TEC

The league doesn't play hardball anyway. Terry doesn't have to stand at the podium and please his case. Give us our money, or we leave. Paulie said it better in Goodfellas - '***** you, pay me'. That's the reality. Y'all are right - give the Bills a ton of public funds, or they will find a new city (Is it San Diego or St Louis now? Austin? I can't keep up). The loyalty the Pegulas claimed to have would quickly evaporate without an influx of public money, Bills fandom be damned. I appreciate what San Diego and Oakland did. Not because they didn't love their team, not because they weren't loyal fans, but they just realized that when the rubber meets the road, public money is better spent elsewhere, and they had the balls to call out the ultra-wealthy. Of course, we don't like that reality, because again, who can fathom the team leaving. Sounds like ya'll are ready to cut your check. Good luck.

It's easy to say "***** billionaires, pay for your own stadium or leave town" when it's another city. It's much harder when it's the Bills. Scam, grift, strong arming, bullying, call it what you want, but citizens and representatives are being played when they write big checks to billionaires who don't need them. That is fundamentally wrong. I'd actually love for the Pegulas to step up to microphone and explain EXACTLY why they and the NFL are incapable of financing the stadium. Let the reporters grill them for 60 minutes and let's see if it's still an urgent priority. I'm not sure what the parameters for profit sharing would like, but that's the only route I'd want to go down. No public money to the Bills for nothing, and whatever happens, happens.

Interesting article on the first section. It's a drop in the bucket. https://www.marketplace.org/2015/03/19/are-pro-sports-teams-economic-winners-cities/ Regardless if the deal gets done, it doesn't mean we aren't getting played. We have a $14B company, with an individual owner worth $5.7B, holding a county and state hostage for their pet project disguised as a "common good" subsidy, one we all know provides minimal economic benefit, tied together with threats of "pay us, or we're gone". I think that is fundamentally wrong, and citizens should call out such hogwash.

I appreciate the response...these sections stood out to me, so I'll reply to them specifically. Economic impact: there are decades of studies that show that there is zero to minimal economic incentive to publicly fund new private stadiums. I'm sure you could find countless reports on the topic as you choose. 100% Private financing: It is unreasonable to expect that ticket pricing will stay consistent regardless of funding. Everything is going up, up, up if the Bills get a new stadium. And what the heck are "true fans"? Where are they from? What's the annual minimum spend on the Bills that is required? It can't be too high, or you know, they can't afford to attend anymore. Is ranch on their wings allowed, or do they get relegated down "average fan" with such a travesty? I'd like a guide so I can print it out and post at the local Backer bar. The team and experience are worth it: This is really, really interesting, and ultimately what I think this comes down to. I've seen no economic reason to write Terry a check for a new stadium. We know we'll never recoup the cost. We know there are countless housing, education, infrastructure, open space and technology investments we could make that are far more impactful than a stadium. Ultimately, we are trying to establish the value of having a NFL team that calls WNY home. Nothing more, nothing less. 100% public financing would say that right is worth over $1B. I just don't see how we can prioritize that kind of spending for an identity, not anything tangible that enables our community to improve. YMMV.

Nice straw man. I don't expect NYS/Erie County to grow a spine on this. If it comes to a vote to raise taxes, I'd anticipate it goes through with flying colors, as it's easy to get rose colored glasses on an issue likes this. That doesn't mean it makes any economical sense to do so. $700M seems to be the starting rate for the pride of having a team. It is what it is. #EattheRich

You are right, he doesn't owe us anything. I also believe that public taxpayers don't owe him anything and shouldn't front the majority of a stadium build so some billionaire may profit off extremely limited, private events. The case against public subsidies for new stadiums has been laid out a dozen times over by economists, city planners and journalists far smarter than I. The public can choose to ignore those facts so we can simply "have a team", or we can stand our ground and say "No". I say call his bluff. We may hate the outcome, but at least we didn't get grifted. I hope there is a solution with limited to no public funds involved that keeps the Bills in Buffalo for decades to come.

Some quick searching, I think we all know NYC constructions costs aren't the best comparison, but it's a good starting point. The new Yankee Stadium, completed in 2009, required an investment of $220 million from the city of New York to upgrade infrastructure. I'd be interested in what Vegas, Santa Clara, Indy and Minneapolis invested for said infrastructure improvements. Freddie's Dead mentioned $700-900M in infrastructure investments to support a field downtown, that doesn't pass the smell test.

I keep seeing these exorbitant "infrastructure improvements" estimates that go along with a downtown stadium, just what are you guys envisioning needs to happen? Every other city seems to have figured it out without building a slew of highways and mass transit options. RE: $1.4B Stadium - Call the billionaire's bluff. Don't give this team free money and act like it's a public-private partnership. Stop the scam!

^ They are across the street, the original building burned down ~10 years ago.

BoW is often imitated, rarely perfected. Throw some pickles and carmelized onions in there, it will change your life. Bar Bill is the most memorable, even if it's entering "no one goes there anymore, it's too crowded" territory.

^^This is the important part, $700 Million minimum from taxpayers. Let's see if the stadium scam wheel keeps spinning.

We know the key to stopping a great offense is bringing with pressure with four. Tackles for loss and "blockeating" isn't a negative, but you simply can't have one dimensional players on the DL.

Accountability...availability Great news for our team!

All aboard the Gus Bus! Lamar over 1000 rushing again...

The league has already mandated that coaches and front office staff be fully vaccinated, it's no surprise that they'd have the same expectation of players. As a requirement to employment, entry to private establishments, and as a condition for decreased healthcare premiums, this is happening all over America. We are becoming a vaccinated society, and those who choose to forego the vaccine will be at a significant disadvantage.

^Style matters....I don't think we'll see a QB lead the league in TDs AND run for 1200 yards again. Lamar is a really great player. He will likely get more than Josh, because that's how these QB extensions seem to go. Either way, Lamar is a $40M+ annual hit. That's the going rate.

People get canned every day for expressing their opinion on a variety of topics. Beasley could be no different. Cole is not naive. I'm sure he's recognized the gravity of choosing this hill to die on.

Freedom of speech/choice does not mean freedom from consequence.

In Imaginationland, I think BB would have cut Beasley before camp.

As long as we have Josh, Diggs, White and Mcdermott, we are in the conversation. That's all you can ask for.

Accountability .... availability

If only there was some way that this could all be mitigated. There's just nothing that can be done.

The Bills don't guarantee him $150 Million if he's unvaccinated.

Diggs said it best: Accountability .... Availability

Ignoring the sensationalized PFT articles, this will all come down to how many hundreds of millions the Pegulas are asking for. I'd assume it is $750M+ on a ~$1B+ Stadium to go in line with Indianapolis and Las Vegas public funding. It's still a scam, and labeling it as a "public/private partnership" is a farse, but I don't expect NY officials and taxpayers to tell a billionaire to take a lap.