I would dive into. I also support a second bye week, and take away a preseason game. Coordinate the bye week(s) with the Thursday games and make it equitable. I support realignment of some sort, as I said. It is just nearly 20 years old and stale. I get they have 'perfect' scheduling symmetry, but that shouldnt be the #1 factor. If not realignment, I think there should be thought put in to change the playoff seeding. A 12-4 wild card shouldnt have to go on the road to face a team who limped to an 8-8 division title.

one of things is not like the others.... do people in Miami even realize there is a rivalry? I would rank Buffalo vs Miami very low. Maybe lower than Houston/Indy. It hasn't been relevant for 20 years, and a whole generation has no idea. Hell, I am a year from 40 and have no experience with the 70's domination. Just about a little more than a dozen Kelly/Marino games ages ago. The Patriots' fans probably see the Colts, Ravens, Steelers, Jets, and Broncos as bigger rivals than the Bills. Maybe even the Giants. Jets fans don't care about the Bills.

It is a problem IMO. A team gets a franchise great QB and due to the 'blunt' 4-team divisional format, 3 teams become the Washington Generals for 10-20 years. Say the Jets get Sam Darnold and he becomes a Manning/Brady/Rodgers-level QB, and they manage the roster competently... It all but ensures that the Bills would not host a playoff game for a decade more +... The 4-team divisional format really can put your team and 3 others in a tough spot. I get the whole 'macho' "just beat them and it doesnt make a difference. It is easier than that though and I do think there are better ways to align the league. It stinks there are various coin-flip divisions like the Souths and sometimes the Wests, and then you have some that are on generational lock-down And the current rivalries do nothing for me. The Patriots I hate, just because the success. I am worn down with 17 years of beat-downs and am at the point of malaise. I didnt shed a tear when the Colts left the AFC East... The Jets do nothing for me other than me disliking any NYC sports team. The Dolphins are nothing to me. A turquiose team with a minimal fanbase in a city that has nothing in common with me. The Marino-Kelly years were good, but mostly due to the situation that both teams happened to be at the top of the Division/Conference for 8 years or so. It could have been anyone else, really, didnt matter if it was Miami. Kind of like the nasty Seattle/San Francisco rivalry a few years ago. The NFL will get that no matter what, depending on who is good and competing for a run of a few years/seasons.

I have been on board with this Lambeau Shula Buffalo Houston Cleveland Miami Pittsburgh Jacksonville Detroit Tampa Bay Cincinnati Carolina Chicago New Orleans Minnesota Atlanta Green Bay Tennessee Parcells Walsh New England Denver NY Giants Los Angeles Rams Washington Seattle Philadelphia Kansas City Baltimore Oakland Dallas San Francisco Indianapolis Los Angeles Chargers NY Jets Arizona It is treated more like NCAA football. Play each Division team 1x. rotate home/away year to year. Pair up 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 for an extra Divisional game to make 8 Divisional games. It would also keep teams at the top of the Division duking it out once more each season so you wouldnt lose the 'situational' rivalries that pop up. Then 4 from your other conference Division with typical home/away rotation, and 2/2 from each Division from the other conference with typical home/away rotation. Conference winners get byes. #2 and #3 in each division play in the wildcard round. Then play for the conference championships and re-seed for the final 4.

To me it is refreshing. For years and years, this organization, especially upper management from the coaches to the owner, have sidestepped accountability. From my point of view as a fan, a theme, instead of structuring a winning football program, it seems that they operate more to outsource blame and accountability, while making excuses.

This is true.... but relevancy would come in each sport if the corresponding teams were relevant. If the Bills were good, maybe on the level of KC, Baltimore, Denver, etc.... a perennial playoff contender who stands a chance of beating NE more frequently than the olympics happen.... then maybe people can call to arms and fan the flames. What is going to happen now is Gilmore is going to be/look very good, New England is going to kick the Bills' teeth in this year, and probably go on to at least the AFC Championship Game. Bills fans getting bent out of shape because a player says New England is on National TV more... is kind of pathetic and embarrassing. It is small time. If I saw the quote in a vacuum, I wouldnt have thought twice about it.

Lame to get bent out of shape about this. He is correct.

Patriots and Cowboyz Barf

I revised the post to say that if the Pats in present day, somehow faced the same circumstances, they wouldnt sell out either in all likelihood. In the Patriots' run, they haven't been close to those circumstances. There is a spoiled-ness that occurs with fanbases with extended success. It happened to a degree with the Bills. We saw it with the Atlanta Braves. Detroit Red Wings have had spells where they struggled to sell tickets, including playoff games. I don't think Pats fans have even been tested in... what seems to be forever.

They had like 3-4 days to sell tickets without online sales. Bad weather forecast against a team who just kicked their teeth in.... and with some key injuries. 80,000 seat stadium. The attendance that date would fill today's New Era Field and then some (as well as Sullivan Stadium and Gillette). Those are pretty valid reasons... different time. If you saddled the present day Patriots with the identical set of circumstances, I wouldnt be surprised to see them not sell out. Now, present day they sell playoff tickets well ahead of time (during the season), there is online and a secondary market that both quickly take hold. I feel pretty secure in saying that any Bills playoff games in present day would easily be sold out and also huge on the secondary market. You say you cant imagine the Patriots not selling out a playoff game. The same goes with the Bills. How many teams do you think could get as many paid fans into the building as the Bills at this point? 17 year drought for sniffing the playoffs (Hardly even a big game) and 21 years for a playoff win. It is pretty remarkable and any fan of the NFL would say the same. Any 'subjective' look at fan-bases that doesnt favor market size or team success would see the Bills near the top. Shooting from the hip, I would say Packers, Bills, Eagles, Broncos, Chiefs, Giants, Cowboys, Vikings, Browns, Steelers should all be up there in the top 10. I would be curious to see how Gillette Stadium sells in a post Brady/Belichick era if the batons aren't handed off neatly and they languish for any period of time. Just curious, maybe they still sell out, I dont know. I have a lot of friends who are Patriots fans and to a man, they really dont particularly enjoy the gameday experience of going to Gillette (outside of meaningful NFL games).

Whenever anyone tries to quantify fan-studies, it ALWAYS gives a giant boost to large-markets as well as teams who are currently good

I think I can say with confidence, that the atmosphere both in and outside the game is much more tame than it was 10 years ago. And if the team had big games, people would be better behaved (maybe prime time is an exception). Tickets cost more/worth more, and more people typically want to remember/enjoy what happens.

Eliminate the nerds who 'started' the moniker as well as those who claim it as some sort of exclusive group and presume the need to speak for all of us. Can't stand that either. Basically the phrase has taken a life of its own and has become our "Raiders Nation", Steeler Nation, Viking Nation, etc. Everything is Nation or Army. We have mafia. Like it our not, the cat is out of the bag and it has become a mainstream-accepted name. I have heard Jim Rome, Cowherd, etc refer to our fanbase as "Bills Mafia" often, as I see various NFL reporters tag #billsmafia when they mention the Bills. I think I am fine with that. It is original and doesnt roll off the tongue too poorly.

The futility of the team is the most defining characteristic of the Bills and their fanbase, and it brings me more 'shame' than a few people videotaping themselves jumping through tables (neither of which bring me much shame) I also disagree that a home playoff game will be worse. Tickets will be a lot of $$$. People attending will be more 'serious' about attending, and more people will probably temper their drinking somewhat and want to remember the game. The weather is also typically poor which keeps the widespread tailgating a bit more brief/subdued. Hopefully we see who is right someday.

I really couldn't care less what the rest of the league thinks of us or me. I support a team who hasn't sniffed the playoffs in nearly 2 decades. I participate in a mild tailgate.... but whatever people do on their own is their business and it doesn't affect me bad stuff happens everywhere https://www.yahoo.com/news/fan-reportedly-shot-head-following-031115487.html https://www.yahoo.com/news/video/mets-fan-critically-injured-fight-113544035.html http://www.csnphilly.com/the700level/watch-cowboys-fan-knocks-out-eagles-fan-one-punch?p=ya5nbcs&ocid=yahoo http://www.tmz.com/2015/12/01/cowboys-stadium-security-cops-investigating-choke-video-possible-assault/ https://www.yahoo.com/news/brutality-nfl-fandom-full-display-144057669.html

it seems to be very polarizing.... but I think it is outstanding.

Just watched it. I thought it was funny. I love our fans. To hell with anyone else.