Ralph Wilson - you are at fault - you are not a HoF owner

[Ebenezer]

This is all on you Ralph. 50 years. 50 years of meddling and being a terrible owner. You do not deserve to be in the HoF. How did you get so lucky that Terry Bledsoe almost died? You are a disgrace as an owner and the worst thing is the fans support this team like no other. When you die and this team is sold and moved what recourse will the fans have - they have done everything they could do and should do to keep this team in Buffalo. You, have done nothing. You're a disgrace.

[Nighthawk]

This is true...this is true!

[PECKERWOOD]

I agree, one bad FO hire after the other to keep the machine of mediocrity turning. What has Ralph done without Polian? Good owners are like the Rooney's, the Jones', the Krafts... You know? The owners who've consistently made good hires over the years?

[Ebenezer]

I agree, one bad FO hire after the other to keep the machine of mediocrity turning. What has Ralph done without Polian? Good owners are like the Rooney's, the Jones', the Krafts... You know? The owners who've consistently made good hires over the years?
pfft...Terry Bledsoe stays healthy and Polian never gets a chance here.

[trapezeus]

different post, i said that JLO looks like a better owner at this point. that's fun to digest, no?

[Philagape]

He's obviously not in the HOF for what he's done as an owner

[TacklingDummy]

You, have done nothing. You're a disgrace.Keeping this team in Buffalo back in the early 80's when less than 20,000 people would goto a game. You calling that fan support? Yeah, he's done nothing to keep the Bills in Buffalo. :rolleyes:

[X-Era]

One terrible decision by him after another

[Don't Panic]

Unfortunately it all starts and ends with Ralph. Our entire existence as a franchise has been dependent on his decision making. He hasn't been awful, but once again, unfortunately, he hasn't been great. And in the last 10 years, he's been much closer to awful. Until there is a change at the top, I don't see us competing for a Super Bowl.

[Ebenezer]

Keeping this team in Buffalo back in the early 80's when less than 20,000 people would goto a game. You calling that fan support? Yeah, he's done nothing to keep the Bills in Buffalo. :rolleyes:
Teams didn't move in the 80s...they stayed no matter what...and it wasn't an era where every team sold out every game. further, he did nothing to improve the team from 1982 - 87...if it was the early 80s all over again the stadium would be empty...times have changed; fans can't vote with their feet any more.

[trapezeus]

Keeping this team in Buffalo back in the early 80's when less than 20,000 people would goto a game. You calling that fan support? Yeah, he's done nothing to keep the Bills in Buffalo. :rolleyes:


different economy. the prices paid to players was much less. he was still turning a profit and still playing in a publically funded stadium.

[TacklingDummy]

Teams didn't move in the 80s...they stayed no matter what...and it wasn't an era where every team sold out every game.Untrue, while the Bills were going 2-14 in '82 and '83 the Colts left Baltimore in '84, the Raiders to LA in '82.


further, he did nothing to improve the team from 1982 - 87...if it was the early 80s all over again the stadium would be empty...times have changed; fans can't vote with their feet any more.The Bills will improve when their drafting starts to improve, see Bill Polian.

[TacklingDummy]

different economy. the prices paid to players was much less. he was still turning a profit and still playing in a publically funded stadium.

People also made less and tickets were less. Also the attendance was a lot less.

[Typ0]

People also made less and tickets were less. Also the attendance was a lot less.


it was a different product. you are grasping at straws.

[Ebenezer]

Untrue, while the Bills were going 2-14 in '82 and '83 the Colts left Baltimore in '84.

The Bills will improve when their drafting starts to improve, see Bill Polian.


the Bills first bad year in that strectch was 1984...they were 2-14...8-8 in 83.

The Colts didn't leave over lack of attendance...it was a stadium issue. RW had nothing to complain about with a stadium that was only just over 10 years old. There was no way he could move the team.

[chernobylwraiths]

This is all on you Ralph. 50 years. 50 years of meddling and being a terrible owner. You do not deserve to be in the HoF. How did you get so lucky that Terry Bledsoe almost died? You are a disgrace as an owner and the worst thing is the fans support this team like no other. When you die and this team is sold and moved what recourse will the fans have - they have done everything they could do and should do to keep this team in Buffalo. You, have done nothing. You're a disgrace.

Give it a rest already.

Without Ralph, Buffalo doesn't have a team, the AFL might not get off the ground and certainly would never have continued after a couple years.

[PECKERWOOD]

Give it a rest already.

Without Ralph, Buffalo doesn't have a team, the AFL might not get off the ground and certainly would never have continued after a couple years.

How do you know that we won't have a team? Even if it were true, does that give him the right to con us each year with PR stunts and sub-standard results?

[Night Train]

How many season tickets were sold this year ?

What's his incentive to win again ?

[Ebenezer]

How many season tickets were sold this year ?

What's his incentive to win again ?
season ticks mean nothing...he has no incentive to win because they make so much money from the marketing and TV contracts...not one seat in the league ever has to sell again.

[Typ0]

Give it a rest already.

Without Ralph, Buffalo doesn't have a team, the AFL might not get off the ground and certainly would never have continued after a couple years.


that's a load of crap. The AFL wanted to put a team here. RW was just in the right place at the right time. Twice he's stumbled on enough talent to be competitive. The rest of the time the team has been pathetic. The guy is not a good owner. He's the hurdle to this team being competitive not some savior. It's sad the community has so much stake in this pathetic franchise and there is little to no hope for the future since ole Ralphie has set it up to move when we finally get a break and he stops breathing.

[Ebenezer]

that's a load of crap. The AFL wanted to put a team here. RW was just in the right place at the right time. Twice he's stumbled on enough talent to be competitive. The rest of the time the team has been pathetic. The guy is not a good owner. He's the hurdle to this team being competitive not some savior. It's sad the community has so much stake in this pathetic franchise and there is little to no hope for the future since ole Ralphie has set it up to move when we finally get a break and he stops breathing.
but nobody will ever be able to say the HE moved the team...
:bs:

[Philagape]

Without Ralph, Buffalo doesn't have a team

What was out on the field today was not a team.
For most of the last decade, it hasn't been a team.
They might as well not exist.

[YardRat]

I'll continue to defend Ralph, especially in regards to keeping the team here, until the day he dies.

At least we still have that small thread of hope for 'next year'.

Losing the Braves still stings, even after all of these years.

[Historian]

I agree, one bad FO hire after the other to keep the machine of mediocrity turning. What has Ralph done without Polian? Good owners are like the Rooney's, the Jones', the Krafts... You know? The owners who've consistently made good hires over the years?

I read this fact last week:

The Denver Broncos were the only original AFL team to never have a winning (above .500) season in the ten years of the AFL.

Look at what Pat Bowlan has done with that team since he bought it in the 1980's.

It's all about the ownership.

But hey....we got TO!!!!

Yippee!!!!!

[SabreEleven]

I'll continue to defend Ralph, especially in regards to keeping the team here, until the day he dies.

At least we still have that small thread of hope for 'next year'.

Losing the Braves still stings, even after all of these years.

That was the day basketball died to me....

Can a new owner or new owner group afford to keep a team in Buffalo when Ralph dies?

[HHURRICANE]

Guys if putting a sucky product on the field is the thanks that Ralph is giving us than...no thanks.

Cash to cap was his idea. He has enough money to make it to 100. Spend a few bucks and get the players we need.

Look at what Patrick Willis is doing in San Fran. A few spots above us in the draft. Ngata a few spots above us in the draft.

Get rid of Clements and keep McGee. The list goes on and on.

[Ebenezer]

Guys if putting a sucky product on the field is the thanks that Ralph is giving us than...no thanks.

Cash to cap was his idea. He has enough money to make it to 100. Spend a few bucks and get the players we need.

Look at what Patrick Willis is doing in San Fran. A few spots above us in the draft. Ngata a few spots above us in the draft.

Get rid of Clements and keep McGee. The list goes on and on.
well come on...we can't take players that go AHEAD of us in the draft.

[Ebenezer]

That was the day basketball died to me....

Can a new owner or new owner group afford to keep a team in Buffalo when Ralph dies?
Price tag will start a $1Billion. Main owner, I believe by NFL regs, has to have 35% of that price in ready cash ($350Million). Nobody in Buffalo has that kind of coin. Now, somebody like RW could buy the team and keep it here...but look, these guys are businessmen...they are not going to buy a team and keep it here out of tradition and the goodness of their heart. They are going to want to recoup that $350million and start making a profit. How much more quickly can they make that money back in other cities - much faster. Think about the new Dallas stadium, the new NY stadium...what is the key?? Boxes...boxes that cost a $1million a year to rent. You don't have the scale of economy in Buffalo to support that cost. The "bad economy" that RW talks about is no reflection on the worker in Buffalo and should not be seen as an insult. It is fact that this area doesn't have that corporate firepower. IN FACT! This is exactly why the team was originally seated, by RW, in Buffalo. In 1959, PRO football was generally a northeast/midwest phenomenon. There were few cities that could field a team-ready area. Buffalo and Miami were the two choices for RW. Buffalo WAS a major metropolis with good fan base and an economy of scale that could provide quick profit. Miami wasn't a economic power house...many places didn't have air conditioning. Buffalo had a history of fan-base success with the old AAFC team. The Miami Seahawks were a disaster (the Dolphins floundered (pun intended)) when they first started. RW put a team in Buffalo for the same reason that the next owner will move the Bills - quick profit/economic success.