Ralph Wilson, Jr. Gets a Bum Rap

I’m not from Buffalo—or western New York for that matter—but I've been a die-hard Bills fan since the late 1980s. So it’s no wonder that I have a different perspective on Ralph Wilson, Jr. than most of you probably do.

As a businessman, I think Mr. Wilson is a little sentimental (not a compliment in those circles) in his attempt to keep the Bills in Buffalo. Frankly, his bottom line could have been best served by moving them to greener pastures long ago.

The fact that he has not done so speaks volumes about him.

Sure, it’s not so easy to move an NFL franchise, but it’s been done many times during Wilson’s tenure. Each time he has stood up for the fans in those markets that stood to lose their team, always voting in favor of keeping NFL franchises right where they were.

"Big deal" to you, but consider that under the terms of the NFL’s revenue sharing scheme, Wilson and all of the other owners are best served by having teams in the markets that are most fruitful. 

Also consider that those other owners would love for the smaller markets, such as Buffalo, to concede their teams to the bigger markets, thus sweetening the revenue sharing pot.

It’s pretty clear that if Wilson chose to move the Bills, the other owners wouldn’t throw up much of a roadblock. After all, it’s not their market, but it is their money!

In fact, as I said, one of the biggest roadblocks to this sort of deal has been Wilson himself.

I suppose Wilson’s logic is that what’s best for the bottom line—today—may not be best for the league and the franchises themselves in the long-term. This is, after all, an AFL owner in Buffalo we’re talking about.

Maybe some of you concede my point but want to say, “Thanks, but no thanks,” because, as the hyperbole goes, "Ralph is cheap. He won’t spend money to field a competitive team.”

Well, let’s analyze that a bit, shall we?

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