May Day 10

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/bills-to-remain-in-buffalo/ Kind of the aftermath... 1998 was before the real proliferation of the Internet and 100000 sources covering nfl. I do recall at the time being made very afraid of the team's future in buffalo

yes. But Kansas City for example.... is there really that much population surrounding it? You can also include Southern Ontario (and not even including Toronto). I would also contend that WNY miles are much shorter than miles in more populous areas. Can get from Buf to Roc in much less time than half the distance, in say, Atlanta. We are not some megalopolis, but people citing the 270K population figure is misleading. Here is the data that combines areas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Combined_Statistical_Areas

It is just a losing culture, brought about by a loser of an owner born with a silver spoon and happened to buy a football team eons ago. 1 total playoff win post merger outside of the Kelly years. The owner treats this like his coin purse. Play it as safe as possible and make 2 nickels, results be damned. While you could take a little risk of making 1 nickel, but possibly get good results and make 4 nickels. Regardless, our worst enemy is an outside perception of apathy. Best case, a boycott would result in a 10% loss in ticket sales (and that is generous). That would do nothing but make us look unwilling/unable to support an NFL team and the NFL would have more public "buy-in" to allow the team to leave. One of our best allies at this point is other fans, who hold Buffalo fans in high regard. The NFL does not want any bad press and may possibly hesitate to move a team with history and fans like this. It makes no good sense, especially when the owner is 95. Buffalo itself doesnt have the poulation... But factor in WNY and you have 2.5 Million. not shabby or far fetched considering an hour is nothing to travel for an NFL game. Ranks: Buffalo #44 and Rochester #45. Combined and you jump up a great deal.

Many greats mentioned Cant forget Bledsoe's 1st game vs the Jets in 2002. OT Kickoff return TD. Loss.

Wonder what they do about Carpenter vs Hopkins. I think Choice is a solid #3 RB Pay Byrd Would like to see Carrington stay if its reasonable.

no. I have various friends that are Yankee fans and Pats fans, etc... I dont really envy them at all. In a way they are really missing out. The real thrill of the chase is gone. Games arent really meaningful until the Conference Championships. Bills fan is exceptionally bad because there is just no good things at all. I am thinking though if we are blessed with a new local owner, the team will once again break out of its 53 year slumber. Being a Bills, Sabres, and Indians fan, I wouldnt trade it for anything.

Holding the game up there is a terrible representation of Bills/NFL football IMO. Market the game to Canadians, that is fine. Best way is the tried and true gameday atmosphere in Orchard Park and winning. Meaningful December games help, but in large part due to this series, there wont be any more this year. I think the cat is out of the bag that the only real motivation for the Toronto side is to rip the Bills out of Buffalo. They (Bills) didnt even get a lot of money this time. The first round was highway robbery. This time was just cashing in any way they can while Wilson is alive.

I dont think the deal exists without Toronto's hopes to relocate the Bills

the original deal was $78 million, but there was certainly negotiation this round and I do not believe a dollar figure was ever publicly released this time.

I loled and support this

I know skydome (Rogers Center) certainly has many events outside of MLB and CFL. Every time I am in Toronto it seems like something is going on there, whether its motocross or UFC... I wonder if the new stadium would be billed as Jays/NFL again?

I like where they are. Another good draft and a few well chosen FAs, and this team will be ready to be a realistic challenger to NE next season IMO and I am normally pretty negative about the Bills

I hope you are right.

That is all good and my only hope (add Bob Rich to that as well). Jacobs would need to sell the Bruins, and with that many parts, they would likely need to be organized (which is what Toronto interests have been doing for years). They would need to do research into how likely a new stadium is, public funding, lease w/county, etc. Methinks the NFL will streamline the Bills to Toronto sale long before the "players" here decide and are ready for a formal bid package.

The Bills are as good as gone. When I am out of town and talk to people about the Bills, I usually say that. It was tough to get myself mentally to accept the reality, but it'll make it easier when it happens. The NFL is licking their chops to get into Toronto. It is a monster city with inflated prices and so much business. It checks the box internationally, and Toronto's demographics includes large chunks of everyone on Earth. It makes me sick how the NFL "promotes" and romanticizes relocation in the Madden videogame. Buffalo can work, but it would require patience from the NFL and some maneuvering. Ultimately it would come down to NFL's desire, and I dont see it there. It wont be like the Sabres situation where they hold the team in efforts to find local interests with the desire and $. The "bidding" here will be swift and likely rigged to provide the team to Toronto in a shiny package with a bow. These things have been in the works with Lieweke (sp) brought on board. The NFL will sell off the other NFL fans and hope to keep WNY fans by justifying the move by saying "its not that far, itll be both cities' teams, but they will just play in Toronto and change the name and uniforms. Maybe someday they can play a game in Buffalo". The actions of the Bills do not make me feel better. I believe Mary Owen is the teams' head of the Toronto operation, likely paving her way once the team moves. I also do not like how dismissive and uncomfortable Russ Brandon gets when people talk about anything to do with a new Buffalo stadium.

a few flaws in that list, and it would have been better if the writer went a little more in depth... but it is what it is. He takes a hatchet to New England, but for the lists the same 'characteristics' and boosts Indy and New Orleans. Would definitely list the Giants higher.

Did those teams opt out of the blackout policy? Seen various games with many empty seats. The KC game here was a "bailout", but it was a packed house for sure.

Next year the rule changes and those games can now be the night game. The one catch is, if it is Buffalo or Miami vs Detroit, the replacement game needs to be in the East to fill the 12:00 start time (because Dallas cant).

I predict it will be Detroit vs Buffalo Thanksgiving night If the Bills get to 7-9, I wouldnt doubt a Sunday/Monday night game.

Eric Wood. Such a stabilizer on the O-Line, which was a complete pile of rubbish for the most part for years before he got here

lol at the Browns and Lions

Speculating and feeling dread about the Buffalo Bills post-Ralph Wilson in very valid. However, any questioning regarding the Sabres' status in Buffalo and the NHL is a complete joke and shows a complete lack of familiarity with Sabres' Ownership, the NHL, and the region as a hockey market.

Im all about 2014 at this point. Unless they regress and start getting hammered (which I really dont expect), I am very hopefully they can be a legitimate contender for the Division in 2014 Home Miami New England New York Kansas City San Diego Green Bay Minnesota Probably Cleveland or Pittsburgh Away Miami New England New York Denver Oakland Chicago Detroit Jacksonville, Tennessee, maybe Houston definitely going to have to bolster the secondary for that schedule 50/50 chance they will have the Thanksgiving game vs Detroit. Either the Bills or Miami

Golisano unfairly gets a bad rap as a Sabres owner. He completely saved the franchise when no owner was on the horizon. Assisted by the salary cap, he was able to make them as financially sound as they ever were in the 'modern era'. when he bought the team, he was very clear that he wasnt going to be taking major losses on the team, and the goal was to be at the break even mark. He did cut a lot of peripheral costs, and would not get involved in front loading contracts/cap circumvention, etc. I dont hold that against him as he was up front from the beginning. If he managed the Bills like he did the Sabres, theoretically, he would be less frugal than RW as there is more elbow room to break even. I also think more investment in the Bills would bring much more profit.* As it is, they play it very safe and close to the vest to preserve as much profit as coming in as if its at the ceiling. *- not taking into account any payback/interest on a loan to finance the purchase. I think he learned his lesson from the Sabres and would likely hire qualified individual to run day to day operations. Not Larry Quinn or Russ Brandon. So in short, I think he would be a good owner.

Good call. The guy was hurting the team. Good luck to Powell though. Hopefully he can turn it around and have a career,