Monday Bills Update: Post-XLIII, HOF Edition

I’m just glad the season is finally over. Now its time to focus on the scouting combine and the draft and Free Agency. Stuff that really matters. This is just a matter of opinion but I think Ralph getting inducted was not only a nice surprise, but with the AFL 50th anniversary, the Bills getting 2 to Canton, playing the Titans in the HOF game, the fans uneasiness of Jauron coming back, and the prospects of Trent Edwards in year 3 and the fact that a new season hope springs eternal, can’t you just imagine that Ralph is in a “flying high” state of euphoria and that this off-season out of any at OBD this decade has the potential where the “feeling good” Ralph spends a little more money and tries to make some “noise” in FA and the draft? I ain’t saying it will happen but I think maybe his itch to be aggressive and try to win might be higher this year than in the past. Just a hypothesis

I sure hope so. I still think priority number one has to be another weapon for Trent. I hate the idea of Pettigrew at #11, but surely there has to be a way to get a WR or TE to help out Trent. What Holmes and Heath Miller did last night was pretty special. Of Course none of that happens without the magical Big Ben. Man is that guy good

if they remained the Buffalo Bills.

I’ve been thinking long and hard about whether or not I could continue to support this franchise if someone came in, bought the team, and swept them off to another locale. I think if LA, Texas, or Toronto were to become a reality, i’d struggle. Keeping them on the proper side of the lake would keep me a fan.

It’s interesting to read that Bruce actually turned down the opportunity to be an analyst. I applaud him for doing so to be a father. I always thought he should be an analyst because he’s one of the most well-spoken, intelligent men to ever play the game.

Oh and i’m willing to give Bob Matthews a pass on his Selvie comment. The man had an accident at work, and has been OOC for a few weeks now.

I would be the best option for the Bills, outside of staying in Buffalo of course. I think the fans would accept it. Since the name would change anyway, how about the Niagara Buffaloes? Just thought it might honor the city of Buffalo more and would make it more logical keeping the logo.

that’s one of the few name changes I would support. I wouldn’t mind a state-of-the-art stadium near the falls, that would be awesome, especially if they could get a location where one end of the stadium looks out to the falls.

I would hate to see the Bills play in a domed stadium (although I hate to see them play in any stadium these days). I get the NFL Sunday Ticket and when the 4:00 game roles around and I’m trying to pick a game to watch, I subconsciously eliminate any game in a domed stadium because I honestly believe weather is a part of football. Seriously, I think I’d watch a Bengals- Browns game over the ‘89 49ers vs. the ’78 Steelers if the latter was in a dome. I could live with a dome if it meant keeping the team in Western New York, but why a dome? Also, I don’t buy the claim that calling the team the “Niagra Bills” would attract a more regionalized fan base. If the team’s stadium was in Niagra county, that in itself would lend itself to more Canadian fans due to location, but the name change wouldn’t do anything substantial. The “Buffalo Bills” is a successful brand name of 50 years that’s rfecognized nationwide. I don’t think it’s good business to change it for a move 45 minutes away.

it could read:

“best small-market pro sports franchise on planet Earth”

at least of the last 35 years or so….

Why does everyone want to have so state of the art Dome? do you want to watch football or hangout in doors playing 3-d football simulations. move to dallas or another city that doesn’t care about football just the $$$ coming in. the bests stadiums are the ones that allow you to focus on the game at hand, not playing punt pass kick in the Hallways, or watching other games on TV. WTF are people serious having a dome in Buffalo, how about we get rid of tailgating too, all the other teams are doing it beacuse they like to over charge for beer and food. that’s a great idea for this team to make extra money. i love the ice cold seats and the benches, the freezing wind in my face. i appreciate getting up at 7am and cooking by 8am, it’s a great feeling to know Bills fans can take a lot more pain than any other fans. and i know i’m at a real game not the WWF. i plead you guys to stop dreaming of this ridiculous stuff, it’s not buffalo, it’s the crap Jerry Jones dreams of $$$$$$$$.

BTW we won’t change the name. It’s the Buffalo Bills even if they built the OPEN stadium on the Canadian side of NF. oh and you won’t have a retractable roof b/c the cold weather and ice. could you imagine the roof is stuck open in themiddle of December and they can’t afford to fix it b/c we spent every penny to have it built.

well it’s the same thought that the Bass Pro shop will save DT Buffalo. Creating buildings wont save Buffalo or the team, building a winning organiziation and sustaining it will (at least the Bills).

I have always felt that locating the stadium closer to geographic center of Erie County was a mistake. No offense south-towners, but you’re further away from the regional population and closer to the snow belt. The domed stadium deal that didn’t happen in Lancaster was a missed opportunity tap into the Rochester market earlier; though at the time, the team probably didn’t need to. I ran across an article that considers a number of alternative sites in the area for a new stadium: archives.buffalorising.com/story/mappingout_the_bills_downtown_
If and when the team gets a new stadium, all options should be pursued to find the best location for the present—and and future—fan base. I’m not sure the area can suffer through another short-sighted small-minded decision.

I don’t see, nor would want to see, the team dropping the “Buffalo” as long as there is a city of the same name nearby. Now, if something big was done, like create one municipality out of the more densely populated communities in the Buffalo and Niagara Falls area, then a name change for the Bills would make sense. Indianapolis essentially annexed it’s entire county, effectively branding itself into relevance.

A new city called Niagara, with a population of over one million, one of the wonders of the world as it’s symbol and a retractable roof stadium nebulized by the mist of the mighty Niagara would certainly justify a new on-field brand. I’d gladly give up a lone Buffalo for that. But, alas, the politicians would bicker over how and where lines (and their power) get redrawn. As for the populace, few would want their municipality tainted by another, especially the City of Buffalo—which is largely responsible for people being in the area in the first place.

So for the time being, the area and team will limp along by patching up the parking lot and getting a new scoreboard every few years. That is, until areas assets are sold-off and moved, one by one.