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Wednesday, April 16, 2008 7:13 PM EDT
POLLOCK: Miami game to Toronto bad sign for Bills’ fans
Still don’t think the Bills are headed for Toronto after the 2012 season - when the Ralph Wilson Stadium lease runs out - if not sooner?
Take a look at this season’s schedule.
The bad vibes started two weeks ago when Buffalo revealed its pre-season slate.
Were the Lions dispatched to the Rogers Centre on Aug. 28?
Of course not.
Instead Toronto got the Steelers two weeks earlier even though Pittsburgh is a guaranteed sellout at “The Ralph,” despite the exhibition format.
The reality is, Buffalo’s Canadian pre-season game was going to distribute every ticket, even if the opponent was the Canton Bulldogs.
Clearly, the plan was to ship the Bills’ most appealing exhibition foe up north.
And if there was any doubt, that was erased Tuesday afternoon with the release of the NFL’s regular-season schedule.
The popular perception was that there was no way the Bills would ship an AFC East opponent to Toronto.
Not only are the Dolphins, Jets and Patriots traditional rivals, the Bills would also figure to want to extra juice provided by fans at “The Ralph” ... especially if the games were played in winter conditions.
Logically, Buffalo would play its Toronto game against NFC opposition, either Seattle or San Francisco.
Uhhh, no so much.
To the shock of most Bills’ fans, it’s none other than Miami which will be playing in the cozy warmth of the Rogers Center - don’t count on the roof being left open - on Dec. 7.
Play the game on that date in Orchard Park and its likely Dolphins’ player are counting down the minutes to get back in the lockerroom and get out of the cold, wind and snow.
Play it in Toronto and it might as well be August.
So much for Buffalo’s late-season weather advantage against a warm-weather team.
Instead, the Bills open with the Seahawks and host the 49ers Nov. 30 in the game that SHOULD have been at the Rogers Center.
THE STEELERS and Dolphins in Toronto.
How’s that audition for a new city?
Or a reason for Bills’ season ticket holders to say, “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Fact is, the NFL schedule-makers did Buffalo no favors.
After Seattle, the Bills’ other home game in the first six weeks is Oakland two Sundays later.
San Diego (Oct. 19) and the Jets (Nov. 2) are a great draw anytime and that Monday nighter with the Browns (Nov. 17) will sell out as soon as tickets go on sale.
But after San Francisco, the Bills don’t play again at “The Ralph” until the season finale, Dec. 28, against New England.
Talk about playing one of your marquee opponents on the worst date.
Chances are that game against the Pats will be meaningless.
Worse, it runs the risk of not selling out - which hasn’t happened with the Patriots since 2001 - and circumstance that wouldn’t occur any other date this coming season.
The Bills’ administration maintains it had no input into which game was sent to Toronto, hard to believe as it might be.
But then it’s on the NFL, which clearly wasn’t concerned about sending a division game packing. Thus, Buffalo loses its competitive advantage - the weather factor and a theater-type Toronto audience rather than a rabid home crowd - in a critical AFC East matchup
Normally, release of the Bills’ schedule is reason for excitement and endless speculation.
This year, it’s merely a sad reminder they’re probably not long for Western New York.
(Chuck Pollock is sports editor of The Olean Times Herald)
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