5 reasons for Dolphins fans to laugh at the Buffalo Bills
By Brian Miller
![ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 24: Head coach Rex Ryan of the Buffalo Bills walks offsides the field after losing to the Miami Dolphins at New Era Stadium on December 24, 2016 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 24: Head coach Rex Ryan of the Buffalo Bills walks offsides the field after losing to the Miami Dolphins at New Era Stadium on December 24, 2016 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fphinphanatic-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F07-2F630502764-miami-dolphins-v-buffalo-bills-jpg-850x560-0848f108dd6f630db86f8eb2e55280da2f140c00457e8759eb4214cef69331a0.jpg)
There must be something with that number four. Four existing theories of the history of Buffalo, NY’s name and four teams were originally part of the All American Football Conference. Including the Bills.
Unfortunately the AAFC didn’t last all that long. In fact only from 1946 to 1949. The other three teams were the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts, and San Francisco 49’ers. In 1950 the NFL as it was then expanded and merged the AAFC into their league. At the time, Buffalo had a bigger population than Baltimore and had more success.
When the leagues merged, the Bills were left out of the merge. This despite the fact that the NFL was now a 13 team league, could not schedule even games or have even divisions. To say nothing of the superstition of 13.
The Bills petitioned the league but they needed a unanimous vote to join. The city raised money, pre-sold tickets, and even agreed to stadium spending. The NFL vote came up short with a 9-4 vote to keep the Bills out of the NFL. The league proceeded with their uneven league despite the Bills owners attempts.
Eventually the Bills were invited to join the American Association league, which would later become the AFL. The Bills owner declined and took a 1/4 share interest in the Browns and dissolved the Bills. The players were dispersed in a draft in 1950. Making this even more fun was the fact that a year later, the Colts folded.
The NFL however never offered Bruiel to take on the Bills again despite the fan support. In 1953 the league allowed the city of Baltimore to take the Dallas Texans along with their uniform colors and return to the NFL. The Bills? They wouldn’t return until 1959 when Ralph Wilson, Junior was awarded an AFL franchise. The NFL let them come with the NFL merger in 1970.