By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson did little Friday to lift the cloud over One Bills Drive.
At an afternoon press conference, Wilson briefed reporters on the threats facing the franchise because of the new collective bargaining agreement. He says the agreement gives players nearly 60 percent of all revenues, from popcorn to parking lots. And he says that leaves smaller teams with little to compete. But the 87 year-old owner says he will go to the wall with the Bills.
"I'm trying to keep the team here," Wilson said. "I have no plans to move the team. How long can it stay here? I don't know. But I can tell you we're going to fight very hard to keep the team here."
Wilson confirmed that he met with Governor Pataki asking for help, but not money. Wilson says public funding or a new stadium would only add to the cap and make the disparity worse. Rules are now being written into the agreement that might qualify some smaller teams for revenue sharing to level the playing field.
Wilson says political pressure on the NFL is the team's last hope. He's also enlisted Erie County Executive Joel Giambra for the fight. Giambra says public officials and fans need to let the NFL know how important the Bills are to the community.
"This is a call to arms," Giambra said. "This community loves its Buffalo Bills. We're not going to sit back and let the NFL make rules that are going to preclude us from enjoying the Buffalo Bills for generations to come."
Giambra says fans should write letters to their elected officials, urging them to put pressure on the NFL. The County Executive says he plans to meet personally with NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Giambra says he'll tell him how devastating the loss of the team would be to the region, both economically and psychologically.