Rod Watson: Desperation is not a good negotiating stance with Bills By Rod Watson News Urban Affairs Editor Aug 4, 2021 Aug 4, 2021 0 If taxpayers don’t want to be left holding the bag for a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills, they have to be willing to let the team leave. James P. McCoy/News file photo Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save By Rod Watson News Urban Affairs Editor “Always be willing to walk away.” – Ed Brodow, author of Negotiation Boot CampkAm%92E 2I:@> 4@>6D E@ >:?5 2D !68F=2 $A@CED 2?5 t?E6CE2:?>6?E EC:6D E@ HC:?8 2D >F49 2D A@DD:3=6 @FE @7 E2IA2J6CD 7@C 2 72?4J ?6H DE25:F> 7@C E96 qF772=@ q:==D]k^AmkAm%96 E62>’D C6A@CE65 2D< @7 2E =62DE S`]` 3:==:@? 2D C6G62=65 3J %96 qF772=@ }6HD – E96 !68F=2D H@?’E 4@?7:C> 9@H >F49 E96J C62==J H2?E 7@C 2 A=2JA6? 7F==J 7F?565 3J E2IA2J6CD – :D ;FDE E96 @A6?:?8 82>3:E :? H92E H:== 36 =@?8 2?5 4@?E6?E:@FD E2=<D] k^Am kAmqFE H9:=6 v@G] p?5C6H rF@>@ W@C 9:D DF446DD@CX[ r@F?EJ tI64FE:G6 |2C< !@=@?42CK[ =68:D=2E@CD 2?5 E96:C 9:C65 8F?D H:== A=2J 2 3:8 A2CE :? E96 ?68@E:2E:@?D[ E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E A=2J6CD :? E96 E2=<D 2C6 E96 @?6D H9@ H@?’E 36 2E E96 E23=6i J@F 2?5 >6]k^Am People are also reading… Drought forces Appalachian Power to release less water from Smith Mountain Project Transgender woman sues for sexual discrimination against Salem DEQ office Brandon Clarke death mourned by NBA world: 'Heartbreaking' Smith Mountain Lake group has success in curbing destructive wakes Cut by school board, Franklin County family liaisons defend 'critical' jobs 3 degrees in 4 years: Ferrum grad makes the most of her time in college Spanberger vetoed a bill to legalize skill games, yet thousands remain in operation ESPN's McKinney figures Virginia Tech softball has 'chip on their shoulder' Ferrum softball coach Josh Freeman resigns after three losing seasons Franklin County program preparing students for careers faces cuts Ferrum volleyball coach out after just 6 conference wins in 4 years 2026 NBA mock draft: AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson No. 1? Experts weigh in Franklin County hires permanent girls basketball coach with college experience Virginia to move SOL testing to end of school year, raise standards NBA draft lottery winners and losers: Who got rewarded for the rebuild? kAmw@H >F49 – @C 9@H =:EE=6 – (6DE6C? }6H *@C<6CD C66< @7 2 56DA6C2E:@? E@ <66A E96 7@@E32== E62> 96C6 H:== 36 2 >2;@C 724E@C :? E96 ?68@E:2E:@?D] xE H:== 56E6C>:?6 9@H >F49 – @C 9@H =:EE=6 – =2E:EF56 8@G6C?>6?E ?68@E:2E@CD 92G6 E@ AC6DD 2 562= E92E 5@6D?’E A=2J E2IA2J6CD 7@C DF4<6CD]k^Am kAmp=C625J[ E96 6E96C :D 7:==65 H:E9 E96 ?@E:@? E92E ?@ AF3=:4 @77:4:2= H2?ED E@ 36 E96 @?6 E@ “=@D6” E96 q:==D @? 9:D @C 96C H2E49]k^Am kAmqFE :7 E92E :D E96 AC6G2:=:?8 D6?E:>6?E[ E2IA2J6CD 2=C625J 92G6 =@DE] k^AmkAm}@ 5@F3E[ E96C6 H:== 36 2? @FE4CJ 7C@> AC@8C6DD:G6 724E:@?D @G6C D9@H6C:?8 >@?6J @? 2 7@@E32== 7C2?49:D6] rC:E:4D H:== A@:?E E@ qF772=@’D A@G6CEJ – :?4=F5:?8 :ED 9@CC6?5@FD 49:=5 A@G6CEJ C2E6 – :ED :?7C2DECF4EFC6[ 9@FD:?8 2?5 65F42E:@?2= ?665D 2?5 2 9@DE @7 @E96C A=246D H96C6 AF3=:4 5@==2CD 4@F=5 36 36EE6C DA6?E]k^Am kAm%96J 2=D@ H:== A@:?E E@ ?F>6C@FD DEF5:6D D9@H:?8 E92E[ 7@C E96 >@DE A2CE[ DA@CED E62>D 5@ ?@E 4C62E6 4@>>F?:EJ H62=E9] %96J >6C6=J C65:DEC:3FE6 E96 5:DA@D23=6 :?4@>6 E92E @E96CH:D6 H@F=5 36 DA6?E @? 24E:G:E:6D =:<6 5:?:?8[ 4@?46CED @C >@G:6D]k^AmkAm%96 q:==D’ 677@CED E@ 2EEC24E 72?D 7C@> #@496DE6C 2?5 $@FE96C? ~?E2C:@ @3G:@FD=J 3C:?8D :? D@>6 @FED:56 :?4@>6 E92E H@F=5 ?@E 36 DA6?E 96C6 @? @E96C E9:?8D] qFE E92E 92C5=J ;FDE:7:6D S`]` 3:==:@? – @C 2?JE9:?8 4=@D6 E@ :E – :? AF3=:4 5@==2CD E@ DF3D:5:K6 2 AC:G2E6 6?E6CAC:D6 H96? E96 4FCC6?E =62D6 6IA:C6D :? a_ab]k^Am kAm%96 q:==D 2=D@ 2C6 >2<:?8 >F49 @7 E96 724E E92E %2>A2 q2J[ u=2][ FD65 D2=6D 2?5 E@FC:D> E2I6D E@ 92G6 E96 AF3=:4 3F:=5 2 DE25:F> 7@C E96 qF442?66CDV }u{ E62>] qFE E92E ;FDE 3C:?8D E@ >:?5 H92E J@FC >@E96C E@=5 J@F 2D 2 49:=5i Qx7 y@9??J ;F>AD @77 E96 C@@7 …Qk^Am kAmqFE @3;64E:@?D 7C@> AC@8C6DD:G6D 2=@?6 H:== ?@E 36 6?@F89] x?DE625 @7 36:?8 C625J E@ E2<6 E96 A=F?86 7@C E96 q:==D 2E 2?J 4@DE[ E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2D 2 H9@=6 92D E@ 36 C625J E@ AF3=:4=J 24<?@H=6586 E92E =:76 H:E9@FE 2 AC@ 7@@E32== E62> 42? DE:== 36 8@@5]k^Am kAm!C@@7 @7 E92E :D 2== 2C@F?5]k^Am kAm#@F89=J 92=7 @7 &]$] DE2E6D 92G6 ?@ AC@ DA@CED E62>D 2E 2==[ 2?5 >2?J @7 E96:C 4:E:6D 2C6 5@:?8 36EE6C E92? qF772=@]k^AmkAm&]$] }6HD U2>Aj (@C=5 #6A@CE 2??F2==J C2?<D E96 Qq6DE !=246D E@ {:G6Q 32D65 @? E96 DEC6?8E9 @7 E96 =@42= ;@3 >2C<6E[ 9@FD:?8 277@C523:=:EJ[ E96 BF2=:EJ @7 =:76 – H9:49 E2<6D :? 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> 4C:>6 C2E6D E@ 65F42E:@? 2?5 962=E9 42C6 – 2 4:EJ’D 56D:C23:=:EJ 2?5 :ED A@AF=2E:@? =@DD @C 82:?] %96 >282K:?6 FD6D 2 AF3=:4 DFCG6J E@ 96=A H6:89E E96 G2C:@FD 724E@CD]k^Am kAmxE’D %@A `_ 4:E:6D 7@C a_a`\aa 2C6i q@F=56C[ r@=@]j #2=6:89\sFC92>[ }]r]j wF?EDG:==6[ p=2]j u2J6EE6G:==6[ pC<]j pFDE:?[ %6I2Dj r@=@C25@ $AC:?8D[ r@=@]j }2A=6D[ u=2]j !@CE=2?5[ |2:?6j $2C2D@E2[ u=2]j 2?5 !@CE=2?5[ ~C6]k^Am kAmqF772=@ A=2465 f_kDFAmE9k^DFAm @? E96 =:DE[ 6G6? H:E9 EH@ 3:8\=628F6 E62>D W2DDF>:?8 J@F 4@F?E E96 $23C6DX]k^AmkAmvC2?E65[ q@F=56C :D =6DD E92? 2? 9@FC 7C@> s6?G6C[ H9:49 92D E62>D :? 2== 7@FC >2;@C DA@CED =628F6D] qFE 4:E:6D =:<6 wF?EDG:==6[ u2J6EE6G:==6 2?5 !@CE=2?5[ |2:?6[ 5@?’E 92G6 E62>D 2?JH96C6 :? E96:C DE2E6[ J6E E96J 2C6 5@:?8 H6==] k^AmkAm(:E9 qF772=@ AC@>@E:?8 :ED 2C49:E64EFC6 2?5 96C:E286 E@FC:D>[ 2?5 56G6=@A:?8 :ED >65:42= 42>AFD 2?5 H2E6C7C@?E – AC@G:565 :E <66AD E96 7@4FD @? AF3=:4 2446DD – :E 42? AC@DA6C H:E9 @C H:E9@FE 2 7@@E32== E62> E92E A=2JD 96C6 6:89E @C D@ E:>6D 2 J62C]k^Am kAm%92E’D ?@E E@ D2J E96C6 :D ?@E 2 ADJ49@=@8:42=[ 6?E6CE2:?>6?E 2?5 >2C<6E:?8 G2=F6 E@ 92G:?8 E96 E62>] %96C6 :D 2 3FKK H96? E96 q:==D 2C6 H:??:?8[ 2?5 92G:?8 82>6D E6=6G:D65 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ 42??@E 96=A 3FE 3F77 E96 2C62’D ?2E:@?2= :>286]k^AmkAmqFE E9:D :D 2 E:>6 E@ >2:?E2:? A6CDA64E:G6]k^AmkAm%96C6 @3G:@FD=J H:== 36 E9@D6 A@:?E:?8 E@ 9:896C AC:@C:E:6D 7@C AF3=:4 5@==2CD E92? 2 ?6H 7@@E32== DE25:F>] p?5 H:E9 E96:C 56G6=@A>6?E @7 w2C3@C46?E6C[ E96 !68F=2D 2=C625J 2C6 >@@C65 96C6[ H9:49 8:G6D E96 C68:@? D@>6 =6G6C286]k^Am kAmqFE E@ 86E E96 q:==D E@ 28C66 E@ D@>6E9:?8 C62D@?23=6 E92E 2==@HD E96 E62> E@ DE2J[ E96J 92G6 E@ D66 2 AF3=:4 E92E[ :7 ?@E F?:E65[ 2E =62DE 92D 7@C865 2 D@=:5 4@?D6?DFD E92E :E’D ?@E H:==:?8 E@ 92G6 2 7C2?49:D6 2E 2?J 4@DE]k^Am kAm%92E >62?D E96 q:==D |27:2 42?’E 36 2==@H65 E@ 5@>:?2E6 E96 AF3=:4 5:D4FDD:@? 2?5 5:4E2E6 E96 E6C>D @7 E96 5632E6] #2E96C[ q:==D 72?2E:4D >FDE =62C? E@ 4FC3 E96:C 6?E9FD:2D> 2?5 C64@8?:K6 E92E E96C6 42? 36 4:G:4 =:76 H:E9@FE 7@@E32==[ E96C63J 8:G:?8 AF3=:4 @77:4:2=D >@C6 32C82:?:?8 A@H6C[ 2?5 E9FD :?4C62D:?8 E96 492?46D @7 2 H:?\H:? 562=] k^Am kAmr@@==J – 2?5 AF3=:4=J – 724:?8 E96 C62=:EJ @7 =:76 H:E9@FE 7@@E32== @776CD E96 36DE 492?46 @7 AFD9:?8 E96 7C2?49:D6 :?E@ 2? 28C66>6?E E96 DE2E6 2?5 C68:@? 42? 277@C5]k^AmkAmx7 E96 E62>’D 72?D C62==J H2?E E96 q:==D E@ DE2J 96C6[ E96 36DE E9:?8 E96J 42? 5@ C:89E ?@H :D 36 H:==:?8 E@ =6E E96> =62G6]k^Am 0 comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Bills seek new Orchard Park stadium costing at least $1.1B – paid for by public Pegula Sports and Entertainment, the team’s owners, have pitched a $1.5 billion proposal for a new stadium in Orchard Park and to help cover s… As talks simmer for a new Bills stadium, some of the basics already are in dispute A spokesman for Pegula Sports & Entertainment said the $1.1 billion figure for the stadium's cost was inaccurate, but declined to say whet… Watch Now: Related Video A1 Minute May 12, 2026: Afton winery to be acquired by Charlottesville-based investor group Kids In the US More Likely To Die By Guns Than Anything Else Kids In the US More Likely To Die By Guns Than Anything Else A1 Minute! May 11, 2026: Big Dipper Innovation Summit; Parental Paid Leave Law; Inclusion Day A1 Minute! May 11, 2026: Big Dipper Innovation Summit; Parental Paid Leave Law; Inclusion Day A1 Minute! May 6, 2026: Nottoway teacher wins state award; Housing nonprofit buys bank building; Rest Fest returns to Dogwood Dell A1 Minute! May 6, 2026: Nottoway teacher wins state award; Housing nonprofit buys bank building; Rest Fest returns to Dogwood Dell
Bills seek new Orchard Park stadium costing at least $1.1B – paid for by public Pegula Sports and Entertainment, the team’s owners, have pitched a $1.5 billion proposal for a new stadium in Orchard Park and to help cover s…
As talks simmer for a new Bills stadium, some of the basics already are in dispute A spokesman for Pegula Sports & Entertainment said the $1.1 billion figure for the stadium's cost was inaccurate, but declined to say whet…
A1 Minute! May 6, 2026: Nottoway teacher wins state award; Housing nonprofit buys bank building; Rest Fest returns to Dogwood Dell
A1 Minute! May 6, 2026: Nottoway teacher wins state award; Housing nonprofit buys bank building; Rest Fest returns to Dogwood Dell
