Bills confirm new uniform for 2011

[FiddySicks]

This is an enormous upgrade for the Bills. It sends them from having the worst look in the league to a look that is pretty meh.

[TheOldRoman]

What I meant was that it's not necessarily blatently illegal to just sell a generic jersey that doesn't have any ripped off marks on it (I think you could argue that it's still playing off of a likeness, but it's probably not black and white) but if the jersey includes a wordmark that is counterfeited, then it is obviously illegal. So they're basically saying "if you're going to steal from us, at least break some law that we can go after you for."

Is anybody who sells a black jersey with silver numbers a counterfeiter? Probably not. But if the Raiders had a patch or wordmark on it, and that was included in the jersey, then there you go.

I understand what you are saying, but I think the market for imitation (not knock-off) merchandise is pretty much gone with Walmart selling cheap versions of licensed jerseys now. The people who 20 years ago would buy an imitation jersey with "Buffalo 88" on it would now be purchasing the cheap jerseys from Walmart or Target. Or maybe they would buy a counterfeit on the street without realizing it. The only place I could see a likeness jersey selling would be at tourist stops, such as a Bills-like jersey with "Niagra Falls" as the name. I don't think a person buying that would necessarily buy it thinking it was a Bills jersey, though. And I don't think that would be enough of a threat to the NFL where they would have to plan jersey changes around it.

We have had a similar discussion in relation to college teams before. Obviously, you can't trademark a color scheme or a state name. However, when paired paired with a city/state name, the color scheme can be trademarked. I believe it is something similar with jersey striping. If someone produced a blue and red jersey with the same striping, it would be considered infringment. However, if it wouldn't be infringment if they used the same template in different colors. That is just a guess. Regardless, the Raiders would be screwed either way.

[JohnnySeoul]

Regardless, the Raiders would be screwed either way.

hahaha

[vmd9]

Its the players game, son.

Wrong, its the fan's game. Players are here today, gone tomorrow.

And when it comes to aesthetic decisions, they're idiots.

I'm not sure where some designers/artists get their egos.

Gets on my nerves. Just because you don't like something doesn't make you smarter or better than someone who does.

This argument comes up a lot, but at the end of the day the person wearing the jersey is more important. If you're walking down the street wearing a rainbow astros jersey I'm not going to throw a temper tantrum. Why? because it doesn't effect my life, or bother me. I might think to myself its ugly, but I'm not going to call you an idiot for wearing something ugly.

[Sport]

Its the players game, son.

Wrong, its the fan's game. Players are here today, gone tomorrow.

And when it comes to aesthetic decisions, they're idiots.

I'm not sure where some designers/artists get their egos.

Gets on my nerves. Just because you don't like something doesn't make you smarter or better than someone who does.

This argument comes up a lot, but at the end of the day the person wearing the jersey is more important. If you're walking down the street wearing a rainbow astros jersey I'm not going to throw a temper tantrum. Why? because it doesn't effect my life, or bother me. I might think to myself its ugly, but I'm not going to call you an idiot for wearing something ugly.

Completely disagree. Players don't buy the jerseys, fans do. Teams design uniforms in hopes that they will appeal to fans. It'd be smart of teams to listen to what FANS like because they are the ones who will ultimately be dropping $100 plus on the jerseys/merchandise. What the players think about what they wear is really only important so far as how what they're wearing appeals to fans. From a business standpoint, the players are the last ones that need to be consulted when it comes to the uniforms.

[IceCap]

Hey I'm sure someone can say the same about your ability to decide what is a good look and what isn't.

And they'd be wrong. Look at the various trash that passes for college uniforms because it "looks cool". When the Giants debuted their red jerseys a few years back, one of the players said some stupidity like, "these are tight, but we need some red pants to go with them." THAT is what you are dealing with. Athletes should have no input into uniforms.

Can you provide a few examples of this "various trash" that you speak of.

Oregon, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Boise State, Nevada, California, Colorado State's orange set, just to name a few.

I don't think the red pants would've been a good look either, but come on it's a stupid comment because you don't like the look. Really, what makes your opinion more valuable than theirs.

Good taste?

They play in the uniforms but they should never have any input in the uniforms?

Exactly. Think about it. With the turnover rate in pro sports these days very few players play for a single team more then a few seasons. Fans used to cheer for actual teams, players they associated with the team for years. Now it's maybe one or two players that stick around that long, the rest changing over via free agency. The uniforms and team legacy are really all that's left for the fans to actually cheer for. Seinfeld said it first, and BBTV said it a couple times on these boards. Fans are really just rooting for clothing.

So that being said the aesthetic tradition of the team shouldn't be handed over to a bunch of guys who have no real interest in the team or its legacy beyond a season or two of playing time.

[vmd9]

Its the players game, son.

Wrong, its the fan's game. Players are here today, gone tomorrow.

And when it comes to aesthetic decisions, they're idiots.

I'm not sure where some designers/artists get their egos.

Gets on my nerves. Just because you don't like something doesn't make you smarter or better than someone who does.

This argument comes up a lot, but at the end of the day the person wearing the jersey is more important. If you're walking down the street wearing a rainbow astros jersey I'm not going to throw a temper tantrum. Why? because it doesn't effect my life, or bother me. I might think to myself its ugly, but I'm not going to call you an idiot for wearing something ugly.

Completely disagree. Players don't buy the jerseys, fans do. Teams design uniforms in hopes that they will appeal to fans. It'd be smart of teams to listen to what FANS like because they are the ones who will ultimately be dropping $100 plus on the jerseys/merchandise. What the players think about what they wear is really only important so far as how what they're wearing appeals to fans. From a business standpoint, the players are the last ones that need to be consulted when it comes to the uniforms.

Yes true, but this argument began because of some people disagreeing with the use of monochrome combinations. I just don't see who cares if the players want to wear a blue jersey and blue pants...

[IceCap]

Well it looks terrible, for one thing. Especially in the shade the Bills are going to use. The Seahawks make it work because their blue is muted. The Bills new blue, assuming it's close to their throwback blue, is pretty bright. It'll be to much if they go monochrome.

[JohnnySeoul]

I don't think the red pants would've been a good look either, but come on it's a stupid comment because you don't like the look. Really, what makes your opinion more valuable than theirs.

Good taste?

Red on red would've been a horrible look for the Giants. For some unexplained reason, I do like when the Texans wear all red. I really can't figure out why I like that look on them.

[IceCap]

I don't think the red pants would've been a good look either, but come on it's a stupid comment because you don't like the look. Really, what makes your opinion more valuable than theirs.

Good taste?

Red on red would've been a horrible look for the Giants. For some unexplained reason, I do like when the Texans wear all red. I really can't figure out why I like that look on them.

Well they do call it "battle red," which seems fitting for a team that celebrates Texas patriotism.

[Jinjoe]

Can you provide a few examples of this "various trash" that you speak of.

Oregon, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Boise State, Nevada, California, Colorado State's orange set, just to name a few.

Oregon - with the exception of a couple of combinations, overall I think they have one the the better sets in the league

Virginia Tech - Not trash to to me I like them

Maryland - What exactly is trashy about these?

Boise State - With the exception of the gray face mask I like these.

Nevada - Not trash, but nothing special either.

California - don't see the problem.

Colorado State's orange set - a real head scratcher with this one, not really sure what they were trying to do these

I don't think the red pants would've been a good look either, but come on it's a stupid comment because you don't like the look. Really, what makes your opinion more valuable than theirs.

Good taste?

Subjective. You may think your taste is top notch, but for whatever reason someone out there in the great cyber land may think it's utterly crap. There is no fact in this just fiction.

They play in the uniforms but they should never have any input in the uniforms?

Exactly. Think about it. With the turnover rate in pro sports these days very few players play for a single team more then a few seasons. Fans used to cheer for actual teams, players they associated with the team for years. Now it's maybe one or two players that stick around that long, the rest changing over via free agency. The uniforms and team legacy are really all that's left for the fans to actually cheer for. Seinfeld said it first, and BBTV said it a couple times on these boards. Fans are really just rooting for clothing.

So that being said the aesthetic tradition of the team shouldn't be handed over to a bunch of guys who have no real interest in the team or its legacy beyond a season or two of playing time.

The are still plenty of players that stay with the same team for many years a lot more than one or two. "The uniforms and team legacy are really all that's left for the fans to actually cheer for"

I disagree fans still root just as much for the players now as they did in yesteryear, free agency didn't change that.

"So that being said the aesthetic tradition of the team shouldn't be handed over to a bunch of guys who have no real interest in the team or its legacy beyond a season or two of playing time."

I never said just hand it over, I referring to the idea that players should never have any input. And no real interest beyond a season or two? You really think there is no connection the average player builds or has with a team. Even if a said player leaves there's still some connection they feel with the organization, with fans, with the city.

There has been a lot of players that has come back to work for their former team, whether its in the front office, broadcasting, public relations. I don't agree with this idea that the players have little to no interest in the look and legacy of a team.

[ARTnSocal]

Problems with the new set (provided Madden was accurate):

1. Single layer numbers with no outline (not only would it look better with a red outline, but both eras they combined had a red outline). This is the most inexcusable blunder;

2. No blue facemask (although grey doesn't look bad, this was a no brainer);

3. Blue pants (which will lead to ridiculousness of a traditional look messed up with blue monochrome);

4. Not making white socks to pair with blue pants (the OJ era blue pants were paired with white socks, too);

5. Thin white stripes added to helmet so it doesn't match the pants (possible);

6. Silly wordmark below collar.

Hopefully they come to their senses and at least add the red outline and drop the blue pants/add white socks after the first season. Those seem minor enough, though I imagine the helmet won't be altered for a long time.

1) We don't know for sure, yet, if there's no red shadow on the jersey numbers. If there isn't one I agree, that would be inexcusable.

2) The gray facemask looks good on white helmets. When SD made their powder blue alternates to substitute the '63 throwback they changed the mask to navy blue, took the player numbers off the sides of the helmet, and got rid of the block letters. ALL MISTAKES in my opinion. Why tamper with near-perfection? For the BILLS either gray or blue would have been fine, but gray only if we still had the grazing Bison. White masks do not look good on white helmets. EX: New England's white 'Pat Patriot' helmets with 80s white mask they wore on Thankgiving. Looked so much better with the gray mask on their AFL-50 throwbacks worn in 2009

3) As a little kid I HATED the white jersey on white pants with a passion. The OL looked so porky in them. In '73 when we went to the blue pants for the road games, to this day it remains my favorite BILLS uniform change .... ever

4) No ...

5) I don't know what anyone means by 'wordmark'. If that means the BILLS script logo below the NFL shield I'm totally cool with that. A white one for the blue jersey, and blue for the road.

[andrewharrington]

The helmet does not have white separating the stripes, the numbers are not one color and blue socks are not the only option, so you can breathe a little easier now, TheOldRoman.

[JohnnySeoul]

The helmet does not have white separating the stripes, the numbers are not one color and blue socks are not the only option, so you can breathe a little easier now, TheOldRoman.

Pic, please.

[tvko]

Why can't we just argue about the uniform instead of argue about each other's opinions and college football and corporations and name calling and who decides and sales and egos? Bright blue monochrome = yuck.

No champion block is disappointing. Could've been a unique and clever nod to their history. Overall set is quite good though. Upgrade.

[JohnnySeoul]

Why can't we just argue about the uniform instead of argue about each other's opinions and college football and corporations and name calling and who decides and sales and egos?

Bright blue monochrome = yuck.

No champion block = dumb.

Upgrade, though.

Massive upgrade!!

[TheOldRoman]

The helmet does not have white separating the stripes, the numbers are not one color and blue socks are not the only option, so you can breathe a little easier now, TheOldRoman.

Wow, great news if true.

[BBTV]

One color numbers are very underrated. If the rest of the uniform has more than one color, single-color numbers (as long as they're the darker of the colors on the white jersey) can actually enhance the look of the other detail. There's also something to be said about single-color twill numbers just looking... "tougher" (for lack of a better term.) I think that if they had a lot of red white and blue trim along the sleeves and collar, single-color royal blue numbers would be just fine.

[andrewharrington]

One color numbers are very underrated. If the rest of the uniform has more than one color, single-color numbers (as long as they're the darker of the colors on the white jersey) can actually enhance the look of the other detail. There's also something to be said about single-color twill numbers just looking... "tougher" (for lack of a better term.) I think that if they had a lot of red white and blue trim along the sleeves and collar, single-color royal blue numbers would be just fine.

I would wholeheartedly agree with your sentiment here. It's a shame that any time you make a concept with one color numbers, 80% of the comments say, "Add an outline to the numbers and it's perfect!"

[oldschoolvikings]

One color numbers are very underrated. If the rest of the uniform has more than one color, single-color numbers (as long as they're the darker of the colors on the white jersey) can actually enhance the look of the other detail. There's also something to be said about single-color twill numbers just looking... "tougher" (for lack of a better term.) I think that if they had a lot of red white and blue trim along the sleeves and collar, single-color royal blue numbers would be just fine.

Packers, Raiders, Giants, Browns, Steelers, Cowboys, 49ers, Ohio State, Michigan, USC, LSU... yup, I think we can find a lot of examples of teams that would agree with you.