NFL

Why Buffalo is trying to ban Bon Jovi music

Jon Bon Jovi may have a bad name in Buffalo, but the NFL’s most colorful owner can’t stop singing his praises.

The 52-year-old rock star has been linked to a Toronto-based developer who wants to buy an NFL team and move it to Toronto, and the Bills are seen as a prime candidate after the death of owner Ralph Wilson in March. Bills fans have responded by starting an online petition to ban his music.

The founders of 12th Man Thunder, a Bills fan club, are asking local bars to ban his songs from being played by DJs, live bands or jukeboxes.

As of Wednesday morning, 42 Buffalo establishments are enforcing the ban, and more than 3,900 people have signed an online petition to help keep the Bills in Buffalo.

Meanwhile, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones gave a strong endorsement of Bon Jovi, telling USA Today at the NFL owner meetings in Atlanta he is a potentially “outstanding” bidder for the Bills.

“I don’t know of anyone that I have any more respect for as a father, or as a husband, or certainly as a potential business partner,” Jones said. “Jon Bon Jovi is first-class.”

“He knows many of the owners personally,” he added. “All owners know of him. But he knows them personally. He’s committed. He’s very genuine. You talk about individuals and talk about their qualification — there hasn’t been anybody more qualified to be involved in sports ownership, or certainly ownership in the NFL, than Jon Bon Jovi.”