PromoTheRobot Posted September 28, 2012 Author Share Posted September 28, 2012 Geographically, PTR's suggestion makes sense and no doubt we would develop new rivalries. But I have to agree with K-9, there's a lot of tradition in these old AFCE rivalries. In this case, for me, tradition trumps reasoned argument. I feel like a lot of the intensity with Miami is gone. The Pats are sort-of rivals because they beat us so much. I think we'd have a crazy rivalry with Cleveland, and maybe the Steelers. The NFL would probably put the Steelers in RWS every December to ensure a sellout. Of course it would be all Pittsburgh fans. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiggieScooby Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 This definitely would help with late season sellouts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djp14150 Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 Seeing how many Bills fans went to Cleveland, and how many Steeler fans came to RWS pre-season, I bet much more intense rivalries would develop if the Bills were in the AFC North. We could swap with the Ravens. They would fit great in the AFC East. Comments? PTR If you want to be creative do this.... Cincinati goes to afc south Indy goes to NFC north Detroit goes to afc north Buffalo goes to afc north Baltimore goes to NFC east Dallas goes to NFC south Atlanta goes to afc east Carolina goes to afc east Miami goes to NFC south Other options... Dallas, Houston, new Orleans, st Louis( Minnesota goes west) Tampa bay, Miami, Jacksonville, ny jets Tennessee, Atlanta, Carolina, ny giants Green bay, Chicago, Indy, cincinati Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, buffalo Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, new England Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo Barbarian Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 (edited) Seeing how many Bills fans went to Cleveland, and how many Steeler fans came to RWS pre-season, I bet much more intense rivalries would develop if the Bills were in the AFC North. We could swap with the Ravens. They would fit great in the AFC East. Comments? PTR It seems logical but we have great rivalries with the fins and and now Pats and Jets are becoming more intense now that we are getting better. Edited September 28, 2012 by Buffalo Barbarian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papazoid Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 my first thought was more fights in the stands and parking lots.....as there would be many more fans from the visiting teams in attendance ( would need to double security). my second thought was more attendance improves our chances of keeping the team in buffalo (best reason for it). my third thought is that although you can make an arguement it's better for buffalo, it would be next to impossible to make it better for every other team, the elimination of current rivalries, the perceived competitive disadvantage to be put with a team(s) that is currently strong, more travel for some, therefore i doubt this goes very far (thinking of the recent NHL realignment talks). although your suggestion only involves switching the bills and ravens.....if i'm a ravens fan, i dont like the (ne, nyj, mia) alignment. having said all that, i think total league wide realignment is a good idea, would benefit more teams than it would hurt and should be looked into. however, if after that plan, a team relocated, say jax to los angeles, it would mess things up again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finknottle Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 Terrible idea that die-hard fans everywhere love. It would be another step on the road towards ending the 'regional rivalries' like Buffalo-Miami and Redskins-Cowboys. Fewer games would have any intense national appeal. We'd be stuck watching Jets-Giants, Eagles-Redskins, and 49ers-Raiders every week, or else a couple of currently good teams with no particular rivalry. I think in the long run the national slate would start to lose the more casual fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordio Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 (edited) I don't know if I could handle seeing 25,000 Steeler fans invade Orchard Park on an annual basis. It would be nice though to have an organization(Cleveland) that is as big if not bigger joke then us in the division so we would not always have to finish in last place every year. We could alternate years. Edited September 28, 2012 by Gordio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarolinaBill Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 (edited) Swapping divisions with Baltimore would be great for Buffalo, hell it be great for all parties included really. total realingnment looks like this IMO, geographically, it makes the most sense NFC: North: Minn, Chi, GB, Indy South: Dal, NO Atl TB West: Sea, SF, Ari, STl East: NYG, PHI, wash Cinci AFC: North: Buf, Clev, Pitt, Det South: Mia, JAx, Tenn, Hou West:SD, Oak, KC Den East: NE, NYJ, BAlt, Carolina http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dCdBtUXdQjE/Tbrjc338V1I/AAAAAAAAB2I/7J8L8xNlBFg/s1600/NFL_Map.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thetailgateknight.com/2011_04_01_archive.html&h=450&w=720&sz=36&tbnid=1tuvTcUg-OVFUM:&tbnh=76&tbnw=122&zoom=1&usg=__SvSB0ayHRKLlqXtI_nrEDM1Q7so=&docid=ubiTPPu-Kwr7MM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GKBlUMWmIYH68QT0zoHgCA&ved=0CCcQ9QEwAw&dur=796 Edited September 28, 2012 by CarolinaBill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorkington Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 The only reason I would be against it would be the loss of Ravens vs Steelers games. Those are the best games to watch in football, imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badasss Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 Bad idea. We need at least one warm weather team in our division. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hondo in seattle Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 I feel like a lot of the intensity with Miami is gone. The Pats are sort-of rivals because they beat us so much. I think we'd have a crazy rivalry with Cleveland, and maybe the Steelers. The NFL would probably put the Steelers in RWS every December to ensure a sellout. Of course it would be all Pittsburgh fans. PTR PTR, I don't necessarily disagree with any of your points but for sentimental reasons I just can't agree with your conclusion that realignment would be good for Buffalo. There's just too much history with the Jets, Pats and Fins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tennesseeboy Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 Interesting idea. I sure could see a great set of rivalries opening up, but I would miss not having the traditional AFL/AFC East opponents. I don't think this would ever be considered unless in line with another league expansion that would open it up as an opportunity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KOKBILLS Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 Seeing how many Bills fans went to Cleveland, and how many Steeler fans came to RWS pre-season, I bet much more intense rivalries would develop if the Bills were in the AFC North. We could swap with the Ravens. They would fit great in the AFC East. Comments? PTR Way back when, during the last re-alignment, I was very much in favor of a Bills, Steelers, Browns, Bengals Division...At that time Mr Wilson was vocal in his desire to keep the Bills traditional rivalries, especially with Miami...I did feel at the time, and still do now, that the thought process by The Bills Organization was short sighted...By this time, I'm sure some healthy rivalries could be surfacing that are equally as intense as The Bills and Fish now...That rivalry has lost a hell of a lot of steam to be honest... I'm really not trying to rip on Ralph...But I'll always believe The Bills should be in the AFC North, and Baltimore should be in the AFC East...It made sense then, and it makes even more sense now...All the stuff about larger markets and warm weather matters not...This is the NFL...Money flows like water...Cleveland and Pittsburgh are both within a 3 hr or so drive...I actually think it would help The Bills and Browns Home attendance...Granted this is just my opinion...Anyway... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollars 2 donuts Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 (edited) Seeing how many Bills fans went to Cleveland, and how many Steeler fans came to RWS pre-season, I bet much more intense rivalries would develop if the Bills were in the AFC North. We could swap with the Ravens. They would fit great in the AFC East. Comments? PTR I have always been for it. Something to keep in mind: We are closer to what would be our furthest away division rival in the North (Cincy - 6:15 drive time) then we are to our closest divisional rival in the East (You guys tell me, is it NY or Boston, but at the very least it is about 7 plus hours). Just even the georgraphic proximity makes good sense, let along I believe that we are a more natural fit with those teams than the East. Let Baltimore in the East and us in the North. EDIT: One more item, and it is a little tangential: Bill Parcels has worked for every team in our division except us. I don't state that as a desire to have Parcells come to Buffalo, then or now, but just as a quick example that we are competing with markets and cities in our division that we really have no chance against in the eye-ball test, unless you get that rarity like MW who loves the country. Edited September 28, 2012 by dollars 2 donuts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marv's Neighbor Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 Let's run it by the NFL and see if we all get "Locked out!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jack Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 Let's run it by the NFL and see if we all get "Locked out!" Oh great, replacement fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHOICE SCREEN Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 (edited) Im not a big fan of tradition. I'm all for developing those basically backyard rivalries I would be 1000% behind a move to the AFC North. The Dolphins/Bills rivalry is dead. Bills fans seem to apathetic to consider NE a rival, and the Jets meh Edited September 28, 2012 by CHOICE SCREEN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan-4-Ever Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 (edited) For the NYERS It's simple - 2 division game would be within 3 hours drive from Orchard Park the other 2 the Ravens and Bungles 6 to 7 hours - - which is bassically the same time to Jersey and Foxboro For us in Virginia - Balt is 1 to 2 hour drive, Pitt it is 3 to 4 hour drive, Cleveland 5 to 6 hours, Cincinnati is an 8 hour drive and finally a 6 to 7 hour drive to Orchard Park. Edited September 28, 2012 by BillsFan-4-Ever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salty Posted September 28, 2012 Share Posted September 28, 2012 Its too late to care about geographics. These teams have played each other forever and it makes the games way more special. Of course after a couple years new grudge matches will begin so............but I say NAAAAAAY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted September 28, 2012 Author Share Posted September 28, 2012 Im not a big fan of tradition. I'm all for developing those basically backyard rivalries I would be 1000% behind a move to the AFC North. The Dolphins/Bills rivalry is dead. Bills fans seem to apathetic to consider NE a rival, and the Jets meh The Pats rivalry is one-sided. Pats fans don't consider us a rival. They don't consider us an NFL team. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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