Yesterday was a particularly spirited April Fool’s Day. I had to keep my feet moving and my head on a swivel between reports that Penn State quarterback Christian Hackensburg was transferring and that the Oakland Raiders were trading away several first rounders for New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham. Apparently the Redskins didn't get the memo that yesterday was a day for fake news, as they wound up massively overpaying DeSean Jackson with a three year, $24 million contract over the $8-10 million he was reportedly courting.
Another headline that caught my attention was "The Apprentice" star and billionaire Donald Trump saying in an interview that he was contacted by the Buffalo Bills to assume an ownership role in light of the passing of the team’s former owner.
"People have actually talked to me about the Bills," Trump told WBEN radio in Buffalo, N.Y. "I mean, the group of people called me -- would I be interested in investing, and I'll take a look at it. I mean, I look at a lot of things. I'll take a look at it."
Despite Trump's submarining an entire football league in the 1980s, I feel we need to give the Donald a chance. America is a country of underdogs getting second chances.
ESPN polled readers of their story and 43% of over 31,000 voters said Trump would be a "bad" owner. Would the Donald be worse than Dan Synder? Worse than Jerry Jones? Worse than Jim Irsay?
The NFL certainly has enough characters in their ranks and the owners would likely not let the Donald to join their little billionaire boys club. But the AFC East has been utter rubbish for a decade now. Let's not forget that this is also the same division that let Marc Anthony own an NFL team. Tell me why the Donald shouldn't be an owner Roger Goodell—I need to know.
Think about the legendary sniping matches in the media between the Donald-run Bills and their in-state and in-division rivals, New York Football J-E-T-S. Jets coach Rex Ryan is as shameless a man as they come who proudly tatted a photo of his wife wearing his former QB's jersey on his arm. That doesn't even touch the level self unawareness that is "Trump: The Game."
The frigid Western New York winters of Bills fan discontent could use some spicing up. I can't think of anyone else better to circle the wagons than the Trumps. More specifically: his daughter Ivanka Trump.
Hire the Donald, NFL.