May Day 10

i go to Philly a lot. I made note of it and will never go to this place. Low class move by the co-owner. McCoy can tip whatever he chooses.

I saw the balloon and the "explosion". That was cool. Very cool without power. Worst part was power was restored briefly, I went to a packed bathroom when the power went out... we are talking Howe Caverns darkness.

agreed

I agree GG. Sullivan actually has writing talent, but chooses to be cynical all the time which many people hate. Bucky is just a transparent axe grinding troll and Harrington followed suit.

Its a lottery. Maybe 2% of people there will cross the line and/or be physically aggressive. Its easy to placate people around you by being cool, poking fun at your own team, buying someone a beer... but at some point you have to roll the dice with the masses and get a burger, go to the bathroom, or leave the stadium. Its just not worth it in a 'rabid' stadium. Somewhere with a rabid following going to a place like Arizona or Jax or Miami is fine because you have sheer numbers

Right next to the pats' cheating tapes?

many/most Sabres fans at the time were very much ready and clamoring for Regier and Ruff to be sent packing and one of the reasons Pegula had as much hype as he had.... But then the team caught fire that spring and completely muddied the water.

If the team doesnt show improvement this season, why not play the long game with executives who have a track record? Why roll the dice on unprovens? NFL teams dont need to take a decade to build. Seattle and San Francisco installed culture changing figures and were up and running within 1 or 2 years (and Seattle completely whiffed on the LB from Wake Forest forget his name). Denver too I recall picking ahead of us and got into gear swiftly (and they whiffed on Tebow). Teams go from top 5 in the draft to playoff teams left and right and the Bills sit there always with excuses and scapegoats. We will see what happens with this season though. I still see a 6-10 season staring at us. They would be crazy not to install a new structure if thats the case again.

its just really funny because for like 12 reasons, this is the one game that this wont/cant work. Honoring Wilson Honoring Kelly's recovery Pegula/Ownership 1-0 Opening Day One of the Three nice weather home games we will get

there are only 712 tickets on stubhub right now and other than 2 sales, the cheapest tickets are $160 plus fees.

Pegula got kicked around pretty bad for retaining Ruff and Regier for so/too long

this isnt based on reality. So the team employee (just a marketing guy I guess?) convinced/fooled all the billionaires to make less money in Buffalo? Sorry, those with the gold make the rules. That's Ralph Wilson and Terry Pegula. Have the NFL owners ever rejected a lease agreement between one of its clubs and Government when money is getting handed over? Its not pitchforks and torches. Its a terrible football organization who has finished last place 6 times in a row in a 4 team Division now under this man's leadership. If anyone has been scapegoating its the Bills organization whenever somebody leaves (Levy Modrak, Guy, Nix, Jauron, Gailey, etc). One skin of the teeth win does not convince me all is well. We will see how this season goes, but anywhere short of a huge step forward we need an overhaul up top. Not to mention Pegula put faith in questionable management with the Sabres (who actually had a track record that included some success) and it blew up in his face and he was just killed publicly and by the media. It also cost 2-3 years from the goal.

I think people are vastly overstating Russ' responsibility of the Bills staying in Buffalo. The billionaires make all the rules and the politicians do their best to keep them at bay. The Lease and NRA was a joint agreement between Wilson, Erie, and NYS. I also dont know if his "marketing genius" cant be replaced fairly easily. Its NFL football. Its Buffalo. RWS is a great party. People will go. I dont go because Russ Brandon did anything. My 10 friends I go with dont either. So he moved training camp to his alma mater. Whooptee doo. I would have done the same thing in his position. We also had terribly conceived pajama uniforms and Toronto Series as well. There are hundreds if not thousands of sports business types who can make NFL teams profitable. If Brandon does anything, he angers me as a fan using his December sellouts and "manufactured sellouts", and pointing to ticket sales 25 years ago as leverage publicly while in the midst of 6 consecutive last place seasons. I wouldnt hate it if they walled him off into a strict Ted Black role. Never to be mistaked for on-field influence again. No more war rooms, no more speaking about the makeup of the roster, no more scouting with a laptop during games, no more on the field in coaches gear at practice. That all ends. So opposite of Brandon (if he accepts) his diminished Ted Black role, we need a football man in. Dont know exactly who. That man determines the fate of Whaley and the coaching staff. This man will be responsible for all pro and college scouting, analytics, player development, contracts (if he wants a cap guy thats cool or defer it completely to Whaley), etc... No subtractions will be made anytime soon though. If anything, Pegula may install some management on top of what exists (maybe Littman and Overdorf resign?). After the season is when changes will/would be made.

No doubt... but Goodell said the relocation discussion/vote would be completely separate and later if necessary. The owner will be vetted based on his credentials, and as far as we know, Pegula's are immaculate. I have little doubt power brokers in the NFL were planning to some degree to slide the Bills to Toronto once Mr Wilson passed. The lease/NRA, the timing of Mr Wilson's passing, and the presence of Terry Pegula made it impossible and I am sure they moved on to plan B some time ago. My theory is: Magic Johnson and pals will make Davis an offer he cant refuse. Kroenke will move the Rams to LA. We will see a Meadowlands-type facility in LA which will be the West Coast jerry world. Then we will see San Diego leverage St Louis into seeing who will build a stadium first. Then after that, we will hear of expansion between Toronto, London, San Diego/St Louis loser, and San Jose/Oakland... whichever 2 cities gets the best stadium together with the best lease deal and owner(s) willing to pay a premium for entry into the league.

even if true... the vote has nothing to do with relocation.

I dont get it, why would Kraft or Jones say no?

my guess is that Pegula's people have contacted them and the thing will be re-skinned for a cutting edge fan group/club for the team. Perhaps a fundraising thing for new facilities, but in return for money, contributors will get collectables and experiences from the team.

i may be wrong, but I believe that NFL money is in the form of a loan?

Pegulas with a statement too. "...Singular Goal: To Win a Super Bowl for Our Fans..."

Unanimous without a doubt.

He may retire now due to the extension of staying in Buffalo hotels 1x a year

Through all this. Watching the NFL bloat over the years and feeling left behind. The huge concerts/parties at opening night and the Super Bowl with pop culture stuff that are over my and Buffalo's head. The lack of any attention or primetime games. Being irrelevant. Brandon shoving attendance woes down our throats... Then the uneasiness of the Toronto Series, especially in the beginning along with Wilson's not-so-easing words about the future. And the loss of the influential figures who were going to be in our corner when push comes to shove: Russert, Jack Kemp, almost Jimbo... and now its over and the Bills are preserved.

the Sabres are in a VERY enviable position right now.

Sunday will and should be about Ralph Wilson. We can give him the send-off he deserves with overwhelming positivity in the air. There will be plenty of time to celebrate Pegula. people are calling WGR crying. this is great