Death Knell?
Buffalo fans don't like having to contemplate the prospect of the Bills leaving town. So it's no surprise that so many people are putting the best face on the news that Ralph Wilson wants to play one regular-season game in Toronto. You can certainly make the case that moving one game to Canada could strengthen the team financially and help keep it in Buffalo long-term.
But I'm having a hard time seeing this in a positive light. It sounds like the death knell to me. This news comes one week after a report in Toronto that the Argonauts owners are interesting in bringing an NFL team to Toronto. The report also said the Argos people are looking to enlist the support of other CFL owners. This hardly seems like a coincidence to me. People with big pockets are talking about getting a team at the same time Wilson is looking to put his product into Toronto once a year.
They'll be opening the henhouse and inviting the foxes in to frolic. Once you give away a game to Toronto, it opens the door to the Bills moving North. Wilson has been making the case that a team isn't economically viable in Buffalo. With this move, he'll also be helping make the case that the NFL can make it in Toronto. I'm sorry, it's hard for me to see this as a good move. Regionalizing the franchise? Please. We're not talking about putting camp in Rochester.
So what do you think: Is giving a game to Toronto a necessary move to ensure the team's survival in Buffalo? Or is it the death knell, the first step in a move out of town?
-- Jerry Sullivan
