May Day 10

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.

I like the bills current kits, although i prefer standing buffalo. The problem is, when you try to crowbar an nfl jersey concept on an hockey jersey, it looks awkward and silly. By nature, hockey has the sharpest looking jerseys. Football's need to be dull, but the helmets bring the flair. NHL teams for their outdoor games have all gone retro and knocked it out of the park for the most part. This just reeks of obvious pandering and/or shameless and unnecessary cross-marketing. I was expecting/hoping for a team usa throwback to 1960 or 1980.

X 1,000,000. Can you imagine filling that much time with these organizations?

it is god-awful. What is with these people and botching jersey/logo design?

I have no reason to be embarrassed. I'm not in the videos.

this is what I have (not in order) The day Pegula was announced as purchasing the team Steve Christie capping the comeback game the final seconds of the 1st AFC Championship Game 51-3 vs Raiders AFL Championship in the Rockpile 1964 AFL Championship in SD in 1965 (23-0) Drafting Bruce Smith Jim Kelly arriving in a limo Clinching the Division in 1988 against the Jets, fans storm the field Beating the Dolphins opening day 1980 to break the 20-game decade long losing streak, fans storm the field Thurman Thomas' 31 yard run on the first play of the 4th quarter of Superbowl XXV to take the 19-17 lead

Kept. One of the last bastions of fun with the friends