FlyingDutchman
05-20-2011, 11:33 PM
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81feb187/article/itd-be-sad-to-see-several-smallmarket-teams-leave?module=HP_spotlight
It'd be sad to see several small-market teams leave
More Columns > (http://www.nfl.com/news/author?id=)
<!-- start left column --><!-- start page:applyDecorator --><TABLE style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse"><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px">http://static.nfl.com/static/content/catch_all/nfl_image/billsfans_101114.jpg</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #999999; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 0px">Don Heupel / Associated Press</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 5px">Buffalo Bills football means as much as anything in the lives of people in Western New York.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
The NFL has a strong presence in several small markets where fans are especially passionate about their team. Think Green Bay, Pittsburgh and Buffalo, just to name a few. So we asked our experts: Which small-market team would you most hate to see relocated?
http://static.nfl.com/static/content/catch_all/nfl_image/jason_lacanfora_HS_09_02_65x90.jpg
Jason La Canfora NFL Network
Bills embody a 'true regional franchise'
Let me start by saying I don't want to see any franchises move. This league is strong and proud enough that it shouldn't be necessary. I want to see teams in Los Angeles and Toronto -- and ultimately in London and Mexico City, too -- but not at the expense of others.
<TABLE width=315 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD>Our experts debate the NFL's hot-button topics:
» Is Romo worthy of 'Top 100' consideration? (http://www.nfl.com/goto?id=09000d5d81fdbb08)
» Which free-agent RB most interests you? (http://www.nfl.com/goto?id=09000d5d81fce2bc)
» Who would be a catch among free-agent WRs? (http://www.nfl.com/goto?id=09000d5d81fc9262)
» Where will Kolb eventually play in 2011? (http://www.nfl.com/goto?id=09000d5d81fc6751)
» Which 2011 rookie QB will have best career? (http://www.nfl.com/goto?id=09000d5d81fc468a)
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Unfortunately, money talks and eventually the lure of L.A., especially if they get a downtown stadium constructed, will be too great. So I agree that someone will be losing a team there, and I tend to imagine the Chargers would be the most logical choice. But to this larger question, the Buffalo Bills (http://www.billszone.com/teams/buffalobills/profile?team=BUF) are a unique entity.
They are a true regional franchise. The way they suffered with four straight Super Bowl defeats, always fighting back for more, sums up the will of the people of Western New York.
Maybe I am biased because I was attending Syracuse at the time of their string of Super Bowl runs. But it would be a shame to see the Bills elsewhere, even if it is Toronto.
<LI class=news-predictions-author-avatar>http://static.nfl.com/static/content/catch_all/nfl_image/pat_kirwan_HS_10_65_02.jpg<LI class=news-predictions-author-name>Pat Kirwan NFL.com<LI class=news-predictions-analysis>Would hate to see Bills leave
Pittsburgh and Green Bay are both small-market teams, and I would hate to see either relocate, but I'm sure that will never happen with their great fan bases. I don't think the Bills or Jaguars can stay where they are if the structure of the NFL changed. I would be surprised if at least one of those teams is still in the same city five years from now, and the rich history of the Bills in Western New York makes them the team I would hate to see go.
<LI class=news-predictions-author-avatar>http://static.nfl.com/static/content/catch_all/nfl_image/vic_carucci_09_65x90.jpg<LI class=news-predictions-author-name>Vic Carucci NFL.com<LI class=news-predictions-analysis>Bills 'a way of life' in Western New York
This is a no-brainer for me -- it's the Bills. Having spent nearly 18 seasons covering the team and 29 years living in the community, I know as well as anyone what the Bills mean to Western New York and how devastating their relocation would be to the area. The Bills represent Buffalo's greatest link to the big-time. They are far more than a diversion. They are a religion. They are a way of life. Besides the tremendous economic impact the Bills create with each home game, they also have an enormous emotional affect on Buffalonians. A study was once conducted that actually showed productivity at Western New York businesses was significantly stronger the day after a Bills victory than it was following a loss. Despite the fact it has been a very long time since their Super Bowl days, people in Buffalo can think of something much worse than complaining about the Bills: not having them around.
It'd be sad to see several small-market teams leave
More Columns > (http://www.nfl.com/news/author?id=)
<!-- start left column --><!-- start page:applyDecorator --><TABLE style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse"><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px">http://static.nfl.com/static/content/catch_all/nfl_image/billsfans_101114.jpg</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #999999; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 0px">Don Heupel / Associated Press</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 5px">Buffalo Bills football means as much as anything in the lives of people in Western New York.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
The NFL has a strong presence in several small markets where fans are especially passionate about their team. Think Green Bay, Pittsburgh and Buffalo, just to name a few. So we asked our experts: Which small-market team would you most hate to see relocated?
http://static.nfl.com/static/content/catch_all/nfl_image/jason_lacanfora_HS_09_02_65x90.jpg
Jason La Canfora NFL Network
Bills embody a 'true regional franchise'
Let me start by saying I don't want to see any franchises move. This league is strong and proud enough that it shouldn't be necessary. I want to see teams in Los Angeles and Toronto -- and ultimately in London and Mexico City, too -- but not at the expense of others.
<TABLE width=315 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD>Our experts debate the NFL's hot-button topics:
» Is Romo worthy of 'Top 100' consideration? (http://www.nfl.com/goto?id=09000d5d81fdbb08)
» Which free-agent RB most interests you? (http://www.nfl.com/goto?id=09000d5d81fce2bc)
» Who would be a catch among free-agent WRs? (http://www.nfl.com/goto?id=09000d5d81fc9262)
» Where will Kolb eventually play in 2011? (http://www.nfl.com/goto?id=09000d5d81fc6751)
» Which 2011 rookie QB will have best career? (http://www.nfl.com/goto?id=09000d5d81fc468a)
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Unfortunately, money talks and eventually the lure of L.A., especially if they get a downtown stadium constructed, will be too great. So I agree that someone will be losing a team there, and I tend to imagine the Chargers would be the most logical choice. But to this larger question, the Buffalo Bills (http://www.billszone.com/teams/buffalobills/profile?team=BUF) are a unique entity.
They are a true regional franchise. The way they suffered with four straight Super Bowl defeats, always fighting back for more, sums up the will of the people of Western New York.
Maybe I am biased because I was attending Syracuse at the time of their string of Super Bowl runs. But it would be a shame to see the Bills elsewhere, even if it is Toronto.
<LI class=news-predictions-author-avatar>http://static.nfl.com/static/content/catch_all/nfl_image/pat_kirwan_HS_10_65_02.jpg<LI class=news-predictions-author-name>Pat Kirwan NFL.com<LI class=news-predictions-analysis>Would hate to see Bills leave
Pittsburgh and Green Bay are both small-market teams, and I would hate to see either relocate, but I'm sure that will never happen with their great fan bases. I don't think the Bills or Jaguars can stay where they are if the structure of the NFL changed. I would be surprised if at least one of those teams is still in the same city five years from now, and the rich history of the Bills in Western New York makes them the team I would hate to see go.
<LI class=news-predictions-author-avatar>http://static.nfl.com/static/content/catch_all/nfl_image/vic_carucci_09_65x90.jpg<LI class=news-predictions-author-name>Vic Carucci NFL.com<LI class=news-predictions-analysis>Bills 'a way of life' in Western New York
This is a no-brainer for me -- it's the Bills. Having spent nearly 18 seasons covering the team and 29 years living in the community, I know as well as anyone what the Bills mean to Western New York and how devastating their relocation would be to the area. The Bills represent Buffalo's greatest link to the big-time. They are far more than a diversion. They are a religion. They are a way of life. Besides the tremendous economic impact the Bills create with each home game, they also have an enormous emotional affect on Buffalonians. A study was once conducted that actually showed productivity at Western New York businesses was significantly stronger the day after a Bills victory than it was following a loss. Despite the fact it has been a very long time since their Super Bowl days, people in Buffalo can think of something much worse than complaining about the Bills: not having them around.