May Day 10

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

this Sunday will (and should) be all about Ralph Wilson as owner

I was completely wrong and off base regarding Wilson over the years.

ear to ear smile

OMG OMG OMG

John Kryk gets the MVP from me.

negativo is positivo

It has nothing to do with it. People outside Buffalo dont really care... its not a blip. Especially because they are stayin', while the Ray Rice thing is saturated everywhere.

that is not a correct statement. Summing it up quickly. He came in. Felt like he can just throw money around and it was the ticket to success. Ended up magnifying the management's shortcomings. UFAs still didnt want to come to Buffalo. Figured out that his management was bad and gutted it and started fresh, accumulating many picks and prospects as assets. Knows that winning must get primed first, then UFAs come. Also building an entire hockey culture in WNY (Harbor Center, Canisius, Combine, etc...) edit: hahahaha! the Bills and sabres ownership joke. Excellent!

will there be any announcement at all though? I would think there are various formalities including the October owners' meeting to pass before anything formal. Maybe it will 'leak' that he his bid has been selected by the trust with little or no details.

I still can't fathom a world where the bills are secure long term with an owner obsessed with winning

I have sat at games thinking of how I'm going to explain to my infant son what having an nfl team here was like