Members of the Jacobs family, which owns the Bruins and Delaware North Cos., are "deeply engaged in discussions about the future" of the Bills, but a "key member would not say whether they would make an offer for the team," according to a front-page piece by Stephen Watson of the BUFFALO NEWS. Delaware North Principal Jeremy Jacobs Jr. yesterday said, "We are using our resources, our contacts, our relationships to do everything we can to ensure the Bills stay in Buffalo." Asked directly "whether those efforts could include making a bid for the team, or joining a group making an offer, Jacobs said he could not speculate and chose his words carefully." Watson reports the Jacobs family has "led the list of potential future owners, partly because of their close ties to the NFL -- Delaware North has the concessions contracts at a number of NFL stadiums, including Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park -- and their previous and current sports ownership." Jacobs acknowledged that it is "natural" for the family and Delaware North to "come up in discussions of potential future owners of the team." Jacobs did not identify "any potential owners and other interested parties" that his family has been in contact with, but he did admit those conversations "have included NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell" (BUFFALO NEWS, 4/24). Bruins Owner Jeremy Jacobs Sr. last week in a statement said that he has "no intention of selling the Bruins in order to purchase the Bills, a move that would be required because NFL rules do not allow owners to control major sports franchises in separate markets." However, Jacobs' statement "failed to address whether any of his three sons would be involved in an ownership group" (AP, 4/24).
