LOCAL Keeping The Bills in Buffalo

The moves come as negotiations are under way between the Bills and Erie County and New York state to extend the Bills' lease at Ralph Wilson Stadium in suburban Buffalo. The current deal expires in July 2013.

The talks include how to divide the costs of proposed renovations to the 40-year-old facility, estimated at upwards of $200 million to $220 million. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has said the Bills and the NFL have been asked to contribute an undisclosed share.

At a news conference at the stadium Wednesday, Schumer said he has spoken with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about his idea that a "due on sale" clause in the NFL's G-4 loan program be waived for teams that have had the same owner for at least 20 years. The clause requires owners to fully repay the loans if the team is sold.

Although the Bills' 93-year-old owner Ralph Wilson has maintained that he has no intention of selling the team during his lifetime, he has indicated his heirs would sell the team, meaning any G-4 loan the Bills might receive for stadium upgrades would likely have to be repaid before the end of 18- to 20-year term of the l