The Bills "could have a new owner before the season is halfway over," as the team's sale "is on a much faster track than many probably expected," according to a source cited in a front-page piece by Graham & Gaughan of the BUFFALO NEWS. A sale "must be approved" by 75% of the owners, and that vote "could take place as early as their annual October session." The Bills will "start evaluating offers within the next few months." The source said that a "more likely timetable to vote on the Bills’ sale would occur later than this autumn -- perhaps at the annual labor meeting in December or the annual owners meeting in March -- but October is possible." The Bills on Thursday formally announced that Mary Wilson, the widow of Ralph Wilson Jr., has "assumed control as the club’s principal owner" (BUFFALO NEWS, 4/4). NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the move designating Mary Wilson as principal owner "is a formality, this really does not mean anything." Rapoport: "This is a plan the Bills have had for more than a year now in case of the eventual passing of Ralph Wilson. CEO Russ Brandon is still going to be in charge of the team, General Manager Doug Whaley will still serve as the General Manager. ... Everything will be the same" ("NFL Total Access," NFL Network, 4/3).
