P-Rez25

The Bills' efforts to make themselves more profitable and financially competitive in the era of free agency have now gone international.



But will playing a series of regular season games in Toronto 75 miles away in Ontario, Canada save the franchise? Or does the deal guarantee the team's departure upon the death of 89-year-old owner Ralph Wilson, making the move seamless now that a relationship has been established with well-heeled businessmen north of the border?


As expected, the team's announcement that it will play eight games (including three exhibitions) over the next five seasons starting in 2008 has touched off a cavalcade of reaction, speculation and outpouring of emotion by devoted Bills fans.


Wilson said the move is being made to cultivate new fans and corporate support in North America's fifth largest city, making the Bills more viable in Buffalo and Western New York.


However, he reiterated what he has said in recent years concerning the long-term fate of his team after his passing: his heirs will sell it to the highest bidder and he can't guarantee the team will remain in Buffalo.


It's logical to assume one of those bidders will be Wilson's new Canadian friends, the team of Ted Rogers and Larry Tanebaum.


Rogers owns the Toronto Blue Jays and Rogers Communications that owns the Rogers' Centre, where the Bills will play. He is Canada's third-richest man with a net worth of nearly $5 billion. Tanebaum is chairman of the board of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment, which owns the NHL's Maple Leafs and NBA's Raptors.


Both men have the blessing of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to explore future ways to strengthen the NFL's presence in Canada, and perhaps one day, bring a franchise there.


"I can't speculate what's going to happen in the future. But don't worry. Don't worry right now," Wilson said, directing his response to anxiety filled Bills fans who have supported his team with a steady stream of sellouts despite eight consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs.


The Canadian contingent isn't hiding that its long-term desire is to land an NFL franchise for Toronto and this five-year test drive gives it a foot in the door.


"This is going to be a great partnership," Rogers said. "We're going to charge high rates. We're going to have all the seats sold -- standing room only out to Queen Street -- and the best is yet to come."


There are roadblocks to the Bills re-locating to Toronto someday, such as a rumored re-location fee that would add millions to what figures to be an $800-million price tag for the team. The Canadian Football League is also poised to legally fight for its turf. A new football-specific stadium would have to be built for long-term viability.


Furthermore, New York politicians, businessmen and citizens, led by Jim Kelly and Buffalo Sabres billionaire owner Tom Golisano, are prepared to fight hard to keep the Bills in Western New York.


In the end, it will come down to what the NFL wants. Owners aren't likely to have much sympathy for Buffalo if the grass is greener -- as in money -- in Toronto and they will vote on who gets the team. Any new Bills owner will be shackled with something Wilson doesn't have -- debt -- making operating in Buffalo all the more difficult in the future.


In the short term, games in Toronto will provide the Bills with a welcomed infusion of cash at a time when the salary cap is scheduled to rocket skyward again with new stadiums set to go on line for three other franchises (Dallas, New York Jets and Giants).


Essentially, the Bills are leasing their product, charging a flat fee to the Rogers-Tanenbaum group. With an average ticket price of $250 at the 53,000-seat Rogers Centre, a sellout would produce $13.25 million in ticket revenue alone. That dwarfs the $3.5 million in ticket revenue the Bills generate at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park. The Bills have been promised they'll be made "whole" and then some without any of the hassle and cost of actually staging the game.


The games in Toronto will be played in December, after the conclusion of the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup.


Notes, Quotes
• With speculation strong that the Bills are as good as sold to a group of Toronto businessmen upon owner Ralph Wilson's death, Buffalo and New York State politicians feeling heat from fans/voters aren't waiting for the moving vans to arrive. Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo sent a letter to the NFL asking that the league amend its bylaws, allowing community ownership of the team in a full or partial manner. That model was grandfathered to the Green Bay Packers.


Meanwhile, Erie County executive Chris Collins has suggested that building a new downtown stadium would very likely have to be a carrot dangled in front of the Bills in any future negotiations to keep the team. However, the Bills re-stated that they aren't seeking a new stadium. The team's lease with the county expires in 2012. Said chief operating officer Russ Brandon: "We signed a 15-year lease agreement with Erie County in 1998 and we will continue to honor that agreement. Talk of a new stadium populates every so often, but Mr. Wilson has said numerous times that we are not looking for a new stadium. The focus of our Toronto initiative is to continue our regionalization efforts and County Executive Collins is highly supportive of our regional program." In other words, the Bills aren't entering into local negotiations with the prospect of selling the team to Toronto interests for close to $1 billion a possibility.


• New York State Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY who went to bat for Bills owner Ralph Wilson last year to iron out a better revenue sharing plan for small market teams, was alarmed enough by news the Bills were moving games to Toronto to call Wilson and meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in Washington with Higgins. Schumer and Higgins want a face-to-face meeting with Wilson in the near future but Schumer seems satisfied with what he's hearing from Wilson and Goodell so far. "Mr. Wilson guaranteed to me that he will make every effort to keep the Bills in Buffalo -- where they belong," Schumer said. "By luring fans from the Ontario area, we will be able to build a fan base that will support the Bills for many years to come." The Bills played a series of exhibition games in Toronto in the early 1990s but their impact was minimal on attendance in Buffalo.


• MLB Paul Posluszny spent 10 days in Iraq visiting U.S. troops. He was amazed by how many Buffalo-area servicemen he met and he enjoyed swapping stories. "It was just trading stories about our jobs," Posluszny told buffalobills.com. "They would ask me questions about playing middle linebacker in the NFL and I would ask them questions about what they do. We met so many interesting people -- pilots, gunners on helicopters, infantry soldiers, artillery and guys that fix tanks. All the jobs that you can imagine in the United States Army we probably met someone that did it."


• TE Teyo Johnson, a second-round pick of Oakland in 2003 who hasn't been able to establish himself in the NFL, was signed. Johnson is 6-6, 245 and played basketball and football at Stanford. The Bills are eager to find a weapon for their stagnant passing game and hence are giving Johnson a look.


• LB John DiGiorgio is spending his off-season as an elementary school student teacher in Midland, Mich. He's working towards earning his teaching certificate.


Quote To Note: "I can answer that in the affirmative. Just driving in from the airport and seeing all the buildings, all the construction, that's going on here in Toronto. I guess I've been told it's the fifth-largest town in North America. It reminds me of my trip to Dallas a few months ago. There's building in Dallas, Texas, everywhere. Cranes, brand-new structures, and I see the same thing here in Toronto. I'm going to answer that in the affirmative." -- Bills owner Ralph Wilson on whether he thinks Toronto could support an NFL team.


Strategy And Personnel
DE Chris Kelsay, who was bothered by ankle problems all season, had surgery on a bothersome tendon in his ankle after the season.


He's hoping the surgery will wind up making his ankle stronger so that he can be more effective in 2008 after registering just 2.5 sacks after signing a rich contract extension.


The Bills are hoping the same. Their pass rush accounted for just 26 sacks overall and has become a focus of their off-season planning, particularly after seeing how the New York Giants harassed New England QB Tom Brady into mistakes in their Super Bowl upset.


TEAM NEEDS/OFFSEASON STRATEGY


Unlike most seasons, the Bills aren't faced with losing a key starter in free agency, though they will try and re-sign CB Jason Webster, who spent most of the year on IR. That doesn't mean some difficult decisions won't have to be made. Most of Buffalo's unrestricted free agents are key special teams performers on some of the league's top units. But when it comes to managing the salary cap, paying younger players to play special teams is one thing and paying top dollar to what are now veterans is another. Meanwhile, the team needs to extend the contract of star WR Lee Evans and decide what to do with QB J.P. Losman, who has lost his job to rookie Trent Edwards and wants out. If Losman goes, the team will be in the market for a veteran No. 2 to help mentor Edwards.


1. Wide receiver: The Bills desperately need a tall, strong No. 2 man to complement the speed of Lee Evans. They draft 11th overall and a player like 6-4 junior Malcolm Kelly of Oklahoma is intriguing.


2. OLB: Angelo Crowell and Keith Ellison delivered a grand total of three sacks off the edge. The Bills pass rush accounted for just 26 sacks and the team desperately needs a playmaking force at outside linebacker.


3. Tight end: Robert Royal and Michael Gaines had career-best seasons with 25 catches each and combined for five touchdowns. But neither is a true downfield threat and their potential for more improvement is limited.


MEDICAL WATCH


LT Jason Peters (groin) and DE Chris Kelsay (ankle tendon) are each recovering from post-season surgery. Neither is expected to be at full strength for the start of the team's off-season program next month but each is progressing on schedule. FS Ko Simpson (broken ankle), who is five months into his recovery, isn't quite 100 percent but is getting very close. Other players recovering from minor surgeries: WR Lee Evans (shoulder), WR Josh Reed (back), LB Angelo Crowell (triceps), LB Coy Wire (back), FS Jim Leonhard (hip), S Bryan Scott (knee).


FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS


• WR Sam Aiken has been a standout special teams contributor for five seasons but has failed to develop as a capable receiver, even in a backup role. Bills are determined to upgrade this position so he's not likely to be back.


• TE Michael Gaines, signed in Week 2 after Kevin Everett's spinal cord injury, set career marks with 25 catches for 215 yards and two TDs. The Bills are not swimming in talent at the position and he's a very serviceable player that won't cost a lot. But signing of Teyo Johnson didn't help Gaines' case.


• LB Mario Haggan is likely to be retained for depth and special teams work. He appeared in all 16 games for a fourth consecutive season, recording 13 special teams hits and career-high 16 tackles on defense.


• DE Anthony Hargrove has been suspended for 2008 after violating the NFL's substance abuse policy and has worn out his nine lives.


• TE Matt Murphy appeared in two games before going on IR. Bills have enough blockers with limited receiving skills.


• FB/TE Ryan Neufeld isn't a priority to retain now that the team has decided to employ a true fullback again.


• S Bryan Scott joined the team in Week 2 and was a solid contributor in a reserve role. Just 26, he's definitely worth bringing back.


• LB Josh Stamer has been a mainstay on special teams since 2003 but has probably priced himself out of that role.


• DE Al Wallace spent the entire year in IR. Team needs a better option.


• CB Jason Webster came out of training camp as the starter at right corner but suffered a season-ending injury in the opener. The team will try and re-sign him even though Jabari Greer emerged in his place.


• OG Jason Whittle tore his groin in Week 3 and missed the remainder of the season. The team will consider re-signing him for depth but he lost a supporter in Jim McNally.


• RB Shaud Williams was added to the roster in late December but isn't a high priority at a deep position.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS


• CB Dustin Fox may earn minimum tender.


• FS Jim Leonhard, who earned six starts in emergency duty and is a good punt return man, will likely be tendered at $927,000 with no compensation.


• DT Jason Jefferson has been grooming two years in depth role and will likely receive the minimum tender.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS


• LB Blake Costanzo, not a high priority.


• DE Corey Mace, candidate to return to practice squad.


• TE Tim Massaquoi, not a high priority.


• WR Scott Mayle, candidate to return to practice squad.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED


• TE Teyo Johnson: FA; terms unknown.

PLAYERS LOST


• WR Peerless Price (released).



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