3rdand12 Posted June 23, 2014 Posted June 23, 2014 I have to pull over to to the side of the road quite a bit. LOL !! : )
ALF Posted June 25, 2014 Posted June 25, 2014 Can we trust Cuomo ? The latest election poll must have him far ahead to not need WNY vote.
Mr. WEO Posted June 25, 2014 Posted June 25, 2014 Can we trust Cuomo ? The latest election poll must have him far ahead to not need WNY vote. He didn't need it last election.
BarleyNY Posted June 25, 2014 Posted June 25, 2014 I hate that question: "Can we trust Goodell?" What does that even mean? I'm sure he would like the Bills to stay in WNY, but so what? That ultimately means very little against possible economic realities, improving the league and the wishes of new ownership. Any or all of those may come into play. Goodell works for the owners. His job is to support the agenda of the majority of the owners and keep those owners that stray in line. He's got other duties, but it mostly boils down to that. That's what we can trust him to do - support the agenda of the majority of owners.
Delete This Account Posted June 27, 2014 Posted June 27, 2014 the Bills are western New York's to lose. make what of that that you will. it's as far as i can go. jw
LB3 Posted June 27, 2014 Posted June 27, 2014 the Bills are western New York's to lose. make what of that that you will. it's as far as i can go. jw Thanks John
Orton's Arm Posted June 27, 2014 Posted June 27, 2014 I hate that question: "Can we trust Goodell?" What does that even mean? I'm sure he would like the Bills to stay in WNY, but so what? That ultimately means very little against possible economic realities, improving the league and the wishes of new ownership. Any or all of those may come into play. Goodell works for the owners. His job is to support the agenda of the majority of the owners and keep those owners that stray in line. He's got other duties, but it mostly boils down to that. That's what we can trust him to do - support the agenda of the majority of owners. > Goodell works for the owners. His job is to support the agenda of the majority of the owners . . . This is true. However, his job is complicated by the fact that the owners have become divided into two philosophical groups. For want of better terms, I'll call these the "traditional group"--think the late Wellington Mara--and the "money-grubbing group"--think Jerry Jones. Over the last decade, the money-grubbing group has gained ground. Ticket prices have gone up considerably. There is more--and more annoying--television advertising than there'd been ten years ago. The NFL has become more active in other attempts to part fans from their cash. Stadiums have often lost their traditional names; replaced by the names of corporate sponsors. Instead of football games during usual NFL times only, there are now a lot more games on Thursday nights or other non-standard times. The fans expect two things from the NFL. 1) A reasonable quantity of entertainment for the amount of time or money invested. 2) They expect the NFL to respect its own traditions. If the NFL doesn't respect its own traditions, why should the fans? If the NFL doesn't provide the fan with these two things, there will be a backlash. Former NFL fans will find non-football-related ways of entertaining themselves. The money grubbing group wants to squeeze the goose that lays the golden eggs. Sure, they might extract a little more gold in the short-term. But what does that do to the long-term health of the goose? Goodell is not necessarily in an enviable position here. He's best off if he maintains the trust of both groups of owners. On the other hand, the long-term future of the NFL could be seriously altered if the money grubbing group continues to get too much of what they want. There needs to be a balance between the wishes of the money-grubbing group, the wishes of the traditional group, and the interests of the fans. Goodell is not in a position to stand up to the money grubbing owners. That job is the responsibility of the rest of the owners; not of Goodell. But what Goodell can do is look for compromise solutions--solutions which get the money-grubbing owners the money they want; while showing more respect for NFL fans and NFL traditions than the money grubbing owners would, if left to their own devices. The most we as fans can hope for from Goodell--or from any NFL commissioner for that matter--is to search for these compromise solutions, and to try to persuade the owners to accept them.
oman128 Posted June 27, 2014 Posted June 27, 2014 If he's anything like his father No don't trust him.
Mr. WEO Posted June 27, 2014 Posted June 27, 2014 > Goodell works for the owners. His job is to support the agenda of the majority of the owners . . . This is true. However, his job is complicated by the fact that the owners have become divided into two philosophical groups. For want of better terms, I'll call these the "traditional group"--think the late Wellington Mara--and the "money-grubbing group"--think Jerry Jones. Over the last decade, the money-grubbing group has gained ground. Ticket prices have gone up considerably. There is more--and more annoying--television advertising than there'd been ten years ago. The NFL has become more active in other attempts to part fans from their cash. Stadiums have often lost their traditional names; replaced by the names of corporate sponsors. Instead of football games during usual NFL times only, there are now a lot more games on Thursday nights or other non-standard times. Seeing as you point out that MAra is dead, he hardly can influence the Commissioner at this point. His successors, however, (along with the owner of the Jets) built a ridiculous stadium (the most expensive ever) and soaked loyal, long time season ticket holders for for massive PSL fees---that today trade for only a fraction of what the original owners (now sellers) paid for them. There is no non "money-grubbing" group of owners in the NFL.
oman128 Posted June 27, 2014 Posted June 27, 2014 Goodell comes from a very political family, down in Jamestown. His late Father was Charlie Goodell Senator. Furthermore, his cousin Andy was the County Executive in Chautauqua County, and now he's a Assemblyman for Chautauqua County.
Buftex Posted June 27, 2014 Posted June 27, 2014 (edited) I have asked this question as few times, and received no answer, but I will ask again... Shortly after Ralph wilson's passing, Goodell offered his verbal support to the Bills staying in WNY. Along with that statement he said something to the effect of "the Bills need a new, modern facility, to insure their profitability and their future in WNY". My question has been, when he says "needs", is he speaking in platitudes? Or, is he implying that a local ownership won't be approved by the owners (his bosses), unless a new stadium is part of the deal? His remarks, along with Gov Cuomos, and now John Wawrow's cryptic comment, have me asking, "stayin?" Edited June 27, 2014 by Buftex
Rocky Landing Posted June 27, 2014 Posted June 27, 2014 I have asked this question as few times, and received no answer, but I will ask again... Shortly after Ralph wilson's passing, Goodell offered his verbal support to the Bills staying in WNY. Along with that statement he said something to the effect of "the Bills need a new, modern facility, to insure their profitability and their future in WNY". My question has been, when he says "needs", is he speaking in platitudes? Or, is he implying that a local ownership won't be approved by the owners (his bosses), unless a new stadium is part of the deal? His remarks, along with Gov Cuomos, and now John Wawrow's cryptic comment, have me asking, "stayin?" I think that whether or not Goodell wants the Bills to stay, or leave, he would have said exactly the same thing. If he had known the Bills would stay, or leave, he would have said exactly the same thing. In offering his verbal support to the Bills staying in WNY, what he is really saying is, "let's keep selling tickets, and air time, and not let the franchise devalue before it gets sold."
Buftex Posted June 28, 2014 Posted June 28, 2014 I get that...but what I am asking, is a new stadium the only way the team stays in WNY? From what Cuomo has said, twice now, it certainly sounds like the stadium issue is part of a discussion that we are not privy to.
BarleyNY Posted June 28, 2014 Posted June 28, 2014 > Goodell works for the owners. His job is to support the agenda of the majority of the owners . . . This is true. However, his job is complicated by the fact that the owners have become divided into two philosophical groups. For want of better terms, I'll call these the "traditional group"--think the late Wellington Mara--and the "money-grubbing group"--think Jerry Jones. Over the last decade, the money-grubbing group has gained ground. Ticket prices have gone up considerably. There is more--and more annoying--television advertising than there'd been ten years ago. The NFL has become more active in other attempts to part fans from their cash. Stadiums have often lost their traditional names; replaced by the names of corporate sponsors. Instead of football games during usual NFL times only, there are now a lot more games on Thursday nights or other non-standard times. The fans expect two things from the NFL. 1) A reasonable quantity of entertainment for the amount of time or money invested. 2) They expect the NFL to respect its own traditions. If the NFL doesn't respect its own traditions, why should the fans? If the NFL doesn't provide the fan with these two things, there will be a backlash. Former NFL fans will find non-football-related ways of entertaining themselves. The money grubbing group wants to squeeze the goose that lays the golden eggs. Sure, they might extract a little more gold in the short-term. But what does that do to the long-term health of the goose? Goodell is not necessarily in an enviable position here. He's best off if he maintains the trust of both groups of owners. On the other hand, the long-term future of the NFL could be seriously altered if the money grubbing group continues to get too much of what they want. There needs to be a balance between the wishes of the money-grubbing group, the wishes of the traditional group, and the interests of the fans. Goodell is not in a position to stand up to the money grubbing owners. That job is the responsibility of the rest of the owners; not of Goodell. But what Goodell can do is look for compromise solutions--solutions which get the money-grubbing owners the money they want; while showing more respect for NFL fans and NFL traditions than the money grubbing owners would, if left to their own devices. The most we as fans can hope for from Goodell--or from any NFL commissioner for that matter--is to search for these compromise solutions, and to try to persuade the owners to accept them. I agree with what you wrote. My only additional point is that the money-focused owners are the way forward. Virtually every new owner will be cut from that cloth because this is a billionaire's game now. Eventually all of the old school owners will phase out.
GA BILLS FAN Posted June 30, 2014 Posted June 30, 2014 I agree with what you wrote. My only additional point is that the money-focused owners are the way forward. Virtually every new owner will be cut from that cloth because this is a billionaire's game now. Eventually all of the old school owners will phase out. While I agree that is the direction, it's going to take some time given there are still quite a few families running teams -- I also think the NFL values diversity of ownership -- hopefully they will have enough self awareness to never get to full of themselves as well -- which could be an issue
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