Bocephuz

What I'm saying is that institutional investors have access to things like hedge funds, trust and institutional products that pay a higher rate of return... the average Joe who has less than $10 million to invest doesn't have access to these vehicles

If you have a billion dollars you're not going to your local bank or buying the normal securities that Joe public buys

Not bad... but I guess I was a little shocked that it wasn't the hand over fist money making machine I thought it was

Perhaps I was thinking somewhat short sighted... It certainly can be a good long term investment... Ralph proved that

Based on some of the info that's leaking regarding the Bill's annual profits ( $40-$60 million/ year has been leaked out) I can see why the number of bidders is low. If you're investing ~ $1 billion (and are looking at it from a purely business point of view) you would probably be looking for a rate of return north of 10%.. or in other words.. some rate of return that isn't easily obtained through investing in low risk bonds or something like that. According to my math ( using $50 million as an annual profit estimate) here are the rates of return at different price points: $800 mil - 6.25% / $1 bil - 5% / $1.3 bil - 3.85%. This is why I think Donald Trump will back out if the price is over $1 bil... it just doesn't make that much business sense at that point. Anyone who pays more than $1 billion is probably driven more by emotion than by business sense. This is actually a good thing for the Bills... if they were more profitable ( let's say they made $80 mil/year in profits) I think you'd see a lot more outsiders getting in on the action.

I'm not saying it will happen, but EJ does have some similar characteristics ( tall, approx. 250 lbs, surprisingly mobile, strong arm, escapability in the pocket.. ie..reverse spin move, good in the clutch) to Big Ben and is it too far fetched to think he could potentially have a similar career? "Distribute. Distribute to the playmakers," Whaley said. "Now, five years from now? I'm gonna be saying he's our playmaker, so whatever he wants to do, he can do it. But the matriculation has to be like that. I lean on what it was like when I was with Pittsburgh. That's what happened with Ben Roethlisberger. His first year, if you look at his stats, I think we threw over 22 times maybe twice (Editor's note: There were four such regular-season occurrences), but we had a strong running game and we had a good defense. And that's what we got here."

I agree. If we had a better run D last year it may have been enough to at least put us in playoff contention ( even with the popgun offense) So... assuming Spikes solidifies the Run D and Manuel and co.. can at least marginally improve we should be in good shape.

Reilly Center Quicken Loans Arena ( Cleveland) Cleveland State Arena Spectrum in Philly The Aud HSBC Arena Rich (Ralph Wilson) Stadium M&T Stadium Baltimore Mountaineer Field WVU Camden Yards First Mariner Arena ( Balitmore) Verizon Center DC Madison Square Garden Rochester Blue Cross War Memorial Arena Silver Stadium Cleveland Stadium Jacobs Field Wrigley Field PNC Park Pittsburgh Nationals Park DC Oakland Coliseum Comerica Park Coors Field Niagara U Gym RFK Stadium Fed Ex Field

I grade it a B We drafted 2 ( possibly 3 if G Richardson starts) potential immediate starters... We attempted to address 2 important concerns Help for EJ Manuel drafted best WR in draft in Sammy Watkins Potential starters at LG and RT which are current weak spots on the line Depth for future MLB Preston Brown could potentially take over for Brandon Spikes next year ( doubtful Bills will pay up for long term contract for Spikes) RB Bryce could potentially take over if either or both Spiller and Jackson are gone next year The main negative is giving up next year's #1 of course... if EJ doesn't step up this year we're in trouble

Walter Football is my favorite

If Ralph would have sold the Bills for $1 Billion while he was alive he would have had to pay roughly $400 - $500 million dollars in captial gains taxes because he would have been taxed on the gain he had above the original cost basis ($25,000) he paid for the team back in 1959. Bottom line... the Wilson family ends up with $500 million from the sale if Ralph sells while he is alive. Since he did not sell and the team went to his trust upon his death... the cost basis now shifts up to the value of the franchise at date of death ( probably $900 mil or so). So if the team sells for $1.5 Billion let's say.. then Ralph's family only pays taxes on the $600 million gain ( probably $200 - $300 million in taxes). Wilson family ends up with $1.2 Billion dollars for selling the team after his death. So you're saying Ralph is wrong for waiting until he died to sell the team and wanting his family to gain an addtional $700 million for the sale of the team?????? I think he's already done enough for WNY by agreeing to that $400 million relocation clause ...

As an addendum.... perhaps they mean "Controlling Owner" in terms of how the NFL views her. It is quite possible that "Controlling Owner" doesn't necessarily mean that the Bills weren't moved into a Trust. Maybe as Trustee of the Trust Mary Wilson is deemed by the NFL as a "Controlling Owner"

There's big difference if the team is owned by at "Trust" or by an "Invididual" If the ownership has moved into a "Trust" then technically the entity of the Trust owns the Bills and the "Trustee" or "Trustees" must manage the asset according to how the Trust was written. For example, Ralph could have written specific instructions in his trust such as " The team may not be sold for x years" or " The team must be sold to the highest bidder" etc. It is then up to the "Trustee" to manage the asset according to the rules of the Trust. In essence, the Trustee doesn't have much power .. they basically have to follow the instructions of the Trust. If the ownership has moved to an "Individual" this is a completely different situation. If Mary Wilson is the sole owner as an indvidual she can do as she damn well pleases.

Roethlisberger..... underrated, tough, can improvise with the best of em. I have a vivid image of him with a busted twisted nose on the sidelines in a Monday night Ravens game... a game which he finished

Let's hope the Raiders move to LA in the next few years to take the threat away. They have a one year lease on their current stadium in Oakland and will most likely move from Oakland if they don't get a new stadium.

If Watkins isn't available at # 9 then I too think Ebron will be the most impactful pick there. Matthews is solid.. would be good to take at #41 but I don't think he'll be around. Here's my sleeper - Donte Moncrief - WR Ole Miss - 6'2" - 4.4 40 time - May not be a great possession/underneath receiver but he is a deep threat with size, looks real smooth, great YAC. (Looks to be a decent route runner ...Check out the slant route he runs at about 3:16 - nice fake to the outside before breaking it in) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjvwpWOoQO8

It was refreshing to see Nate Hackett make a 180 degree adjustment from their scheme in the Jets game to the simplified one they used against the Ravens. One obvious change was going to the I form and putting in the fullback but it was more than that . There was a lot less trapping and pulling and a lot more straight ahead one on one blocking... which led to some great second level blocking for the RBs. These breakdowns show the first running play of the Jets and Ravens game to illustrate the tone Hacket was trying to set in each one.