ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - What was the NFL thinking when it scheduled the warm-weather Miami Dolphins to play their division-rival Buffalo Bills in the cozy confines of a domed stadium in December, and in Canada of all places?
That's the question numerous unhappy Bills fans have been asking since the schedule came out with Buffalo playing a "home'' game against Miami at Toronto's Rogers Centre on Dec. 7.
With that in mind, two Bills season-ticket holders, Andrew Petrinec and Al Keohane, decided to do something about shifting the climate-controlled playing field in Buffalo's favor by organizing a petition to have the domed stadium's retractable roof open for the game.
"We're just trying to make a difference,'' said Petrinec, who's gathered about 1,000 signatures on the Internet and in person. "We're trying to do anything we can to help out the team and make a little noise so maybe the league will recognize that fans aren't extremely thrilled with it.''
It's bad enough that Buffalo fans were deprived of a game in Orchard Park against an AFC East opponent when the Bills secured a five-year deal to become the first NFL team to start playing annual regular-season games outside the U.S.
What's worse is the Bills losing their traditional cold-field advantage.
The Dolphins have certainly struggled at Orchard Park after Dec. 1, going 2-7, including two playoff losses.
- the associated press
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