KDIGGZ Posted July 31, 2014 Author Share Posted July 31, 2014 Tim Graham is reporting that the bid amounts being reported are wrong. Pegula did not bid 1.3 as was reported. I'm still confident but we aren't out of the woods yet. This is only round 1 and the Toronto group might have more fight left in them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebandit27 Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Tim Graham is reporting that the bid amounts being reported are wrong. Pegula did not bid 1.3 as was reported. I'm still confident but we aren't out of the woods yet. This is only round 1 and the Toronto group might have more fight left in them Tim Graham did not say a thing about Pegula's bid...he's merely saying the same thing that John Kryk did 24 hours earlier, which is that the JBJ bid is reportedly much lower than the $1.2B that was reported. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly the Dog Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Tim Graham did not say a thing about Pegula's bid...he's merely saying the same thing that John Kryk did 24 hours earlier, which is that the JBJ bid is reportedly much lower than the $1.2B that was reported. Well, Graham did say that "all" of the reported bids were wrong, and that would by definition include Pegula's bid. Not that I believe him, but it very well could be the case. This is the time, I imagine, when a lot of crazy information will be "leaked" as groups or individuals want to appear like they are still in the ballgame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Why is it that I think that the Buffalo News (or at least their sports department) always tries to see the dark cloud in the silver lining? Why is it that Bucky Gleason's articles always seem to re-litigate past grievances that he has? These are rhetorical questions. In my view, it is not surprising that the most useful information that we get on this subject seems to always come from John Wawrow, John Kryk, or some other reporter or news outlet that does not have "Buffalo News" on the masthead. I actually like Graham much of the time, but he is really annoying me on this. Gleason, Sullivan, and Harrington (for that matter)are like a car crash. Sometimes you have to look, but you always feel bad about it afterword. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDIGGZ Posted July 31, 2014 Author Share Posted July 31, 2014 Tim Graham did not say a thing about Pegula's bid...he's merely saying the same thing that John Kryk did 24 hours earlier, which is that the JBJ bid is reportedly much lower than the $1.2B that was reported. Tim Graham @ByTimGraham 1h What I know: It wasn't $1.3 billion. What I think: It probably was notably lower. RT @Coreyb3p Tim what are they saying about Pegulas bid? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebandit27 Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Tim Graham @ByTimGraham 1h What I know: It wasn't $1.3 billion. What I think: It probably was notably lower. RT @Coreyb3p Tim what are they saying about Pegulas bid? Thanks...hadn't seen that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 (edited) Tim Graham @ByTimGraham 1h What I know: It wasn't $1.3 billion. What I think: It probably was notably lower. RT @Coreyb3p Tim what are they saying about Pegulas bid? So essentially, what he is saying is that he does not know. Presumably, a source told him it was not $1.3. Even if that source is correct (big if), it could easily mean that the bid was $1.299 or $1.31 or any other number. He THINKS it was lower. That is all. Keep in mind, wasn't it Graham who did the "reporting" on the training staff. Edited July 31, 2014 by Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFunPolice Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 oh come on! Can't we just have good news for a couple days before people come to rain on the parade? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebandit27 Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 oh come on! Can't we just have good news for a couple days before people come to rain on the parade? Relax my friend...all is well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDIGGZ Posted July 31, 2014 Author Share Posted July 31, 2014 So essentially, what he is saying is that he does not know. Presumably, a source told him it was not $1.3. Even if that source is correct (big if), it could easily mean that the bid was $1.299 or $1.31 or any other number. He THINKS it was lower. That is all. Keep in mind, wasn't it Graham who did the "reporting" on the training staff. the source was alluding to the fact that it was substantially lower than that. other places have reported the bid was probably in the 900M-1BIL range. and i've heard reports all over the place about the Toronto group anywhere from 800M-1.2BIL. so let's all just take a step back and realize this is just step 1 of the process before we turn the team over to Pegula. I still feel good about it but there's a chance that Pegula isn't even the highest bidder at this point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFunPolice Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Relax my friend...all is well. I know... it's just crazy how many of the sports media in Buffalo look for ways to find the doom and gloom in a sunny day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hplarrm Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 I know... it's just crazy how many of the sports media in Buffalo look for ways to find the doom and gloom in a sunny day All I know is that in the absence of confirmed facts (which we have few of which is mostly an indictment of the job the media is doing) I stick with what I do know: (in declining order of my confidence in these assumptions: 1. The individual NFL team owners will do whatever gives them the highest profit 2. The highest profit for individual owners comes from them pursuing a collaborative social compact rather than from operating in a competitive free market system 3. The NFL owners have made contractual reality of the two points above by agreeing to a CBA with the players by essentially making them partners with the original salary cap. They then agreed to the NFLPA arguably being majority partners of this effort by agreeing to a deal dictated before negotiations by NFLPA ED Gene Upshaw. Further by agreeing that any new owner must be approved by 75% of the owners essentially gives the NFL a veto over new owners (including who is an eligible applicant for the Wilson trust. 4. Given a choice between the NFL getting a share of the profits from a larger market Toronto or a smaller market Buffalo, obviously the choice would be Toronto, but in this case the choice is actually between throwing away the already captured profit realities for the probable but as yet uncaptured marginally higher Toronto profits. In this case the obvious answer would seem to be to take BOTH. 5. The JBJ/CA exercise seems to be a useful activity to A: Concretize the relationship between JBJ and CA. B. Build relationships with the NFL decision-makers on capturing a franchise. C. Benefit the NFL by helping bid up the size of bids for the Bills much to the NFLs delight. In the end, I remain pretty certain that the Bills will remain here in Buffalo because the team brings more profit to the individual NFL teams by giving the ability to sell mew franchises to join in the venerable NFL made up original NFL and AFL teams than to have their 1/32 of marginally higher profits from moving the Buffalo franchise to Toronto. Even worse, thanks to the contract left by Ralph, there was going to be at least a 7 year long death march of bad publicity while the City of Buffalo whines and cries about losing their team or even worse several years of near empty stadiums. Creating bad storytelling is actually one of the worse things the NFL could do for the true cash cow the networks. Are JBJ/CA lying. Nope, it would cost their business partners bucks for them to move and will not be allowed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFunPolice Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 The extension of bidding is a little ominous.... Should we de-ice the champagne? What's going on here? We're in the middle of a great sports story! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDIGGZ Posted August 1, 2014 Author Share Posted August 1, 2014 The extension of bidding is a little ominous.... Should we de-ice the champagne? What's going on here? We're in the middle of a great sports story! If I was Pegula I would be pretty upset. They said it would go a certain way and then they changed the rules right in the middle of the game. Doesn't seem fair but I guess they can do whatever they want (unfortunately). It does make me nervous though because 1.) it gives the Toronto group time to restructure and come back with more buying power and 2.) some random billionaire that has over $1 Bil just sitting in his bank account might be like "oh hey these bids seem low so maybe I'll just buy an NFL team for the fun of it. But I don't know where Buffalo is. Is that in Ohio? Oh I can move them to another city in 5 yrs and they will be worth more money? Sounds like a good investment opportunity" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebandit27 Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 The extension of bidding is a little ominous.... Should we de-ice the champagne? What's going on here? We're in the middle of a great sports story! I wouldn't If I was Pegula I would be pretty upset. They said it would go a certain way and then they changed the rules right in the middle of the game. Doesn't seem fair but I guess they can do whatever they want (unfortunately). It does make me nervous though because 1.) it gives the Toronto group time to restructure and come back with more buying power and 2.) some random billionaire that has over $1 Bil just sitting in his bank account might be like "oh hey these bids seem low so maybe I'll just buy an NFL team for the fun of it. But I don't know where Buffalo is. Is that in Ohio? Oh I can move them to another city in 5 yrs and they will be worth more money? Sounds like a good investment opportunity" I can almost guarantee you that all prospective bidders knew that this was a soft deadline...I really wouldn't worry about this extension. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodeMonkey Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 (edited) If I was Pegula I would be pretty upset. They said it would go a certain way and then they changed the rules right in the middle of the game. I'd wager this is not the first time Pegula has purchased a company and he knows this is how the game is played. I suspect he is not upset about it at all. You do not know what the rules of this sale were/are any more than I do (I assume). So the bolded sounds like talk from a jilted lover. Edited August 1, 2014 by CodeMonkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFunPolice Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 I wouldn't I can almost guarantee you that all prospective bidders knew that this was a soft deadline...I really wouldn't worry about this extension. Yeah, the more I read about it the less concerning it is. As many have said, this team is only going to sell for so much if it cannot be moved, which looks like the case. It will still probably be the highest price ever paid for an NFL franchise, but there is always a ceiling. All the trouble it would take to move them and having someone like Pegula ready to pay over a billion probably drove off some bidders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDIGGZ Posted August 2, 2014 Author Share Posted August 2, 2014 No news about the Toronto group lately. Not sure if that is good or bad... Meanwhile, Golisano is back in! http://nyp.st/1tEOLgE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDIGGZ Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 So anyone want to change their vote after this latest BS from Bon Jovi?: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/03/bon-jovi-clarifies-intentions-regarding-bills/ 90% of us and 80% of the people on the nbc poll don't believe this guy for one second. The public displays last night were great. Hope for some more tonight during the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 So anyone want to change their vote after this latest BS from Bon Jovi?: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/03/bon-jovi-clarifies-intentions-regarding-bills/ 90% of us and 80% of the people on the nbc poll don't believe this guy for one second. The public displays last night were great. Hope for some more tonight during the game. I am keeping my vote that he will keep the team. If he doesn't do that he won't win the bid -period. If the question was, "would this group rather have the team in Buffalo or Toronto?" I may change my mind. The fact remains that they will not have a choice if they have any chance of winning this bid (which is highly unlikely). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QCity Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 So anyone want to change their vote after this latest BS from Bon Jovi?: http://profootballta...egarding-bills/ 90% of us and 80% of the people on the nbc poll don't believe this guy for one second. The public displays last night were great. Hope for some more tonight during the game. For some reason that statement made me believe him even less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragonborn10 Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 Nothing changes. All he has to do is say Cuomo won't put up the money for a new stadium and poof the Bills are gone. The game plan is already set by Roger. He said the Bills need a new stadium. I truly think Roger would like the Bills in Buffalo. Stable fan base that routinely sells lots of tickets. No stadium shots of covered seats to worry about like Jacksonville. But it is all about facilities. A compromise like in Kansas City or Green Bay where significant upgrades were done may be a viable option. But the city needs investment in a complex more than a stadium that sits 40 minutes from downtown Buffalo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly the Dog Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 I am keeping my vote that he will keep the team. If he doesn't do that he won't win the bid -period. If the question was, "would this group rather have the team in Buffalo or Toronto?" I may change my mind. The fact remains that they will not have a choice if they have any chance of winning this bid (which is highly unlikely). If Hell were to freeze over, and they won the bid, and then Hell was restored to its previous state and then froze over AGAIN, and the NFL approved to sale to the Toronto guys, do you genuinely believe that they would keep the team in buffalo after the lease was up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 If Hell were to freeze over, and they won the bid, and then Hell was restored to its previous state and then froze over AGAIN, and the NFL approved to sale to the Toronto guys, do you genuinely believe that they would keep the team in buffalo after the lease was up? I really do. I don't think that they can win the bid without a long term commitment beyond "yeah, we will keep them." The fact that there are other viable options means they are going to have to meet the trust's wishes or not own the Bills. Do I think that they WANT to keep the team in Buffalo over Toronto? Of course not, but that just doesn't appear to be an option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly the Dog Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 I really do. I don't think that they can win the bid without a long term commitment beyond "yeah, we will keep them." The fact that there are other viable options means they are going to have to meet the trust's wishes or not own the Bills. Do I think that they WANT to keep the team in Buffalo over Toronto? Of course not, but that just doesn't appear to be an option. I hear what you are saying and know they would have to do something much more than say yeah, we will keep them. But it simply makes ZERO sense why Tanenbaum and Rodgers would do this. Put $500m in, and not have the team in Toronto, just to NOT be the face of the franchise and be at the table and in the meetings and be known as the owners. That defies all logic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 (edited) I hear what you are saying and know they would have to do something much more than say yeah, we will keep them. But it simply makes ZERO sense why Tanenbaum and Rodgers would do this. Put $500m in, and not have the team in Toronto, just to NOT be the face of the franchise and be at the table and in the meetings and be known as the owners. That defies all logic. My guess is that they target (NF) strictly a guess. They will do their best to regionalize and operate the team in two markets simultaneously. A sales force in Toronto, regular media coverage, etc... all while continuing the way things happen in WNY. They will try to run the team like a major college (if that makes sense). I am about an hour and a half from LSU but make no mistake they are New Orleans' team as well. I think that this will be their compromise. I absolutely don't see them abandoning Toronto as a part of the market. The home games will just be played on this side of the bridge. Just my $.02 Edited August 3, 2014 by Kirby Jackson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLFan Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 My guess is that they target (NF) strictly a guess. They will do their best to regionalize and operate the team in two markets simultaneously. A sales force in Toronto, regular media coverage, etc... all while continuing the way things happen in WNY. They will try to run the team like a major college (if that makes sense). I am about an hour and a half from LSU but make no mistake they are New Orleans' team as well. I think that this will be their compromise. I absolutely don't see them abandoning Toronto as a part of the market. The home games will just be played on this side of the bridge. Just my $.02 I appreciate your optimism and respect your take on this, but it cannot agree. They are saying what they need to now. I am sure their bid will try to tickle stay in Buffalo box as well. However, it would be relatively easy, given the politics of funding a new stadium, for this group to walk a line pretending to want to stay but never having any intention of doing so. It comes down to who is truly committed to WNY long term and will do whatever it takes. I just do not see how that works with Bon Jovi. I agree with Kelly on this. All that Toronto money is not in this game for regionalization. Once the ink drys, they will do whatever they want. New Jersey boy's letter today changes nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 (edited) I appreciate your optimism and respect your take on this, but it cannot agree. They are saying what they need to now. I am sure their bid will try to tickle stay in Buffalo box as well. However, it would be relatively easy, given the politics of funding a new stadium, for this group to walk a line pretending to want to stay but never having any intention of doing so. It comes down to who is truly committed to WNY long term and will do whatever it takes. I just do not see how that works with Bon Jovi. I agree with Kelly on this. All that Toronto money is not in this game for regionalization. Once the ink drys, they will do whatever they want. New Jersey boy's letter today changes nothing. They have no chance then so it's a win-win. That is all that I have said all along. Of course they would LOVE to move the team to Toronto but that's off the table for the Bills. Without a commitment to the region they are out. You are starting to see it with the fan alliance asking them to waive the opt out. This is the kind of thing that you will see moving forward. The reality is that their chances of owning the team are closer to mine than they are to the next owner of the team. I am trying not to be blindly optimistic on the subject but the people making the decision are not stupid. They are about 75 steps ahead of us on this. No one is taking JBJ and company at their word. Edited August 3, 2014 by Kirby Jackson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLFan Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 They have no chance then so it's a win-win. That is all that I have said all along. Of course they would LOVE to move the team to Toronto but that's off the table for the Bills. Without a commitment to the region they are out. You are starting to see it with the fan alliance asking them to waive the opt out. This is the kind of thing that you will see moving forward. The reality is that their chances of owning the team are closer to mine than they are to the next owner of the team. I am trying not to be blindly optimistic on the subject but the people making the decision are not stupid. They are about 75 steps ahead of us on this. No one is taking JBJ and company at their word. I hope you are right about not taking them at their word, which I think is worth nothing. I am just not the trusting type. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 I hope you are right about not taking them at their word, which I think is worth nothing. I am just not the trusting type. Ha ha, yeah their word doesn't mean a thing. It's actually a little insulting to be honest. They will have to put their money with their mouth is. Their odds are so long at this point it really isn't worth talking about. If he weren't a celebrity aligned with Toronto business people we wouldn't be spending this time on them. I am not concerned at all about them leaving. Kelly the Dog and I were chatting via PM earlier. I hope that he doesn't mind me disclosing this but something he said really resonated with me. He said something to the tune of "the only thing holding me back from being 100% sure of them being here long term is that they are the Bills and bad things always happen to the Bills." Every other logical explanation in the world has been addressed or refuted. It just stuck that the only reason that we are worrying is because bad things happen to us. If we stick to the facts and information there is nothing to worry about. It's just tough to separate the 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFunPolice Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 I have no sources, just logic. If you're Bon Jovi and you want to buy the Buffalo Bills and keep them in Buffalo, NY AND you are such an amazing businessman, father, human being, etc. why not align with some innocuous group of investors to finance your little fantasy and take all the credit for being such a hero and saving the team? A rocker from a blue collar place stands with the great blue collar fans of Buffalo NY! The story practically writes itself. He's a freaking hero AND gets to play with a toy someone else paid for. But what did he do? He aligned with literally the worst possible group of people he could to make all of the above happen. That is, unless the goal all along was to move the team to Toronto. Then it all makes perfect sense why Toronto billionaires would finance his purchase. In politics and PR reality is not what matters; perception is. And the perception all around the sports world (and definitely in WNY) is that Bon Jovi is going to move the Bills to Toronto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyHorseAteTheKid Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 I've been lied to a lot in my life... Sounds like it's happening again!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reed83HOF Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 I have no sources, just logic. If you're Bon Jovi and you want to buy the Buffalo Bills and keep them in Buffalo, NY AND you are such an amazing businessman, father, human being, etc. why not align with some innocuous group of investors to finance your little fantasy and take all the credit for being such a hero and saving the team? A rocker from a blue collar place stands with the great blue collar fans of Buffalo NY! The story practically writes itself. He's a freaking hero AND gets to play with a toy someone else paid for. But what did he do? He aligned with literally the worst possible group of people he could to make all of the above happen. That is, unless the goal all along was to move the team to Toronto. Then it all makes perfect sense why Toronto billionaires would finance his purchase. In politics and PR reality is not what matters; perception is. And the perception all around the sports world (and definitely in WNY) is that Bon Jovi is going to move the Bills to Toronto. Nice post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly the Dog Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 I have no sources, just logic. If you're Bon Jovi and you want to buy the Buffalo Bills and keep them in Buffalo, NY AND you are such an amazing businessman, father, human being, etc. why not align with some innocuous group of investors to finance your little fantasy and take all the credit for being such a hero and saving the team? A rocker from a blue collar place stands with the great blue collar fans of Buffalo NY! The story practically writes itself. He's a freaking hero AND gets to play with a toy someone else paid for. But what did he do? He aligned with literally the worst possible group of people he could to make all of the above happen. That is, unless the goal all along was to move the team to Toronto. Then it all makes perfect sense why Toronto billionaires would finance his purchase. In politics and PR reality is not what matters; perception is. And the perception all around the sports world (and definitely in WNY) is that Bon Jovi is going to move the Bills to Toronto. Which of the Buffalo guys with a billion dollars are going to do that? None. He needed the deep,pockets. They need him. Pegula, Golisano, Jacobs, Rich, etc, none of those guys have any reason to put up all the money and then take a back seat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
first_and_ten Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 (edited) This letter to the Bufalo Fans is a farce. We need to ask ourselves why he would write it. I believe he knows that any group intending to move this franchise has no hope of getting the team. Otherwise, why write it? Notice this letter didn't promise anything that would legally bind the team to western new york for the long term. It's smoke and mirrors. This letter made me lose more respect for BJ than I already had lost, if this is possible. What a snake. And shame on shills like Ron Jaworski for promoting this face Edited August 4, 2014 by first_and_ten Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pondslider Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 According to a source Kryk reported in his most recent article that Toronto's plan was to relocate as soon as possible as recently as June. http://blogs.canoe.ca/krykslants/nfl/toronto-group-bidding-on-bills-rate-chances-as-slim-they-can-match-pegula-source-says/ Bon Jovi’s background investors are Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum and the Rogers family that runs Canada’s largest telecom empire, both of Toronto.Sun Media has reported that until some point in June, the group’s plan had been to relocate the team to Toronto at first opportunity. So there's that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFunPolice Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 According to a source Kryk reported in his most recent article that Toronto's plan was to relocate as soon as possible as recently as June. http://blogs.canoe.c...la-source-says/ So there's that. Well, yes, of course! People as incredibly wealthy and powerful as the people in Toronto putting the money behind Bon Jovi's effort do the impossible every day. I'm sure they still think deep down that they will find a way if they can just win this bid. That might not be true, but these guys have already beaten the odds in business many times and are not used to having terms dictated to them. So let's hope they lose! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hplarrm Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Once the ink drys, they will do whatever they want. New Jersey boy's letter today changes nothing. It seems that you do not understand that the NFL is a lot more than a simple collection of rich folks (mostly rich old white guys) who do whatever they want as individuals. A real understanding of the economics of the modern NFL sees that perhaps back in the day of George Halas closer to WWII it was a bunch of rich individuals and the dollar and willingness to spend it defined the league. However, with the hiring of Pete Rozelle the league rushed toward a business model based more on the collaboration of the owners social compact than a traditional free market system. In the conventional free market the amount of dollars you have and willingness to spend to get the best players would rule. However, the individual owner actually stands to produce a better product and more competitive product through systems which for example rather than rewarding success and lots of folks coming out of college want to sign to become part of the success of NE, the NFL instead rewards mediocrity by giving the sole rights to sign the best player to the worst team getting the first draft pick. The NFL made a last gasp for the conventional business model when the owners outflanked and kicked the butt of the NFLPA and the AFL-CIO types liked Garvey whom the players hired to lead them. By locking the players out the NFL businessmen destroyed the NFLPA and the proud players crawled back to work. However, the NFL hoist itself on its own petard by milking the colleges to pay for training athletes rather than the system in most other major sports leagues where pro teams pay to own or operate minor league teams and buy players with speculative contracts at the age of 16 or so. By not gaining control of NFL players until they are 21 or older, a talented 10th of these players are actually men and make adult choices. A few folks like Gene Upshaw were smart enough to listen to smart NYC lawyers and used their personal stature as great players and adult intellects to buy ideas like threatening to decertify the union. The traditional AFL-CIO types lost the respect of the players when the NFL owners kicked the player's butts in the lockout. This gave Upshaw and others the opportunity to sell the decertification threat strategy to their fellow players. If the NFLPA went away, it would have thrown the owners into a more traditional free market. The resulting tumult would have turned some owners into winners but others into losers. The tumult also would have made it harder to have the stability which allowed the TV nets to sign long term contracts delivering tons of $ to the owners. The owners ran kicking and screaming away from the conventional free market and signed the CBA. This essentially not only rejected free market principles as the operating strategy of the NFL but acknowledged the players as partners with the owners. The promised labor peace quickly resulted in unprecedented wealth for the owners from the TV nets. When the CBA came up for renewal, Upshaw simply pre-empted negotiations by announcing prior to talking that the designated revenues making up the salary cap (which saw teams like the Bills reduce their ticket capacity by 5,000 but increase their premium seats which were designated as outside of the salary cap) to a system which instead looked at all revenues. Upshaw also announced that the final cap # needed to start with a 6. The final agreement which gave players 60.5% of the gross revenues arguably defined the players not only as partners but in fact the majority partners of the new NFL. Further decisions like the one Ralph contractually agreed to such as any new owner needing approval by 75% of the owners effectively gives the NFL a veto over who buys the team (even a high bidder). It is simply wrong to assume that JBJ/CA will do whatever they want once the ink dries on the deal. You have to understand that the NFL historically whatever generates the most $ for the individual owners in total. The NFL makes a lot more $ not from having the Buffalo franchise leave behind millions in 45,000 plus season ticket holders, 20.000+ individual ticket buyers, millions from local advertisers, and millions from NYS govts incorporate welfare for the Bills in exchange for marginally higher similar payments from a bigger Toronto market. The NFL clearly benefits the most from a result which allows them to BOTH keep the Buffalo $ and add new franchises which include the Toronto market. I simply doubt JBJ/CA are going to lie to their new business partners in the NFL and pull an Art Modell and leave the money of Buffalo behind so that JBJ/CA benefits but the NFL is left cleaning up the mess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDIGGZ Posted August 5, 2014 Author Share Posted August 5, 2014 As per John Kryk, the Toronto group is expected to re-submit an initial bid and they have to have better assurance that the team will stay in Buffalo or they are out: http://blogs.canoe.ca/krykslants/nfl/exclusive-toronto-group-bidding-on-bills-allowed-to-submit-higher-first-bid-and-must-provide-greater-assurance-it-would-not-relocate-team-sources-say/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts