I can't find a link to the story, so if someone can find one that'd be great. But I read yesterday that all but one of the current members of the Green Bay Packers have never played for another NFL team. This, coupled with Bryan Bulaga deciding to re-sign for less money than we offered, got me thinking.
The whole "Nobody wants to play in Buffalo" line is BS. I'm not knocking Green Bay by any means, but what do they have that we don't? Colder weather, and a smaller town with less to do. Again, not knocking them, but they have the same downsides we do, only worse.
What do they have? First, a team that's been a playoff, if not Super Bowl contender almost every season. A die hard fan base. Ownership that genuinely cares about their players. Also, a community that makes them feel at home despite the lack of nightlife that cites like NYC or Miami have. This is what the Pegulas are trying to build for both the Sabres and Bills. A organization that will attract new FA's, and make the old ones stay without having to overpay them, because they genuinely want to be here.
So we need to knock this notion, because it just isn't true anymore, or at least won't be in a few years.