Tim Graham: Are the Bills shaking the Siberian stigma? It depends what matters to NFL players in free agency. (Paywall)

[PromoTheRobot]

https://theathletic.com/1569231/2020/01/29/are-the-bills-shaking-the-siberian-stigma-it-depends-what-matters-to-nfl-players-in-free-agency/

 

Bills still have much to overcome.

 

Quote

“Very unattractive,” Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey said. “I think just the weather itself, but also the fact that’s in New York but isn’t New York (City) messes with people’s minds.

“They’re so far away from a real city that they lose sight of what’s out there. And when you get there, there’s really nothing.”

Casey is under contract, but three of the most prominent players in the 2020 free-agent class — receiver Amari Cooper, tight end Austin Hooper and edge rusher Shaquil Barrett — also were frosty about the idea of Buffalo.

 

The next Bills stadium better be a dome.

Edited January 29, 2020 by PromoTheRobot

[BigdaddyinOrlando]

I feel like though if they take the visit and hear what McBean and the other players have to say about the organization and what the area really is like then they will be more inclined and possibly excited to be here. Plus a look at the new training facility is huge bonus. JMO

[Lurker]

And yet, Green Bay is a contender year after year, and attracts UFAs pretty well.

 

$$$$$ overcome plenty of reservations at the end of the day, especially for guys signing their first FA contract...

[Bulldog]

Two items matter most to attract Free Agents:

1. Money ($$$$ -- lots of it).

2. in some cases, a chance to win a championship is what ultimately matters to top flight professional athletes.

 

Any other perceived "problem" in attracting top talent can be overcome by increasing the amount of $ involved in item #1 or the perceived chance to achieve item #2.

Other considerations are secondary in most cases.

 

[DCOrange]

7 minutes ago, Lurker said:

And yet, Green Bay is a contender year after year, and attracts UFAs pretty well.

 

$$$$$ overcome plenty of reservations at the end of the day, especially for guys signing their first FA contract...

Yeah, the article touches on that. Basically says Green Bay has the aura around it that Buffalo currently does not.

 

Also mentions that Buffalo has to offer more money than almost any other team due to the income taxes in New York. Teams like the California teams can get away with it because players want to live in LA, but Buffalo gets hit by the income tax as well as being a relatively undesirable place to live.

 

I tend to think that we can sign almost anyone we want if we're willing to overpay them. Sounds like some guys like Amari Cooper wouldn't even go for that though.

Edited January 29, 2020 by DCOrange

[Call_Of_Ktulu]

19 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

https://theathletic.com/1569231/2020/01/29/are-the-bills-shaking-the-siberian-stigma-it-depends-what-matters-to-nfl-players-in-free-agency/

 

Bills still have much to overcome.

 

 

The next Bills stadium better be a dome.

I agree, we need a dome to give us a better chance at some of these FA’s. The weather is so bad in Buffalo that it dictates what kind of offense you run on some days. 

[PromoTheRobot]

Honestly, players more worried about stuff to do maybe aren't McDermott process-type players anyway. I mean how much free time do players have in-season? Tuesdays? And most of the time you are doing community stuff that day.

[Sig1Hunter]

9 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Honestly, players more worried about stuff to do maybe aren't McDermott process-type players anyway. I mean how much free time do players have in-season? Tuesdays? And most of the time you are doing community stuff that day.

I was about to reply with just this exact sentiment on your original post. Well said!

[Lurker]

18 minutes ago, DCOrange said:

Sounds like some guys like Amari Cooper wouldn't even go for that though.

 

In other words, not good "process' guys--so the Bills probably wouldn't target them either.  

 

The Bills are in a better position to sign UFA's than at any time in the past twenty years (competitive team, big pot of money to spend).    And they could always give them the key to the city, if need be...     

[Greg S]

The funny thing is when players get to Buffalo many of them love it. Look at Kelly as an example. He blew off the Bills to go to the USFL but now the guy is Mr. Buffalo and made it his home. Thurman is another one who moved back here fulltime. Kyle Williams loves the area. There have been so many players who loved playing in front of Bills Mafia where they get a real home field advantage. Is the weather really that much of a factor during football season? August, Sept its hot. October still not bad, November (minus that freak snow storm a few years ago) still not that bad. December and January is when you have to deal with the possibility of snow. If you are playing in January nobody will care as it's the playoffs. When the season is over these players can leave the area. They certainly can afford multiple homes if they want. As far as the other elements like wind and rain that can happen anywhere.

[Boatdrinks]

As fans, we can say whatever we want and counter these points of view, but that doesn’t matter at all. What does matter is that actual NFL players have these views and perceptions, and that’s a problem. Denying them or trying to minimize them doesn’t make them go away. Green Bay is mentioned, but it still has a certain “ championship” aura to it and they still have Rodgers. That gives the organization credibility. Yes, money matters but these players are going to get paid somewhere. That means Buffalo has to pay more, and that is a big disadvantage. Other “ cold” NFL teams are near a major city, so there isn’t a lot attractive about Buffalo to a player with options. 

[delirious]

How many times do we need an article on this? Remember hearing about this last year before free agency. ?

[Dat]

I think the new state of the art training facility and locker rooms was a step in the right direction. Last year Beasley was impressed enough to comment about how much better they were than the Cowboys. This with the family, friends and team culture in the whole organization will help change minds along with winning and making the playoffs as long as they can get them to come visit.

[BuffaninATL]

Unfortunately perception is reality for these players

[BuffaloRebound]

This again?  Where are the articles about free agents who go to New York and LA for reasons other than football and don’t live up to their contract?  Give me the guys who care about football.  NYC and LA can have the guys who want their own reality show.  

[corta765]

7 minutes ago, delirious said:

How many times do we need an article on this? Remember hearing about this last year before free agency. ?

That's where I am at. The Bills could win 100 straight SB's and it will never completely change that some players will view the area as cold snowy not NYC etc.. Whatever don't care, their doing a good job building the team as such regardless of this.

[jahnyc]

These articles perpetuate a perception that may be changing by including a number of negative quotes from players who have no real experience with Buffalo and who may have no idea about the current team and coaching environment.  i kind of wish they would stop publishing these types of articles until after we have had some additional winning seasons and playoff appearances (hopefully over the next couple of years).

[colin]

i really want hooper and cooper

 

[Buffalo Bills Fan]

In all means there talking crap. Don't need them anyways. Looking for process players who can help the team.

[ProcessAccepted]

1 hour ago, Lurker said:

And yet, Green Bay is a contender year after year, and attracts UFAs pretty well.

 

$$$$$ overcome plenty of reservations at the end of the day, especially for guys signing their first FA contract...

$$$$ and winning change everything. If players feel that they'll see the playoffs and some prime time games they'll change their opinion on Buffalo.

[Greg S]

9 minutes ago, BuffaloRebound said:

This again?  Where are the articles about free agents who go to New York and LA for reasons other than football and don’t live up to their contract?  Give me the guys who care about football.  NYC and LA can have the guys who want their own reality show.  

 

Exactly. See last year's Browns who "won" the offseason with signing big name players. How did that work out for them.

[GaryPinC]

50 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Honestly, players more worried about stuff to do maybe aren't McDermott process-type players anyway. I mean how much free time do players have in-season? Tuesdays? And most of the time you are doing community stuff that day.

Well, you can turn that around and say with the limited free time players have during the season, do they want to be stuck in a small city or a larger metro area with a "lot more" options?  There are plenty of people who prefer the big city and plenty who prefer the smaller towns(*ahemJoshAllenahem*).  I'm a smaller town guy.  Had the chance to meet Eric Steinbach and Joe Thomas of the Browns a number of years ago, both seemed to enjoy Cleveland and had to cut themselves off from discussing turkey and deer hunting and steelheading in the area with me.  Could have spent hours but they had obligations to the event!? 

 

Hopefully the Bills sell Toronto as part of their enticement as I doubt any of these large city types realize the proximity.  Plus, it's a different country which I think would be pretty unique to those wanting a scene to check out.  Some kind of arrangement to get players across the border easily would also really help.

 

But, I definitely think it's an ignorance and the guys willing to visit get their eyes open at least a little!  Consistent playoff contention goes a long ways too.

 

 

[stuvian]

if Green Bay can sign them so can we

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said:

https://theathletic.com/1569231/2020/01/29/are-the-bills-shaking-the-siberian-stigma-it-depends-what-matters-to-nfl-players-in-free-agency/

Bills still have much to overcome.

The next Bills stadium better be a dome.

 

LOL at a guy playing in Nashville, TN talking about how Buffalo is "so far away from a real city that they lose sight of what’s out there. And when you get there, there’s really nothing.”

 

7 minutes ago, stuvian said:

if Green Bay can sign them so can we

 

That's really the key thing.  The two things that Green Bay has that we lack right now, is a proven QB and a more recent winning tradition.

 

Now a guy like Amari Cooper, he just wants to play in a dome IMO.

47 minutes ago, delirious said:

How many times do we need an article on this? Remember hearing about this last year before free agency. ?

 

In fact I seem to recall a very very similar article from.....Tim Graham.

 

Huh.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said:

https://theathletic.com/1569231/2020/01/29/are-the-bills-shaking-the-siberian-stigma-it-depends-what-matters-to-nfl-players-in-free-agency/

 

Bills still have much to overcome.

 

 

The next Bills stadium better be a dome.

 

I'm amazed he didn't mention Cow Tipping as a past time 

 

You can't fix ignorance 

[JoPoy88]

1 hour ago, Call_Of_Ktulu said:

I agree, we need a dome to give us a better chance at some of these FA’s. The weather is so bad in Buffalo that it dictates what kind of offense you run on some days. 

This weather thing is overblown, insofar as it pertains to affecting games. I’ve been to pretty much every hime game since 2007, and the truly horrific weather games are few and far between. Recency bias I know, but that’s just what I’ve seen.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

5 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

LOL at a guy playing in Nashville, TN talking about how Buffalo is "so far away from a real city that they lose sight of what’s out there. And when you get there, there’s really nothing.”

 

My thoughts exactly.  

 

Kind of lie the loser in Baltimore insulting Buffalo. 

 

Baltimore is but a toilet stop between DC and Philly 

[May Day 10]

It takes awhile to turn the stigma.  For decades (arguably for its history), the Bills have been an outpost of the NFL. Many of these players know the Bills as having zero relevancy.

 

 

 

Word spreads.  It sounds like McDermott and Beane have created a great player-friendly atmosphere.  If the Bills progress into a perennial decent to good team, and a place where players can grow, perform, and maximize their earning potential, then it wont be at a disadvantage for FA.

 

 

 

If a player's most important qualification is 'city life', then Im not sure they are likely to be that appealing to McDermott/Beane anyway.

 

 

[Call_Of_Ktulu]

1 minute ago, JoPoy88 said:

This weather thing is overblown, insofar as it pertains to affecting games. I’ve been to pretty much every hime game since 2007, and the truly horrific weather games are few and far between. Recency bias I know, but that’s just what I’ve seen.

Look up how the greatest show on turf played at home in the dome and away games without a dome. I remember the numbers were pretty eye popping.

[JoPoy88]

52 minutes ago, delirious said:

How many times do we need an article on this? Remember hearing about this last year before free agency. ?

it’s superbowl week, where many, many players are congregated in the same space, i.e. a perfect and relatively easy time for a good reporter to get a broad view from a large sample of players on a subject. Don’t like it don’t read it. Or just whine about it. Choice is yours.

1 minute ago, Call_Of_Ktulu said:

Look up how the greatest show on turf played at home in the dome and away games without a dome. I remember the numbers were pretty eye popping.

I know - and I agree with you about the dome by the way. I just think the weather thing is more perception than reality at this point.

[delirious]

1 minute ago, JoPoy88 said:

it’s superbowl week, where many, many players are congregated in the same space, i.e. a perfect and relatively easy time for a good reporter to get a broad view from a large sample of players on a subject. Don’t like it don’t read it. Or just whine about it. Choice is yours.

Or how about stop rehashing this idea year after year? 

[JoPoy88]

2 minutes ago, delirious said:

Or how about stop rehashing this idea year after year? 

the question seems pretty pertinent this year though doesn’t it? Considering this team finally, after twenty years, looks like one on the brink of actually competing for something and attracting one or two key free agents could be a big part of pushing them over the top?

[The Jokeman]

3 minutes ago, Lurker said:

And yet, Green Bay is a contender year after year, and attracts UFAs pretty well.

 

$$$$$ overcome plenty of reservations at the end of the day, especially for guys signing their first FA contract...

Green Bay also has a tradition of winning, there's an old saying that winning is the best perfume.

[BuffaloBillyG]

2 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

https://theathletic.com/1569231/2020/01/29/are-the-bills-shaking-the-siberian-stigma-it-depends-what-matters-to-nfl-players-in-free-agency/

 

Bills still have much to overcome.

 

 

The next Bills stadium better be a dome.

Then I will be frosty about Cooper, Hooper and Barnett as free agents.

 

Seriously though, it's odd that the narrative has to be pushed year in and year out that "no one will play in Buffalo" when it didn't seem that way last off season. Those may be 3 very big names in FA class this year...but Beane doesn't care what their name is. He will find guys that fit what we do, who we are as a team, community and build the right way...through the draft. 

[delirious]

3 minutes ago, JoPoy88 said:

the question seems pretty pertinent this year though doesn’t it? Considering this team finally, after twenty years, looks like one on the brink of actually competing for something and attracting one or two key free agents could be a big part of pushing them over the top?

 Or if we lose in the first round again it will be pertinent again because "are we really a few players away?". Or if we don't make the playoffs it will be pertinent because "are we back to the same old bills?". I can create tons of excuses why it would be pertinent. 

[Shaw66]

2 hours ago, BigdaddyinOrlando said:

I feel like though if they take the visit and hear what McBean and the other players have to say about the organization and what the area really is like then they will be more inclined and possibly excited to be here. Plus a look at the new training facility is huge bonus. JMO

This, sort of.   

 

A guy who has the mental makeup, the competitiveness, the dedication, the willingness to improve year after year, is not going to be deterred because of how he views Buffalo.   He's going to Buffalo to be part of what McBeane are doing.  

 

A guy whose decision is going to be controlled by how the city compares to others or the taxes or the money is not the kind of guy McBeane are looking for, and I'm okay with that.   They want guys who WANT to be there.  

[Don Otreply]

2 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

https://theathletic.com/1569231/2020/01/29/are-the-bills-shaking-the-siberian-stigma-it-depends-what-matters-to-nfl-players-in-free-agency/

 

Bills still have much to overcome.

 

 

The next Bills stadium better be a dome.

Don’t you worry, It will be, Terry & Kim can read a trail, they both know it would verge on financial malfeasance to build an open stadium for a fall/winter sport in the city Buffalo New York in this day and age, and if they want any assistance from the league it will have to have a roof, and the Pegulas know this. Combine a new roofed stadium with the top shelf facilities at OBD, and the issue is greatly diminished. That and Buffalo is a cool place. Jmo, disagree at your leisure... ?

 

Go Bills!!!

Edited January 29, 2020 by Don Otreply

[145B4IDIE]

maybe show them the real estate that can be obtained for X amount of$$$ around 716 compared to the same amount in a "big" city area

[MJS]

The guys who really want the night life and all of the attractions of the big cities aren't the kind of guys we want anyway. There's plenty of good players out there who don't care about that stuff. Plus, you build through the draft anyway.

[DrDawkinstein]

I see a lot of folks in this thread disagreeing that players should feel that way... yet posting from places other than Buffalo ourselves. ?

 

Looks like the majority of us in here are in Atlanta. And even more so the Southeast in general. Better weather, better jobs, lower taxes, etc. So we, as "free agents in life", are guilty of it too. Heck, I moved back to Buffalo in 2014 to give the resurgence a shot, yet here I am back in Atlanta 3 years later.

 

Guess Im not a "process guy" (again, whatever that is).