What Was “The Worst Kept Secret” About Russ Brandon?

[BuffaloRush]

For some reason I’m able to read 5 free article from the BNPaywall.  One was a Q and A of shorts about the Russ Brandon situation.  While they tried to provide more answers on the incident, I think in some cases they actually left more questions.  

 

http://buffalonews.com/2018/05/04/you-asked-we-answered-is-brandons-resignation-tied-to-metoo/?utm_medium=more_stories

 

Case and point - the questions below:

 

From u/Burnin_that_2_Smoke on Reddit: How long were the allegations known against Russ before this was all released to the public?

Graham: The inappropriate relationship that became the first domino in Brandon's downfall was one of the worst-kept secrets among the Bills and Sabres rank-and-file employees and prominent people within the local business community. I began hearing about it in early November. The relationship was considered consensual. So, to me, it was nothing more than gossip.

 

From u/Badlandsmeanie from Reddit: My question would be, how are the Bills still able to keep the fuller details of the story quiet? There has to be more to this story, but for some reason the media won't report it. How come?

Graham: Brandon has been too brazen about his relationships for complete secrecy to be realistic. We in the media, however, must be judicious in vetting every detail. And not every tawdry detail is newsworthy, despite the number of clicks it could generate.

 

 

>>>>>> Ok here’s where I’m confused.  Graham makes it sound like it was common knowledge what the “misconduct” is.  Yet many fans and media members are left speculating (in many cases inaccurately) speculating as to what went down.

 

So if it is so common as to what the transgression was, does anyone have a clue what Tim Graham was about about.  Feel free to post speculation because I’m in the dark.

 

Also I believe our own @BadLandsMeanie was the one who asked the last question. 

[MrEpsYtown]

He says it was common knowledge among the "rank and file" people in the know. Not the general public. I suppose he feels it wasn't newsworthy to report on until this point. It would be almost inappropriate for them to report that Russ was having an inappropriate, yet consensual sexual relationship with an employee. It almost crosses into libel or defamation. Now that he has  resigned, it is newsworthy, but up until this point it really wasn't. 

[Wayne Arnold]

The worst kept secret about Russ is that he is a massive douche bag who sucked at his job and was responsible for all of the pre-McDermott leaks to the press about how incompetent the Bills were.

[BuffaloRush]

14 minutes ago, MrEpsYtown said:

He says it was common knowledge among the "rank and file" people in the know. Not the general public. I suppose he feels it wasn't newsworthy to report on until this point. It would be almost inappropriate for them to report that Russ was having an inappropriate, yet consensual sexual relationship with an employee. It almost crosses into libel or defamation. Now that he has  resigned, it is newsworthy, but up until this point it really wasn't. 

 

“Rank and file...and prominent business people in the business community.”  So it seems that more than those at OBD knew about this

[BadLandsMeanie]

23 minutes ago, BuffaloRush said:

For some reason I’m able to read 5 free article from the BNPaywall.  One was a Q and A of shorts about the Russ Brandon situation.  While they tried to provide more answers on the incident, I think in some cases they actually left more questions.  

 

http://buffalonews.com/2018/05/04/you-asked-we-answered-is-brandons-resignation-tied-to-metoo/?utm_medium=more_stories

 

Case and point - the questions below:

 

From u/Burnin_that_2_Smoke on Reddit: How long were the allegations known against Russ before this was all released to the public?

Graham: The inappropriate relationship that became the first domino in Brandon's downfall was one of the worst-kept secrets among the Bills and Sabres rank-and-file employees and prominent people within the local business community. I began hearing about it in early November. The relationship was considered consensual. So, to me, it was nothing more than gossip.

 

From u/Badlandsmeanie from Reddit: My question would be, how are the Bills still able to keep the fuller details of the story quiet? There has to be more to this story, but for some reason the media won't report it. How come?

Graham: Brandon has been too brazen about his relationships for complete secrecy to be realistic. We in the media, however, must be judicious in vetting every detail. And not every tawdry detail is newsworthy, despite the number of clicks it could generate.

 

 

>>>>>> Ok here’s where I’m confused.  Graham makes it sound like it was common knowledge what the “misconduct” is.  Yet many fans and media members are left speculating (in many cases inaccurately) speculating as to what went down.

 

So if it is so common as to what the transgression was, does anyone have a clue what Tim Graham was about about.  Feel free to post speculation because I’m in the dark.

 

Also I believe our own @BadLandsMeanie was the one who asked the last question. 

Indeed. It was me! I guess I am now a published author 

 

I am as confused as you are about what made the difference. I think it is as MrEps says, it wasn't news til he got fired for it. 

 

So to me the usual version of a story like this goes something like: Brandon was a dog and played around a lot and everybody  knew it but it is considered personal. Then for some reason it either got back to the Pegulas who didn't know. Or maybe they did know but recently it became time to use it against him for some other reason we will never know. 

 

Then the "other issues" would usually be something to do with using his expense account to pay for dinners and such with his dates so his wife wouldn't find out. You know, the stuff wouldn't show up on the family credit cards and such. 

 

That kind of story is as old as the hills really.

 

But what I wonder about is why in some quarters they keep suggesting it is much, much, darker than that.

 

Even in that same article Tim G says employees are relieved it is over. Why would they care so much? I dunno. Maybe we never will. So my question there was more about how are they managing to keep a lid on it, of there is really more to the story.

 

 

 

Edited May 5, 2018 by BadLandsMeanie

[BuffaloRush]

Just now, Wayne Arnold said:

The worst kept secret about Russ is that he is a massive douche bag who sucked at his job and was responsible for all of the pre-McDermott leaks to the press about how incompetent the Bills were.

 

What makes you so sure it was Russ.  I’ve heard a number of suspects:

 

Jimmy Sexton (Rex Ryan’s agent)

Doug Whaley

Scott Berchtold 

 

 

[White Linen]

He wanted the Bills to move to Toronto.  

[jr1]

thank God he's gone

[Ol Dirty B]

11 minutes ago, BadLandsMeanie said:

Indeed. It was me! I guess I am now a published author 

 

I am as confused as you are about what made the difference. I think it is as MrEps says, it wasn't news til he got fired for it. 

 

So to me the usual version of a story like this goes something like: Brandon was a dog and played around a lot and everybody  knew it but it is considered personal. Then for some reason it either got back to the Pegulas who didn't know. Or maybe they did know but recently it became time to use it against him for some other reason we will never know. 

 

Then the "other issues" would usually be something to do with using his expense account to pay for dinners with his dates so his wife wouldn't find out.

 

That kind of story is as old as the hills really.

 

But what I wonder about is why in some quarters they keep suggesting it is much, much, darker than that.

 

 

 

 

 

The last paragraph here, because I respect your opinion I'm genuinely asking and would not be surprised if you knew more than me.

 

The segments of people you are hearing suggest darker things, are they just people here or people you deal with in every day life, who are just fans? Or do you hear this from people whose opinion you really respect and think they might know details or know a direct source with some details? Be it just a Twitter source, reporter, or whatever.

 

Because I've only read people insinuating or even just purporting something really heinous happened on here. And it's not from posters whom I would hold in an esteem of genuinely knowing anything. Just the typical Brandon haters that have existed for the last 15 years.

 

Again, I only ask because I would not be surprised if you knew more than me or had an inkling something heinous happened.

 

 

Edited May 5, 2018 by Ol Dirty B

[BadLandsMeanie]

3 minutes ago, Ol Dirty B said:

 

The last paragraph here, because I respect your opinion I'm genuinely asking and would not be surprised if you knew more than me.

 

The segments of people you are hearing suggest darker things, are they just people here or people you deal with in every day life, who are just fans? Or do you hear this from people whose opinion you really respect and think they might know details or know a direct source with some details? Be it just a Twitter source, reporter, or whatever.

 

Because I've only read people insinuating or even just purporting something really heinous happened on here. And it's not from posters whom I would hold in an esteem of genuinely knowing anything. Just the typical Brandon haters that have existed for the last 15 years.

 

Again, I only ask because I would not be surprised if you knew more than me or had an inkling something heinous happened.

 

 

I say that because Chuck Pollock who is a good sports writer in Olean, and a friend of Terry Pegula's, compared Brandon to Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstien, Roger Ailes, Kevin Spacey and more. People who who are criminals and who used coercion, force, or drugs to subdue people. 

 

Maybe he is just an irresponsible jackass to write that but he never seemed to be one before. Those people were very bad and not just guys who couldn't keep it in their pants.

 

So that is the most solid source that I got the idea from, that it is pretty bad what happened.

[leonbus23]

26 minutes ago, BuffaloRush said:

 

What makes you so sure it was Russ.  I’ve heard a number of suspects:

 

Jimmy Sexton (Rex Ryan’s agent)

Doug Whaley

Scott Berchtold 

 

 

Don't forget Overdorf.

[Ol Dirty B]

8 minutes ago, BadLandsMeanie said:

I say that because Chuck Pollock who is a good sports writer in Olean, and a friend of Terry Pegula's, compared Brandon to Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstien, Roger Ailes, Kevin Spacey and more. People who who are criminals and who used coercion, force, or drugs to subdue people. 

 

Maybe he is just an irresponsible jackass to write that but he never seemed to be one before. Those people were very bad and not just guys who couldn't keep it in their pants.

 

So that is the most solid source that I got the idea from, that it is pretty bad what happened.

 

Interesting. I respect that. He's the first guy with credentials that I've heard of coming forward and suggesting such a thing.

 

If that's the case, then I believe some more details will trickle out.

 

Good to know, thanks.

[BuffaloRush]

13 minutes ago, BadLandsMeanie said:

I say that because Chuck Pollock who is a good sports writer in Olean, and a friend of Terry Pegula's, compared Brandon to Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstien, Roger Ailes, Kevin Spacey and more. People who who are criminals and who used coercion, force, or drugs to subdue people. 

 

Maybe he is just an irresponsible jackass to write that but he never seemed to be one before. Those people were very bad and not just guys who couldn't keep it in their pants.

 

So that is the most solid source that I got the idea from, that it is pretty bad what happened.

 

Interesting because Graham has made it clear that it wasn’t criminal activity - it’s more of an issue of morals, ethics, and the type of behavior that they wouldn’t want their officials to be associate with.  So I tend to think it was closer the scenario that Meanie suggested:

 

From Evan Zinger: Any clue on whether sexual misconduct referred to workplace harassment or a consensual relationship deemed inappropriate?

Graham: I specifically didn't use the phrase "sexual misconduct" because that's a legally defined term in New York State. It's a Class-A misdemeanor, with lack of consent an express condition. The standard of "sexual misconduct" within the workplace is spelled out by company human-resources policies — if at all — and varies from employer to employer. For instance, some companies permit bosses and subordinates to have personal relationships, to date, to get married. I used the phrases "personal misconduct" and "inappropriate relationships" carefully.

I also mentioned "other job-related issues that were uncovered" in reference to discoveries the Pegulas made about Brandon's general job performance.

 

 

 

Edited May 5, 2018 by BuffaloRush

[Logic]

I know what the "worst kept secret" was...

It's a doozy. 

Are you ready?

Okay...

He eats his Snickers bar with a fork and knife.

Don't say I didn't warn you!

Edited May 5, 2018 by Logic

[Paulus]

Worst kept secret?

He did interfere in on the field operations. It sucks, bc the second I bought thier lies, this happened and stories surfaced.

[BuffaloRush]

16 minutes ago, Logic said:

I know what the "worst kept secret" was...

It's a doozy. 

Are you ready?

Okay...

He eats his Snickers bar with a fork and knife.

Don't say I didn't warn you!

 

Yeah... not funny

[Big Turk]

1 hour ago, MrEpsYtown said:

He says it was common knowledge among the "rank and file" people in the know. Not the general public. I suppose he feels it wasn't newsworthy to report on until this point. It would be almost inappropriate for them to report that Russ was having an inappropriate, yet consensual sexual relationship with an employee. It almost crosses into libel or defamation. Now that he has  resigned, it is newsworthy, but up until this point it really wasn't. 

I mean what more do you need to know? The dude was pounding some pvssy in the office. Not the first or the last exec to do that and get canned for it.

[3rdand12]

1 hour ago, BadLandsMeanie said:

I say that because Chuck Pollock who is a good sports writer in Olean, and a friend of Terry Pegula's, compared Brandon to Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstien, Roger Ailes, Kevin Spacey and more. People who who are criminals and who used coercion, force, or drugs to subdue people. 

 

Maybe he is just an irresponsible jackass to write that but he never seemed to be one before. Those people were very bad and not just guys who couldn't keep it in their pants.

 

So that is the most solid source that I got the idea from, that it is pretty bad what happened.

Chucks a responsible old dude as far I have been able to tell. has opinions. but no click baiting

[3rdand12]

56 minutes ago, Logic said:

I know what the "worst kept secret" was...

It's a doozy. 

Are you ready?

Okay...

He eats his Snickers bar with a fork and knife.

Don't say I didn't warn you!

he's a witch. see if she floats !
 I thought this was going to be about his panty hose fetish. Wearing them , that is.

10 minutes ago, matter2003 said:

I mean what more do you need to know? The dude was pounding some pvssy in the office. Not the first or the last exec to do that and get canned for it.

oh. just that. well let's keep moving on then.

and to our left we have the our Orangutan Cage. You will notice the males expose themselves often to the females. and on your right we have our next exhibit . Oops , this is the Russ Brandon office again.

 

[Logic]

1 hour ago, BuffaloRush said:

 

Yeah... not funny

Not a Seinfeld fan, I guess? Oh well, can't please everybody.

[Big Turk]

2 hours ago, 3rdand12 said:

he's a witch. see if she floats !
 I thought this was going to be about his panty hose fetish. Wearing them , that is.

oh. just that. well let's keep moving on then.

and to our left we have the our Orangutan Cage. You will notice the males expose themselves often to the females. and on your right we have our next exhibit . Oops , this is the Russ Brandon office again.

 

 

Right...it couldnt have been that the women saw a wealthy,  powerful, influential man and wanted to be able to brag to their girlfriends right? Or try to get money from him? Or have him provide a lifestyle?

 

Because women NEVER do that kind of stuff...I swear some of the posters on this board are completely clueless about how women actually are and what they arr attracted too. Trust me, they arent the princesses you beta White Knights want to ride in and save many times only to be friend zoned and then crying to her about how you feel about her while she bangs the dude who doesn't give a crap about her. Take the red pill...not the blue pill. Its not too late to open your eyes and get out of the Disney Fairy Tale guys are force fed since the time they are little.

Edited May 5, 2018 by matter2003

[GunnerBill]

7 hours ago, MrEpsYtown said:

It almost crosses into libel or defamation. Now that he has  resigned, it is newsworthy, but up until this point it really wasn't. 

 

It would have been defamatory but defensible - truth is an absolute defense in defamation and because it is defensible it is not libel. 

 

The reason they have not published before is, presumably, because there was little public interest. Until the point when his bosses decided the relationship was professionally inapprorpriate conduct it was simply a consensual relationship between two people and a private matter. 

[TAinLack.]

7 hours ago, Paulus said:

Worst kept secret?

He did interfere in on the field operations. It sucks, bc the second I bought thier lies, this happened and stories surfaced.

...and another worst kept secret - he wasn't much of a football or hockey fan!

[Skins Malone]

I find it strange that so many people knew yet we have no actual details about what actually happened.  We keep getting all these articles like this but not one tells us what the actual issue was.

 

And if its true local businesse people knew then he sure wasnt very secretive about it.

 

Anyway..glad this dude is gone...i just hope this doesnt turn out worse then we think and it blows up on the organization 

[FappyTheClown]

I heard he has a Brady jersey hanging up in his living room. 

[Cripple Creek]

8 hours ago, BadLandsMeanie said:

Indeed. It was me! I guess I am now a published author 

 

I am as confused as you are about what made the difference. I think it is as MrEps says, it wasn't news til he got fired for it. 

 

So to me the usual version of a story like this goes something like: Brandon was a dog and played around a lot and everybody  knew it but it is considered personal. Then for some reason it either got back to the Pegulas who didn't know. Or maybe they did know but recently it became time to use it against him for some other reason we will never know. 

 

Then the "other issues" would usually be something to do with using his expense account to pay for dinners and such with his dates so his wife wouldn't find out. You know, the stuff wouldn't show up on the family credit cards and such. 

 

That kind of story is as old as the hills really.

 

But what I wonder about is why in some quarters they keep suggesting it is much, much, darker than that.

 

Even in that same article Tim G says employees are relieved it is over. Why would they care so much? I dunno. Maybe we never will. So my question there was more about how are they managing to keep a lid on it, of there is really more to the story.

 

 

 

Would you enjoy running into Brandon regularly as part of your job?   If you were a female and knew about his "off the field" behavior how would you feel?

[Victory Formation]

5 hours ago, matter2003 said:

 

Right...it couldnt have been that the women saw a wealthy,  powerful, influential man and wanted to be able to brag to their girlfriends right? Or try to get money from him? Or have him provide a lifestyle?

 

Because women NEVER do that kind of stuff...I swear some of the posters on this board are completely clueless about how women actually are and what they arr attracted too. Trust me, they arent the princesses you beta White Knights want to ride in and save many times only to be friend zoned and then crying to her about how you feel about her while she bangs the dude who doesn't give a crap about her. Take the red pill...not the blue pill. Its not too late to open your eyes and get out of the Disney Fairy Tale guys are force fed since the time they are little.

 

That's exactly right, doesn't seem like there is a victim here other than Russ. He should know better though, work relationships can be tricky.

[BillsPride12]

I have no idea if this is the case but I've seen Lauren Hall's name thrown out there from random people, so I wonder if she is the main female this whole thing is centered around.

[stuvian]

if there's no sex dungeon there's no story

[Skins Malone]

20 minutes ago, NewDayBills said:

 

That's exactly right, doesn't seem like there is a victim here other than Russ. He should know better though, work relationships can be tricky.

We have no idea what happened.  And no the only victims are his wife and kids.  Lots of work places have rules about high ups having relationships with underlyings.  If it was just a consensual relationship then he just made a mistake..but they way they are talking it just seems strange..like how uncomfortable it made everyone.  Which is why places have rules against this stuff.  It just causes trouble in the workplace.

[YoloinOhio]

17 minutes ago, BillsPride12 said:

I have no idea if this is the case but I've seen Lauren Hall's name thrown out there from random people, so I wonder if she is the main female this whole thing is centered around.

She is indeed 

[May Day 10]

Its implied that people in the offices, media, business community connected with the teams all knew this "relationship" existed.  This also was not the first "relationship" either.  I know of 2 others.

 

You absolutely cannot have your company president (or any high official) doing this.  it creates a lot of problems and potential severe problems.  By the way of perceived preferential treatment, or perceived poor treatment.  Hiring, firing, promotion, work assignments, pay rate, attendance at company functions, etc.  It all l gets muddy and and brought into question.  It degrades the work environment for everyone.  People wonder if performing sexually with the boss is a condition of better job conditions/perks.  Maybe the current fling feels obligated to keep it going (or get involved in the first place) due to job conditions.  It's not a good thing, and the Pegulas should expect better from their executives.

 

If this is reported to the pegulas, or they are aware, and they do nothing, and it blows up a year from now?  They could be on the hook for millions.  These things are very hard from a Respondent standpoint if you have a documented history of inaction.  You could even see the nfl pressure them to sell the team at that point if it looks bad publicly.  Is protecting Russ Brandon really worth all that?  

Edited May 5, 2018 by May Day 10

[SNICE]

Timing between this and the Redskins cheerleaders just a coincidence? Hmmmm?

[Skins Malone]

4 minutes ago, May Day 10 said:

Its implied that people in the offices, media, business community connected with the teams all knew this "relationship" existed.  This also was not the first "relationship" either.  I know of 2 others.

 

You absolutely cannot have your company president (or any high official) doing this.  it creates a lot of problems and potential severe problems.  By the way of perceived preferential treatment, or perceived poor treatment.  Hiring, firing, promotion, work assignments, pay rate, etc.  It all l gets muddy and and brought into question.  It degrades the work environment for everyone.  

 

If this is reported to the pegulas, or they are aware, and they do nothing, and it blows up a year from now?  They could be on the hook for millions.  These things are very hard from a Respondent standpoint if you have a documented history of inaction.  You could even see the nfl pressure them to sell the team at that point if it looks bad publicly.  Is protecting Russ Brandon really worth all that?  

This

[BillsPride12]

8 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

She is indeed 

And how do you know this is the case? It's just speculation on my part from what I have heard

[napmaster]

Maybe it was an inappropriate but consensual relationship with a current player.  One that might publically profess their love.

 

Personal information redacted.

 

 

 

Edited May 5, 2018 by napmaster

[BuffaloRush]

27 minutes ago, May Day 10 said:

Its implied that people in the offices, media, business community connected with the teams all knew this "relationship" existed.  This also was not the first "relationship" either.  I know of 2 others.

 

You absolutely cannot have your company president (or any high official) doing this.  it creates a lot of problems and potential severe problems.  By the way of perceived preferential treatment, or perceived poor treatment.  Hiring, firing, promotion, work assignments, pay rate, attendance at company functions, etc.  It all l gets muddy and and brought into question.  It degrades the work environment for everyone.  People wonder if performing sexually with the boss is a condition of better job conditions/perks.  Maybe the current fling feels obligated to keep it going (or get involved in the first place) due to job conditions.  It's not a good thing, and the Pegulas should expect better from their executives.

 

If this is reported to the pegulas, or they are aware, and they do nothing, and it blows up a year from now?  They could be on the hook for millions.  These things are very hard from a Respondent standpoint if you have a documented history of inaction.  You could even see the nfl pressure them to sell the team at that point if it looks bad publicly.  Is protecting Russ Brandon really worth all that?  

 

So just to be clear the rumor that you are throwing out there is that he was “dating” several women who were subordinates?  If that’s the case, then I feel many will be relieved it wasn’t something worse as some have speculated.

 

This would seem to jive with what Graham was saying.  The misconduct was more of an ethical issue, as opposed to a legal one. 

 

Then who who knows what was discovered during the investigation?

[boater]

I'm not aware of anything other than an inappropriate work relationship. Though, some posters suggested he was the leak of Owners Meeting audio--that would be pretty heinous. 

 

As someone who once worked in personnel I can say: you can sometimes survive an inappropriate workplace relationship. But aggravating factors counted against RB:

• he is married
• the relationship was apparently general knowledge within the organization, apparently exposed at the Sabres Winter Classic
• he apparently lied to Kim's face when confronted (I read that somewhere)

Also, if he spent Bills money (travel, expense accounts, etc.) to further the affair---he's a deadman walking.

 

You gotta think with your big head, not your little head.

 

I feel bad for the Brandon family. Statistics are not good for a marriage to survive an affair.

 

[Returntoglory]

7 hours ago, matter2003 said:

 

Right...it couldnt have been that the women saw a wealthy,  powerful, influential man and wanted to be able to brag to their girlfriends right? Or try to get money from him? Or have him provide a lifestyle?

 

Because women NEVER do that kind of stuff...I swear some of the posters on this board are completely clueless about how women actually are and what they arr attracted too. Trust me, they arent the princesses you beta White Knights want to ride in and save many times only to be friend zoned and then crying to her about how you feel about her while she bangs the dude who doesn't give a crap about her. Take the red pill...not the blue pill. Its not too late to open your eyes and get out of the Disney Fairy Tale guys are force fed since the time they are little.

You've been hurt in the past, I can tell.  I'm sorry ??

[TaskerFan]

You're using the language of incel ideology. Is that what you intend? Because that's just not cool at all.