Bills Owner Terry Pegula yesterday said that a new stadium is "not on the immediate horizon," noting the team "has a lease with Erie County" through '23 to play at New Era Field, according to Vic Carucci of the BUFFALO NEWS. Pegula said, "That's a contractual obligation. That's my stance on it. This is 2017, so we've got a long ways to go before we start thinking about anything besides where we're at now." Asked if he would ever consider using an out clause the Bills have in '20, Pegula quipped, "Where [are] we going to go?" In regards to a potential new stadium, Pegula said, "We just got through with a remodeling and major contribution from the state of New York in the stadium. I feel that, in light of that, we're not in any planning session at all right now for a new stadium. We're still enjoying what's been done." On what his expectations are for the Bills this season, Pegula said, "My expectation is that we earn some respect on the field." Asked whether he feels the Bills are disrespected on the field by those around the NFL, Pegula responded, "No, but that's what you need to win." In regards to whether it has been difficult to be patient with waiting for the Bills and Sabres to become contenders, Pegula said, "No, not for me. We just keep trying and working" (BUFFALO NEWS, 8/2). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio, on the Bills' lease with Erie County through '23, wrote "on one hand, that's seven years" from now, but "on the other hand, it's only seven years." Florio: "Grand scheme of things, that time will fly by." However, it is "clear that the Bills won't be going anywhere soon" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 8/2).
