Round 2 : Sale of the team

[Doc]

Everything you said is true. I can't disagree. In the first two years, Pegula kept Ruff and Regier. Pegula was consistent in defending R&R and placed the blame on previous ownership with his "maybe someone was holding the painter's hand while they were doing the painting" quote. I give Pegula full credit for keeping Ruff and Regier while deflecting responsibility.

 

I also give Pegula credit for opening up his checkbook. He gave Regier the financial resources to go after top free agents, and Pegula was even personally involved in recruiting. Whether or not Pegula or Regier deserve credit or blame, the effort netted the team Brad Boyes, Jordan Leopold, Robyn Regehr, Ville Leino, Christian Ehrhoff, and Cody Hodgson the first year. They missed out on Brad Richards, but the Sabres were trying their best to win throughout the 2011-2012 season, and for that I give them credit.

 

No one can refute Pegula's ability to splash the cash. He gave Ruff a multi-year contract extension 22 months before firinghim. He gave Darcy a multi-year contract extension just 10 months before firing him. He signed Rolston to a multi year contract just six months before firinghim. It's no surprise, though, that Pat Lafontaine, sets the benchmark, at four months. Lafontaine holds a lot of Sabres records. He's the Sabres' Jim Kelly.

 

But I also give Pegula credit for creating the strategy that the Sabres used this past year. The team successfully lost this past year. It also looks like he's positioned the team to successfully lose this coming year. I don't think the skill lies in losing, though, because anyone can lose if they really try. The amazing skill, and thing that sets Pegula apart, is his ability to get fans and the media behind him in that losing effort. He's created a real culture of losing in this town, and for that he deserves full credit. I'd expect the same sort of success with the Bills.

If you're miffed at Pegs because you think his "maybe someone was holding the painter's hand" statement was blaming Golisano, your first mistake was listening to Sullivan's interpretation, which was either wrong or intentionally misinterpreted, making him either stupid or an ass (take your pick). Because the correct explanation of the statement is not that Golisano was holding Regier's hand back, but that someone else was making the brush strokes for Regier during the Sabres' successful run. He certainly wasn't blaming Golisano and may have been crediting him, although I doubt Golisano had any involvement outside of writing the checks.

 

I do agree with Sullivan that Regier did a lousy job of drafting and developing talent, and held onto marginal talent. But again, the team was very successful under him while Golisano was being cheap so, what changed? Was it just the inevitable slide a team that has had sustained success undergoes? Was someone else who Pegs got rid of responsible for Regier's success under Golisano? Were players starting to tune out Ruff?

 

Third, the "culture of losing" is temporary. Pegs tried the FA route and that failed miserably. Now it appears he's looking to get some top-of-the-draft talent like other teams have done, with his eyes set on Connor McDavid. We'll see where the team is in about, oh, 2 years.

[Who is Yuri?]

Here's the interview in question.

 

http://audio.wgr550.com/a/76636369/6-18-sabres-owner-terry-pegula-discusses-darcy-regier-thomas-vanek-ryan-miller-and-more.htm

 

It speaks for itself, really.

[ET1062]

Everything you said is true. I can't disagree. In the first two years, Pegula kept Ruff and Regier. Pegula was consistent in defending R&R and placed the blame on previous ownership with his "maybe someone was holding the painter's hand while they were doing the painting" quote. I give Pegula full credit for keeping Ruff and Regier while deflecting responsibility.

 

I also give Pegula credit for opening up his checkbook. He gave Regier the financial resources to go after top free agents, and Pegula was even personally involved in recruiting. Whether or not Pegula or Regier deserve credit or blame, the effort netted the team Brad Boyes, Jordan Leopold, Robyn Regehr, Ville Leino, Christian Ehrhoff, and Cody Hodgson the first year. They missed out on Brad Richards, but the Sabres were trying their best to win throughout the 2011-2012 season, and for that I give them credit.

 

No one can refute Pegula's ability to splash the cash. He gave Ruff a multi-year contract extension 22 months before firinghim. He gave Darcy a multi-year contract extension just 10 months before firing him. He signed Rolston to a multi year contract just six months before firinghim. It's no surprise, though, that Pat Lafontaine, sets the benchmark, at four months. Lafontaine holds a lot of Sabres records. He's the Sabres' Jim Kelly.

 

But I also give Pegula credit for creating the strategy that the Sabres used this past year. The team successfully lost this past year. It also looks like he's positioned the team to successfully lose this coming year. I don't think the skill lies in losing, though, because anyone can lose if they really try. The amazing skill, and thing that sets Pegula apart, is his ability to get fans and the media behind him in that losing effort. He's created a real culture of losing in this town, and for that he deserves full credit. I'd expect the same sort of success with the Bills.

 

Save the August hockey talk for WGR 550. Jeremy & Mathew Coller will jump at every opportunity and you have an entire two hours (10-12) with Goon and Giggler and their inside jokes.

Edited August 11, 2014 by ET1062

[Beerball]

 

 

I don't believe there are any sportsbooks outside of Nevada, Oregon, Delaware and maybe Montana. I might be missing a state or two. No state with an NFL team.

So that's why Bozeman's been screwed over time after time.

 

Here's the interview in question.

So, your preference for next owner of the Bills is?

[BuffaloBill]

Not sure how you can blame Pegs for what happened with the Sabres. He kept the same GM and coach that had enjoyed tremendous success under Golisano, and gave them a blank check to get the players they wanted Now had he come in and made wholesale changes and/or was cheap, I could see blaming him.

 

Pegs had to learn what Dan Snyder has not which is that you can't simply buy your way to a championship. Sports is a mix of talent, coaching and team chemistry. The last component is the most evasive and probably at the end of the day the most important. We've all seen teams with tons of talent and yet they choke, lose and fail to live up to their potential.

 

I pray the Bills are on the right track though I still question the chemistry component. They don't seem to hate losing. The Bills of the 90's developed this ethos. Maybe it's a chicken and egg dilemma as winning consistently builds a disdain for losing. However, somewhere in there the team must flip a switch. JK led this charge in the 90's though others were right there with him. He also had the talent to back up his beliefs.

 

I look forward to the tide turning again. If Pegs ends up with this team I sincerely believe he wants a winner. He learned the hard way with the Sabres you can't just buy your way to this.

[Doc]

Pegs had to learn what Dan Snyder has not which is that you can't simply buy your way to a championship. Sports is a mix of talent, coaching and team chemistry. The last component is the most evasive and probably at the end of the day the most important. We've all seen teams with tons of talent and yet they choke, lose and fail to live up to their potential.

 

I pray the Bills are on the right track though I still question the chemistry component. They don't seem to hate losing. The Bills of the 90's developed this ethos. Maybe it's a chicken and egg dilemma as winning consistently builds a disdain for losing. However, somewhere in there the team must flip a switch. JK led this charge in the 90's though others were right there with him. He also had the talent to back up his beliefs.

 

I look forward to the tide turning again. If Pegs ends up with this team I sincerely believe he wants a winner. He learned the hard way with the Sabres you can't just buy your way to this.

Did Pegs demand that Regier sign those players and give them ridiculous contracts or did he tell Regier to get who Regier wanted and money was no object? It seems to me that Synder wants to be GM, but I don't know if the same applies to Pegs.

[TXBILLSFAN]

I think the role of a good owner is quite simple:

 

1- Hire good people

2- Empower them to do their jobs

3- Set priorities for the organization and departments within it

4- Provide them adequate resources

5- Hold them accountable

 

All I can say is that new sports owners learn a lot and multi-billionaires are smart people.

[Mike in Horseheads]

Did Pegs demand that Regier sign those players and give them ridiculous contracts or did he tell Regier to get who Regier wanted and money was no object? It seems to me that Synder wants to be GM, but I don't know if the same applies to Pegs.

My feeling is that Tpegs threw Regier a blank check and said win a Stanley Cup. When he saw what a bumbling idiot he was with his money he canned him.

[eball]

In my opinion, the hardest thing for new sports owners to learn is when to separate their fandom from the reality of making the best decisions for the team.

 

El Pegual is a huge Sabres fan -- I don't think he made personnel decisions for Regier, but he allowed his fandom to cloud a more reasoned assessment of the "core" Regier was trying to keep intact. Thankfully, he learned his lesson. I don't think he would make the same mistake with the Bills -- largely because there is no history of recent success he'd be trying to replicate.

[Doc]

If he was staying out of personnel decisions, then it's all on Regier. He kept him around and gave him a lot of rope, and Regier hanged himself with it. Like I said, if he came in and fired everyone, it would be on him.

[Captain Caveman]

Seems to me that there probably was some pressure on Regier to make a splash in free agency. When we couldn't draw the top tier FAs, he may have felt pressure to go out and sign somebody. To me, the only question is, what lesson(s) did Pegula learn? He doesn't seem to me like the kind of guy who makes the same mistake twice.

[beerme1]

 

 

Pegs had to learn what Dan Snyder has not which is that you can't simply buy your way to a championship. Sports is a mix of talent, coaching and team chemistry. The last component is the most evasive and probably at the end of the day the most important. We've all seen teams with tons of talent and yet they choke, lose and fail to live up to their potential.

 

I pray the Bills are on the right track though I still question the chemistry component. They don't seem to hate losing. The Bills of the 90's developed this ethos. Maybe it's a chicken and egg dilemma as winning consistently builds a disdain for losing. However, somewhere in there the team must flip a switch. JK led this charge in the 90's though others were right there with him. He also had the talent to back up his beliefs.

 

I look forward to the tide turning again. If Pegs ends up with this team I sincerely believe he wants a winner. He learned the hard way with the Sabres you can't just buy your way to this.

 

You're saying this and I hope remembering those great teams sucked in pre season and didn't care about it right? Brandon Spikes is your guy on this team who will come in here and be willing to accept losing. And I believe El Pegual would do the same with the Bills as he did with the Sabres. Employees will be given time to prove they do belong with the organization, or not.

I think there is a huge difference in where the two teams are at given a sale date. The Sabres we're going down with middling players and Darcy sealed the fate of the team. The Bills are most definitely on the upswing and the talent level has been getting better and better each of the last three years.

I hope El Pegual gets this opportunity.

[PromoTheRobot]

I think the role of a good owner is quite simple:

 

1- Hire good people

2- Empower them to do their jobs

3- Set priorities for the organization and departments within it

4- Provide them adequate resources

5- Hold them accountable

 

All I can say is that new sports owners learn a lot and multi-billionaires are smart people.

 

6-But don't be seen standing anywhere near or talking to your GM's or coaches or be accused of being a meddler.

[l< j]

I think the role of a good owner is quite simple:

 

1- Hire good people

2- Empower them to do their jobs

3- Set priorities for the organization and departments within it

4- Provide them adequate resources

5- Hold them accountable

 

All I can say is that new sports owners learn a lot and multi-billionaires are smart people.

 

I don't see "allow pictures of young ladies rubbing their faces on your zipper to hit the internet" on this list. WTF.

 

kj

[gmanbfan]

A question about the Jacksonville sale a couple years back…

 

It seems to be that they are somewhat similar situations. Both franchises play in an older, retrofitted stadium. A billionaire bought the Jags, and since have put some money into the stadium (new massive scoreboard). A would assume they have made some other upgrades around the stadium.

 

Did Goodell put the pressure on them to build a new stadium during the ownership transition? Is anything in the works for a new stadium for the Jags? Their situation reminds me of what the Bills are going through with RWS and new ownership.

 

I get somewhat demoralized by the constant, non relenting greed of the NFL who continues to leave no stone unturned with respect to bleeding everyone dry for what they feel is a privilege to attend an NFL football game.

[SF Bills Fan]

A question about the Jacksonville sale a couple years back…

 

It seems to be that they are somewhat similar situations. Both franchises play in an older, retrofitted stadium. A billionaire bought the Jags, and since have put some money into the stadium (new massive scoreboard). A would assume they have made some other upgrades around the stadium.

 

Did Goodell put the pressure on them to build a new stadium during the ownership transition? Is anything in the works for a new stadium for the Jags? Their situation reminds me of what the Bills are going through with RWS and new ownership.

 

I get somewhat demoralized by the constant, non relenting greed of the NFL who continues to leave no stone unturned with respect to bleeding everyone dry for what they feel is a privilege to attend an NFL football game.

 

I get the impression that the NFL would not be unhappy if the Jags relocated once their lease is up/. they have am ore prohibitive one than the Bills just put in place. I think the comments from Goodell are positive in that he wants to see the Bills remain long term. Hopefully, he puts his money where his mouth is and we get a 200 million loan from the NFL for the stadium like other cities. the fact they don't pressure Jacksonville tells me that he would be OK with Kahn moving the team to London or LA when the time is right.

[K-9]

Pegs had to learn what Dan Snyder has not which is that you can't simply buy your way to a championship. Sports is a mix of talent, coaching and team chemistry. The last component is the most evasive and probably at the end of the day the most important. We've all seen teams with tons of talent and yet they choke, lose and fail to live up to their potential.

 

I pray the Bills are on the right track though I still question the chemistry component. They don't seem to hate losing. The Bills of the 90's developed this ethos. Maybe it's a chicken and egg dilemma as winning consistently builds a disdain for losing. However, somewhere in there the team must flip a switch. JK led this charge in the 90's though others were right there with him. He also had the talent to back up his beliefs.

 

I look forward to the tide turning again. If Pegs ends up with this team I sincerely believe he wants a winner. He learned the hard way with the Sabres you can't just buy your way to this.

 

Worse than trying to buy a championship team, Snyder doesn't understand that you can't be best friends and buddies with your star players. He's been doing that since he bought the team. And it has had a demonstrable negative impact on coaches and players ever since.

 

GO BILLS!!!

[SRQ_BillsFan]

I don't think Erie County or the State want to be paying for two stadiums at the same time. I would bet that their portion of the RWStadium upgrades are borrowed and spread out over several years (ie Bonds). Given that, we won't see a new stadium until the end of the current lease.

[Tyrod's Tailor]

Worse than trying to buy a championship team, Snyder doesn't understand that you can't be best friends and buddies with your star players. He's been doing that since he bought the team. And it has had a demonstrable negative impact on coaches and players ever since.

 

GO BILLS!!!

 

Absolutely. He has made RG3 uncoachable by his desire to be friends with his star player.

[JohnC]

 

 

Absolutely. He has made RG3 uncoachable by his desire to be friends with his star player.

 

If that is the case then why did RG III have such a superlative rookie year in which he led his team to the playoffs? Last year was a disaster for him because he had a serious knee injury at the end of the prior season and was not fully healed last year. The problem with RG III and Shanahan had little to do with the owner. Shanahan is a very head strong coach who likes to demonstrate that he is in charge. RG III is a tiresome diva who has to publicly comment on every topic even when no comment is the best answer.

 

The breach between the former HC and the narcissitic qb was not fixable. One of them had to go. Shanahan wanted out as much as the qb wanted him gone. So the disposable coach left with a hefty bag of money and the perceived indisposable player stayed. Thes two giant egos were never going to mesh.

 

There is no doubt that Dan Snyder's interjecting himself into the football operation damaged the operation and created chaos. But his meddling ways have stopped for the past number of years. For the most part he now let's the football people run the fooball side of the business.

 

I live in the Md/DC area so I have a closer view on the scene here. Dan Snyder ciriticisms for how he managed the team was well warranted. But over the past few years those same criticisms are not warranted now.