Ralph Wilson once issued a memorable press release

As the football-following world continues to remember the late Ralph Wilson Jr., here’s something that many had forgotten.

In 1998, former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue fined Wilson $50,000 for making comments critical of game officials. Via TSN.ca, Wilson reacted to the fine with a stirring rebuke of the boss of the sport. Here’s the full text of it.

“On December 2nd I received a fax from Commissioner Paul Tagliabue informing me the Bills are being fined $50,000 for criticism on my part of officiating in the last moments of our game with New England. I described two calls, back-to-back, as probably the worst I have witnessed in the 60 years I have watched pro football. Those two calls cost the Bills a very important game, one in which our team fought back very courageously from a substantial deficit.

“Society today is more enlightened. Fair comment and criticism are rampant. The entire media as a unit is frank and the millions watching a game are frank.

“But the Commissioner lecturing to me as if I were a novice, instead of one who has been involved in football infinitely longer than he has, contends that criticizing a call has ‘destructive and corrosive effects on the game.’............

Read more ( it gets even better :lol:) http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...press-release/

I remember that...lol. Raider Nation owes Mr. Wilson a debt of gratitude. Without him, the Raiders may not exist.

If this were ancient Egypt, Scott Norwood should be sacrificed and buried along side Mr. Wilson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCHZFwDCNyA

http://j-walk.com/images/DennisTheMe...D/mrwilson.jpg