Argos players speak out on the Bills on OTR

The idea of the Buffalo Bills playing in Toronto does not sit well with some members of the CFL's Argonauts.

Four players appeared on TSN's Off The Record on Tuesday and offered their strong feelings during the podcast segment of the show, known as Really Off The Record.

''I definitely hate the idea of Buffalo coming up here. I really dislike it," said defensive end Jonathan Brown. "I mean, they're stepping on our turf.  This is our turf - this is the CFL.  They definitely have no business coming up here.''

Starting quarterback Kerry Joseph, who played in the NFL prior to coming to the CFL, is concerned about the effect the Bills may have on the Argonauts and would prefer they play elsewhere.

''I think it can hurt the market here," said Joseph. "There's enough professional teams here, we don't need another one. They're doing fine in Buffalo - or go somewhere else."

And while Backup quarterback Michael Bishop understands why organizers want NFL games in Toronto, he warns their quest for profits may come at a price in Canada.

''I think it's all about the money.  If you can make money, make money," said Bishop. "But a lot of times you think about that fast money and how much you can make and you forget about all the little things. You forget about the CFL players. You forget about the Toronto Argonauts. You forget about those things.''

Brown agreed with his quarterbacks and took the warnings to another level, raising the possibility the NFL could spell the demise of the Argonauts in short order.

"When you think about it, it's from the heads of the Rogers Centre. Those guys are really into bringing an NFL team up here," said Brown. "That's what they really want, and that would really hurt the CFL to have the Toronto market out of business. So I think that they are teetering on losing the team. You never know what happens in five or six years.''

Bishop even brought up the idea of having the Argonauts take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Buffalo and giving the NFL a taste of their own medicine.

''It can go both ways, but, I mean, as a CFL fan, you want to keep it within the CFL,'' said Bishop.

However, it's not that the players dislike the NFL. Joseph said he would go to a game if he had tickets and noted that he goes to New Orleans Saints games when he is at home in Louisiana.

''I just love the game,'' Joseph said.