Kelly still strong on his intentions for ownership

[jpdex12]

I attended a conference today in Syracuse and heard Jim on a couple of occassions speak of himself as the next owner of the Bills. They were blunt statements! How can he state this without having serious weapons to use to seal the deal? Right of first refusal and specific statements from him today.

He stated that the Bills will not leave Western NY.

He ripped the team and stated that Trent does not have it. He said how he specifically studied Trent's demeanor during the Brown's game and he would just come to the sideline, take off his helmet and sit docile looking around. He said he would have been jumping down player's throats on the sidelines. He said they just don't have the fire in their belly like they should. Frustrating. Said Trent is a nice kid but they need a QB.

[BillsWin]

cool. he doesnt have the money to back his mouth up though. unless trump wants in on the football world again. lol

[jpdex12]

cool. he doesnt have the money to back his mouth up though. unless trump wants in on the football world again. lol

I know that we all have our doubts but why would he go shooting off at the mouth if he didn't have a legitimate plan? Kelly is not like that! He'l tell ya like it is. I have to believe that he has a plan and most likely involves some backers with big bucks.

Look at Marshall Faulk! He's most likely going to end up a part owner of the Rams. If e can do it, why can't Kgun?

[THATHURMANATOR]

JIMBO GET THIS DONE!!!! I would freaking EXPLODE if Jimbo bought the team! It would be AMAZING. The best thing to ever happen to Buffalo.

[Demon]

cool. he doesnt have the money to back his mouth up though. unless trump wants in on the football world again. lol

But he has people. The Rich's. Jacobs? Golisano? George Gillette Jr?

[Oaf]

Them some fightin words at Edwards.

[Billz_fan]

I attended a conference today in Syracuse and heard Jim on a couple of occassions speak of himself as the next owner of the Bills. They were blunt statements! How can he state this without having serious weapons to use to seal the deal? Right of first refusal and specific statements from him today.

He stated that the Bills will not leave Western NY.

He ripped the team and stated that Trent does not have it. He said how he specifically studied Trent's demeanor during the Brown's game and he would just come to the sideline, take off his helmet and sit docile looking around. He said he would have been jumping down player's throats on the sidelines. He said they just don't have the fire in their belly like they should. Frustrating. Said Trent is a nice kid but they need a QB.


My nipples are hard :D

[Billz_fan]

Them some fightin words at Edwards.

LOL, i wish he would get that fired up.

[BillsWin]

Them some fightin words at Edwards.

if he thinks THOSE are fighting words, I've got a few for him. Try and fight me Trent. I'll give you a concussion so bad that it will turn your brain to soup. too harsh? maybe he shouldn't suck.

[don137]

Trent has the same demeanor as his coach. I am not saying Trent would of been great if he ws drafted by another team but I feel with Jauron and this coaching staff the players are set up to fail and it is very difficult to succeed.

[YardRat]

Unfortunately Kelly would just be a minority, figure-head owner...he better have somebody with real bucks in his corner.

Spot on with TE, though...where's the passion? Jimbo virtually rebuilt the Bills offensive line when he got here...If you weren't on the same page as him, you were gone.

[yordad]

This IS my biggest knock on Edwards. I've been questioning his "fire" since the beginning.

[trapezeus]

i recently heard that the NFL won't look at a group package unless the majority owner brings 50-60%. so it's not like you just need wealthy guys, you need someone with close to $500-$600MM to be able to spend without worry.

I'm beginning to think that NYS is actively involved in keeping the bills in buffalo and are ready to take the NFL to task. They afterall have spent $100's of millions to update the stadium. there is a lease in place. The politicians know they can't lose that team. So that leaves them as active partners to help broker a deal.

[THATHURMANATOR]

JIM GET THIS DEAL DONE... PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jan Reimers]

i recently heard that the NFL won't look at a group package unless the majority owner brings 50-60%. so it's not like you just need wealthy guys, you need someone with close to $500-$600MM to be able to spend without worry.

I'm beginning to think that NYS is actively involved in keeping the bills in buffalo and are ready to take the NFL to task. They afterall have spent $100's of millions to update the stadium. there is a lease in place. The politicians know they can't lose that team. So that leaves them as active partners to help broker a deal.
I'm pretty sure there are NFL by-laws governing sales to investor groups. I thought there was a maximum of 36 investors, one of whom would have a minimum 40% ownership interest, but my memory sometimes fails me.

At any rate, you're right about needing one really big money investor ( $400 mil or so?). Maybe Schumer can wave the antitrust exemption in the NFL's face, as politicians do from time to time, to get some concessions to allow the Bills to stay in Buffalo.

[OpIv37]

I think Kelly's intentions are true and he intends to do everything within his power to keep the Bills in Buffalo, even forking over serious cash from his own stockpile.

But at the end of the day, I'm not sure if he's going to have the money or the pull to get it done.

[ddaryl]

Kelly is the great Hope....

but I still fear

[THATHURMANATOR]

IN JIMBO I TRUST!!!!

[Jan Reimers]

I think Kelly's intentions are true and he intends to do everything within his power to keep the Bills in Buffalo, even forking over serious cash from his own stockpile.

But at the end of the day, I'm not sure if he's going to have the money or the pull to get it done.
Kelly can only be the catalyst for getting a group of investors - including one big fish - together. I would guess he has nowhere near the resources to be a major investor.

[THATHURMANATOR]

Kelly can only be the catalyst for getting a group of investors - including one big fish - together. I would guess he has nowhere near the resources to be a major investor.
Right I think we all know this.

[WeAreArthurMoates]

I truly think Kelly has a big fish already in place and that's why he makes these comments. I also believe that this "guy" owns a professional sports team that's not in Buffalo. That's why he wont say who cause once he does that guy will have to sell his current team.

[Kelly The Dog]

One owner has to own 30%, and then there can be numerous other minority owners. Kelly would be either a managing partner, like Jerry Colangelo was with the Phoenix Suns (without putting in much of his own money) or simply a figurehead partial owner that the main guy and the investor group decided was best to be the face of the franchise.

Personally, I think he has a deal in place with either Rich, Jr, Jacobs or Golisano. Rich is still worth over 2 billion even after the recession.

[bigbub2352]

A Football mind at ownership is every Bills Fans Wet Dream

[k-oneputt]

He knows people with that kind of money. I've heard "think Canada" money man. No not the Toronto people who want the team up there. Think what you want but this is a pretty close source. It could be bs or not. Just throwing it out there.
As for Trent, he's soft and will never win big here. Get Locker next year in the draft, and get Jauron out of here. How can anyone get fired up playing for that guy ?

[The Juice Is Loose]

Even the Commissioner has said he wants to keep the team here. I don't recall him ever saying he wanted to keep the Jags in Jax. When was the last time you saw someone with a Jags jersey?

Jags, Rams, San Fran, San Diego, Oakland...they all are more likely to move to LA than us. The other can take London lol. I can't really ever see that happening, though.

Nor in Toronto. The experiment games there aren't get any attention from the local people.

[trapezeus]

i think of Kelly as a better version of Larry Quinn. He would be a president with a nice salary and in charge of the operations. He makes the investors feel better that "thereis a football guy that knows the league and knows coaches, players, programs, etc."

It makes is easiler for a rich guy to pop in as an investor and know the ship is being steered properly.

one worry is that if the new group overpays to keep them in buffalo, you'll either see a ridiculous increase in ticket prices with the same substandard product or you'll see more claims about stadium needs and moving, blah blah blah.

the price has to fit just right so that the debt any of these guys take on an be serviced with the yearly inflow from current ticket sales.

[Jan Reimers]

I'm pretty sure there are NFL by-laws governing sales to investor groups. I thought there was a maximum of 36 investors, one of whom would have a minimum 40% ownership interest, but my memory sometimes fails me.

At any rate, you're right about needing one really big money investor ( $400 mil or so?). Maybe Schumer can wave the antitrust exemption in the NFL's face, as politicians do from time to time, to get some concessions to allow the Bills to stay in Buffalo.
Just found the bylaws. It's a max of 24 investors with one owning at least 30%.

[Nighthawk]

cool. he doesnt have the money to back his mouth up though. unless trump wants in on the football world again. lol

Seriously, how the f**k do you know if he has the backers to front the money? I'm so tired of the so called experts on this site saying that he doesn't have the money to buy the team. Really? So you are involved in his daily business transactions and know for sure that he doesn't? You don't know that he doesn't have some big pocket backers ready to buy this team anymore then I know that he does. Man, it gets so old reading posts like this!

[THATHURMANATOR]

Seriously, how the f**k do you know if he has the backers to front the money? I'm so tired of the so called experts on this site saying that he doesn't have the money to buy the team. Really? So you are involved in his daily business transactions and know for sure that he doesn't? You don't know that he doesn't have some big pocket backers ready to buy this team anymore then I know that he does. Man, it gets so old reading posts like this!
:bf1:

[Nighthawk]

He knows people with that kind of money. I've heard "think Canada" money man. No not the Toronto people who want the team up there. Think what you want but this is a pretty close source. It could be bs or not. Just throwing it out there.
As for Trent, he's soft and will never win big here. Get Locker next year in the draft, and get Jauron out of here. How can anyone get fired up playing for that guy ?

I've heard that it was the owner (not sure if he sold the team, think he did) of the Montreal Canadiens. Again, it's all rumors right now...but I believe he knows enough people with money that he could potential get it done.

[yordad]

I got $712. 62!!

[trapezeus]

I got $712. 62!!

Soooooo, we're still short $800MM....give or take $712.62. :-)

[yordad]

Soooooo, we're still short $800MM....give or take $712.62. :-):cheers:

[NoVabillsfan89]

I've heard that it was the owner (not sure if he sold the team, think he did) of the Montreal Canadiens. Again, it's all rumors right now...but I believe he knows enough people with money that he could potential get it done.

That would be George Gillett. Considering his performance to date as an owner, I really hope it's not him.

He is co-owner of Liverpool FC whom I follow in the English Premier League. He and his partner (Tom Hicks) have really made a mess of an historic and proud club. Too many details to include in one post but to name a few of his blunders, he lied about piling debt on to the club's books, constantly undermines the manager in the press and refuses to pony up the cash required to compete at the highest level while claiming that he does.

Liverpool supporters hate them both. In fact, a group of them are planning a march before their match with Manchester United on Sunday in protest of the American owners.

So I'll pass on him owning the Bills.

[THATHURMANATOR]

Yeah but that is soccer who cares about that?

[NoVabillsfan89]

Yeah but that is soccer who cares about that?

You are entitled to your opinion about soccer but my point was that he doesn't have the upfront cash and he's a knucklehead so I don't think he would be a good choice as the owner of the Bills.

Plus, he's 71, doesn't care about winning and only cares about making money. Sound familiar?

And how did the Canadiens do while he owned them?

[trapezeus]

just as a hypothetical, what do you think if Kelly's group had an international guy from the middle east. Just a rich dude that wants to have the cache of american sports to his name.

The nfl has primarily stayed within the US for ownership. i wonder if there would be some debate about a middle eastern buyer.

[DynaPaul]

cool. he doesnt have the money to back his mouth up though. unless trump wants in on the football world again. lol

Yeah great... let's allow Trump to own a team so it can go bankrupt a few years later. That doofus lost money on a casino! How do you do that? Owning a casino is like having a money machine down in your basement.

[Jeff1220]

just as a hypothetical, what do you think if Kelly's group had an international guy from the middle east. Just a rich dude that wants to have the cache of american sports to his name.

The nfl has primarily stayed within the US for ownership. i wonder if there would be some debate about a middle eastern buyer.

Well, didn't a Russian billionaire just buy the NJ Nets? (or is it the NJ Nyets? haha)
anyway, maybe a foreign investor could happen in the NFL.

[Demon]

Well, didn't a Russian billionaire just buy the NJ Nets? (or is it the NJ Nyets? haha)
anyway, maybe a foreign investor could happen in the NFL.

You think foreign billionaires are going to come, buy and live in Buffalo, NY? You even think they know where Buffalo is? If foreign owners come, which i'm sure one day they will, they will have teams in huge cities.

[sdbillsfan2]

You think foreign billionaires are going to come, buy and live in Buffalo, NY? You even think they know where Buffalo is? If foreign owners come, which i'm sure one day they will, they will have teams in huge cities.


They don't have to live in Buffalo demon. Just their check books ..lol.. Ralph himself still lives in Detroit .

[trapezeus]

ralph doesn't live in buffalo.

i'm just saying...for a lot of these guys, buying the team and being the only owner is part of the cache. if it can turn a profit and be viable, they'll do whatever it takes.

[BillsWin]

Seriously, how the f**k do you know if he has the backers to front the money? I'm so tired of the so called experts on this site saying that he doesn't have the money to buy the team. Really? So you are involved in his daily business transactions and know for sure that he doesn't? You don't know that he doesn't have some big pocket backers ready to buy this team anymore then I know that he does. Man, it gets so old reading posts like this!



I said HE doesnt have enough money to back up the talk. Now if he has some buyers, that is different. Golisano? Trump?

I just dont want to get my hopes up with all the Kelly gossip.

[Mad Bomber]

One owner has to own 30%, and then there can be numerous other minority owners. Kelly would be either a managing partner, like Jerry Colangelo was with the Phoenix Suns (without putting in much of his own money) or simply a figurehead partial owner that the main guy and the investor group decided was best to be the face of the franchise.

Personally, I think he has a deal in place with either Rich, Jr, Jacobs or Golisano. Rich is still worth over 2 billion even after the recession.
Rich Stadium!!!!!!

[elltrain22]

Jimbo will get it done. There's no doubt in my mind. I believe in him w/ all my heart!! Seriously, can you imagine if this happened? Think of all the positives. First off, we get to keep this team in Buffalo for a very, very long time. Second, Jimbo would make decisions w/ winning in mind. We wouldn't be a cheap franchise that accepts losing. We'd be a team that is committed to winning and committed to its fans.

[Demon]

They don't have to live in Buffalo demon. Just their check books ..lol.. Ralph himself still lives in Detroit .

That is very true. I guess i went over board with my reasoning's on why they wouldn't buy it here. For us, football is a game and we live and die with it, since we spend all day Sunday watching, spend all week talking about it with friends and join web sites like this, however, for owners it's a business. Like every good business person, they will try to recoup as much of the investment as quickly as possible, and the quickest ways of doing so are moving the team into a new, big, rick, city, getting a sweetheart deal. Thus, i don't think Buffalo would be the likely choice.

[Demon]

Rich Stadium!!!!!!

haha, but you got to think one of the first things new owners do is sell the stadium rights to get more $$$.

[trapezeus]

yeah, i also think a good business person who is interested with his own self interest would have to look at 3 failed LA adventures. the raiders went to Oakland, then came back, then moved back to oakland, and then came back to LA to move again. And you have the rams. They'd have to get an amazing deal.

On the other hand, the bills stadium is a state financed stadium. The politicians only have one team in the state and if they oversee losing it they pretty much lose western new york. So you have an incredible bargaining chip.

Additionally you sell the seats guaranteed and make a profit with minimal effort. You know that going in.

lastly, you are on the receiving end of the profit sharing. so you have a guaranteed stream coming in.

So a new owner has to think about guaranteed stream of income to recoup his huge outlay of money, or if he is happy gambling with $800MM to buy the team and then put down an additional $100's of millions to try and move and remarket the team. It could be a total success or he might be looking to move the team somehwere in 5 years when it fails in LA like it historically has.

[jpdex12]

i recently heard that the NFL won't look at a group package unless the majority owner brings 50-60%. so it's not like you just need wealthy guys, you need someone with close to $500-$600MM to be able to spend without worry.

I'm beginning to think that NYS is actively involved in keeping the bills in buffalo and are ready to take the NFL to task. They afterall have spent $100's of millions to update the stadium. there is a lease in place. The politicians know they can't lose that team. So that leaves them as active partners to help broker a deal.

Good thought...and maybe this is why Shumer has been very positive in his public statements lately.

[jpdex12]

Yeah great... let's allow Trump to own a team so it can go bankrupt a few years later. That doofus lost money on a casino! How do you do that? Owning a casino is like having a money machine down in your basement.

Actually, Trump owned one of the AFL teams I believe and he did quite well for them. Brought in some big names. I saw this during the week on an ESPN special.

If I'm challenged on this I'll have to research.

[jpdex12]

I truly think Kelly has a big fish already in place and that's why he makes these comments. I also believe that this "guy" owns a professional sports team that's not in Buffalo. That's why he wont say who cause once he does that guy will have to sell his current team.

I over heard Jim say that he had a verbal agreement in place with Ralph for "right of first refusal". He said take it for what it's worth as a verbal agreement isn't in writing.

He also said that it was stupid to play the Miami game in Toronto when the weather is a big advantage for us in the late season. He said it never should have happened against a division team especially that team. He referenced the old Joe Roby stadium as Rich Stadium South because they all used to play so well down there and kill Miami. Funny!

[jpdex12]

Jimbo will get it done. There's no doubt in my mind. I believe in him w/ all my heart!! Seriously, can you imagine if this happened? Think of all the positives. First off, we get to keep this team in Buffalo for a very, very long time. Second, Jimbo would make decisions w/ winning in mind. We wouldn't be a cheap franchise that accepts losing. We'd be a team that is committed to winning and committed to its fans.

If this happened they would sell out instantly for the next ten years!

[DynaPaul]

Actually, Trump owned one of the AFL teams I believe and he did quite well for them. Brought in some big names. I saw this during the week on an ESPN special.

If I'm challenged on this I'll have to research.

I'm gonna have to ask you to research that. The only team that Trump ever owned that I'm aware of was the NJ Generals in the USFL and he almost single handedly destroyed the USFL league with his foolish ambitions.

[jpdex12]

I'm gonna have to ask you to research that. The only team that Trump ever owned that I'm aware of was the NJ Generals in the USFL and he almost single handedly destroyed the USFL league with his foolish ambitions.

OK, I'm wrong...don't know what UI was thinking.

http://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/latest-sports-collecting-news/trump-letter-ultimate-usfl-collectible.html