I don't think the Buffalo Bills will move. I want to start out this blog in that way. I honestly, in my heart of hearts, believe that Jim Kelly will ride in on his white horse and save the day with the mysterious millionaire he says he has lined up to buy the team. No really, I do.
What happens, though, if he doesn't? Where can a die-hard Bills fan turn to sate his football lust? Many, of course, will leave the sport itself, moving onto other entertainment. For the rest of us, however, we will need a new team to support. I've chosen 3 teams that I feel are likely for people from this area to root for, and ranked them by criteria I find useful/interesting to me.
Cleveland Browns:
City Culture: 9
A city much more like Buffalo you cannot find. Another hometown loving people, on Lake Erie, with excellent (tasting, not for you) food, and a small town atmosphere. Almost perfect, except they�ve figured out what to do with those factors to make it a useful place, which makes us jealous.
Team Culture: 6
Let's face it, a culture of losing isn't great, but they've had some amazing players, and they can be fun once every decade or so. Feels familiar anyways.
Winningness: 3
Buffalo hasn't won a Super Bowl, but the Browns haven't even made it to one. Not. Good.
Proximity to Buffalo: 8
193 mi � about 3 hours 10 minutes
Other factors: 8
Browns fans were mostly Bills fans when they didn�t have a team. We like to help out a neighbor.
Total Points: 34
Pittsburgh Steelers:
City Culture: 7
Another rust-belt city with heart and heart-killing food, Pittsburgh is like Buffalo without the welcoming smile.
Team Culture: 8
Hardnosed, hard hitting team with an attitude all the way back through the ages. They're a little bit dirty at times which we don't like here (unless, of course, it's our team being dirty.)
Winningness: 9
Most Super Bowl wins of any team, and they seem to be almost guaranteed
a Lombardi Trophy every ten years. Yeah, I'll take it.
Proximity to Buffalo: 8
220 mi � about 3 hours 35 minutes
Other Factors: 6
Dirtiness tends to make outsiders not like them, which might hurt their chances early. Also, Sidney Crosby plays there, so, you know, there's that whole thing.
Total Points: 38
New York Jets:
City Culture: 7
I was unsure how to grade this one as the culture of the city itself is great, but can you get much less Buffalo than New York City? Well, LA I guess�
Team Culture: 6
The Jets don't have an obvious culture to themselves, but they were the first AFC team to win a Super Bowl.
Winningness: 5
That Super Bowl was they're only Super Bowl, and they haven't even made it since.
Proximity to...