High Mark

I know Forbes values the Bills at 900 mil or so, but that is not what the market has proved they are worth. In 2005 the Vikings were bought for 600 mil IIRC. Just last season, the Rams owner bought the rest of the team (he was a minority owner before) for an adjusted purchase price of 650 mil. Both cities are in better/bigger/richer markets, and either have a better stadium (Rams) or equally bad (Vikings). Unless the Bills Market and Stadium situation somehow makes them more valuable to a group that wants to move the team (aka the NFL would be more willing to allow it), then I dont see how the Bills could fetch more than 650-700 mil at the absolute most. However, If you offered Kelly and his group part ownership, I think they would be willing to "over pay" to keep the team here. So if they bought 49%, they may be willing to pay more than 318.5 mil - 343 mil. I also dont know why people always bring up "Ralph isnt leaving the team tohis wife" It doesnt matter, he doesnt have to, by law she is going to get 50% regardless. I also dont buy the statement that his family doesnt want the team - that lady has been working for the team for years, his one daughter was a scout (what a joke BTW). His family has been involved in the past. Even if they had no interested in football, please try to find a better investment than an NFL team, because you cannot. A smart businessman wouldnt sell on that alone.

This is exactly what I mean. It sounds like you want to live in the City, but wont because of the higher taxes. Well, if they lowered taxes, people might actually live there and pay the taxes. Being able to tax more people will bring in more revenue. This is exactly what has happened in the City of Rochester/Monroe County. Property tax rates are lower in Ontario County and Wayne County, its no coincidence that the towns of Victor and Ontario (in Ontario and Wayne County) are the fastest growing school districts BY FAR. Its also no coin incidence that 100 feet from the Monroe county line is the biggest mall in Rochester is, because the sales taxes is 1% lower. On a larger scales people and businesses are fleeing NYS like crazy for Texas, Florida, the Carolinas, etc. All of which have better tax systems.

Its the NFL. They made 9 Billion last season, and the teams are owned by the richest men in the world. As they fight with their millionaire players, I believe the American people and the fans should collectively tell them to "pay for your own f***ing stadiums" Besides, Government money doesn't solve problems, it tends to create more of them. The tax rate in Erie county is already higher than it should be to support the Bills IIRC, I wonder how many people and jobs that small tax has driven away? Now there is a smaller tax base, great! Educational spending in this country has sky rocketed over the past 30-40 years, and students get dumber and dumber the more they spend. Ironically, ever since the Dept. of Edu. was funded, tests scores have plummeted. The whole idea of "throw more money at the Bills and they will stay" is a facre, just like it is in everything else. Regardless of what it is, if it cannot sustain itself then its inevitably going to fail.

He is the worst of the worst of the worst. At least other terrible announcers played professionally or in college, but i doubt this schmeeb played in gym class. Just turn him off and maybe ESPN will get the hint.

There may be something to this. He may have needed to do this just to have the working capitol to run an NFL team. But, this is what all smart business people have been doing for years, partly because the banks allow them to and partly because of the US tax system being a complete joke. Working for the Glazer family (Owners of the Bucs and Man U.) has opened my eyes to this amazing business model. I work for a commercial real estate company that owns shopping centers as separate entities. Our company would buy a shopping center, then refinance it as much as possible, essentially getting 100% or more in most cases of the money invested in the center back out. As the value of the properties rose, we could refinance again and get some more millions out of the property we essentially get paid millions to buy a shopping centers. Then when the housing market tanks, and the places are severely over-leveraged, we can walk away with non-recourse loans and just found the corporation. If we had to sell the centers, we would have to pay taxes on the gains, AND pay back any depreciation that was written off during the years we owned them. This is what they have done with the Bucs and Man U. Both are almost 100% leveraged. For example, the Glazer's bought the Bucs for 195 Mil in the 90's. Now its worth what, 800 mil at least? In 15 years they have made about 600 mil through refinancing the percieved value of the team, and still own the team. They didnt have to sell the team or pay taxes on the 600 mil in profit, because its not profit - they have a bank note for the equal value of the money they are taking out. This is the same model that has made Donald Trump millions. Ever notice how a lot of his casinos and buildings go bankrupt? People seem to make fun of him for this, but he is really out smarting them and everyone else. He builds these assets out of nothing, refinances the crap out of them, making millions in the process, then defaults on a non-recourse loan. All that profit is not taxed as income (it may be taxed a much smaller amount based on state law at the time of refinance) and he doesnt have to pay back any written off depreciation. This could work for your house too. you can get up to 85% of the value of your home out in a refinance. Do the math, it may be more profitable for you to default on a loan than sell! Ralphs heirs may not be planning on selling, they may be planning on defaulting!

How about a list of "guys that are not easily replacable" that we drafted when he was chief of scouting? 1. Kyle Williams. The end. Any way you cut it, Modrak sucked.

So 2 lineman block KW and 2 lineman block Dareus, which leaves 1 lineman and maybe a TE or FB to block the rest of our front 7. Yea, the other team may still win that one.

John, You mentioned in that other thread you have Maybin down as a Jauron pick. I just cannot believe that. I know they had extended Dickie week 4 or 5 of that season, but after the team tanked, the Bills inner circle (this is where the circle jerk saying originated I believe) meet for a couple days debating if they would fire him. I remember exactly where I was when the announcement to keep him after much deliberation was made. This was in January. Now I am supposed to believe that in April, less than 4 months later, the entire FO and scouting staff backed down to an almost fired, lame duck head coach??? That honestly may have been what happened, but I just dont buy it. I am too logical to buy it. Modrak, Russ Brandon, Ralph, someone else was at least loving on Maybin too. I wasnt all Jauron. My guess is Modrak loved him too, and with Jauron and Modrak behind him, they took him. If not Modrak, maybe Ralph himself, or Russ B, it had to be someone. It just is too illogical to assume that the team decided to side with an almost fired just 4 months ago HC against the advice of the entire scouting staff, president, and Owner. the same thing goes for Losman and McCargo. Modrak self admitedly puts together the board. Would the Bills really trade up, back into the 1st round, for a player that Modrak had rated as a 3rd or 4th rounder? i cant believe they would - its doesnt make any sense. Modrak must have put those players up on the board as 1st round talents, so when Levy/Jauron look at the board, they see only one 1st round talent QB/DT on the board left, panic, then trade up. Mmodrak wasnt the decision maker, but I find it hard to believe his board wasnt grossly off for all of these picks.

Awesome. Guy - Fired, Modrak - Fired. Nix and Whaley in. Ralph may finally be catching on

Kiwi is an injured option, btu I heard he was cleared by the Docs in NY(NJ). I really like his LB and DE experience. Te should be a focus, but I really dont think Chan is going to use TEs much. I would really like to see Florence and Poz resigned, as well as a RT who can START - please no scabs like Cornell Green. 2 or 3 guys at OLB/TE/RT would be nice.

We need a backup. Thigpen put up great numbers for KC. I think he is a perfect canidate.

I really like VY. I think Shanny is a good coach for him. he needs some direction. We all know he wins games.

"I believe when I get back to Buffalo and help turn this thing around, everything will be forgotten." Earth to Twhitner, Earth to Twhitner... you are one of the main reasons we need turning around!!! It's not that you a big reason why future HOFer H. Ngata isnt on the team (thats not really your fault, its Levy/Jauron's, so I wont hold that against you) but its because you have been the hot spot for opposing QBs touchdown passes. You can't prevent touchdowns, generate turnovers, or make impact plays. You are worse than two (maybe even 3 now withe Searcy)of your backups. You are the Kelsay of the back 7. Please leave, our team gets better in your absence.

On his first droppback of the season, Fitzpatrick tears his ACL by running into Fred Jackson who tears his achilies. Both are gone for the year. 0-16... just saying its possible. I was, he looked the part as a Frosh too.

They were practice fields. Now its one field (not two) surrounded by a track and a very nice [and will be a] couple thousand seat stadium. I know, but thats why Fisher athletics were/are pissed its still grass. Football, fieldhockey, mens and womans soccer, and mens and womans lacrosse all share one field. All of which have spring and fall practices. its hard for 6 teams to get in 2 hour practices, all on the same day, not to mention games. I believe the plan is to have soccer move to the grass fields in the Fall, but the fields will be useless in the Spring. Fisher's school year ended last week, and the majority of the grass fields around here are still underwater. Plus you cant plow grass. I did hear the Bills werent too happy about loosing 1/3rd of their practice fields though.

Lets be honest guys, we still suck. A couple of rookies arent going to solve every problem we have, which is literally every single position. But, I honestly think the Fish suck more. We beat them last year, I definitely see us splitting the series again at worst. I don’t think you will see us beat the Pats (or even get close) with our defense (still not much of a pass rush or CBs to speak of) but I could see us stealing one from the Jest if the run D is better and Sanchez plays meh. The problem with the Fish sucking more than us is that they could easily start out the year bad, fire their coach, lose out the year and draft the best QB prospect to come out in 15 years, and then rape us with said QB for the next 15 years. I would hate them to get their Marino before (or instead of) us getting our Kelly. In terms of the draft, I think we made huge gains on all of our opponents. The Pats IMO had one of the worst drafts in years. The only good thing they got was a DB and a 1st next year. The Jest took Wilkerson who I was Meh on, then their next pick, in the 3rd, may be in jail for the next 20 years, then they added another RB. The Fish got Pouncy who is good, but then took a bunch of schmeebby skill players who9 likely wont help them at all. We made huge gains this draft.

I wouldnt' worry about that, the ONLY reason they installed a grass field and not turf was at the Bills request. The Fisher Athetic dept. is quite pissed the college didnt install turf and tell the Bills deal with it.

FINALLY!!!! This dude has blown chunks for years and its great to have him outta here. He was prob clamoring for terrible prospects all draft weekend and Buddy was tired of his crappy evaluating “skill”. Whitner/McCargo/Maybin/etal... thanks for nothing Modrak - I hope the door hits you on your way out!!!! I would love to hear from all the Modrak sympathizers about how he never had final say and blah blah blah.

Its good to see us get some "Value" for a change. I am really tired of us drafting kick return specialists and 5th round talents in the 1st (Maybin).

Peyton Manning is a FA. We should sign him. 4 years, 150 Mil, with 100 Mil Guaranteed in the 1st year (as there will likely be no cap this year). I just want to see them play well. Im not expecting many wins. If they lose I hope we just see some young guys like our top 5 draft picks, Moats, Wood, D Bell all playing and improving. Every lose would be a little bit of a win if we get Luck. We just arent going to win a lot of games. Miami and the Jets I think are our best games to win, besides the ones you pointed out.

Like a WR

Luck, #1 overall, Jones, I heard he is only about 6 foot, likely will hurt him during the draft process, but I agree he is good, Cousin - meh, Foles - good luck with him at this point. that sure does seem to be the case. It wasnt true at this time last year (at the time almost no one even knew who Gabbert was, and they deffinately hadnt heard about Newton), but that its true this year. The only thing is there is not going to be 4 QBs go in the top 12.

This is a backup thread, aka "Who should be Fitz backup?" Brohm is on the outs and Levi isnt an NFL caliber player as evidenced by the Bills cutting him (not even puting him on the practice squad - cutting him) and the other 31 NFL teams not picking him up in almost a months time. So what happens if Fitz gets injured behind out pourus OL? We dont have anything good. Honestly, thats fine with me. If an injury does take Fitz down just ride out the year to Andrew Luck. But if we are serious about fielding a team that can win games even with our [below average] starter injured, we need to bring in someone who can either A) develop into a starter or B) has starting experience. Whether its big names like Quinn or V Young, or someone else, it has to be someone. PS, I know Fitz contract is up after this year, but we should totally keep him as a backup if nothing else. He is very valuable.

What a shame that would be... I dont think you can get much better than Ngata. He is the best of the best. Hoepfully Dareus raises the bar though.

Has anybody considered VY? We wont have to trade for him.... PS I could honeslty see Chan wanting to go after him, seeing as how they love any mobile QB available.