Round 2 : Sale of the team

[ET1062]

Bon Jovi is a Traitor to THE United States of America!

[KDIGGZ]

 

For a second there I thought you said "We blame Jews" and I was gonna have to go all Landon Cohen on you.

Lol if the Bills were to leave I would blame everyone equally. I'm an equal opportunity pessimist

[Beerball]

Exactly +10000

except for the good analyst part. he sucks.

[May Day 10]

I wouldn't hate it that much, if that weavel didn't act so shocked at how anyone could possibly think that bon jovi would move the team. We aren't as dumb as those people in new jersey and philadelphia, jaws.

 

There was a fair way to address that without exaggeration and lying, and he chose the path that rubbed me the wrong way.

Edited August 15, 2014 by May Day 10

[Hazed and Amuzed]

I just can't fathom why JBJ would want to own a team in which 99% of the fans already hate the idea of him being an owner UNLESS he planned on skipping town. Makes no sense to me.

[Fingon]

http://bills.buffalo...t-going-happen/

Any more questions about the Bills being moved should be put to rest.

 

http://profootballta...s-angeles-memo/

 

The league has been telling teams not to make plans to move to LA. I'm guessing the NFL is gearing up for expansion soon, especially with all the talk of teams being in LA and London within a couple years. Expansion teams would make the league far more money than moving a team.

Edited August 15, 2014 by Fingon

[dave mcbride]

Someone on the billsboard named JamalAnderson or something made a really good point. It doesn't change anything but just a keen observation.

 

Could you imagine the abuse for being a scumbag and traitor and loser that John Kryk would be getting on this board and in the city if he were a local Buffalo sportswriter and writing all those doomsday reports about a Bills sale in the Buffalo News?

I initially thought the same, but I've vome to believe that most people in Toronto who care even slightly about the issue tend to support the underdog (Buffalo) in this battle. I think Kryk's views are probably representative of the majority there. And I also think that there's little love for Rogers and Tannenbaum there.

[thewildrabbit]

I just can't fathom why JBJ would want to own a team in which 99% of the fans already hate the idea of him being an owner UNLESS he planned on skipping town. Makes no sense to me.

I think he would definitely plan to eventually move the team to Toronto should he win the bid. His thoughts are probably that should someone else get the team, and turn them into a winner. Then there will be less desire all around to have another NFL Team so close. So, there goes his group with MLSE.

 

"Educated source once involved in Bills sales process says team is "Pegula's to lose" and Bon Jovi group is "unfocused and disorganized." https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/terry-pegula-favorite-to-buy-buffalo-bills--bon-jovi-group-looks-disorganized-123809993.html

 

I'm just glad he is showing how inept he is in the process of buying an NFL team.

[Best Player Available]

 

 

http://profootballta...s-angeles-memo/

 

The league has been telling teams not to make plans to move to LA. I'm guessing the NFL is gearing up for expansion soon, especially with all the talk of teams being in LA and London within a couple years. Expansion teams would make the league far more money than moving a team.

I don't see them expanding in LA. Just to move the team in 5+ years. First I assume dilute the TV revenues. Not something greedy bastards, like Jarrah, and Kraft, etc. would buy into. second and as important. the league cannot even scratch up 32 guys on the planet capable of playing QB. How would they find 34?

[BuffaloBrad]

I initially thought the same, but I've vome to believe that most people in Toronto who care even slightly about the issue tend to support the underdog (Buffalo) in this battle. I think Kryk's views are probably representative of the majority there. And I also think that there's little love for Rogers and Tannenbaum there.

 

Not to mention the CFL fans who absolutely despise the idea of a NFL team in Toronto, a move that could easily spell doom for the CFL.

[Fingon]

I don't see them expanding in LA. Just to move the team in 5+ years. First I assume dilute the TV revenues. Not something greedy bastards, like Jarrah, and Kraft, etc. would buy into. second and as important. the league cannot even scratch up 32 guys on the planet capable of playing QB. How would they find 34?

Because they can sell each franchise for $2 billion and that means each owner gets a $125 million check. That's like four years of profits for a small market team. They can charge maybe $500 million in relocation fees if a team moves to LA. Not to mention there would be increased viewership in LA and London which wouldn't water down the TV contracts too much.

Edited August 15, 2014 by Fingon

[Big Turk]

 

Because they can sell each franchise for $2 billion and that means each owner gets a $125 million check. That's like four years of profits for a small market team. They can charge maybe $500 million in relocation fees if a team moves to LA. Not to mention there would be increased viewership in LA and London which wouldn't water down the TV contracts too much.

 

Maybe the NFL doesn't want the embarrassment of 10,000 empty seats for most of the games like before in a huge market

[jimmy10]

When this is all over, there really needs to be some kind of public posthumous honoring of Mr. Wilson. As much as he was vilified during his lifetime, it's becoming more and more clear that he successfully used the restrictive lease and his trust to forge a long term future for the team in Buffalo. And notably, he did so knowing that it would come at a considerable cost to his estate.

 

Mr. Wilson is no less a hero than is the new owner (I'm hoping that's Pegula).

 

I agree with you and think the following two things need to happen: 1. A statue of Ralph at the Ralph and any other stadium that comes along and 2. The initials "RCW" made a permanent part of the uniforms. Personally, I love how the Bears' "GSH" looks on their sleeves, but anywhere on the jersey will do.

[voodoo poonani]

Tim Graham @ByTimGraham · 16h

Terry and Kim Pegula met with the Bills' trust and Morgan Stanley yesterday in Manhattan.

 

Tim Graham @ByTimGraham · 17h

The Bon Jovi group has to be rooting for the Bills sale to wrap up soon. They need to be put out of their misery.

 

Tim Graham @ByTimGraham · 17h

Seems like piling on, but source close to the Bon Jovi group tells me there's "major tension" within. Partners not getting along lately.

Edited August 15, 2014 by voodoo poonani

[TXBILLSFAN]

My final take on Jaws' comments, while I don't believe he mentioned JBJ's partners in his statement, it's irrelevant. The fact is that JBJ was not trying to buy the team by himself, he only had a shot at buying the team if he went in with his Toronto partners. So, for Jaws to say JBJ wouldn't move team, he is in essence speaking about JBJ's group, not just JBJ. To suggest otherwise, is ridiculous.

[BillnutinHouston]

^^ This is the correct take. To try to analyze JBJ's motives separately from those of his partners simply ignores the fact that most of the money put up by that partnership belongs to the "move" faction.

Edited August 15, 2014 by BillnutinHouston

[thebandit27]

You know who else deserves an atta boy? Russ Brandon and Jeffrey Littman. Start listening at the 4 minute mark:

 

http://audio.wgr550....-poloncarz.htm?

 

 

Any guesses which owners were against the non-relocation clause? I know this will kill some people who think Brandon is pure evil, but if this is true he did as much to save the Bills as anyone.

 

I have maintained that Russ is one of the biggest assets to the team's efforts to stay in this area. His work over the past 20 months since he's been actively involved with the other owners has been a driving force in gaining the support of the NFL, who--as a few of us have said all along--does NOT want this team to move.

 

IMO, anyone that is a Bills fan owes Russ a gigantic debt of gratitude for the team staying in WNY.

[eball]

Glad to see Russ getting his due. Ever since Ralph named him President he has done nothing but improve the fortunes of this franchise.

[The Dean]

My final take on Jaws' comments, while I don't believe he mentioned JBJ's partners in his statement, it's irrelevant.

 

Well it isn't. But you go ahead and continue to think so,. It doesn't matter.

 

^^ This is the correct take. To try to analyze JBJ's motives separately from those of his partners simply ignores the fact that most of the money put up by that partnership belongs to the "move" faction.

 

Agreed that you shouldn't. But of course you can do it. And this is about what Jaws said/thought. Not what the correct way is to analyze the TO group situation. There is a very good chance that JBJ thought he could pull this off in Buffalo, too. It's folly for us to believe it, to be sure, but people aren't always rational when it comes to their dreams---or their friends.

 

Jaws remarks were misguided and we was probably deluded. BJB may have been/may be as well. But I don't think that makes Jaws a willing co-conspirator in moving the Bills out of Buffalo.

 

But as I said, believe whatever you want. Join the feeding frenzy/lynch mob. Ignore the subtleties of thought and action and be absolutely sure you can know what someone is thinking. Let emotion drive your interpretations. I get it.

 

I think I've said all I have to say on the matter. So I'm moving on,

[eball]

It wasn't a "few" dollars, it was a windfall -- and came at a time when the Bills were desperately trying to expand their market share. Brandon, to his credit, took the initiative to "temporarily" suspend the series this season. Keeping the Bills in Buffalo is the single most important thing anyone could do for this franchise, and Ralph/Russ have proven they were committed to that goal.

 

I don't think there is anyone who feels Russ "can do no wrong" but you have to give credit where credit is due.