Toronto Bills Blog

The Bills had operating income of $12.4 million in 2008, according to Forbes.com.   This was on revenue of $206 million.  The team had player expenses of $139 million and gate receipts of $40 million.  The team was valued at $885 million.  The operating income was among the lowest in the NFL.  That is bad news for Buffalo fans, since a new owner would need the operating income to service debt on the purchase of the club.  A new owner committed to keeping the team in Buffalo would have to come up with the sale price of $885 million in cash.  Otherwise the Bills will be marketed to out-of-town investors who would move the team to a larger, more profitable market like Toronto.

Bills owner Ralph Wilson, in an Associated Press interview, said he is not in a hurry to increase the number of regular season games played in Toronto.  He said he will wait 2 or 3 years before reworking the contract with Rogers Communications.  He justified the Bills Toronto Series, citing the difficulty of competing against big market teams such as the Dallas Cowboys and the new stadiums.  Wilson’s words are intended to reassure the Buffalo fans for now.  He has long insisted that he will not move the team as long as he is alive. He did not, however, address the inevitable sale of the team, probably to out-of-town interests, to settle his estate.  New owners will move the Bills to a larger market that is economically viable, namely Toronto, the financial capital of Canada.

Third year middle linebacker Paul Posluszny is the Bills standout on defense.  The former Penn State All-American is the best defensive lineman.  He came off an injury his rookie year to become the team’s leading tackler in 2008.  He had 110 tackles last year, ranking him 24th in the league.  He is a very positive, capable athlete.  Unfortunately he is the only Bills linebacker of note.  The team has done little on defense for several seasons.  The Bills have been unable to stop the ball, as evidenced by their losing record.  That is why the odds of the Bills winning the Super Bowl this year are 30 – 1 according to Sportsbook.com.

This year the Bills are celebrating their fiftieth anniversary.  To commemorate this milestone, the team has posted a special anniversary web page.  It provides interactive opportunities for fans to vote for all time great players and post photos and tailgate recipes.  The team needs to do more than this to make the birthday meaningful.  The organization must make a commitment to turning things around.  The Bills have disappointed for a decade with bad to mediocre football.  This will probably be their last anniversary in Buffalo.  The team will reunite in Toronto for their fifty-fifth celebration with new management and coaches.

The Bills receiving corps has the talent to make things happen.  Veteran wide receiver Lee Evans may have a 1,000 yard season.  He will be playing alongside sensation Terrell Owens, who has had 1,000 yard seasons in 8 of the last 9 years.  Josh Reed is a contender.  Rounding out the receivers are James Hardy and Steve Johnson.  It all comes down to whether quarterback Trent Edwards can hit his mark consistently.  There will be great pressure on Edwards to connect with his receivers.  Otherwise he will be replaced along with much of the coaching staff.  The Bills have a history of failing to maximize player talent.  We suspect that it will be business as usual.

Bills player Marshawn Lynch, in a gesture of community outreach, will sponsor this weekend’s Gus Macker basketball tournament in downtown Buffalo.  He will be joined by Terrence McGee in signing autographs and promoting goodwill.  The amateur tournament attracts thousands of spectators and 3,800 players.  Proceeds benefit the Police Athletic League and Kids Escaping Drugs.  This event is part of Lynch’s effort to rehabilitate his image after multiple run-ins with the law.  He has the potential to be one of the truly great players in the NFL.  The Bills Toronto Series will give him a new start in a new town where he can prove himself.

With the signing of Terrell Owens, the Bills brought on board one of the NFL’s all time greats.  He has 139 career receiving touchdowns, second highest in league history.  He has 951 receptions (sixth overall) and 14,122 receiving yards (fifth overall).  He brings excitement and controversy to every town where he plays.  Will he lead the Bills back to the playoffs after a decade long drought?  We think not.  Despite his obvious ability, he must contend with the Bills flawed coaching and indifferent player performance.  One player can not be expected to turn around a team that has been languishing for years.

The Buffalo organization is in denial over ticket sales.  The Bills are projected to sell 55,000 season tickets this year, the third highest in team history.  The first four home games are sold out.  Sounds great, but remember that the Bills average ticket price is the lowest in the league.  The team is having trouble selling premium club tickets and luxury boxes, the mainstay of today’s NFL.  The team does not pull in enough revenue to remain in Buffalo in the post Wilson era.  Bills fans should enjoy the home games until 2012, when the stadium lease expires.

Bills rookie Jairus Byrd, who missed the preseason practices and minicamp due to final exams at Oregon, is hard at work playing catch-up.  The second-round draft pick has been meeting with coaches and going over films.  He is learning the Bills system.  His record is impressive:  he had 17 interceptions in his 3 college seasons.  The Bills hope he will have an immediate impact in pass breakups where the team has been lacking.  Byrd should contribute to a defense that has been in the doldrums for years.

The Bills training camp at St. John Fisher College in Rochester will run from July 25 to August 19.  The first preseason game is the Pro Football Hall of Fame game on August 9 in Canton, Ohio against the Tennessee Titans.  That weekend Bills owner Ralph Wilson and all-time great defensive end Bruce Smith will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.  This will be followed by two home preseason games, against Chicago on August 15 and Detroit on September 3.  All this leads up to the season opener against New England September 14 on Monday Night Football.  The Bills must practice hard and prove themselves in the preseason if they are to have a chance of making the playoffs.