Back in October I had the privilege of attending the first game played by the Buffalo Bills under Pegula ownership. While the results of the game weren’t desirable, that entire day was extremely special for all of us. For me personally, it was the first game I had been able to attend with my parents in over 11 years. With it being such a historic day, I find myself fortunate to have been able to share that moment with them; the moment the Pegulas had arrived.
Their arrival seems like it was a long time ago, much further back than it is in reality. 5 months have now passed since they walked out onto that field with their dog, and the entire organization has been given a facelift. Doug Marrone left his position on December 31st, and as soon as he pulled out of the parking lot the Pegula’s pulled in the Bank truck. This was their opportunity to build their own team from the top down, and after a thorough search, they found the man who was fit to lead the way.
And with him came legitimacy. The hiring of Rex Ryan was the first major move the Pegula’s made, and they nailed it. From a leadership perspective, Rex is everything the Bills need right now. He’s a boisterous man who isn’t afraid to tell you what he’s thinking. He brings with him a plethora of knowledge along with a great supporting cast of coaches, not to mention his exuberant personality. He loves his players, and they love him back, which has already started to pay dividends when it comes to bringing players to Buffalo. Rex has embraced our culture and he doesn’t appear to want to let go. When was the last time you saw ANYONE in this organization express the kind of pride Rex has shown in just a couple of months?
It’s been a long time, that’s for sure. In the past, we’ve always had people talk about trying to make the Bills relevant, and times it seemed like we had achieved that relevancy (See: TO, #MarioWatch, Sammy Watkins trade). However, the difference between those situations and the current one we are in is that Rex is telling US that we matter rather than us trying to convince ourselves that we do.
If you ask me, Rex Ryan is the best coach we have had in Buffalo since the departure of Marv Levy. I can comfortably say that without reservation, even considering the fact that they haven’t played a single game under his control. Rex has the entire package. He’s everything we’ve been looking for, and he’s definitely not a retread hire. He’s a man who has established himself within this league, and there’s certainly no lack of emotion like the Dick Jaurons of the world. The reasons for us hating Rex when he was in Jersey are the very reasons that have caused us to embrace him as our own. Just think about how you felt when the Bills hired Dick Jauron or Chan Gailey and compare it to hiring Rex Ryan. Its like Dorothy going from the black and white world of Kansas to the exciting, colored world of Oz.
The hiring of Rex was not the only move the Bills have made this offseason, in case you haven’t heard. From the jump the Pegula ownership has been unlike anything we have ever seen before as Bills fans. The aggressive nature we have seen in the past couple of weeks is uncharacteristic of the franchise we’ve come to know, and the cash to cap days are clearly history. The Bills are starting to get creative, and they’re no longer afraid to spend their money. This is what it’s like to have billionaire owners, and it’s awesome.
For anyone to even be in the same neighborhood as the Pegula’s when it comes to the success they’ve had in life, they would have to know a thing or two. You don’t get to the position the Pegulas are in by chance. You get there because of your intelligence. You get there by taking educated risks and having those risks pay off. You get there by knowing what it takes to run a successful business, and that intuition is now being brought to our football team, and there seemingly isn’t an end to the lengths they will go to make the moves they covet. Also, the Pegula’s are very personable when it comes to luring players and coaches to the One Buffalo family. Just read TBN piece on Pegula having dinner with perspective FAs. He’s not just some corporate suit who sees just dollars and cents. It’s not just their fortune that gives the Pegulas validity in the NFL owner ranks, its how sincere they are in caring and relating to players on a personal level to make them feel wanted here.
Naturally, everyone is worried about the risks of spending this freely. From a fan perspective, just remember that it’s not our money. I too find myself stuck in the world of cap confusion and concern just like the rest of you, but at the end of the day we have to at least give the people in charge some sort of vote of confidence. I know it’s hard to do given our past, but this isn’t the same team you’ve grown to mistrust. We’re now in a new era, and it should be apparent to everyone who has been paying attention over these past 12 months.
As far as the plan they’ve rolled out is concerned, too many people have been judging these moves by the arbitrary numbers attached to them. What matters is how the deals are structured and how easily those deals can be reworked or terminated without much penalty.
The best thing about this new look approach we’re seeing is the fact that the Bills are no longer afraid to get creative to get or keep the players they want. They frontloaded Jerry Hughes’ guaranteed money to lessen his cap hit in the first two years. They structured Shady in a similar way while making any perceived qualm about playing in Buffalo secondary. They structured Clay so there was a huge hit in year two of the deal, a year when Suh’s cap hit in Miami reaches 28.6 million. On top of these moves, they’ve also added Matt Cassel, Jerome Felton, Richie Incognito, and Percy Harvin. We’ve come a long way from celebrating the signings of Larry Triplet and Brad Smith.
This is what it’s like to play with the big boys, and weather you want to believe it or not, this is the new norm for our Buffalo Bills, and it’s something we should be embracing wholeheartedly. The futures of Dareus, Cordy, Bradham, and Gilmore are still big question marks for this team, but instead of worrying about losing them, it’s time that we put our faith into Terry and Kim. They’re in this for the long haul, and they’re clearly dedicated to excellence. We couldn’t have asked for better owners.
The Pegula’s are the perfect fit for Buffalo, and their passion for this market is something that should never be in question. They’re the perfect people to carry on the legacy of Ralph Wilson, and they will be doing it in Buffalo where they belong.
One last thing on the topic of ownership, none of this would be possible without our founding father Ralph Wilson Jr. Today marks the one year anniversary of Ralph’s death, and through his death, the Bills have been given new life. You can say what you want about how Ralph ran things over the years, and you’re certainly entitled to that opinion. However, the one thing nobody on this earth can take form him is his sense of benevolence. Ralph Wilson Jr. was a giving man, and much of his fortune ended up as donations to charities in Detroit and Buffalo. His last gift however was probably his greatest, and that gift was the assurance that our team would remain in Buffalo for a long time, and they’d be controlled by individuals who had nothing but the Buffalo community’s best interests at heart. In conclusion, I just want to thank you, Ralph. Thank you for everything you have done during your time here on earth. Rest assured that your beloved Bills are reliable hands.
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