May Day 10

whistle never blew, he never stopped moving, he crossed the goal line. You have to expect Notre Dame to get all the close ones though so its understandable.

I am an Indians fan, but in the playoffs Im rooting for Washington for Tim Russert And count me in 100% for the new playoff format. Loved everything about it.

Im not sure, but as far as I know, they have been planning on the same site for at least a year and turning the stadium 90-degrees. I believe they are playing their home games in London, ON next season while demo/construction takes place. I agree that it is a great experience to go. Anyone that goes with me that out-ages me agrees instantly that it reminds them of going to an AFL game in the Rockpile. Its a lot different and subdued, but in a way its welcome. You can kind of sit back and take in the game.

this has been final and known for a long time. Like funding was in place 2 years ago. The tiCats owner is also kicking in $. No way the place would be able to host an NFL team. The Stadium is in a pretty tight neighborhood, moreso than RWS. They wouldnt come close to having the infrastructure, parking areas, fan experience, etc for NFL standards. The stadium is supposed to be smaller than Ivor Wynne

Isnt that when Thurman was in the running for the rushing title and got angry because they were planning on benching him?

lol @ Patriots

or not negotiate

Im just sick of this turkey making us feel like second class citizens in the NFL. Our own team is doing this. Im a Sabres STH and a Phillies partial STH (lived in Philly). The admiration those organizations show their fans, even under Golisano isnt even comparable to the Bills. The team puts ZERO effort into making things more enjoyable for the fans. From commercials that might create feelings of excitement, to gameday production on the Jumbotron (literally nothing), to the awful, awful television shows filmed with the cheapest and oldest A/V equipment manageable. Does Wilson want the taxpayers to fund that stuff too? Obviously winning is the most important thing. But living in other markets over the years, you see the various things teams do to entertain their fans, build new fans, and get their team out there. The Bills do not even do a fraction of it. I think a lot of people get more and more disconnected with the team, and I guess that will make it easier for them to justify moving them. People in WNY will justify it by saying we are too poor... BS. I was asked about Jets tickets about a dozen times last year due to the rare event of a "big game" at RALPH WILSON stadium.

I agree with this 100%. The marketing effort in WNY is garbage, plain and simple. They agreed to maintain the blackout rule. The team perpetually sucks, mainly because the people Wislon trusts have absolute power and anybody worth a lick in NFL terms would never want to answer to Brandon, Littman, Overdorf. Brandon consistently puts it on the shortcomings of WNY fans and flashes his Canadian numbers. Could you imagine how much they could have charged for tickets in the 90's if there were XX% of Canadian fans?

I disagree. Wilson has zero motivation to move the team himself and pay for the relocation fees, while he will likely only have < a decade to live. If the team is lease free, they will be at maximum worth, Rogers will swoop in and pay top dollar for the team to the delight of the rest of the owners, maximizing the Wilsons' estate worth. Then in the court of opinion, the NFL will say that 20% of ticket holders were from Canada anyway and Buffalo couldnt sell out December games. I really do hope the optimists are correct, trust me.

It would make sense if they had an actual minor league/developmental system. However, once a player is drafted in the NFL it is sink or swim for the most part. You cant carry 7+ QBs for more than a few months up to training camp.

They are good at selling hope and impersonating a franchise that wants to win. There is no marketing, the team perpetually sucks, they cant sell tickets late in the season and it kind of gets thrown onto us. They claim the market is tapped which is why Toronto is 100% necessary. I would like to see a more serious effort (at winning and at marketing) before claiming WNY is tapped and consistently pointing to % of Canadian ticket holders. It almost feels like the tracks are being greased for a move up there.

Very cool artwork. I didnt have any idea.

I have said it before, but the Bills' marketing in WNY is brutally embarrassing. A commercial shot with a 90's middle school A/V cart of Stevie Johnson talking about the fans isnt selling tickets. I really dont see them being marketed anywhere. I was in Philly and the Eagles were marketed a ton more, and a lot more professionally... and I believe they are sold out anyway. I have lived in a few other markets too, and the Bills fall way short of anything I have seen. Minor league.

the only time I heard an injury cheered at RWS was when Washington's QB got hurt late in the game (forgot who it was) and Rob Johnson had to come in. The next play, of course was a sack and it was as if the Bills won a Superbowl

I work with a few ex-NY Jet Season Ticket holders. "ex" because they gave up their tickets when the team asked them for like $10K

Well the market here is tapped. They have their one commercial of Stevie Johnson talking about the fans. You know, the one that looks and sounds like it was shot with a middle school A/V cart from 1993? laziest marketing of any pro sports team ever. Then they cry about December ticket sales. Throw a little production value in there. get people pumped about the Bills and going to the games. Throw some Inception music in there. Even the stuff on the scoreboard during the games is awful and amateurish. I went to a few Hamilton TiCats games this season and their material is better than the Bills. in before "Lead the Charge".

very good post

I dont think anyone is criticizing the deal in this thread.

His job includes way more than that. Such as running the entire organization

100%. Brandon is one constant throughout this miserable stretch.

They need a new owner who takes pride in the franchise. Top down it is second-rate and will continue to be until Ralph is no longer the owner. I dont like/trust Russ Brandon either. They just cant get it right. There wont be any changes until Ralph is gone... Cant say I fault him that much, and I cant see him want to go through with vetting a new FO. I am also sick and tired of the black cloud of relocation over our head. The losing would be a trifle less damaging to my psyche if I knew for sure they would be in Buffalo 5 years from now.

id ask them not to let up 550+ yards next game

The front office and head coach is the last front office under Wilson IMO. What you see is what you get. I still feel better about this team than I have in a long time. I dont think they are far off.

interesting stuff. Nice job!