Punch

Then again: @mikefreemanNFL: NFL's Greg Aiello on report that Bears, Giants, Steelers are finalists for Hard Knocks: "totally inaccurate."

Yes.

LooneyaboutSports ‏@LooneyonFox 18 mins HBO and the NFL have narrowed down the HARD KNOCKS teams to a list of three: Bears, Giants, Steelers.

Florio says in the linked article: "Without access to a full copy of the full lease, it’s impossible to know whether the team can be sold to someone who intends to relocate in compliance with the terms of the agreement." In other words, he has not read it despite the fact it is readily available on the Erie County Govt. website: http://www2.erie.gov/exec/index.php?q=buffalo-bills-stadium-lease His commentary is based on a reading of Kryk's article, only, although his conclusions are not necessarily wrong or unfair.

The lease can be voided early in 2020 at which point the team can move to a new stadium in WNY or elsewhere. This is what has been speculated on and reported pretty regularly. What do you mean "According to you"? It's what the agreement says, not speculation on my part.

Please elaborate as best you can. At the very least: do you have "inside info" that this is the case even if you can't reveal specifics? Thanks.

Ah, I see--- I thought you meant in an AP article or on WGR. Thanks. Graham is embarrassing himself on twitter right now... again.

What an irrepressible !@#$. The Non-Relocation Agreement specifically refers to not relocating "from the Stadium"--- ie, Ralph Wilson Stadium. Unless the Ralph is physically transported to Ontario, it doesn't matter a lick that Toronto is 90 miles away from Buffalo--- page 6, Article 3 (b): http://www2.erie.gov/exec/sites/www2.erie.gov.exec/files/uploads/Buffalo%20Bills%20Non-Relocation%20Agreement.pdf Maybe Tim Graham should actually read it.

I recall Graham, but when did Wawrow question Manuel's maturity?

It continues to seem highly unlikely that the Bon Jovi group (or similar ilk) will have much of a chance purchasing the team. Mary Wilson appears to be incredibly supportive and committed to Buffalo as a community and you'd be hard pressed to convince me selling to a new ownership group that felt differently is in her plans: Mary Wilson and WNY Girls in Sports http://www.buffalobills.com/video/videos/WNY-Girls-in-Sports-Enters-Ninth-Year/c447b78d-34bc-4ad0-aaa0-ac7808103428?campaign=tw_buf_video

I give more credence to Schefter than Prisco, though this could still be smoke--- in any case, still unlikely: @Merk256: Adam Schefter on the Mike Lupica show #ESPNRadio: The #Buffalo #Bills would Love to go to #1 for J.Clowney

Yes, I'd seem it before. He didn't actually link to it. Just curious: why do you think it is posted at the official Erie County government website if it's not official?

The politicians responsible have published the documents online, hence the link--- it's public information. That's why it's at Erie.gov. It's not a secret. It is encouraging. I don't think most have read through it. It appears Erie County would get involved if, say, the Bon Jovi group emerged as the leading candidate.

It would be very difficult to "prove" a potential buyer intended to move the Bills--- however, it might make it very unlikely the Bon Jovi or Rogers groups would be seriously considered because their intent in the public eye is already perceived as wishing to bring the Bills to Toronto. http://www2.erie.gov/exec/sites/www2.erie.gov.exec/files/uploads/Buffalo%20Bills%20Non-Relocation%20Agreement.pdf According to the agreement (among other provisions) the Bills shall not: ... (iii) sell, assign or otherwise transfer the Team to any Person who, to the Bills’ knowledge, has an intention to relocate, transfer or otherwise move the Team during the Non- Relocation Term to a location other than the Stadium; (iv) (A) entertain any offer or proposal to relocate the Team to a location other than the Stadium, etc.

The key is "during the non relocation term", which expires when the current stadium lease ends.

Wawrow's piece does not indicate Trump and Kelly will combine on a bid. It begins with a listing of the major players made public to this point: "BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly is prepared to make a bid to buy the Buffalo Bills. Donald Trump's on board, too. Don't discount the family of Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs. And include New Jersey rocker Jon Bon Jovi's name for added spice."

That was my suspicion.

What do you base this opinion on besides pure speculation?

NFL GMs disagree with that thinking, that's my point. Julius Thomas and Jordan Cameron were both raw coming out of college, but it doesn't matter where TEs were drafted in the past--- it matters what NFL GMs think in 2014, which is based on where NFL offenses are trending. Personnel moves tend to follow those trends, which is why TEs will continue to move up in the draft. Year after year, there are more dynamic specimens developed in college. I agree, I will trust Whaley and company with however they've built their draft board.

I think the TE position is going to continue attracting more 1st round attention as NFL offenses evolve--- we've already seen RBs drop out of the 1st entirely last year and likely again this year. It's not because there's no talent, it's because priorities change. Freakish athletes like Kellen Winslow Sr., Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates were anomalies but are now the type of football players being developed from an early age to play the position. I don't know if Ebron is as good as the hype, but I know most of the OTs drafted in the top 10 over the past decade have not justified their draft position. In a deep draft for OTs, I'd rather take one in the 2nd and trust Marrone's coaching ability.

If Jon Bon Jovi buys the Bills, they are moving to Toronto. No one cares if he's bright or articulate.

Bon Jovi being in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is akin to putting someone like Mark Brunell in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I mean, if Bon Jovi is in--- who DOESN'T get in?

Neely did not specifically say Jacobs isn't interested in buying the Bills--- what he actually said was pretty much in line with what has already been implied: http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/extras/bruins_blog/2014/04/jeremy_jacobs_has_no_plans_to_buy_bills_cam_neely_says_on_fe.html Currently, Jacobs has no plans to buy the Bills, according to Bruins president Cam Neely, who spoke about the subject Thursday on the “Felger & Mazz” radio show on 98.5 The Sports Hub. “[Jeremy Jacobs] really enjoys owning the Boston Bruins; he enjoys his role with the National Hockey League, and I think he’s very passionate about this organization,” Neely said. Neely also said that, by NFL ownership rules, Jacobs would need to completely take his name off of Bruins ownership in order to own an NFL team in a different city than the NHL team is located. “With the NFL and their rules he couldn’t own a team in a different city, a professional team in a different city, and he has no interest in getting out of hockey,” Neely said. “He’s been extremely happy with his ownership here in Boston and he’s enjoying how the team is playing, and he told me that he has no interest right now, or doesn’t have any interest at all, to give up the Boston Bruins.” During the interview, Michael Felger asked Neely if there was a way to circumvent the NFL rule, in which Jacobs could technically sell the Bruins to one of his sons, or have one of them buy the Bills, to which Neely replied that he was not sure. Neely did say, however, that Jeremy Jacobs would not be willing to take his name off ownership of the Bruins.

Although Kelly's earliest public references to an ownership group predates Pegula's purchase of the Sabres, it's not outside the realm of possibility that Pegula is actually involved in Kelly's group.

This is so irrelevant to the Bills and the 2014 Draft. Who cares that the Browns passed on Roethlisberger a decade ago? This is not remotely a 1 to 1 comparison. Anyway, the Bills won't have a chance to pass on Mack unless they trade up to the top 5, and if they do, the same argument could be made in favor of Sammy Watkins or others.