Sound the Trumpet

Trump for Buffalo Bills owner? Why the Trump not?

Since the death of the franchise's sole owner, Ralph Wilson, Jr, the clock in fans' hearts ticks like a trident's steady poke to the chest. Fans lay collectible Tarot cards--memories of Kemp, Ferguson, Juice, Kelly, Thurman and Bruuuuuuuce--on their tailgates foreseeing the day when Mayflower trucks come to seize the cornerstone of an otherwise nondescript piece chunk of land, shelved between two of the largest cities in North America like an obligatory piece of iceberg lettuce in a Buffalo Chicken sandwich.

Welcome to Buffalo: An All-America City. Home of two sports franchises who have never won and enough snow to get sidetrack Santa on Christmas Eve. Despite the fact that both the Bills and the NHL's Sabres have combined for six championship whiffs since the latter's inception, three more conference title fails, and enough losing seasons to cancel a network, someone with cash and cache believes he can circle his own wagons and head west--or north--and make the Bills winners anywhere. Well, except Buffalo.

People love spending everyone else's money. We all do it. "Tax the rich" is a common cry, especially in the fall. In western New York, Bills fans have created fantasy teams of owners just to keep them here.

"(Tom) Golisano will buy 'em."

In 2012 when the Sabres were purchased by Terry Pegula from the aforementioned billionaire, fans figured the pair could team-up and buy the Bills and keep them in Buffalo forever. Just more regular folks dreaming big with other people's money. Throw-in Jeremy Jacobs, too, right? But, the NFL is all about making the best deal for the most revenue possible.

Enter: Everyone else.

Jon Bon Jovi. KISS. The hated Rogers family of hosers from up north. Why not Magic Johnson's Dodgers group? While all of these names, publicly or not, have entertained the idea of owning an NFL team, none of them would ever think twice about keeping it in Buffalo.

There is just once catch, however. And it's worth about $400 million if the next owner of WNY's crown jewel decides to pull-up FieldTurf and carpetbag like state tax exiles.

Yes, there's the seven-year (b)itch of a $28 million out clause. But even that isn't as easy as it sounds.

Buffalo Bills fans have a lot to fear right now. On top of the fact the team has just lost its owner, there's Jim Kelly's health, 14 straight losing seasons (a non-playoff season is a failure in the NFL), and a first-round, franchise-pegged quarterback whose injured as often as Dwyane Wade, whose injuries appear like unicorns or UFOs.

So what's the huff over Trump?

When the guy says he wants to keep the team in Buffalo, who knows if he's telling the truth or not? But it makes sense for a guy who lives in New York and wants to expand his empire, particularly in the Empire State. He has a lot of powerful friends (Patriots owner, Bob Kraft for one; the Steinbrenners for another) and would spend money to win. Why? The guy is highly competitive and isn't interested in backing a loser. He's also very influential with the politicians who want to keep the Bills in Buffalo. Perhaps they were the ones approaching him about buying the team. Maybe it was his old New Jersey Generals QB, Jim Kelly. Again, it's all speculation at this point. The only things we DO know for certain are:

1) Mr. Wilson is deceased.
2) Mary Wilson, his widow, is selling the team.
3) Mr. Trump says he's interested, and would like to keep the team here...if everything is viable.

Nobody else is publicly waving the flag to keep the team here, except Trump. Maybe he's just saying this. Maybe he's serious. Either way, he's saying the right things. And so is the Bills' current lease agreement with Erie County and New York State.

The Bills can do a lot worse than an owner like Donald Trump. Not to blaspheme a dead man, but Mr. Wilson didn't exactly delegate responsibility very well in the football department his last decade-and-a-half, either. Not to mention, this "old guard" of decision makers at One Bills Drive have come under fire publicly in the months approaching his death, and there are finally coaches and a general manger who aren't afraid to let people know exactly what they think.

Head coach, Doug Marrone, coached under Bill Parcells, and alongside Bill Belichick and Sean Peyton. GM Doug Whaley came from a Steelers franchise that won two Super Bowls while he was employed in Pittsburgh. And CEO Russ Brandon put his stamp on both of these hires knowing they hold the keys to the Bills' future.

Bills fans have enough to fear right now. The idea of Donald Trump buying them is NOT one of them. The New Stadium Working Group is exploring the possibilities of building a brand new, NFL-caliber arena that will make the Bills viable for decades to come--not just seven-to-10 years.

Think about the last seven-to-10 years: Tom Donahoe, Drew Bledsoe, Tom Modrak, Mike Mularkey, Marv Levy, Dick Jauron, JP Losman, TrINT Edwards, T.O, Toronto, Aaron Maybin, Marshawn Lynch vs. Law Enforement, Ryan FitzPatPick, and Chan Gailey.

Feels like yesterday, huh? Yes, even an eternity of torture can evaporate like a lead over the Patriots on a Monday night after a Leodis McKelvin fumble.

The next seven-to-10 will fly as quickly as a Flash Goodwin kickoff return. The Stadium Group better get it's playbook out and study it's tape.

No, the fear shouldn't be in Trump buying the team.

The fear should be the reason Trump decides NOT to buy this team.