Tick Tock

by Ryan

I'm counting down the minutes to midnight.

Once the clock strikes twelve we can finally put to rest this awful month. There are many ways to divide up the progression of time, and as sports seasons go it is often best divided by months. However, this November was not one anyone around here wants to remember.



Bills' record this month: 1-3

Sabres' record this month: 5-7-1

Those numbers alone don't look all that terrible, but they lack the context that truly describes how terrible they've been. After a fast start by both teams that had so much promise both teams have crashed back to earth in startling fashion. For the Bills the wheels have completely come off, and what looked like a sure playoff berth has vanished for yet another year. This is probably the best way to describe the depression currently setting in, but the reversal of fortunes we've seen in just a few weeks is almost amazing.

The Sabres have also reverted back to the mediocrity we know and despise. The more you watch the team the closer they come back to earth, and the growing fear is that they just don't have it this year. While Thomas Vanek has come into his own the rest of the team just seems to linger with no sense of purpose or urgency.

Both teams seem to take on the same sad characteristics. They both have spectacular third jerseys and lots of potential. They underachieve and lose to bad teams, and they always seem to only play to their opponent's level. They are not the marks of a bad team, but a middle of the road team. It is something we have grown used to, and I know many of us are sick of it.

The turn of a calender may not do much for either team, but a fresh start would be nice for both. It's too late for the Bills now, but there is still time for the hockey team to get it together. December 1st and a game already. No more goofy schedule, and maybe the return of good hockey.

Hey, there's always next month.

Bend Over

by Ryan



What an awful football game played by an awful team. All hope is lost. Thank God it's over.

Gameday Prep: Bills vs. 49ers

by Ryan

The 90s were a hell of a drug

Announcers: Fox's Q Team (Courtesy of Awful Announcing)

Depth Charts: 49ers, Bills

Stats: NFL.com, ESPN, or Yahoo Sports all do a good job. If you have fantasy teams through Yahoo, you're better off paying the ten bucks for "stattracker", it's a lifesaver. (Especially when you have three fantasy leagues with Yahoo...)

Things They've Been Saying:
- Langston Walker is a big dude.

- Russert Memorial Plaza gets dedicated today.

- Graham also does a nice job breaking down the numbers put up against 4-3 vs. 3-4 defenses.

- Here's a quick injury report, which I'm sure will get longer before kickoff.

Pump-Up Song that Will Melt Your Face Off: Tool, "The Pot"





Fun Facts:

- If you think you had a bad weekend, at least you didn't shoot yourself.

- Pictures of big people.

- There is a part of me that thinks we would all be better off if the Bills choked today and didn't string us along. I hope to God they win today, but still...

- So... who's their quarterback again. Wait, really?

Okay, that's it. Game time. Let's uh, let's see what happens...




Go Bills.

Owning Up

by Ryan

If you are upset about the Sabres' fortunes, take solace in the fact that the Montreal Canadiens are having a similar go off it this year. Both teams started off very fast and have struggled as of late. That means two very angry teams playing determined hockey tonight.

One of the big reasons the Sabres have looked so good recently has been the play of Mark Mancari. I will be the first to say I was completely wrong about bringing him up to the big show, and he's played his heart out since putting on the blue and gold. My main concern with his game was that he wouldn't be able to keep up.

Chris and I both saw the Amerks play last year and were blown away by the things he was doing down there. He was outplaying everyone on the ice, and looked ready to make the leap to the NHL and be a solid performer. Yet when he got his chance he looked... slow.

Mike Weber was another one like that. His first time up he looked tentative and nervous, but he was playing great hockey when I saw him in Hamilton a month later. Some players just can't adjust to the pro speed quick enough, and it takes a few cracks at a roster to make it. There are a few players like that, they show all the talent in the world but the whispers of "he's not going to make it" make the rounds and you worry.



Those were the kind of worries I had about Mancari, and they are all but gone now. He plays every shift with a desperation rarely seen in the other players on this roster, and his defensive responsibility has been there to boot. No dumb penalties, no tentative shifts, and great forechecking. He has been one of the best Sabres on the ice in every game he's played, and I'm excited to see what he can do if he gets the chance to stay up.

So there, I was wrong, but like I said before I hoped I would be. This team needed a boost and Mark has stepped in and played the part perfectly. Being physical may not be his game, but he's shown he's willing to do whatever it takes to stay in this league. That's the kind of player you want on your team, and we need more guys to play like that if we want to see hockey this spring.

Looks like the same lineup is going tonight. I'd be satisfied with the same result.

Second Effort

by Ryan

There was a time I liked rooting for the Penguins. The way the team came together last year looked a lot like the Sabres of 06/07. A likable group of guys, a bunch of young talent, and a goaltender just finally coming into his own seemed to mirror what Briere, Drury and company did a few years ago. It would have been nice to see that team do what Buffalo couldn't, just to see that it's possible.

Of course there were a few other reasons, Crosby and Malkin being two major ones. You cannot deny their all-world talent, and having the privilege to watch them night in and night out must really be something. Add in a few intangibles like a local boy on the roster, an old timer you'd love to have on your team, and a blogosphere to follow it all through and you have a pretty compelling playoff run.

---

Now it's different. Everything seems different, really, including the fact that I just can't root for Pittsburgh anymore. The "they are just like us" mentality just isn't there anymore because the more I think about it the more they are not like us. First of all, they have two. Teams are lucky to have one all-world player on their roster. The Sabres maybe, maybe have one. The Penguins have Malkin and Crosby, and when they go down a goal they can suddenly toss the two on the same line and see what happens. It's like rooting for the sports car drag racing a Saturn Vue. It may be close for a bit, but which one has that extra level?

There are plenty of other reasons as well, including the fact that they have won it all before. There is an undeniable smugness that comes with a championship, and you see it after any loss. Sure, it's almost justified, but when it rears its ugly head you can only notice how different some people are.

Maybe this isn't going anywhere, but I just can't get over how different this year feels. I keep going to the places I'd go last year and see things I can't believe. The arrogance of some people I respected has been stunning,and to see how some people act when they fall short is sad. A team is not superior because they finished second, and instead of acting like it you should sit back and savor the fact that you get to watch two of the best players on the planet play in your colors every few days.



Most teams don't get any. You have two. So fuck the Penguins. I'll take a tough win with a third line center scoring the winner over your superstars any day. That's hockey, and the game is bigger than any one player. Forget the officials, forget who's in net, forget who's on ice for the other team. Overcome all the bullshit and win hockey games the only way you know how. That's what Paul Gaustad did last night, and that's why he's the namesake.



Sometimes it takes a second effort to win, but you always have to be willing to give it.

Some other thoughts while we get ready for the Habs:

- So... Kaleta has that reputation I was talking about earlier this season, right? That's the second game in a row with two borderline penalties called against him. Not good.




- After reading Sully's column about the Sabres I was really down on Max, but there he goes with the best game of the season. Again. If he is getting moved I'm fine with it, but it will be nice if he keeps playing like fantastic trade bait in the mean time. Maybe Ales will stick around after all...

- The Sabres HOF stuff was pretty awesome. Hearing what Andreychuk had to say about the city was so nice I don't even care if he's making it up. I don't care what outsiders say about our city and our fans. Hearing what former players say about us makes everything else moot.

- Penalty killing was great last night. The Pens love doing the backdoor pass and going across the box, but a lot of it was held to the outside. Their unit has been struggling, but when you have that much talent on the ice something has to give eventually.

- What the hell was Jaro thinking on that second Crosby goal? That can't be the best option, right? It was a great shot by Sid on what probably should have been nothing otherwise, but c'mon man. There's a reason our entries on the PP are awful, and right now it looks like it's you.

- There were still a few defensive lapses that just never seem to go away. The Kennedy goal was a great example. Still, it was nice to see Sidney Crosby drifting on Stafford's second of the night. I love when All Stars give the Briere Backcheck, don't you?

- Rivet had a really good game, to the point where Chris sent me a text saying "The Rivet I love is back." Maybe his phantom injury is healed, or maybe he just got pissed off and is playing like he should. Whatever, just keep it up.

- Miro Satan was on the ice last night. I know he didn't do much, but I checked the boxscore and it said he played. Just so you know.

- Curry played really well for being an AHL goalie. He robbed Vanek a few times and made some big saves throughout. It's really not his fault the defense refused to help him out in front. Like, at all. Goose should have been flat on his back all night, and those Stafford goals shouldn't exist either. They are hurting without Gonchar and Whitney.

Plenty more to say, but let's save it for tonight's post about Montreal. Another big game to cap off a big week for the Sabres. Last game of a pitiful November. I can't wait to change the calender on this month.

Pictures of Crowds

by Ryan

Sometimes when you are looking for game photos you get some interesting crowd shots. With the Pens in town and the Sidney Crosby show in full swing, the main theme of photos tonight seems to be "Sidney Crosby fans in Buffalo." But you know what, screw those people. I'm not even going to bother showing you those photos because you shouldn't want to punch teenage girls in the face. Here, take a look at this kid:



That kid in the middle doing that point, just over Roy's left shoulder. That kid is awesome. I want to be friends with that kid, and if that's not possible, I want him superimposed on every Sabres celebration for the next few weeks. If I can't do it, just picture that kid in your mind.

We will have a full post in the morning, but you have to take a look at Paul Gaustad's postgame press conference. If you have any doubt why the site's named after him, listen to him trying to be all business after one of the best games of his career. If you want to be friends with the little kid above, you want to be roommates with Goose.

Oracular Goosetacular

We'll have plenty to say later, but you know when Paul Gaustad scores two goals you are getting more than one post. Huge game on a big night. More to come.

Atlas in Medias

by Ryan

As of right now I have no idea who's playing tonight. Sabres Edge will be all over it, but as of right now there is no real answers as to who plays tonight against Pittsburgh. Fellow Paul Gaustad fan Paul Hamilton has this to say about the roster, but there's not much more there other than that Miller is in goal for sure.

I've been looking at some numbers on Behindthenet just because I was curious to see if they matched what we've been watching over the past few games. I think it's safe to say Max has been bad defensively, and his numbers show it. Also not faring well there is Teppo Numminen and, somewhat surprisingly, Craig Rivet. I still think he's been playing hurt, but maybe that's just me.

One place Max has been doing his job is drawing penalties, as he is second on the team with eight despite significantly less ice time. I'm not exactly sure how that metric is calculated, however, as Pat Kaleta is nowhere to be found on that list.

You can make stats say pretty much whatever you want, but it's interesting to give them a look over every so often to see for yourself what the numbers say. Later on in the season is when they begin to mean more, but 21 games in is a good time to look back and ask some questions.

What we all know is that Thomas Vanek is the most important person on this team, and if there is any hope in beating a solid Penguins team tonight he needs to be in the lineup. We will know more shortly, but Atlas needs to be healthy for this team to do much of anything this year. If he could possibly make his injury worse tonight I hope he sits, but I think this game is pretty important, and we all know he's a tough cat after Wednesday's third period.

Either way, here's my question: do you go after Lucic in January if Vanek misses time? Should they have gone after him on Wednesday? My immediate instinct was much the same of Roy Ray (as in: "some s#$t's about to go down...") but it never solidified. Getting the win was good, but how soft does this team look if no one stepped in after your best player gets run?

On Wednesday I called it a tough win against a tough team. Losing Vanek, however, is much more important than just two points. In a few hours all of the above may be rendered moot, but it's certainly something to think about.

No Thanks Necessary

by Ryan



It was a mixed set of emotions when the NFL announced they would be playing another game on Thanksgiving a few years back. My first thought was that it would be a bit odd considering how long it's been with just the two games each year. My next thought was that it would be good; finally there was a chance we would get to see a decent game. By the time I realized most of the country won't get to see that third game, well, it was just the same old same old.

And here we are, another year with three awful football games under our stretched belts. Maybe it tells you something about the parody found in the NFL, or maybe it's just telling you how badly the Lions suck. Still, you have to think there is a way to make this work just a bit better, right? I can't remember getting excited about a football game on Thanksgiving since Vikings/Cowboys in 1998. That's ten years ago, folks, and there have been overtime games since then. That's not good.

I'm not exactly suggesting the Lions get their game taken away. That's not really fair, and tradition is tradition. However, when you get three straight stinkers on one of the most important football days of the year, something should change. The problem is I honestly can't come up with an answer, but maybe the turkey is clouding my mind.

Does anyone have an idea that could fix the mess we saw yesterday? Better yet, are you okay with what you saw? Is that part of the allure of these games, the convenient background noise you don't have to pay attention to? I know I didn't follow the other two games at all because I didn't have any fantasy players in them, and I'm kind of embarrassed that I expected them to be that bad. Once the thrill of perfection faded from the Lions game, the other two really didn't matter to me anymore.

It's not that I'm tired of the Lions, really, I'm just tired of seeing them blown out. Is there any way we get to see competitive football on Thanksgiving within the next... five years? That would be awesome.

What Ryan's Thankful For

by Ryan

I'm thankful for Dustin Pedrioa, Youk, and Josh Beckett for gutting out Game Six. I'm thankful for Paul Gaustad, Thomas Vanek's hockey mind, and Pat Kaleta's enthusiasm. I'm thankful for Marshawn Lynch and Donte Whitner. But most of all, I'm thankful for sports fans like myself.

Without people to talk to about the stars we love none of this would be any fun. So thanks to my Dad for handing me that first football, friends for letting me know when there's open ice, and the person next to me at hockey games that's willing to discuss the forecheck. Watching sports is much more fun in crowds, so to anyone who has been part of a crowd with me, I say thank you.

Most of all, I'm thankful for whoever is reading this. You, the reader, is what this whole blog is about. So thank you for stopping by, whether every day or just when fun things happen. We appreciate every visit, comment, and email. Thank you for challenging us with opinions and keeping us honest when we mess things up real nice. We're not going anywhere, and hopefully you won't be either.

Oh, and whoever sent that link to Deadspin yesterday, thank you. That was fun. We owe you a slice of pie somewhere down the line.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

What Jon's Thankful For

by Jon

When something goes wrong in the sporting world, everyday life as we know it keeps on truckin'. When something goes wrong in the real world, all hell can break loose (I'm looking at you GM, Citi Group, Fannie Mae, and on and on and on.)

I think that when it comes to sports, that's what I am most thankful for. They are such a great escape with a relatively low downside. If your team loses (something we are all too accustomed to), it's a bit of a downer. It's disappointing and it may affect your mood a little bit, but that's it. No extreme layoffs, no stock market swing, no deaths, no illnesses -- it just stings a little bit.

So thank you sports, for giving me a reason to let my brain wander from all of the crazy, real life situations that make this world a hectic place.

Prayers for Patrick

by Ryan

Thank God the glass didn't shatter. I've got a turkey thawing and there's just no time for a hospital visit...

Anyone else have a better caption for the pious pair?

Turkey Day Special

The best way to celebrate the holidays is to watch South Park. In case the Lions/Titans game sucks (read: it will), just watch this about 300 times each.



What's that? The Cowboys/Seahawks game will suck, too? Good point. Here's another...

Overcome by the Light of Day: Slugs are Dead

by Ryan

First of all, let's sit back and enjoy this.



Beautiful. I still don't like the little half circle gray insets, but anything is better than the slug.

Notice anything about that uniform? No slugs anywhere. Not on the pants, helmets, anything. When the throwback uniforms served as the third jersey two years ago the Sabres used the same helmets, which meant a huge slug was still a part of the uniform. Not this time. This is the beginning of the end for the slug, and I couldn't be happier.

Someday this whole thing will go down as a "novel experiment", just like Prohibition, Doug Flutie, and captain by committee; and this team will be better off for it.

Oh yeah, about that game...

- Lindy Ruff did a good job coaching up his boys for this game. They came out ready, hit hard, and played a very strong game. Miller played very well, with one goal a fluke and the other the result of a defensive lapse. Those really were the only mistakes of the night, and that's exactly the kind of hockey you want to see at home after three days off. Well deserved two points.

- I give Andrew Peters a hard time around here, but he did his job again tonight. All you can ask of him is to play his role, and he did it along with making a few good plays on defense. As a fan you don't love his fight, but a lot of the players talked about it as a positive. Maybe just the fact that he stood up and fought was enough, showing Boston that they were going to respond to every hit they threw.

- Speaking of hits, I'm pretty sure this is the Lucic hit on Atlas.



Late? Maybe, but I would have loved to see someone step up and beat the hell out of Lucic anyway. Still, as much as I hate that guy, you have to appreciate his game and the way he goes out there and hits everything. Also worth considering is the fact that we have this guy:



Another great game by Kaleta. I don't even mind the two penalties, which were both close calls. You want to see him finish checks and crash the net, and that's exactly what he did. Seeing him out there killing the last few minutes of the game was nice, too. If this team is going to succeed in the postseason they need to be able to play a game like this. Tough, hard hitting hockey teams win playoff games, and sometimes you need to ease up on the finesse and bang some bodies.

- Give credit to Tallinder and Afinogenov, both came back and had great games. Max was visibly upset with his benching but probably played the best game of the season tonight. If he plays like this every night I want him on my team. Hank also played fantastic, and it's nice to see him bounce back. Some players just aren't mentally tough enough to take criticism (See Kalinin, Dimitri) but it's good to know these guys got the message.



- This kid is right: big wheels were freaking awesome. However, if you are buying someone you love a car for Christmas, throw me a bone and get me something nice too. You can afford it, Mr. Gates.

- Question: what happens to Mancari when Timmy or Ales gets healthy? You can't possibly send him down after the three games he's had, right? Do you have a choice?

We still have a few things coming tomorrow for your Thanksgiving viewing. Don't expect anything major, but we promise to make it worth your while. If you're not coming back, have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and be safe out there tonight.

Home for the Holiday

by Ryan

I was searching on the interwebs a while back and discovered that there are two HSBC Arenas. The first one is, of course, in Buffalo, New York; but there is another one in Rio de Janeiro.

Right now it seems like the Sabres would have a better win percentage if they played in Brazil. Since starting out like gangbusters, the Sabres play has deteriorated significantly, and it starts with their play at home. As of tonight they take a 5-5-1 record, inherently mediocre record for a team slipping closer and closer to "average."

A lot has been said about what the Sabres need to do to start winning, but for me it starts with their play at home. Boston is a tough team, but any game at the Arena is winnable. The problem is that their play has been subpar and the crowds have followed suit. Thy haven't been outright booing anyone, but the atmosphere that existed as recently as last season just hasn't been there.



It's true, there hasn't been much to cheer about, but I think it's safe to say the significant home ice advantage just isn't there anymore. If this team is going to be a factor in the postseason it has to have a home record above .500, and if there was ever a time to get it going it would be tonight.

Boston has been the monkey on Buffalo's back for quite some time now. They just can't close this team out, and if they are going to stop he free fall they need to start beating good teams. Boston is for real, I'm convinced of that now, but I'm not as sure about this Sabres team anymore.

It's going to be rowdy tonight, as every day-before-Thanksgiving game is. I don't care who is in the lineup tonight, just play sixty minutes. Lindy is running out of cliches and you're running out of time. It's not a must win tonight, but it's pretty damn important if you ask me.

Sixty minutes in front of your home crowd. That's all I ask.

Coming at You

by Ryan



Jonny Flynn looks to be the real deal, and so does this Syracuse team. Beating the last two national champions in consecutive nights is kind of a big deal, and if they clean up the mistakes we could be in for some fun this year.

Nice to see a few local kids done gooder, eh?

The Sixteen Percenters

by Ryan

Of the 25 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, four of them are Buffalo Bills.

Steve Tasker



Bruce Smith



Andre Reed



Ralph C. Wilson

We all know Bruce is a lock, but does anyone else have a chance? I think Ralph has an outside chance, but Tasker probably won't ever get in. Hopefully Reed can get a push this year, but Cris Carter will probably get the nod over him.

Thoughts?

This is a Great Idea

by Ryan

In Buffalo we call it tailgating. In college it's called "pregaming." Tailgating is oftentimes the best part of going to football games, as any Bills fan knows that sometimes the on field performance doesn't match the intensity of the parking lot gatherings. There is nothing like walking up to the stadium passing gril busses, fire pits, and big screen televisions to get fired up for a football game.

Pregaming, on the other hand, is just a fancy way of saying "I need to be drunk for this." Attending your little sister's dance recital? Dude, let's pregame that s#@t. Leery about that doctor's appointment? If you pregame you know it'll be a good time. You can pregame pretty much anything. Court dates, final exams, baby showers. Forget pregaming the wedding, you pregame the wedding rehearsal.

And that's why this is the greatest idea in the history of human civilization.



"You know what would be cool? Getting bombed in a mall parking lot at midnight and then going f#$king shopping!"

Whoever came up with this deserves a raise. Immediately. Happy Thanksgiving, genius. What better crowd of people to put at a high end shopping mall than a bunch of Bills fans? Don't you need some Juicy after eating turkey for 11 hours? You know it. I've been thinking about a new Coach purse to match my unbuckled belt, too. Probably something gravy-colored.

And I know what you're thinking: there's no mention of beer. C'mon people, this is a tailgate party. There will be beer. Lots of it. Besides, that's about the only thing that could get most people to a mall at midnight.

Quickly

by Ryan

I am very curious to know what you think about this.

It's not often that I take the side of the mainstream media, but I think the blogger in this case is completely out of line. After all the shots I've seen taken at local writers, I don't think I'd ever see anything so disturbing as this, and I take what he said completely serious. We're not the best at comedy here, but that's not funny. At all.

In fact, I think even with all we've said about the likes of Gleason or Sullivan there is still a level of respect we have for them. Threatening to curb stomp a journalist and ultimately kill him is way, way over the line.

Then again, perhaps I'm wrong. I'm interested to see what other bloggers in the community think about this. I respect the way we've discussed the MSM in the past, but would you ever do something like that?

Mixing it Up a Bit

by Ryan



Just something to think about while you get ready for another Wednesday Bruins game. I'll have something in English later on today.

Keep your sticks low, guys.

Montreal No More

by Ryan

I was watching the Sabres a few days ago and noticed Teppo wasn't using his usual stick. On the surface that seems like a very perceptive observation, but with Teppo Numminen it's an easy thing to do. He happens to own his own stick company, Montreal Sports Ltd, a company his father Kallu started.



This is Teppo a few games ago, clearly using a Warrior stick like Thomas Vanek and a few others on the team. You have to wonder why he would change like that, as surely he is getting a lot of say in what Montreal manufactures. Maybe he's just trying something different, right?

Well, this explains it. Warrior bought Teppo's company back in late September. I guess that explains the stick, but I'm surprised I didn't hear about this elsewhere. The Buffalo News or somebody had to have this and I just missed it, right?



Here's Marty Biron on Friday night, another well-documented Montreal guy. Looks like everyone has been transferred to Warrior, so they probably aren't making sticks at all. I know this isn't that big a deal, but it's about the most exciting thing going on with Sabres hockey. Tomorrow's inane observation: Ryan Miller's eyes, lazy or crooked eyebrows?

Slim But Still Kicking

by Ryan

As of today we are still "In the Hunt" as the leaderboards like to say. It may not feel like it mentally, but statistically this is so. Does anyone here still think the Bills have a good shot at the playoffs? Perhaps, but I think we all understand what needs to be done for it to happen. Before we get to some points on the game, let's lay out what the Bills need to do to get a wild card spot. Keep in mind this isn't looking at the other teams and their schedules, but just what the Bills can control.

- Win the remaining three games within the division: There's no way the Bills make the playoffs with a below .500 record against the AFC East. The Bills need to realistically leap two teams in the East to have a chance at the Wild Card, and that means no sweeps. If they don't beat the eventual division champs I suppose that doesn't matter, but who knows which team that will be?

- Get healthy: The injuries on defense have to stop, and the guys currently out have to be back for the stretch run. They already screwed themselves at linebacker and DiGorgio is on IR, but there are some players that could come back and help this team. Guys like Schobel and Whitner are huge parts of the Bills defense, and getting them back for the last five games would be a big help.

- Screw it, win out. Looking at the schedule there are two real "losable" games: @NYJ and @Denver. The Bills should be able to win the remaining "home" games and can conceivably lose to the division winner (Jets) but still make the playoffs. Losing to Denver would be tough but one could assume they hold the other wild card position, and the Bills never seem to win those type of road games.

If the above is any indication, the Bills probably won't make the playoffs. I don't see this team going 4-1 or better down the stretch, but it's still possible. Ah, the power of math. Here are some thoughts on the game, because it's the only good thing I've watched in the past two weeks.

- Solomon Wilcots loves Herm Edwards. I decided this after the third time he claimed Herm did a "great job" coaching the Cheifs this year. Herm Edwards is an awful coach, and he should be fired. How he's not gone yet is beyond me. He destroyed Larry Johnson's career, dicked around with his quarterbacks incessantly, and makes coaching decisions I couldn't defend if I was on speed. Those two challenges were freaking horrible yesterday, and Solomon slobbered all over his underachieving man-member like he was the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Dick Jauron is a mediocre head coach. I've accepted this and moved on. However, matching up against Herm is like Manny playing tee ball with six year olds. He's not just ripping the cover off the ball, he's ripping the face off the toddler.

- It was good to see that even in victory the Bills defense managed to allow that monster run play a few times. Nice to know Larry Johnson still has knees after that 2006 season.



- You have to hand it to the coaching staff in how they handled Trent. They knew KC's defense was awful, but the kid gloves approach really helped bring him along nicely as the game progressed. I'm not sure I like the naked bootleg run stuff with our recently concussed quarterback, but it was nice to see him gain back some confidence. He's going to need it for the playoff push in '09.

- Isn't Marshawn Lynch fun? I loved that he wanted to get back in the game after that late hit. This was the kind of game you want him to have every week, and I don't care if his stats showed it or not. He's not on my fantasy team, so I couldn't care less if he gets over 100 yards. Hit holes, finish your runs, and let Jackson get some carries as well. This is what we've wanted from the Bills running game all year, and it only took two games against awful defenses to get it. Hey, at least we play Denver soon...

- Perhaps Mitchell was a bit too "amped up" to play in Kansas City again. He missed a ton of tackles and just sort of pushed Thigpen in the end zone instead of powerbombing him for the safety. Not a good showing overall.

- Leodis McKelvin is a bust.

- Do you think the Bills play better with a shorter week because they have to think less? Like, if they were playing the Lions on Thursday is there any doubt in your mind that the game plan would be absolutely stellar? Strange.

Any thoughts on the game? We never get comments on Bills posts, but maybe that's just because the last month has been so depressing it wasn't worth talking about.

Throw it Again, Herm

by Ryan



Herm Edwards just challenged the final score. I'm not sure why, but Solomon Wilcots thinks it's a great decision.

Gameday Prep: Bills @ Chiefs

by Ryan

If Dick gets out coached by this guy I'm going to murder him

Announcers: Ian Eagle, Solomon Wilcots. (Courtesy of Awful Announcing)

Depth Charts: Chiefs, Bills

Stats: NFL.com, ESPN, or Yahoo Sports all do a good job. If you have fantasy teams through Yahoo, you're better off paying the ten bucks for "stattracker", it's a lifesaver. (Especially when you have three fantasy leagues with Yahoo...)

Things They've Been Saying:
- Tim Graham and friends on the "quarterback controversy"

- The Sporting News thinks the Bills are headed in the wrong direction. No freaking kidding.

- Josh Reed looks like he will return today. Thank God.

- Kansas City doesn't seem too optimistic about this game.

Pump-Up Song that Will Melt Your Face Off: "No Cars Go"



"Let's go" is pretty much all there is to say.

Fun Facts:

- Zero Bills on a Scouts Inc. Top 25 Rookies list. I'm sure Leodis was #26...

- AP has a nice way of putting the problems facing each team.

- I feel the need to remind people that with the exception of whatshisname in Minnesota, Herm Edwards is absolutely the worst coach in football. I'm actually kind of amazed he still has a job right now. He singlehandedly killed Larry Johnson, and his three quarterback approach is actually pretty incredible. Too bad everyone else got hurt and made the decision for him, I'd like to have seen them ferried in and out.

- I'm actually intrigued by this Tyler Thigpen kid. Second straight rookie quarterback we're dealing with, so he's probably going to go 27/34, 345, 4TDs. I'm pumped.

Okay, that's it. Game time. Let's uh, let's see what happens...




Go Bills.

Bumps and Bruises

by Ryan

After Streit scored I turned to Texas Tech getting killed. I was in no mood for anything hockey-related, and even a blowout college football game could at least get me prepared for the Bills. I was in no mood to post much of anything, but I figured I could force something short and get it out of the way. Then I got a text message:

"Want to play hockey at ten?"

Of course I didn't. I haven't touched a stick in three months, I'm out of shape, and I was in a bad mood in general. Besides all that, I had things to do. Reading or some posting or... I don't know. Something. Maybe I should go to church, that might help the current situation, right?

And here I sit, 3:24 in the morning and sore as all hell. Of course I went and played hockey, was there ever really any doubt? Sometime between that final goal and me showing up at a bar with a hockey bag I decided that I needed it. After such an awful week, such a depressing sports scene, I needed to remember why I love sports in the first place. We love hockey because it is fun, and I needed to be reminded of that no matter what was going on.

So here I am, bruises all over and more then ready for some sleep. I have a bump on my arm that will make for a good story, and I may walk with a limp for a day or two, but I'm happy. It was nice to just forget about everything and play. The only thing I had to think about tonight was where the trailer was and who's back on defense. No system or contracts to worry about, just your own defense and if you are shooting stick or glove side.

It's easy to get frustrated with hockey and just turn the television off. Sometimes the pro game can get stale, and with a struggling team that can happen fast. What you have to do is get away from it, and maybe play yourself. If you're not up for that, go see a juniors game or watch the Junior Sabres. There's plenty of college hockey to watch too, just to get a chance of pace.

When it comes down to it, hockey isn't played in a big arena with huge crowds. Hockey is meeting at a bar and playing floor hockey, or renting ice, or even playing in a parking lot. It's running a friend hard into the boards or giving the goalie who owes you money an extra playful swipe. It's a goaltender bailing you out after an awful play that leaves you sprawled on the ground. Hockey is that feeling you can't possibly skate anymore, but you need to get back and pick up the extra man.

Most importantly, hockey is fun, and even if you don't feel that right now you know it's true. You have until Wednesday to watch Sabres hockey again, but until then try to remember why you watch hockey in the first place. Get your skates out and see if you can still do it, go watch some kids play and see the smiles on their faces. Heck, pull out that Sega Genesis and play some NHL 95 if you have to. Anything is better than feeling depressed about a hockey team.

Hockey is fun, and I think the sooner we remember that the better; because the Sabres sure aren't helping.

Sharing the Burden

by Ryan

If there is a signature moment in this young season, it came in Boston on Wednesday night.

With Buffalo up 3-2 and on the power play, the top unit was out and looking for a two goal lead. Vanek was parked in front, and as the puck cycled up to Roy near the right faceoff circle you began to hear a noise. The incessant noise of a tapping stick sounds like a lot of things depending on the situation. Sometimes it's the opposing team trying to throw you off, and sometimes it's the best player on your team demanding the puck.

This time it was the latter, and as Thomas Vanek slapped his Warrior stick on the ground like a madman you knew something was going to happen. He did, too. He had body position, he knew what he wanted to do with the pass, and he was ready to do what goal scorers should: score.

As he waited for the pass, you couldn't help but notice a little bit of hesitation in Derek Roy. He wasn't quite sure he trusted what Vanek was doing, and just maybe he was afraid of something going wrong. Still, Atlas kept tapping and eventually Roy relented, firing a pass to the stick of Vanek. A moment later it was in, the red light flashed, and Vanek pointed back to Roy thanking him for the pass, albeit delayed.

---

Thomas Vanek isn't going to win the Hart Trophy this year. He doesn't have enough assists, and quite frankly his "star power" is lacking compared to others in the league. Trophies aside, Thomas Vanek has been the best player on the roster all year, and far and away the most consistent. His line has had defensive struggles, but you couldn't find a player on this team working harder night in and night out.

Taking the body in the corner, getting position in front and accepting the punishment to get there. His creativity has been off the charts, and watching him in person you just have to laugh when you realize the things he is actually trying to do. Sometimes he just misses, sometimes he hits a post, and sometimes his teammates just can't keep up and his pass is missed.

And that might sum pretty much everything up. Thomas Vanek has absolutely torn up the league, but the rest of his team has been behind every step of the way. He is everywhere, making plays for his teammates and pacing the league in goals, but the rest of this team just can't get it together.

Watching him play in person you can see just how hard he's trying, even when the rest of the team coasts. Last night the Sabres put forth a quality effort, but it still wasn't near how Vanek has played all season. There's a reason we've been calling him Atlas, but there comes a time when the team has to stop letting Thomas carry this team and give him a hand.



This sculpture is called Atlas/Sisyphus because historians aren't sure which mythical character it is. Right now I think we should call it Thomas Vanek. Will his amazing performance be a wasted effort come season's end? Is his burden a fruitless effort, destined to trample him in the end?



He needs some help, boys, and eventually someone has to realize it and step up before it's too late.

Amazing

by Ryan

This has nothing to do with anything, but McDonalds has completely lost it. Their new marketing campaign: Nuggnuts.

First of all, that site is safe for work. I know it sure doesn't sound like it, but I can't help that McDonalds is freaking crazy.



Does that make you want to eat anything, let alone crappy chicken? Amazing.

Sinister Thoughts

by Ryan

Sometime after Lindell missed that kick and a Browns fan taunted me, I had a sinister thought:

I hope LeBron James rips your hearts out.



It's a pretty terrible thing to say when you know the situation, but at that point I didn't care. The worst kept secret in sports is that James will sign with the New York Knicks when his current deal expires.

It's the fear of every Cleveland sports fan, and just a mention of Bron Bron in a Yankees cap is enough to make someone hurl "I" shaped pretzels at you in The Jake. As a Buffalonian I know how Cleveland fans feel when it comes to sports heartbreak, so why would I wish something so terrible on a fanbase so tormented?

Well, it's just that kind of week, I guess. Most of the time I'm sympathetic to the sports torments of another city, but this week has been really depressing. In fact I actually enjoyed watching Philly finally see another championship, so why am I suddenly rooting against Cleveland's best chance to win a championship?

Actually that's just it: LeBron James is their best chance to win a championship, so I hope he rips their heart out by leaving. That would put them back on our level, floating out into the nothingness of sports with very little hope of winning it all. We've already lost our best chance in both football and hockey, and after a week like this my heart has turned to a black hole of hatred.

Is it wrong of me to think like that? Yeah, it is. Still, there's not much I can do if a franchise player wants to move to New York to sell a few more shoes. It doesn't matter what I think, but at the same time I kind of hate myself for thinking it.

Man, it's been a rough week.

A View from the Roost: Wake Up

by Ryan



This is the song they play after the Sabres score goals at home games. It's called "Wake Up" and performed by The Arcade Fire. This is just a reminder for anyone who forgot, because they sure didn't play this song tonight.

---

Lindy Ruff had two memorable quotes tonight; the first of which I completely agreed with, and the second I've grown to hate more and more as the night goes on. It's a rare night that Ruff doesn't give you a quote to work with, and tonight he had plenty to say.

"We did a great job of making their goaltender look good"

I completely agree with that. Marty Biron made some good saves, but he wasn't the spectacular 40-save goaltender the boxscore tells you he was. There were lots of missed chances tonight, and while "their goaltender" (I love how he didn't talk about him like a close friend) made some good saves it wasn't the shutout performance that should have been. Vanek missed a breakaway, Stafford missed pretty much everything tonight, and for every shot on goal was a missed shot, rebound, or someone out of position.

Don't think the Sabres didn't play a good game tonight. They did, but it lacked finish in every sense of the word. Vanek had a fantastic game again, but he didn't get the puck into the net. Mancari played well but didn't light the lamp. When you miss your chances it doesn't matter how well you play, it's just not going to happen. Which brings us to Lindy's second quote:

"We're closer to winning than we are losing"

Seriously? F#$k that noise. I'm so tired of this kind of thinking, and you know I'm one to look on the bright side of things. There is nothing about being close that counts unless you have more on your side of the scoreboard at the end of the game. You can take any "moral victories" you want out of a 3-0 loss, I'm going to take the scoreboard and standings, thank you very much.

Yes, Sekera had a much stronger game tonight. Yes, Mancari gave the team a bit of a boost. Yes, Kalata and the checking line had good energy. Yes, they got 40 shots on net tonight. But there was a man streaking out of the box no one picked up, a stoppable second goal, and two 5 on 3s no one could light the lamp on. That's a 3-0 final, and it outweighs anything positive you may find out there.

Yet another loss. I just don't even know what to feel anymore. If we make it to Monday without a win we may be finding bodies in the gorge on Thanksgiving. Here's a few other things from the game while I wait for someone to finish that joke in the comments.



- Looks like a home game for them, eh? Let's just say it was a buyers' market in front of the Arena tonight. I got off the Metro over an hour before faceoff and heard someone offering 80 for a pair. Not sure where they are, but that's under face for any seat in the house. Yeesh.

- So... Craig Rivet's hurt, right? I mean, he has to be ailing from that knee injury. He had no speed tonight and looked very tentative. I respect him if he's playing hurt, but I have to question if he's being all that effective.

- Give Lindy Ruff credit, he gave Mancari his shots and he delivered. He drew a few penalties and had some good scoring chances, even threw a couple of hits. I liked that Lindy put him on the power play immediately, too. If you're going to bring someone in for a spark, play the hell out of him. Hopefully he keeps pushing him and it pays off.

- I know Lindy said he liked Stafford's game, but missing those two open nets just can't happen. You're struggling, the team is struggling, and you're not going to get a better chance than you had tonight. Tie that game up either time and it's a completely different story I'm writing now.

- There were a lot of little kids in the crowd wearing orange Briere jerseys. These parents need to teach their kids that the team is more important than the player. Then again, maybe Lindy should tell some of his guys the same thing...

- The second goal was really unfortunate because Clarke made a pretty good play before the giveaway. It looked awkward, but he kept the puck from going into the bench in an effort to keep play moving up ice. Instead, the puck's coughed up and it's in the net. Those are the little things that really hurt a team no matter how good the intent. That's just the kind of night the entire team had, really.

- Do you think Hank knew he had the day off today and went to the midnight showing of Twilight? Somehow I think that's something he'd totally be into.



- Glen Metropolit plays for the Flyers. I had fogotten that, but I do like him for some reason. The kind of player the Sabres could use more of. Unassuming but does his job well and comes up with a few big goals here and there. I loved him in Boston and Chris makes fun of me for it all the time.

- Also, how the hell did they get a hold of Matt Carle? Bastards. I know they gave up a lot for him, but I would have loved to get him back from San Jose in the Campbell trade. Again, we got Rivet out of that deal in the end, but I wonder how things would have played out if the Sharks were willing to part with him at the deadline last year.

- The turnaround on this game is quick once again. The lack of travel means the Sabres have one less thing to blame tomorrow's loss on, but I'm sure if they get into the 89th percentile in the "victory" quotient we can pull some points out of this weekend yet.

Oh, and to the crazy drunk old man behind me: go to hell. Not in the mood, man, not in the mood.

Keep the Car Running

by Ryan

This has been one of the worst sports weeks in recent history. I grabbed lunch with a friend today and we were both still crushed by the Monday Night Game. Seriously. It wasn't a teary-eyed meeting as much as a depressing one. The more we talked it over it seemed to become okay, but there was a serious amount of tension involved in tonight's game for us both.

Are you getting that feeling, too? That nervous worry about losing, yet at the same time that hopeful bit of optimism a new game can bring. You don't want to see another loss, but you just know how badly this city needs a win. A Friday night game against Philly should be cause for celebration, but I just don't know what to say about Sabres hockey anymore.

Sports fans are supposed to be dim-witted and unintelligent by stereotype, but anyone reading this clearly knows otherwise. Sports can be taken as intellectually as anything in the world with the right amount of effort, and I take pride in just how involved I've become in the sports world. However, tonight is going to be about pure emotion.

I look outside to see a pitch black street. It's getting dark earlier and earlier, and it seems as the weeks have passed our collective mood has followed. People just don't smile when our teams lose, and the colder it gets the most people stop smiling altogether. In an environment like this, in a city like this; we need a distraction to keep us going.

Kevin's right in a way, we need a spark. I need something to cheer me up after all the terrible news I've heard this week, and maybe Mark Mancari can give the boost we need. This whole sports thing is supposed to help us forget the bad times, not add to them. Even after all I've seen this week, I'll be in the crowd once again. I'm still waiting for the spark we've needed all month.

Let's go.

To Kill Some Time

by Ryan

I'll have something more substantial up in a bit, but on the Friday before Thanksgiving you need something to get you through your work day. Here are a few things you may want to take a look at while your boss isn't looking.

- Porky had this a few days ago, but can you name all 30 NHL teams in under 5 minutes?



- This has been elsewhere as well, but Life now has its image archive on Google, and that's certainly worth looking in to. Lots of cool sports pictures, including some amazing hockey shots.



- If you need a pick me up you may want to read Bill Simmons today. It's not the best he's done, but he does have a few nice things to say about Buffalo that may make you smile. Maybe.

- If you need anything else to kill a few hours, FTLT has the weekly links up as well.

Back in a bit to get you ready, or not so ready, for tonight's Sabres/Flyers game.

Out of Reach

By Jon

"Someday you'll understand."

It's every parent's favorite catch phrase. I hated hearing it when I was younger, but of course, the phrase has been proven true over and over again as I've grown.

My dad grew up as Steelers fan in Western Pennsylvania in the seventies. With four Super Bowl titles in six years, it was certainly a good time to be a football fan in Pittsburgh.

That's why it always puzzled me that they had no problems changing their allegiances when arriving in WNY in the late eighties. How can you follow a team for decades to completely abandoning them for a change of scenery? It was completely unfathomable to me.

My dad, now a Bills fan, watched less and less football over the years. He knows the big names on the team, but he doesn't live and die with the team like so many of us do. I was always a fanatic, I couldn't understand how someone who thoroughly enjoys football could only be half invested in his favorite team.

"I'm too busy," he would say. "Someday you'll understand."

This school year has been particularly busy for me. I have my hardest workload yet, and I took on a few more extracurricular responsibilities. My weekends are jam-packed, and nights that were once devoted to ESPN and MSG are now reserved for term papers and tedious music theory homework.

Sundays are particularly bad for me, but for the first seven or so weeks of the NFL season, I found a way to catch the Bills' games.

This past Sunday, I woke up and thought to myself, "What time is the Bills game on? Who do they even play?"

I checked a schedule. Suddenly, it all made sense.

My favorite team was set to play a primetime home game on Monday night, and I didn't even know. The game that I circled on the schedule when it came out was coming up, and I had no idea.

I let myself fall completely out of the loop. Worse yet, my dad was right. As I've gained "big boy" responsibilities, I haven't had the time for one of my favorite pasttimes.

Do I blame myself? Of course not. It's not coincidence that I watched the first five or so games of the season in their entirety. The team was on fire and Bills fans young and old were swept into the hype. When they lost a few games, it was easy for a displaced Buffalonian to become a bit distracted from their mediocre showing the last four weeks.

Suddenly, it made even more sense.

A playoff run can be so intoxicating. I think back to the Sabres' playoff runs in '06 and '07. Every single person in the entire region knew what was going on with that team. People packed the arena, people packed the local bars, and everyone was so engulfed in Sabre-mania.

Less than two years later, and it all seems like a distant memory.

I get it, now. I understand how my dad, a once die-hard Steeler fan, could convert so easily. I barely remember the Super Bowl run in the 90's, but I can imagine that it swept the area like the Sabres did a short time ago, only times a hundred. How can you not get swept up in that?

Can you imagine being a Steelers fan during that time? It would be like being the designated driver at the year's best party.

That's why winning is so important in small market pro sports. Nothing unites a working-class city like a sports franchise on a tear. But here we are, with two teams fading fast and another year without a team in the postseason fast approaching.

I'm jealous of Boston. I'm jealous of Philly. I want to be the next town that breaks their decades-long championship curse. I want a lengthy postseason run that brings the region together and has me counting the minutes to the next game.

I just want to be swept in again.

Too bad it's never seemed more out of reach.

Ask Dick

by Ryan

Coach, is your quarterback regressing?

There’s probably a lot of ways you could go with it, but I think clearly, statistically, you’d say that he’s not playing as well the last four games than he was earlier in the year, so I don’t know if there is any more to be said than that, though, I know that he’s four weeks more experienced, I know that he’s four weeks smarter because I see him study.

That's one thought right there. Amazing. His statistics show he's played like crap. He looks like crap. He probably sounds like crap. However, time is not a standing still, so he is a better quarterback.

He’s studying all of the time.

I bet he is. Trent has his film study down pat. He's going to fast-forward the hell out of Kansas City this weekend.

So regression in that area, I would say no, I would say he’s gone forward. So you see what I’m saying? You can take it either way.

That is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard about quarterback progression. Ever. All aspects of his play have deteriorated, but because of the perpetual march of time Trent Edwards is a better quarterback. By this measurement, Ryan Leaf is going to be fucking phenomenal next year.

The bottom line is we’re just not playing well enough to win and he’s one of the guys. He’s one of those guys out there so he’s part of it.

Glad to know he's aware Trent plays in these games.

So whatever all of that means, there it is. I don’t see him in a slide backwards, if that’s what you mean. But clearly, performance-wise, it hasn’t been there.

...



...

So Trent's performance has been invisibly sliding... forward? What does that even mean? He's not regressing, but based on performance he has played worse than before. If that's not regression, then I have no idea about anything. Up is down, and wide open is double coverage.

If Trent is so good at watching film, though, I hope he notices all those open receivers he didn't see on Monday. The good news is that according to Dick, every minute that passes Trent Edwards gets better as at life, and I lose faith in Dick Jauron as my head coach.

The Answer

by Ryan

I can't give many answers about this Sabres team's struggles. I know as a blogger I'm supposed to have an educated guess as to what can fix this team, but I'm stuck at the moment. Let the coaching staff figure out how to get Hank Tallinder to stop passing to Blake Wheeler. What I do know is where it's not going to come from, and although it may be counterproductive to shoot down ideas, I feel the need to get this out of the way.

The answer to the Sabres' struggles is not in Portland.



Sure, the Pirates are a really good minor league hockey team. Their 12-1-1 start is good for first in their division, and Sabres prospects are lighting up the AHL right now. Mike Mancari has 25 points in 14 games and looks like he's ready to make an impact in the NHL when he gets his chance.

Also making some big waves in the minor league waters of Maine are Tim Kennedy and Nathan Gerbe, who along with Marek Zagrapan are three of the Sabres' top prospects in the system. Gerbe and Kennedy are also well over a point per game (20 and 21, respectively) and Zagrapan continues to improve his game at the AHL level. Both Enroth and Dennis are sporting 6-1 records thus far, and all aspects of the roster look deep early.

This Portland team can score plenty of goals and looks to be headed in the right direction, and that's good to see in what should be a turbulent transition phase for the Sabres' minor league system. Having a good young group of players do this well together this early is good to see, and of course you want to see that talent perform on the next level. Having a good minor league team is a great sign for the future, and Darcy's draft picks are looking promising thus far.

However, bringing up Mike Mancari won't solve much of anything right now. In fact, no one on the Pirates roster is going to help turn things around with the Sabres because they simply have nothing to offer this team. The Sabres' roster doesn't need another goal scoring winger. We have plenty of people that can score goals on this team, which almost seems more comfortable when players are hurt and there are less options.

The two biggest things hurting the Sabres are defense and discipline, neither of which will come from a rookie not used to NHL speed and style of play. Tossing a young guy into the fire will take an adjustment period no matter how well versed he is in the "system" the organization has in place. A Mancari, Kennedy, or Gerbe getting a roster spot is going to equal mistakes and bad penalties. Experience comes from opportunity, yes, but allowing that experience to accumulate takes time we just don't have.

Think of how poorly Sekera played the majority of last season. Making a good NHL player takes time, and right now the Sabres can't afford an unnecessary side project when they are trying to fix themselves defensively. All three prospects mentioned above are going to be good NHL players, but right now there are plenty of good NHL players on the current roster that just refuse to play defense.

The current Sabres can still be a very good team, and very few of them can be moved out of the way to make room for a call up anyway. Demoting Kaleta at this point simply isn't an option, and I can't think of another reasonable option to free up a roster spot. The group that wore blue and gold last night simply has to get better in their own zone and stop taking stupid penalties. Until that happens we have to live with the growing pains that will result from this process.

I'm not saying it won't hurt, but they may be a better team for it in the end.

No Punch Line Necessary

by Ryan

Question: What do Phil Kessel and Hitler have in common?

Apparently, they both have one testicle.



Still, I'd rather have him on my team than Andrej Sekera, who once again reverted to "balls" form tonight. Actually, the whole team was balls. All of them.



Okay, except Atlas Vanek, who was fantastic once again. If not for Thomas this would be a .500 team with a bleak future. Instead, they are a 9-6-3 team with a bleak future. Vanek has played well all year, but where has the rest of the team been?



The Sabres wasted another great start by playing awful, awful defense. Miller wasn't fantastic, but the guys in front of him didn't exactly help him out. Tallinder had another all-world giveaway, and Teppo didn't play smart hockey either. I have no idea how Rivet wound up a +2, but I suppose that only shows you how badly Teppo, Sekera, and Hank played.

What happened to this defense? Finally at full strength and still playing like last year's lazy group of waywards. Suddenly the goals for/against totals are even at 54 and we are looking at another tough weekend with very few answers. How do you fix a team that keeps saying the same things need to be fixed? Get pucks deep. Play smart. Simplify things. Okay, those are all good ideas. When does that start happening? Next game? The game after that?

A few quick things while I try to forget about this week:

- Did anyone see this?



Yeah, f#$k you pretty boy. The all star voting is a complete joke at this point, but there's no way I'm wasting my vote on you.



- Marc Savard. He ALWAYS kills us, and he was all over the scoresheet tonight. Why do we boo Chara when this guy is the one scoring all the big goals against us?

Actually that's all I have for you. I swear to God this week has taken a year off my life. We will have plenty to talk about, but is it just me that suddenly dreads this weekend? I can't take much more of this, I'm really starting to hate everything about everything.



The Ferrunginous Pygmy-Owl goes to God, who clearly wants some sort of recognition for his handiwork this week. You win, man, you win.

Cheering Section

by Ryan

I tried not to read a lot about the Bills game because it's still a very touchy subject. However, today I felt the need to check The Buffalo News to see what Bucky Gleason had to say. He's not the most popular member of the News' staff around the blogosphere, but I was curious to see how he would spin the game. I have to say I wasn't disappointed by what I saw.

Evans had more in common with the fans in the stands than his teammates in the huddle Monday, which is to say he had no catches and spent the game waving his arms and wondering why he wasn’t getting the ball. It snapped a streak of 67 games with at least one reception and marked just the second time in his career that he was shut out.

The Bills masterminds work 16 hours a day, enough to hatch a plan to get Evans more touches. Trent Edwards was much to blame, of course. He had time in the pocket. His one pass in Evans’ direction was intercepted.

Let’s face it, the ’08 Browns weren’t the ’85 Bears. Edwards’ recent play is a clear sign that he’s not processing the game, that he’s not seeing the field, that he’s indecisive, that he’s rattled. Remember, his knack for making quick decisions and accurate passes enabled him to become the No. 1 quarterback in the first place.

Gleason makes a really good point, and it's something I've said here and seen repeated elsewhere. So much of the season rests on Trent, and Evans' lack of touches is directly related to Edwards' play. Turk can draw up whatever he wants, but if Trent doesn't throw his way there isn't much anyone can do.

In fact, I agree with a lot of what Bucky Gleason says here. This was one of those columns that make you remember why he has a job at the News to begin with. He has good opinions and can even make you laugh when he wants you to. However, there is something I just don't believe no matter how often I hear it said.

Just so you know, I take no joy in watching the Bills’ slide after suggesting fans should temper their emotions and proceed with caution following the victory over Oakland and a 3-0 start. This gig prevents me from being a fan of Buffalo’s teams, but I’m a huge fan of Buffalo, N. Y.

I call bull on that. Not that he doesn't care about the city, but the fact that he isn't a "fan" of the Bills or Sabres because of his job. Wrong, that's exactly why you're a fan: it's your job to be one.

Now don't get me wrong, I understand the job requirements. Not many columnists are Bill Simmons, and there is a level of professionalism required that is supposed to make you impartial. Still, don't give me that "I'm not a fan" crap. Of course you're a fan, otherwise you wouldn't watch games to begin with.

An art critic likes paintings. A movie critic likes movies. A food critic enjoys eating. Just because you write about sports doesn't mean you can't be a sports fan. To take all emotional ties away from watching sports makes for awful analysis and boring writing. You write about sports because you love sports, and if you don't then I don't want to listen to you.

I know sports journalists that love their subjects and still root for their teams. Just because you can't pump your fist after a goal or make noise on third down doesn't mean you're not a fan. I remember hearing stories about media members cheering during The Comeback against the Oilers, and I personally know writers who root for the Bills and Sabres and still have to make deadline. It doesn't make them poor journalists, it makes them passionate about what they do.

This whole "being a fan" thing is against the magical rules of journalism, but let's be honest with ourselves: we're all fans. Bloggers are allowed to be fans because there are no rules, but sports journalists are required to be educated fans that can look at both sides of a game. There is no such thing as impartiality, but of course temperance is necessary in reporting about your local team.

Having a press pass doesn't immediately strip away your rooting interests, but rather forces you to play the part properly. That's the truth, and it's about as obvious as Gleason's dislike of Sabres management. No one is claiming that is him "being a fan", but aren't those emotions in essence the same?

I'm curious to see what the USRT guys have to say about this, and if anyone else with a press pass wants to enlighten is, you know the email.

Into the Hub

by Ryan



This is Blake Wheeler.

Before you wonder why I have a picture of a shirtless hockey player, well, just wait until you see the Tim Connolly post.

Anyway, a few weeks ago Puck Daddy had a post about his number change and how it affected his play. The two he credited the number change to were Thomas Vanek and Phil Kessel. It's an interesting move for sure, but you have to wonder just how much it can really affect your game.

There is a lot of talk about numerology, but just how much can what is on your back effect how you play? So much of what a player is capable of is natural talent, so you would think that talent is used no matter what number you attach to a name. Still, hockey players are a superstitious bunch, and for a lot of players their game is more mental than physical.

Who knows how Blake Wheeler turns out, but right now I can think of a few players that could use an emotional number change as well. Lindy is just starting to call out Derek Roy, but his 2008-09 campaign has been the biggest disappointment on the team. I was among the many who praised his contract last summer, even with the meddling of Nathan Horton. Right now an outsider would look at him and say he's regressed in every way.

We make fun of his spot on the all star ballot, but he truly isn't playing like he should and it really worries me. In fact, take away Vanek and and Miller, two shoe ins for an ASG spot, and what do you have on this team? Connolly and Kotalik are hurt, defenseman are struggling, and Adam Mair has more goals then 75% of the roster. Even with Atlas at his peak this is not the makeup of a playoff team. This Sabres squad is built on team play and balanced scoring, and the guys who should be stepping up simply aren't there.

The schedule is quirky this month, but the long break should be used as an opportunity to break bad habits and come out strong. Every game against Boston is tough, but you have to start beating good teams to get some confidence back in this team. Going into another weekend on a three game losing streak is another recipe for disaster, and suddenly the roster is a bit thinner than it was a few games ago.

There aren't many must-win games in November, but this is a huge game for Buffalo in a lot of ways. Someone has to step up and make something good happen, and this team has to play a full sixty minutes to have any chance against the division leader. The fewer divisional games you play the more important they become, and tonight at The Hub is huge.

This city needs a change of pace after last weekend. Let's see if Atlas and Co. can lift this place up a bit.

Tim Connolly is Hurt

by Ryan

Actually, that's pretty much it. That's all we got. This is what I wrote last week about Timmy and his injuries.

Such is the life of Tim Connolly. Lindy Ruff called it a "bruised upper body" or some sort of vague, imaginary body part like that. (Someday I think Lindy is going to just start making up body parts. Like, "Teppo tweaked his Slobat, we'll evaluate him in the morning" or "He's got a bruised Moogelslep, he's day to day") For all we know he will take tomorrow off and play Friday. Maybe it's another trip to the IR. Either way, it's another hammer to the face of a player just starting to feel it once again.

Well, this is what we got:

The Buffalo Sabres announced that centerman Tim Connolly has an upper body musculoskeletal injury and will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis.

Any idea what that means?

The human musculoskeletal system is the organ system that gives humans the ability to physically move, by using the muscles and skeletal system. It consists of the muscular system and the human skeleton. Bones are connected to each other at the joints by ligaments or cartilage and skeletal muscle is attached to bones, usually by tendons. Cartilages help reduce friction in joints and supports bones.

Wow. Tim Connolly's injury is so vague it affects his ENTIRE F@#KING BODY. Holy hell man, holy hell. The good news is that now I have time to work on a good Tim Connolly injury post, the bad news is that this injury could be anything from a concussion to a bruised "upper" toe. I'm just blown away by the audacity the team has to toss around the word "musculoskeletal" and expect us to go along with it. What a story.

The Makeout Machine Gun, STEVE JOHNSON, and Wedding Bands

by Ryan

I'm going to try putting something competent together for tomorrow, but there still is plenty to talk about from last night. I'm not really sure how any of this will fit together, so I'm going to fragment it all and see what happens. A mix of actual analysis, dark humor, and depressing as hell material will follow.

- The last text message I received before my phone died was from Chris. I'm sure he won't mind me sharing:

"Take your wedding ring off the next time you kick the f#$king ball you goddamn piece of s#$t. And spell your first name right."

If I wasn't lying in a heap on a metal bleacher I would have found that hilarious.

- After Brady Quinn gave some interviews he wiped his face with a towel and tossed it into the crowd. So yeah, there's a Brady Quinn sweat-towel floating around Buffalo now. If you see Brett Michaels in town you now know why.



- This one is a direct message to 289. I'm giving you this picture and letting you do with it what you will.



I'm not suggesting anything, but that boy looks like he could use a nice hot wiener or seventy.

- Did anyone get the memo about our new superstar receiver?



Steve Johnson.

During the first preseason game we had one of our 3,000 fantasy football drafts. One thing we couldn't get over was the fact that a receiver had his full name on the back of his jersey. No way that guy makes the practice squad, let alone the team, right? When you can't even get an S. or St. back there, you know it's not going to last. Aside from Marshawn, who led the team in reception yards last night?

STEVE MOTHERF#$KING JOHNSON.

- Isn't it nice to see the return of Trent "F#$k it, I'm checking down" Edwards? The quarterback we anointed Lord and savior has morphed into the Antichrist over the last month. I'm telling you, that concussion put the devil into the boy.



He doesn't even look like Trent Edwards in that picture. Perhaps that's because his eyes are moving through progressions so fast he looks like a slot machine. Let's put it this way, when the crowd is literally screaming out the names of wide open receivers that you don't see, it may be time to slow things down a bit. I don't blame Evans at all for fleeing the Ralph like it was a crime scene last night. If he stuck around for questions he may have murdered someone from the AP.

Hardy running free in the end zone. Evans beating his man clean on a double move. Roscoe open on an out. These weren't receivers who had a step or two, these were receivers who were running good clean routes while their quarterback was too scared to throw against a putrid defense he should have picked clean. The Browns didn't get any pressure on Trent Edwards, but the pressure he put on himself swallowed him up and simultaneously ripped his balls off. That may sound like a bad Brady Quinn joke, but that's as good an explanation of what happend last night as I can find.

- Also without balls is Dick Jauron, who was actually out coached by someone resembling a pile of dog crap. If you don't have faith in your quarterback to get you another ten yards closer to that field goal, I don't know what to tell you. Why not let Marshawn throw a pass, then? He's 1/1 in his career and looked like he would do anything to win that game last night. Running him into an eight man box wasn't going to cut it.

- Question: If Rex Grossman is the Sex Cannon, should we call Trent the "Makeout Machine Gun"? He seems like the "I'm afraid to try anything but this is okay let's keep doing this" type...

- Just to get this on record: there's no freaking way you can go to J.P. Losman now. I've said it here before and I'll say it again: when ownership gave Trent Edwards the keys they effectively ended any level of productivity from J.P. Losman. Whatever happens with Trent we are stuck with, for better or worse. The revolving door at quarterback simply has to stop, and so whatever struggles Trent has we are going to put up with with them for the long haul.

The decision seemed like a no brainer last year, but you had to understand what it meant in the long term for this team. Giving Trent the starting spot alters the course of the franchise and subsequently kills the development of yet another young quarterback. Throwing J.P. under the bus meant Trent Edwards must be the starter for the next two-plus years, and right now that starting quarterback has zero chemistry with a top five wide out. Super.

- Is this picture ever going to be okay?



No, I don't think it will. I really do feel for Rian, he has been a very good kicker for the Bills, but this one is going to stick for a long time.

- I've never been so mentally sick after a football game in my life. There was a level of shock to last year's Dallas game that wasn't there yesterday. We weren't supposed to win last year, and how stupidly it ended was just cushioned the blow in a way. It was like a college basketball game where the underdog home team loses on a ridiculous three at the buzzer.

Last night was a must win and a game that was more than winable. Even with all the stupid turnovers and the defense slipping up, special teams and a huge effort from your running back kept you in and gave you the lead. The win was there, and hope was still alive. Last year's Monday Night Football loss was crushing, but not season-ending crushing. This game was like giving blood, except when the nurse brings out the needle she kicks you in the testicles and takes your wallet.

- The people directly behind me were a lot of fun to watch a game with. I've never met them before in my life, but they were the kind of Bills fan you'd love to be friends with. Sarcastic, knowledgeable, and willing to be drunk-loud yet still be friendly. Taking a look around the interwebs today there was a lot of Bills fan bashing, but it was nice to know from experience there are plenty of good guys (and girls) out there.

- Anyone think the playoffs are possible? No? Okay, just checking.

I still have a bunch of little ideas on the Bills that may be mini posts, but oh look it's time for the Sabres to play 45-50 minutes of hockey. Awesome.

Still Worth Considering

by Ryan



Since Dick Jauron's "extension", the Bills are 0-4. When you first got word of it, didn't you get this immediate feeling of mediocrity?

Yeah, me neither.

Common People

by Ryan

There was a mist hovering above the stadium tonight that had nothing to do with Mother Nature. From outside it was pretty cool to see, and as the night went on it only intensified. Yet at the game's close I looked up at it and thought to myself:



There is no God.

This game wasn't just about Rian Lindell, but that field goal is going to forever stick in my mind. That football drifting to the right was a true punch to the stomach, and after over three hours of screaming and yelling and making jokes about Antowain Smith, all I could do is slump into my seat and sit there. I wanted to just lay there for a while and feel better, but that moment never came.

The mist I mentioned earlier, that was from the heat of over 72,000 people doing everything they could to keep their season alive. For a while there it looked shaky, but it sure did look like it was going to happen in the end. We had them. Twice. But in the back of your mind you knew something had to give, and right on que Rian kicked it all to hell.

There are a lot of people to blame for tonight. Trent Edwards probably had the worst game of his career, while Marshawn Lynch probably had the best. The defense didn't do much, and I can't even address how open Lee Evans was at times tonight without wanting to burn churches. However, I'll save these points for a time when all that bile in my body recedes to where it should be.

Last year's Monday Night Football game had a similar ending, but for me the two games felt completely different. There was nothing but pride on the line against Dallas, and while that loss was shocking, having that shock factor softened the blow in a way. This year, however, Buffalo took everything on the field and fell short in a spectacular matter.

But, because it was right there, tonight felt so much worse. I've never witnessed a moment in sports that made me want to curl up on a freezing metal bench and just forget about the world. Tonight my sports fandom knocked me off my own feet, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. You're not supposed to take things that seriously, right? It's not supposed to mean that much. But it does, and that's what keeps you coming back.

After games like this you have to look at what brought you here and ask if it was worth it. What is it worth to sit this close and feel this much and hurt so badly?



I can't really answer any of those questions, but I know it's not going to end anytime soon. The Bills are 5-5 and the their quarterback can't see past ten yards. All that playoff talk a few weeks ago has become just another cloud of mist hovering over us. So maybe there is a God, or maybe not. The one thing I do know is that I'll be back on Sunday. If there is a religion in this town it is sports, even when the pastor can't preach and the collection is corrupt. Into the fog we go, once again.



Because there's nothing else to do.

MNF Prep: Bills vs. Browns

by Ryan

Oh, he's ready.

Announcers: Mike Tirico, Jaws, and Some Douchebag Who Loves Hyperbole. (Courtesy of Awful Announcing)

Depth Charts: Browns, Bills

Stats: NFL.com, ESPN, or Yahoo Sports all do a good job. If you have fantasy teams through Yahoo, you're better off paying the ten bucks for "stattracker", it's a lifesaver. (Especially when you have three fantasy leagues with Yahoo...)

Things They've Been Saying:
- Snow

- Thoughts on Brady Quinn.

- FTLT has the as-usual excellent preview.

- Football Outsiders has a look at Bills/Browns special teams.

Pump-Up Song that Will Melt Your Face Off: "Tessellate", Tokyo Police Club



This is about as perfect a song as I could find for tonight.

Fun Facts:

- If you want Bills shoes but hate Reebook, I'd suggest reading this.

- I was reading this a few days ago and realized that Dan Steinberg grew up a Bills fan. Interesting.

- Cleveland gave up 160 yards to a Broncos team that literally ran out of running backs. So yeah, maybe because Marshawn Lynch is a running back we will see some success in the run game. Maybe.

- Brady Quinn is a douche:



Just so we're still clear.

Okay, that's it. Game time. I'll be at the stadium, so I'm not sure if anyone will be around. All I can say is enjoy tonight. Last year Monday Night Football was one of the best experiences I've ever had as a fan. If not for the soul-sucking last second loss, it would probably be my favorite moment as a Bills fan. I don't expect the same result tonight, but I do expect the same atmosphere.




Go Bills.

Talking Tonight

by Ryan

Today I was digging through my basement getting ready for the game tonight. While getting out the boots I only use for Bills games and lake effect snow, I found a bunch of old Bills pennants, posters, and this:



Even after all these years, this guy still has an impact on the city. There are even a few street signs downtown that have "Talking Proud!" on them, and it wouldn't be hard to find someone humming a tune to those words on a Sunday morning.

What I find interesting is that the slogan came from a time of economic duress, designed to put some pride back in a city that desperately needed it. We are seeing a similar stretch of economic downturn, and no one's come up with anything catchy to tide us over. However, over the years what better pick me up has this city ever received than a big Bills win?

Last Saturday when we had our get together at Fat Bob's, Tedd from FirstTimeLongTime asked what championship would be bigger for the city: Stanley Cup or Super Bowl. I said Super Bowl hands down because we all know how much of a mood swing a Bills score has on Buffalo.

When you think about it, doesn't this city need tonight, just to wake up in a more cheerful world tomorrow? The difference between a dreary winter day and a perfect morning snowfall is one boxscore. This city needs Monday Night Football, and it's only a few hours away.



Something tells me this time will be different.

Jock Washing and the Anti-Buffalo Bias

by Ryan

Being a Buffalo sports blog, we are pretty big homers when it comes to all things Buffalo. However, even we're not sure what this is all about. Media Matters took offense to a Bill Simmons line from a mailbag a few weeks back. Here's the entry:

There is one silver lining to Buffalo's Cinderella season slowly falling apart to the point that the Bills now might miss the playoffs. I am not allowed to mention it, but if you rack your brains, you will figure it out. Think about the insufferable way that Oprah attached herself to Obama, and you will be getting warm.

Anyone want to fill me in on this one? What media figure has been propping up the Bills this year? Chris Berman has certainly said nice things, and he even donned a Buffalo hat at one point. But Obama won, and Oprah was happy, whereas the Bills are losing ...

I'll assume for now that this is a dig at Simmons' ESPN colleague, Berman, which is only further proof of anti-Bills bias at that network. It has hired two former members of the 1990s Dallas Cowboys, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith, both of which openly root for their old team on the air; Smith even served as spokesperson for his old team when a (very) critical book was written. Such criticism is especially ironic coming from Simmons, one of the biggest jock-washers for the New England Patriots in the mainstream sports media. But profess fanship for the Bills? Tsk tsk, how insufferable...

First of all I'm not so sure the assumption is correct. Many people took that as a dig at ESPN for nixing his Obama podcast a few months back, as well as his picks column the week before. He's the first person I've seen to directly claim it a crack at Berman, but if that's the case I suppose I'm wrong.

Here's the thing about Berman: even if he is a Bills fan he's really annoying. The nicknames, the tired routine; it was cute when I was seven, but now I'd like to hear something... different. Even so, a personal opinion about Berman doesn't imply an "anti-Bills bias" at ESPN. In fact, I think that's the furthest thing from the truth.

What ESPN has when it comes to the Bills is not a bias, but rather sheer indifference. When you think about it, what reason does ESPN have to rally against the Bills? The fact of the matter is that a small-market football team doesn't make the headlines the "majority" of America wants to see. Only WNY and some expatriates want to know about the Bills, unlike the huge followings of Dallas, Washington, and New England.

Also, what have the Bills done in the past ten years to warrant any special coverage? A long playoff drought, shortage of superstars, and a whole mess of other reasons have conspired to push the Bills off the front page in the sporting world, not some hyper-conspiracy against them. Norby doesn't hate the Bills, he just doesn't give a crap about them. Simple as that.

The interesting thing about these claims of bias is his mention of Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith, two former Cowboys who currently have jobs with The Four Letter. He must have short-term memory because it wasn't long ago ESPN had both Jim Kelly and Marv Levy under its collective wing. Times change, and so does the overload of players from a specific team.

He did get one thing right, though: Simmons can be a huge jock-washer at times. Still, call me when he get three rings things right...

Simple Question

Gameday Prep: Bills Play Tomorrow

by Ryan



We will have another one of these up tomorrow, but if you aren't watching football today you're probably not reading this site either. We'll go through this for all the games we get to see on cable, because if you have Sunday Ticket, well, get the hell out of here Rockefeller.

Game Distribution Maps and Announcers: Courtesy of the506, Awful Announcing.

CBS 1PM: Baltimore at New York Giants - Greg Gumbel, Dan Dierdorf

CBS 4PM: San Diego at Pittsburgh - Jim Nantz, Phil Simms

FOX 1PM: Chicago at Green Bay - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver

NBC: Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins - Al Michaels, John Madden

Handy Things: team info, scouting reports, fantasy injuries, and depressing Staph infection story are seem like things you may want to see.

Stats: NFL.com, ESPN, or Yahoo Sports all do a good job. If you have fantasy teams through Yahoo, you're better off paying the ten bucks for "stattracker", it's a lifesaver. (Especially when you have three fantasy leagues with Yahoo...)

Things They've Been Saying:
- Hasselbeck and Branch are back this week for Seattle, so they should right the ship anytime now.

- Looks like the only thing slowing down the Giants offense is booze.

- Does anyone else really enjoy seeing Leitch post on Deadspin, even if it's once a week. Site's just not the same without him...

- Well this doesn't look good for our opponents tomorrow...

Pump-Up Song that Will Melt Your Face Off Depress the hell out of you: "Waiting", City and Colour



You have to get low before you can get back up again. We have a good one tomorrow, I promise.

Fun Facts:

- Larry Johnson will be playing today after spitting on a woman and getting Herm Edwards mad. Stephen Jackson won't be playing, however, because he is a woman. Also, Herm Edwards just may be clinically retarded.

- John Lynch is going to retire on Monday. Twice. I'm not sure how that's happening, but T.O.'s retirement ceremony is going to be awesome.

- Drew Henson sighting!

- I just found out yesterday that I'm going to the game tomorrow. I know you don't care, but I'm pumped. So there. Enjoy the games today, and remember that football isn't over until it's Monday night.




Go Bills.

System Free Saturday

by Ryan

We've had a lot of fun with "The System" recently, but tonight I realized something that may explain a lot. We all talk about it as a concrete being, but the great thing is that we have no idea what it really is.

To us "The System" is this vague cloud of ideas floating around in the hockey stratosphere. Get pucks deep. Simplify your game. Play smart hockey. It probably involves forechecking or something, but I'm just going off Jason Pominville's press conferences here. We hear about "The System" all the time, but unless you are in it you have no idea if it's being followed or not.



When you think about it that way, Lindy Ruff is a genius. Think about it, because none of us really know what "The System" entails, it can't ever be to blame for anything. Complete surrender to "The System" means a win every time because in theory it is perfect. Following an unknown set of rules equals flawless hockey, and so those rules can never, ever be wrong.

So when things go bad, it's never about "The System" itself but rather someone not playing within it. Perhaps the players forgot about the supreme guidance "The System" provides, or maybe someone lost focus and got away from it briefly. That's not "The System" breaking down, that's a player breaking down. "The System" doesn't break down, oh no, "The System" is forgotten by players not willing to sell out to it and win. "The System" in its purest sense is victory, and any failure to win is an ignorance of it that is in effect a disgrace to "The System" itself.

With all that said, let's not talk about "The System" anymore. It obviously has no flaws, and if the players can't live up to "The System", we just need to find new players. Preferably robots who can focus on the multitude of rules and advice it offers for a full sixty minutes. Instead of talking about "The System" let's talk about another fun buzz word we throw around often: defensive responsibility.

Seriously, where the hell did that go? No team plays perfect hockey, but when it all goes to hell in the last 15 minutes of a game something's wrong. The great news is they doubled their offensive output, but that about does it in the good news category. You could say that playing with the lead for 45 minutes is good as well, but the last 15 sucked so hard it's hard to imagine they played all that well to begin with.

Forget systematic rules of engagement, what happened to the rules you learned in pee wee? When one of the Staals is free in the middle of a Sabres triangle, someone should probably pick him up. Also, Ruslan Fedotenko should NOT have been an option on the fourth goal. Did anyone feel like backchecking there? Jaro played it right, there were two options for Malkin: shoot or pass to Crosby. Spacek had both covered, but because Fedotenko felt like skating that third option was there to put the game out of reach. At worst that third option should be a lifted stick, and at best it should be an ass over tea kettle Fedotenko.



The players can say all they want about how they played a good 50 minutes of hockey. That six minutes of suck kills anything good you can take from this game. Maybe the problem is the good things you take from a game like this. It's yet another wasted weekend for the Buffalo Sabres, and they've got two more like this before the month is over.

They better figure this "System" out soon, or we might be heading down fast. They have until Wednesday to figure it out, but somehow it's that next Friday I'm worried about.

Things Fall Apart

It's probably not the system's fault, but the guys playing within it just got ass-raped. We'll be back in the morning once the swelling goes down.

The Good, the Bad, and the Third

by Ryan

Last season's introduction of the RBK EDGE jersey system meant many things for the league, but the most noticeable impact was the intentional lack of third jerseys. Long been a staple of teams scrambling for a few extra bucks, the NHL decided there would be enough chaos with thirty teams re-designing a total of 60 sweaters, so the +1 was left on the shelf for one season. The only exception was the Winter Classic uniforms, which were by all accounts absolutely beautiful.



With the opening of the 2008-09 season, the inevitable flood of third jerseys has begun. Each team seems to have taken a unique approach to this extra set of threads, with some focusing on tradition while others attempt simply to blind you. We all know the Sabres went for an updated version of their original logo, and for the most part it has been met with high praise.



Vancouver has done the same thing, and it looks awesome. With a slight update on their original logo for a crest, they bring back the classic colors while maintaining a sleek look the EDGE jerseys are designed for. The "Johnny Canuck" logo on the shoulder is great as well, something the team hasn't sported in ages. It may be the nostalgic in me, but it always seems like Vancouver has better third jerseys than primary ones. Let's hope they use these bad boys often.



At this point Atlanta should just stop trying and move to Toronto already. Do you think Thrashers management just plays around with the team's color palette in MS Paint and picks which one looks the worst? The script jerseys are stupid in general, but that red/orange background is just awful. That stupid vertical sock pattern Nike tried during the Olympics makes an appearance here as well.



The only positive I can find is the goalie pads, and the fact that Bryan Little looks like he's falling down in that picture.

Tonight the Sabres are in Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins, who will be sporting some new yet familiar uniforms as well. Their new jersey is almost exactly like what they wore in the Winter Classic, which received wide praise across the league. The comparison between Penguins and Sabres jerseys will be noticeable, and will only make me wonder where our third jerseys are.

Seriously guys, are they manufactured out of unicorn blood or something?

A View from the Roost: Allen's Town

by Ryan



Why do Sabres fans love Doug Allen?

Sure, he's a good singer and does right by both anthems in his renditions, but any number of people have good voices and say "star light's last gleaming" correctly. What is it about a balding man in a really nice tux that gets people screaming "DOUGIE!" before faceoff even when he isn't performing?

Tonight I think I figured it out: Doug Allen sings those anthems like it's the only thing in the world he wants to do. He loves every minute of it. You can see it in his eyes, he truly enjoys what he does, and that's something we all envy in a way. What else can someone ask for in life but to have a job you love and happen to be really good at? Doug Allen is a good anthem singer and wants to perform every night of the week. Except Wednesdays. Wednesdays are for church.

Sure he's cheesy and at this point you could call him predictable, but in a way that's exactly what makes him great. You know what you are getting with Doug Allen, and you know it's going to be good. At this point he knows he is appreciated, and that only makes him better because there's no need to stray. You know the cadence he sings with, and that change of pace at "Oh Say. Does. That. Star-Spangled..." at the end. Doug Allen is revered because he loves his place on the ice, and he's always at the top of his game.

---

The same cannot be said for the Sabres, who wanted no part of that ice tonight. What were simply bad tendencies in a victory on Wednesday became awful habits tonight, and the embarrassing 6-1 final score is evidence of a complete failure in all areas of the game.

To start with Patrick Lalime would be far too easy, as most often goaltenders are given the blame in the rout. And while earlier I threatened to stab him with a pitchfork, looking back on the goals shows there wasn't much he could do given the defensive effort in front of him.

Both Umberger goals were bang-bang plays the defense completely missed. Peca's goal was one of the luckiest tip shots I've ever seen. The D completely broke down and Brussard had a nice shot on the third. Lydman and Lalime teamed up to crap the bed on the fourth goal, and there's no way he's stopping Nash late. Six goals on 23 shots looks pretty awful, but the System in front of him didn't do much to help.

Ah, "the System". For all this talk of commitment to it there wasn't much of a result tonight. Perhaps it was a lack of adherence, or maybe there's more to winning than following a lifeless cloud of ideas; but since the Sabres have returned to full strength this "System" we hear so much about seems pretty out of sorts. I wonder if we should simplify our game again.

I'd like to write this game off and move on, but it was probably the most disgusting game I've seen the Sabres play in quite some time. This wasn't a blowout to a a great Ottawa team back in the day, this was sucking out loud at home against an inferior team. Columbus is cute and all, but this Sabres team should have blown them out, backup goalie or otherwise.

Take away a few questionable goals and the Sabres still lose tonight. One backdoor play on a 5 on 3 is nice, but there were plenty of chances to score that the Sabres didn't cash in on. There weren't a lot of quality shots out of the 37 they racked up, and Buffalo made Pascal Leclare look like Marty Brodeur tonight.

Oh, we get the defending Eastern Conference Champions on a Saturday? Awesome.

A few other things related to hockey and watching hockey:



- Tim Connolly had a really good game considering he was dead two days ago. Seriously, he was one of the few out there playing like he had a pulse. Good to see him get up off the plywood and get back to work.

- There were a lot of "I'm not a Sabres fan so I'll root for the away team" people in the crowd tonight, which made me want to beat them senseless. It's a good thing mini hockey sticks are like $14 bucks, only the cost kept me from disemboweling a Leafs fan tonight.

- Speaking of purchases, any shirt that has the following graphic gets a place in my closet:



- Also on my Doug Allen list tonight was Andrew Peters, Goose, and Dan Paille. Adam Mair was up there, too. That pretty much sums up the forecheck on the night, and that's all kinds of awful.



- Remember when Derek Roy didn't play like a gutless little puke? He drew a few penalties with his superior diving abilities, but he hasn't played real hockey all season and it's starting to wear thin. Every giveaway is another vote cast for the wrong person in the All Star Game. Start playing some defense, you douchey, faux-hawked little bastard. Owning a white suit means you make $3.5 million, but it doesn't mean you aren't required to play two-way hockey.

- This is a fun picture:



Peca may have scored a goal tonight, but he played like a sloppy drunk sorority girl. Three penalties, flopping around like a fool, and he even let Andrew Peters finish a check. Yikes.

- Even though the unit went 1 for 9 I did like the Sabres' power play more than usual. Give credit where credit is due, Columbus showed up tonight and did a great job on the kill. Still, the Sabres avoided those stupid blocked shots and moved the puck around well. The lack of finish was noticeable everywhere, but they created when given the chance. A lot of that had to do with Connolly on the point, who does have a huge impact on the unit.

- Ales looks to be out for a bit, which is unfortunate because this means Max still gets a regular shift. Hopefully Kaleta gets a roster spot back because of it, God knows they will need the boost tomorrow.

Can you really take a loss like this and "toss it in the trash" like Lalime says to? You have to hope they can, but I think this game could tell us a lot about this Sabres team. How they follow up an awful game at home against a good team on the road will say a lot about the mental makeup of this squad. There is no time for a long practice, nor is there much time for sleep. A change in their game has to come from within, and sometimes that ability to change means more than any coaching system can.

More to come.

A Boll, a Tyutin, and Hank's Special Friend

by Ryan

At the game on Wednesday, we did the "players on the Blue Jackets' roster" game. This didn't turn out as well as we had hoped. Of course there was Rick Nash and Pascal Leclare. Michael Peca came up, as well as our old friends Jiri Novotny and R.J. Umberger. Their enforcer is Jarred Boll. My friend Mike even remembered that Steve Mason played a few games for them, but that was only because Chris Mason was in net at the time.

Looking back at that list would make you think the Blue Jackets are a bunch of no names, but that's actually quite the opposite. Take a look at their roster; how many names do you recognize but just forgot played for Columbus?

Raffi Torres, Mike Commodore, Fedor Tyutin, Kristian Huselius; all names I'm sure you've heard before, are on the Jackets' roster. They have two first round picks in Alexandre Picard and Nikita Filatov. That's a lot of talent on a team sitting third in their division. With a play maker like Nash and Leclare in net, the Blue Jackets seem like a team simply stuck in a division dominated by the Red Wings.

And yet, Derick Brassard is their leading scorer. A former first round pick, mind you, but a kid with only 32 games of NHL experience to his name is pacing a team we rarely see. With the schedule the way it is this year, we will be seeing a lot of games like this where the pregame talk is only a bunch of questions.

Who is their first line center? (Brassard, apparently) Just how good is Steve Mason? Does Leclare have the shutout touch this year? Just how the hell did Mike Peca get suspended ten games for touching a ref?

What we do know is that Lalime is in tonight, leaving Miller to face the defending Eastern Conference champs at the Igloo tomorrow. Tim Connolly is more than likely out, as well as Maxim Afinogenov, who spent the majority of Wednesday night looking like this:



Seriously, the boy just looked so interested in what was going on. It was as if his enthusiasm for the game would show Lindy just how much he wanted to play. I wonder if he will watch like this from the press box tonight, hoping Darcy takes note of it and puts in a good word with Daddy.

A 7:30 face off tonight from the hockey rink not looking to be turned into scrap metal. I'll be in one of the 18,690 seats they have, so give a shout if you are doing the same.

Goodbye, Sweet Princes

by Ryan

We would be disgusted with ourselves if we didn't echo the sentiments of many bloggers and mourn the loss of Fire Joe Morgan. Since we started this whole blogging thing almost two years ago many of us have loved what they do, and it will be sad talking about the hotstove without them taking part.

Much of what you do as a writer comes from what you read, and I would doubt anyone who said the work of Ken Tremendous, dak, and Junior didn't influence them in some way. I know this blog has been influenced by their work, and anyone who read their work understands what they brought to the blogosphere. We are in a better place because of it.



So thank you, FJM. Your consistency, reliance on intangibles, and most importantly, your biased love of the Big Red Machine made you a better sports site than this one ever will be. Oh, and

Fix It

by Ryan

If there were ever a time to play the Browns it would be now. Sure the Bills are reeling, but what the Browns have gone through this year is quite frankly, pretty awful. The trendy playoff pick, Cleveland was given a ton of nationally televised games and a lot of hype. Former backup Derek Anderson was signed to an extension with Brady Quinn waiting in the wings, and while most picked Cleveland to win their division, some critics saw them as the obvious underachiever for 2008.

The Browns proved them right by getting murdered by Dallas at home to open the season, and a quick 0-3 start made all those prime time games look pretty boring. However, coming out of the bye with a 1-3 record and facing the world champions at home on Monday Night, Cleveland finally showed up. A 35-14 win over the Giants has been the highlight of Cleveland's season, and they will come to Buffalo on Monday 3-6 and still reeling from a game played almost ten days before.

Well, the The last two weeks Cleveland has given up leads in the fourth quarter. Their tight end was in the hospital with giant testicles. Some players think their team quit on them. Some say otherwise, but even the 0-8s in the league haven't heard accusations like that. Romeo Crennel has been awful, and Will Leitch and Buzz Bissinger just may have killed their best player.

Looking at the numbers it's easy to see why the Browns are so bad. Giving up 564 yards to a team missing all eleven of its running backs is not a good sign, and when your run game is struggling just like Buffalo's you can't expect to win many games. In fact, aside from the big showing on Monday night Cleveland has beaten the hapless Bengals and a Jaguars team that has struggled all season. That's it.

And then there's this fellow:



Quinn had a decent game against a Broncos defense made of stuffing. That's great for him, but the fact of the matter is that this will be his second career start. Ever. Thursday Night Football is cool and everything, but on Monday the entire country gets to see him play. Different story, and the pressure will be on.

Looking at the opponent it seems like an easy win. Lately, however, nothing has been easy for the Bills. The more you think about this game, the more you realize the entire season rests on the outcome. The bad news is they may fall, but if they do it will be to the perfect opponent. Cleveland on Monday night is the perfect recipe for Buffalo to get things back on track.

Let's see if anyone on the roster can cook.

LOUD NOISES

by Ryan

TSN.ca is the best mainstream source for hockey news. One of the big reasons for this is that's pretty much all they care about. Case in point, this:



Kevin Bieksa is a good player and all, but that's the kind of font size reserved for assassinations or Brett Favre news. Calm down everyone, it's just ten days.

Blurred Interest

by Ryan



When division rivals play in prime time, it's always a big deal. When the two teams playing are a game ahead of you and fighting for a division title, it's an even bigger deal. With the Jets taking on New England tonight, Bills fans have a serious rooting interest in which teams wins.

Wait, which team are we rooting for again?

It's actually an interesting question. Conventional wisdom would say the overall weaker team because they are more likely to lose more down the stretch, but with everything as undecided as it is, who really knows which team that is?

Of course the best case scenario is a tie, which the Jets almost had against Oakland earlier this season. Well okay, the best best case scenario is probably a nuclear missile strike of some sort, or maybe just an issue at the Wrangler jeans factory that forces Brett Favre to leave early and cancel the game. (Everyone knows you just can't play football without Brett Favre...) They all seem unlikely, but you can always hope.

That's my question for you today: who do you root for tonight? Whether you think the Bills have a chance of catching either team or not, which one do you prefer holding the division lead at daybreak Friday? My mind says the Jets, who I still feel have a lot of flaws, but many football minds smarter than I consider the Jets a very complete team. New England is the better team to me, even with Brady out and a few question marks at running back, their offense is more balanced and the defense is holding steady.

So who ya got? Man-child Gunslinger or Soulless Football Genius?

Ryan's not crazy!

By Jon

Via PuckDaddy and a heads-up from Sabresfan88...



Just remember, you heard it from Ryan first!

Zero Days Without Incident

by Ryan

Imagine there is an old building near your house that will be torn down and replaced by a Tim Hortons. Construction is starting soon, and you're conveniently looking for work. You are in decent shape and enjoy manual labor, so your apply and are hired for the work crew.

After a few days you realize this construction job isn't half bad. The fresh air is nice, you don't mind the workout, and the others workers are all nice enough. Before you know it the old building is gone and you start building the Tim Hortons on the site. Walls go up, you make friends, and after a couple of weeks you are really starting to get the hang of what you do. In fact, you begin to take a level of pride in your work, knowing that some real progress is being made with your help.

And then someone bashes your head in with a sledgehammer.

---

I'll admit that is not a good story. You probably cringed at the end, maybe you even felt for your own face after a few twangs of sympathy pain. If that character were anything like you or I, you probably finish the job and get let go, your purpose fulfilled after a job well done. Maybe times get tough and you get laid off, or maybe you get mildly hurt and go on disability for a bit. Still, it's nothing like a broken, permanently-altered face. That's just cruel, and no one deserves that.

The thing is, that story is how Tim Connolly lives every single day of his life.



We all get frustrated with Tim Connolly. Fans are the first to throw their hands up in disgust, as very rarely do we have as much invested in a player as other groups. The coaches, general managers, owners, and other staff have a lot more time, effort, and money in play when it comes to Tim Connolly's career; and even the media has actually met the guy once or twice.

But think for a moment how it must feel to be Tim Connolly. Push aside all the stories you hear about his personal exploits, forget about what you think of him. Put yourself in his skates, or better yet, his work boots. Imagine the potential you would feel inside you and realize it may never come to fruition in the real world. Above everything else, how would that disappointment feel?

We all know what Tim Connolly has in him. Every so often he shows a flash or two of absolute brilliance, the speed and hands and creativity that made him a fifth overall pick in 1999. A three point night and a half dozen scoring chances, or maybe just one move you've never seen before that brings a crowd to its feet even if it doesn't work. There is plenty of good stick work in the modern NHL, but Tim Connolly is at times the best set of hands in the entire league.

Yet as is the case with Timmy, each step forward results in two steps back. Concussions. Bone spurs. Stress Fractures. Sore backs and necks and knee injuries. Tim Connolly has had more injuries himself than the rest of Baldwinsville combined. With each trip to the IR comes more time off, more missed chances, and a window that seems to close quicker and quicker.



But just like that he picks himself up again. "Every song is a comeback, every moment a little bit later." Tonight Tim Connolly took a good game in Boston and followed it with a great performance on home ice. He was everywhere, scoring goals and making plays at both ends. Suddenly the defense was backpeddling, and he was starting to look like the playmaker we are advertised. His playoff performance back in 2006 was brought up, and wait, where did he go? He's not on the bench, and Max just got un-benched. Oh no.

Such is the life of Tim Connolly. Lindy Ruff called it a "bruised upper body" or some sort of vague, imaginary body part like that. (Someday I think Lindy is going to just start making up body parts. Like, "Teppo tweaked his Slobat, we'll evaluate him in the morning" or "He's got a bruised Moogelslep, he's day to day") For all we know he will take tomorrow off and play Friday. Maybe it's another trip to the IR. Either way, it's another hammer to the face of a player just starting to feel it once again.

There are a lot of people fed up with Timmy, his night life, and everything involved with his game. We giggle about his facial hair and choice of drinking establishment, and wonder what could have been if not for that cut across the middle. At this point I've moved past all that and just feel bad for Timmy now. All the talent in the world and he just can't seem to use it. It's a shame, it's frustrating, and it's mighty depressing.

Most of all, it's just sad.

Tim Connolly = Brendon Small

"A View From the Roost" will be written by Chris tomorrow, but I will have someting up shortly about this.

Trying New Things

by Ryan

I don't watch basketball as much as I should. Unlike Chris, who seems to dislike it with a passion you rarely see, I just never really got into it. However, with this whole blogging thing I've grown to appreciate sports in an entirely new way, which makes me want to watch more of them.

Still, I didn't grow up with basketball in my family, and so everything about the sport has had to be an acquired taste. Rich is a huge fan and has led me along the path, and I think he finally got me somewhere I can really start to "get it."

Free Darko.

If there was ever a site that could help me understand basketball on a level far past causal enjoyment, this is it. Of course, my desire to take it to the next level has resulted in a purchase, as all good desires do.



The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac

The book just arrived today and while I won't have time to read it just yet, (Anne has nothing on my bookshelf this fall...) but I'm really excited about it. Even if I end up hating it somehow it is going to be the coolest book on the shelf for a long time. The pictures and charts are amazing, and FreeDarko has some of the best writing on the web which will most certainly will translate to print very well.

It seems like everyone has a book coming out suddenly, but it really is nice to see. I bought Men With Balls a few weeks ago, and will have a review up sometime soon. In fact, look for a brand new Roost Recommends with a few books to pick from; it's been a long couple of months. If things go well, Rich and I will have a review of the Free Darko book up by Christmas. Because you are just dying to know what we think, I'm sure.

Miller vs. Busch

by Ryan

Every once in a while it's easy to get down about Ryan Miller. He has a bad game, or a soft goal, or sometimes you remember what dominance Hasek displayed over his stay here. It's easy to tire of a goaltender when times are rough, and it's easy to criticize someone in quite possibly the most demanding job in professional sports.

And then you hear Ryan Miller talk and remember just how smart he is. Or better yet, someone tells you just how good he is.

Now this article doesn't exactly deal with Miller's intelligence, but it does highlight his unique understanding of the game. For example, Miller's thoughts on how last year turned out.

“For some, I think we didn’t buy into what Lindy was preaching every night,” Miller said. “His approach to the game works. Play as a team, keep it simple, be responsible, be accountable, you find out it works. We knew coming into this year we had to get back to that kind of game.”

It may sound like the same mumbo jumbo, but when Ryan Miller says it you seem to believe it more. Put it this way: every press conference Mike Tomlin gives I get jealous of the Steelers. He's so honest, so excited about the game. You can tell his enthusiasm and understanding of the game is there, and he's not afraid to show it.

Ryan Miller isn't as peppy as Tomlin, but he is just as smart when it comes to the game of hockey. The more I hear him talk, the better I am about that contract he signs. He understands the game in a way I only wish I did, and I like that he isn't afraid to be honest with what he says.

“You know, I’m happy here and I felt this was a good place for me and I had been treated well here and felt I fit in well here, with the organization and with the guys and in the community,” Miller said. “Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. I wanted to be here and I didn’t want to go anywhere else, so I took the contract when it was offered to me.”

I believe him, and that's exactly what you want out of your franchise goaltender.

So far this year it seems like all we've talked about is Ryan Miller and Atlas Vanek. With St. Louis in town tonight, let's hope we have the chance to talk about them again. I'll be up in the Roost tonight, so stop by and say hello if you get near Row 9.

Where Trailers are Made

by Ryan



So I just got back from watching Niagara University beat Canisius 5-2 at Dwyer Arena. The game was pretty uneventful except for the fact that Canisus gave up three shorthanded goals on a single power play. Seriously, the two minute variety. In all my years of watching hockey I've never seen that happen. Ever. So congratulations Canisius College, you just blew my freaking mind.

Also, I had forgotten a few things about the college game, mainly why I dislike it for a variety of reasons. I'm still not a fan of no-touch icing, as well as people diving face first to block shots because they are wearing cages. It's not really all that heroic when you are wearing a suit of armor, but good luck pulling that stuff on the next level.

Oh, and the Purple Eagles uniforms are awful. Having to wear purple is bad enough, but purple, silver, and white just doesn't work at all. The Griffs also borrowed from the Dallas Stars jersey design, so it wasn't exactly a visual cornucopia out there.

So yeah, college hockey. Maybe the first and last time I ever mention it here.

The softer side of Mike Eruzione

By Jon

There's one thing that I love more than sports: Modern art.

That got me thinking... what happens if you combine the intense, soul-searching interpretation of modern art with the triumphs and tribulations of the sporting world?

Miracle on Ice captain Mike Eruzione has answered my prayers.




Man, oh man. Where do we start with this piece of artwork?

First of all, this beauty can be yours. It's currently taking in a modest bid of $55 with 19 days remaining.

Eruzione has obviously poured his heart and soul into this prolific piece. The black streak across the middle has got to be a hockey stick, with the red and blue splotches representing the euphoric joy that came with winning the medal. Send this to Albright-Knox, immediately.

In all seriousness, this is art?!? I could have drawn that with my opposite hand in Pre-K.

Have at it... leave your modern art interpretations of Eruzione's work in the comments.

I'd Always Win in the End

by Ryan

Four weeks ago we were looking at the division races and talking about home playoff games. Today, we're 5-4 and looking at the rest of our schedule trying to piece together wins. Suddenly we are at the bottom of the division and random Patriots fans are heckling the site like they won some sort of trophy back in February or something. The point is, the Bills season has gone into a sort of tailspin, one that few fans saw coming.



Sure, you can saw you knew from the beginning it wouldn't last. Revisionist history is helpful like that, but I know very few people who weren't excited about this team, even as recently as the Chargers game. There were plenty of good signs in those first few games, despite the schedule and a few last minute heroics. Beating Jacksonville and San Diego is still a big deal, but the last three losses have proven an even bigger one.

So here's the question: what happened?

You can start with injuries but those are to be expected in any football season. However, the sheer number of incidents over the past two seasons can make one wonder just how proper our strength and conditioning is. Edwards' concussion seems unavoidable and it is pure speculation, but that IR list is pretty impressive, and not in a good way. (Perhaps we shouldn't put healthy players on IR like Angel-oh wait, that's none of our concern now, is it? Moving on...)

The turnover ratio, which started clearly in Buffalo's favor, has deteriorated over the season as well. In the last five games the ratio is a -3 and the Bills have a 1-4 record to show for it. Their season total of -6 is good for 27th in the league, which is not a good indicator of offensive responsibility and defensive pressure. I'm no expert, but those seem like pretty important things.

So where did those "important things" go? One could make the case that defensive pressure has been absent for years, and with injuries at key positions you can clearly state it nonexistent thus far this season. Schobel, Whitner, Youboty, and Crowell being out is a huge deal, and a bend but don't break defense quickly turns into a broken defense with that many holes.

However, the issues on offense are a bit more baffling because they begin with two things we thought were in good shape: Marshawn Lynch and Trent Edwards. As of this posting, Marshawn Lynch averages 3.5 yards per carry, with Fred Jackson averaging a slightly better 4YPC. However, their yards per game (56.9 and 26.3, respectively) does not make for a potent offense. In fact, that's downright embarrassing.

The issue with their performance may not be with talent but rather utilization. This team has simply lost all confidence in the run, and that affects how the rest of the offense works. What we thought to be a well-run and well-versed offense is faltering at an astounding rate, with carries few and far between. What was once an easy 3rd and 1 has turned into a shotgun set with five wide receivers, which doesn't make much sense when your third down receiver is hurt and you have two healthy running backs.

What happened to smash mouth, "our running back is going to rip your skull off" football? We clearly have a running back willing to rip off skulls, and a second option in Fred Jackson that is capable of producing when needed. Where is the confidence in your offensive line? Where is the confidence in your playcalling? Where, to be frank, are your balls?

This team's season high in rushing is 119 yards. How is that possible with a player like Marshawn Lynch on your roster? What is this, Detroit? Even Kevin Smith is averaging 4.3 YPC, and he's getting killed week in and week out.

The other problem, and probably the bigger one in the end, is Trent Edwards. Since that boy got concussed things just haven't been right, and even in the San Diego game there were signs that he was still a bit... tweaked. Let's face it, we've all been hurt before, and even after you are "okay" to come back there are still some lingering effects. Terrence McGee showed us that a few weeks ago, and my writing probably showed you that back in July.



If you want proof, here it is. When have you ever seen Trent throw with his mouth closed? Ever? The majority of this post has dealt with statistical evidence, but if there was ever an appeal to reason here it is. Trent Edwards is not playing like the quarterback he has been and we know he can be. Whether it is that defenses can scheme for him or he is not making clear decisions, that is the truth and the major problem.

Both interceptions on Sunday were throws he makes four weeks ago. Something has happened to the face of our franchise, and things are not looking good if he continues to play like this. This Trent Edwards doesn't get Lee involved in the offense. This Trent doesn't look off the safety. This Trent Edwards is not ready to be an effective NFL quarterback, and we were all under the impression that we bought a different model of Trent Edwards.

The fact of the matter is that while we can hope things turn around, something big needs to happen for it to do so. I am always one for hope, but right now I'm not as optimistic as I was when I last walked out of the Ralph. What we need is a big event, a big game, and lucky for us the Bills have that chance on Monday night.

What they also have is an opponent who may be willing to help us out, and that's exactly what we will discuss next.

On Pause

by Ryan

Tomorrow I promise some Bills posts, but things got in the way today. For now, check this out:



This photo really is perfect. It's amazing that they managed to get Favre's divine glow captured on film, but now we understand why he is so revered. Even when he is doing nothing. He completely deserves the credit he gets, and I can't wait to watch him on Thursday take on the heart of America's problems. He's a true American hero, and on days like this you have to remember who's really important.

Quarterbacks.

Saying Everything by Saying Nothing

by Ryan

You should have known what was wrong with the Sabres. It's obvious, really: They didn't stick to the system.

OF COURSE! The system! WHO CAN FORGET THE GOD DAMNED SYSTEM!?! It's what we clung to last year despite fundamental flaws in the team, and it's what we're going to blame for everything now. Let's roll through the cliche, blase comments just so we're clear with what Lindy is saying.

“You’ve got to be smart. We weren’t smart enough to win the game in Boston,” he said. “We came out aggressive enough and set a pretty good tone but we weren’t smart enough throughout the game."

And you wonder where Jason Pominville got his vernacular from. These two are peas in a pod when it comes to pointless oration.

Listen, I trust Lindy to handle his team, but blaming things on a slip in "the system" is a sore subject around these parts. Last year "the system" was a sinking ship of poor defensive play and zero accountability, and I'm not ready to blame a few bad games on it this year. This team is going through some growing pains, but overall they should be beyond all this "forgetting the system" nonsense.

However, I did like this quote:

“You have to hold the lines accountable. I didn’t like what the [Derek] Roy line did and the [Adam] Mair line had a tough time. It gave up a lot of opportunities. It’s one thing if you are giving up opportunities because you’ve created scoring chances - you’ve made a great play and the rebound gets out and you have to chase some people down… but we had no regard for our transition, no regard for late shifts.”

How many times did you hear Lindy Ruff call out a specific player last season? (Other then Dimitri Kalinin, who he appears to have murdered at some point in February) So many times last year he said they were an "immature" group, but never a specific player, and rarely even a specific line. It's encouraging to hear players and coaches say something other than "we need to be better" or "smarter" or all the ordinary garbage that appears to mean something but really doesn't.

Accountability really is key, and it's good to see the coaches and players really apply it, even if it has been sparingly thus far. Hopefully the words we want to hear are translated into actions on the ice soon enough. For now, let's hope there really is something to this system thing. It appears to be all the rage, and coach gets pretty mad when we forget about it.

Pounds and Stomps

by Ryan

I've been thinking about the Bills a lot today, but I'm very torn with regards to what I should say. So, I'm going to post both sides of my brain, one good and one bad. Look for those a bit later, and I'd love to hear your thoughts about both. This team certainly needs a lot of conversation to figure out. In the interim, here's a few other things on my mind as we get through another bitter Monday.

- My sleep schedule has been all kinds of messed up for months, but we're getting to the breaking point now. The last few days I haven't been able to stay up past 1 A.M. without taking a nap of some sort, usually during a sporting event. It's like my body is saying "No, no, F#$k YOU!"

- Zach over at Dueling Sabres sent along a petition for the "Bills in Toronto" game against Miami. A group of people want the NFL to keep the roof open at Skydome, and while it seems unlikely I'd suggest doing your part and signing.

- I can't believe I didn't mention this sooner, but over at FirstTimeLongTime they are having a Buffalo Media Showdown. Today's battle between Nick Mendola and John Vogl is crucial to the potential Mendola/Riter Clash of the Titans finale. We can only hope.

- Tomorrow I will dig through the archives and give an update out our newest meaningless award, The Ferrunginous Pygmy-Owl of the Game. I've missed a few games here and there and we need a running tally, so a sleepy Tuesday seems perfect for that purpose.

- If you need to feel better about your sports life, head over to Kissing Suzy Kolber and read this. The language may not be safe for everyone, but the message is as universal as Apple Pie.

- Blogger keeps eating parts of my posts, and that really bothers me. The Bills post yesterday had a point, I swear it did. However, I didn't check until after the game and noticed half of it was gone. Not good times.

- I now have tickets for both Sabres home games this week, which may be a bad thing. I'm currently 1-1 this year, with both games maintaining the excitement of a flea circus in Wisconsin. So yeah, there's that.

- Rich took the Wonderlic test today and says, "Vince Young has no excuse." While that may be true, I think Rich should post a lot more often around here.

- All I can say about this is "good". I know we're supposed to get upset about personal injury, but those bastards deserve every loss they get.

- According to Mirtle the Sabres currently rank second in goal differential and thirteenth in shot differential. I think the former is a good indicator of just how good teams are, and it's no surprise Montreal (3rd) and Boston (5th) are fighting with Buffalo for the division lead. You have to give James credit, he was one of the few who saw Buffalo playing as well as they are.

There's plenty more to cover today, so come back in a bit for some thoughts on Trent and Company.

Searching for the Light

by Ryan

Right now I should be talking about the Bills big loss. Trust me, it's huge and they are in a whole mess of trouble, but there's something else on my mind right now.

Maybe it should be the Sabres. I haven't talked about the Bruins game yet, and their "big" weekend should get some attention, too. However, I'm about as interested in talking about them as they looked interested in playing hockey last night. Instead, what I want to talk about something a bit more personal; and maybe a bit more awkward.

On Saturday I drove to a bar I'd never been to and met complete strangers. Just an ordinary night for most hookers, but for me it was anything but the usual Saturday.

There have been blogger get togethers before, but this was a first for me. You would never guess it from my antisocial posting patterns, but I am socially awkward when it comes to first introductions. It takes a good while for me to feel comfortable, and while some bloggers already knew each other, everyone was new to me. Ho boy, this was going to be strange.



However, everything went a lot better than I imagined. Despite standing next to a broken pig for about two periods, everyone introduced themselves and ended up talking a lot more than watching the game. What I thought was going to be uncomfortable turned out to be just like reading and commenting in the blogosphere: easy, friendly, and with very little heckling.

As I made the rounds I noticed a few interesting things. First of all, everyone assumed I was older. That's probably a compliment, or perhaps my numerous references to social security reform have led everyone askew. They say age is but a number, but my glass of ice water sure made me stand out last. However, that fashion statement was self-enforced, as the rest of the Buffalo bloggers were willing to get me some ice cold draft Loganberry. Oh, and lots of beer.

As I talked to everyone I noticed how truly different we all are. Among our ranks there are businessmen, writers, musicians, teachers, and other people doing complicated-sounding things at RIT. Some have families and mortgage payments, and some are just starting the "real life" phase of things. And then there's me, who can best be described as "just some kid".

With all those differences one would imagine it hard to keep conversation flowing, but that was quite the opposite. There were drunk silences at times and a few moments devoted to The Hip's "Fireworks", but in between there was the everyday "blogger" conversation. The Aud, Sabermetrics, Bill Simmons, Paul Gaustad being adorable; everything you'd expect a Buffalo sports fan to talk about was on the table. In fact, if you didn't know we all had subterranean dwellings with Internet access you would just think we were friends meeting up at a bar to watch the game.

In a way, that's exactly what we were.

There are a lot of question marks out there about this whole "new media" thing, but out of the little scientific research done on blogs the idea of "cybernetic space" has come about. Basically, the formation of a blogging community creates an artificial space online that is inherently linked to the actual place or places they blog about. Blogging about Buffalo has linked us all to Buffalo in a way that is no longer possible for some.

When you think about it, that's pretty unique. Our little corner of the web is out there for anyone in the world to see, and that means people outside the 716 suddenly have a way of connecting with the area. In a region with so many expatriates floating around, it's no surprise our little blogopshere has grown so much over the past few years.

Sometimes I really feel like what we do just isn't about the Bills or Sabres, but Buffalo as a whole. People move from place to place all the time these days, and what keeps them tied to their roots are the sports teams they love. When we write posts they aren't about the new mayor or downtrodden economy or something that comes and goes; we write about the only two constants left in this city. It's what makes the Bills and Sabres mean so much, and why it will hurt like hell if either ever leave.

Looking back on it, I shouldn't have been surprised by our conversations because that's what we do. We write and read because we value eachother's opinions and are all a part of this. The writers, the commenters, even the blogs you may not like or "totes" rip off your ideas. All of us are a part of this... something, and even if we aren't sure what it is it's pretty cool.

That was the other thing that came to mind often: this is really cool. It was cool that someone put forth the effort to organize it, and it was really cool to see everyone show up. It's cool to hear what people think about what you do, and it's cool to really know these people and just how far they drove to get there. This medium we all use may not be the pinnacle of "cool", but Saturday night sure was a lot of fun.

Oh, and we should totally do it again sometime.

One More Time!

Nothing finishes off a dismal sports weekend like zero percent financing! Get the Yaris of your dreams today!

Thoughts and prayers

The Buffalo News is reporting that one of its own, sportswriter Tom Borrelli is in critical condition after falling down a flight of stairs while covering a high school football game at All High Stadium on Saturday.

We here at the Roost wish Tom the best in a speedy recovery and hope you keep him in your thoughts and prayers as well.

Something to Consider

Since Dick's extension, the Bills are 0-3. Suddenly that 84.9% chance is looking a lot more like 15.1%.

Remember Remember...

by Ryan

Not a lot of time for a Gameday Post, but I will get some maps and other things up in a bit. What I wanted to talk about really quick was the Patriots and what today means.

Eight minutes into the season, today's game became the most important day of the season. Next Monday is going to be huge, but beating New England has been the thorn in Bills fan's sides for years. After a fast start today seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally take it to them, but things have changed.

There's a lot to look at today and get down about. Everyone's hurt, the Bills can't run the ball, and Trent Edwards might be in the middle of a Sophomore Slump. New England has always been good at home in the Brady Era, and you know how Belichick, master of the universe, is.

Still, if the Bills have any sort of pride they will win today. They have to understand what this game means, both for their own satisfaction as well as their playoff hopes. I want them to get mad, get angry, and remember the scores over the past few years.

Remember 31-0. Remember last year's Sunday Night Massacre.

Note: There was a lot more to this, but I guess Blogger decided to eat it. Not like it mattered...

Last Time We Met

by Ryan



When I was coming up with a lede for the post game post I had a few ideas. My first thought was what Miller said after a Bruins game last year.

I never want to see the grin on his face like he had when he turned up ever again.

Not the most perfect of English, but what he said about Phil Kessel seemed to mean a lot to Ryan. It was a resolution of sorts, to shut Boston down whenever he had the chance. Now while he did score during the game a few weeks ago, we all knew there was no way he was scoring in the shootout.

That was the story of the game until Thomas Vanek did his thing, and what I ended up with was a little something like this. You could argue for either story, but I think it worked out for the best. Still, whenever Boston shows up on the schedule I'm going to think about what Miller said.

He may not get the chance to face them tonight, but I wonder if the team feels the same way.

Throwback

by Ryan

He's making his very best Dick Jauron face there.

It's hard to say what defines an entire season. Over 82 games, a multitude of themes and storylines develop that make it quite hard to pick just one. Injuries, contracts disputes, scoring slumps; any number of things can become what a season is defined by. However, if there was one thing that got close to a storyline last year it was the art of the collapse.



Witness a return to form.

It's not the worst thing in the world, but last night wasn't progress. For the first time in what seems like all year, the Sabres had a full roster. An extended break, a home game against a tired team; this was a perfect chance to get a win and keep things rolling into the weekend. No one was expecting a shutout streak to be alive this morning, but the Thrashers aren't exactly a tough test at home.

Well, maybe they are. This is the second time Atlanta has come back to beat the Sabres in extra innings, and last year wasn't a cake walk either. Maybe there's something about this Thrashers team that Buffalo cant handle. It's not a very good explanation for anything, but the Sabres should and can handle this team and they don't.



And who the hell is this guy? Bryan Little is going to be a good NHL player, but he absolutely owns the Sabres. As of right now he's Marc Savard South, and because of that I despise him. It's probably a good thing we don't play Atlanta until March, maybe by then he will have been packaged with Kovalchuk and shipped off to the West or something.

I'd like to get more upset about it, but sometimes hockey is like this. Bad games happen, but this wasn't a bad game. This was a team that got let back into the picture, and they took the chance and got two points. Atlanta is a desperate team, and you can throw all the cliches in you want, but sometimes you just don't close out games against desperate teams.

After a game like that, back to back doesn't seem like such a bad idea.

Reload

by Ryan

So I've been mulling around the interwebs waiting to hear what roster move the Sabres make before tonight's game. Still nothing, but as I refresh Yahoo's Sabres page over and over I noticed something.



Thomas Vanek has over half the stat categories taken care of, but Yahoo felt the need to give Adam Mair's mug shot a try. That's a nice little gesture, considering he's only the penalty minute leader. As it turns out, the picture that gets picked is just a random thing. Next time I got Vanek up where he should be.



Still, it would be nice if they used a picture of him taken sometime after high school.

So yeah, this is the type of thing I post about when Lindy can't make up his mind. Is Matt Ellis that valuable?

On the Edge

by Ryan

We're just about to slide into another big sports weekend in Buffalo, and I have to admit I'm a bit nervous. Actually, looking at the schedule it appears I could write the same thing for the next four Fridays. The Sabres play on every Friday and Saturday in November, and yes that's kind of crazy. Also, aside from the suddenly huge Monday Night game the Bills will play every Sunday. That's your weekend schedule for the month, so don't make any plans or anything.

We could talk about my nerves with the Sabres, but in reality they are pretty basic. The schedule is very symmetrical but could harm them because of the back to back games. Only having games on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday for an entire month is pretty crazy, and we all know how poorly the Sabres have played in the Saturday night slot over the past few seasons.

Still, I think the Sabres will be fine. They are once again healthy and Miller is playing as lights out as he ever has. Having Lalime to fill in the back to back nights is a huge upgrade from last year, I don't think it's possible to overstate this. Jocelyn Thibault, you suck at life. I hate you. I hope you contract Typhoid or something more vile and painful.

Ahem.

The Bills, however, are my main concern. Losing two straight in the division makes them suddenly seem a whole lot less "real" than we originally thought, and a loss to the Patriots puts them in panic button territory. Missing four starters isn't going to help things at all, and New England still has a very good offense that just happens to have a terrible quarterback at the helm.

Judging from the above paragraph, the NFL is all kinds of f#$ked up this year. It's quite possible that the Dolphins are the best team in the division, and that the Jets can make the playoffs despite being the worst. Seriously, no matter what you took from the game last Sunday I think we can all agree that the Jets are terrible.

New England, Buffalo, and amazingly Miami are all potential playoff teams, and in a conference where only one team truly stands out (Tennessee) the division crown suddenly means all that much more. Assuming Tennessee is the top seed, there's still a first round bye floating around out there, and the AFC East has as good a chance as any to get it. Forget about the home playoff game we'd like so badly to have, the Bills need to step it up and put themselves in a good position for the playoffs, and a bye still isn't out of the question.

However, losing on Sunday will put plenty of the above in question, including a playoff spot altogether. It's frightening to say it, but a lot is on the line in Foxboro on Sunday, and there's not much optimism going around right now. With a big Monday Night looming, the Bills need to put up a win on the road to get that momentum back. The Browns will come to town with high hopes for a quarterback but two crushing losses. What will the Bills bring to the Ralph in ten days?

Just another big sports weekend in Buffalo.

Paradise... LOST!

by Ryan

Every once in a while it is okay to talk about fantasy sports. Really, it is.

We take our fantasy leagues very seriously here, and every so often a perfect moment comes about that makes you appreciate all the wasted moments in your life you devote to an imaginary football team.

Last night was one of those moments, but it was indeed a moment far too brief.

---

A few weeks ago Chris said he had a sleeper to pick up. Because we are in another league together he wouldn't tell me the name, but the next week we had him in our Buffalo Blogger's league, and he had him in ours. His name was Ryan Torain, and it was said that if not for an injury in training camp he would be starting for Denver.

Then we waited. Denver suddenly had a lot of injury problems, and slowly Torain nursed himself back to health. Before you know it he was the de facto starter for Denver, and last night was the first chance we had to see what he could do. A few minutes before game time I sent Chris a text. "Should we go with Torain?" I asked. He said we should, and so LenDale White was sent to the bench.



At the end of the first quarter he had 31 yards and a touchdown. By halftime he was out of the game. Now, he's lost for the year. It was a magical ride that spanned the course of two quarters of football, but the Ryan Torain Experiment has come and gone before our very eyes.

We were so close to that moment where everything clicks. We're not the only people who knew about Torain, but getting that extra edge in a competitive league is reason to celebrate. Especially with a team like ours, which lost its first round pick eight minutes into the season. Luck has so much to do with how a fantasy team works out, but the moments where your hours of research prove profitable really are what it's all about.

When I told Chris about the Torain ACL, he only said this: "Well it was good while it lasted. Twelve points isn't bad."

Not bad at all. Back to the waiver wire we go.

Snap Judgement

by Ryan

Are the Cleveland Browns a better football team with Brady Quinn at quarterback, or does it not matter at all? This becomes very important after Sunday, and if you watched any of the game tonight, we have some things to talk about in the morning. Next Monday Night is a lot closer than it feels.

Wow, and we thought Trent looked ridiculous when he threw.

Ask the Sabres

by Ryan



Actually, yeah. You know that jersey you are wearing there? So, uh... when do you wear that for real for real?

See, all of these teams are coming out with third jerseys, and that's fun. However, what they have done is let people know when they plan on wearing them. I mean, by now the fans themselves can wear the jerseys, why not tell the fans when the players will do the same?

Heck, the Penguins announced their third jerseys at a freaking mall and still had a date ready to roll. We will see the Winter Classic jerseys again on November 15th. When do we get to see the Sabres' new unis in the flesh?

After a bit of sleuthing I've come to icethetics, which has the Sabres' first game with the new blue and gold as November 26th. Is that it, though? Where are the rest of them?

The good news is that the Pirates have more worn more jerseys this year than the Sabres ever have. Their normal sweaters you can buy at the Sabres' store, but I doubt you want a pink Gerbe jersey, right?



Well, what about a stars and stripes Gerbe?



Yeah, I'm sure this is going to turn out well. They should just call them the Painting Pirates and wear a different uniform every night.

Kelly, Timmy, and an Escape from the Basement

by Ryan

It's a good thing Jon posted yesterday or we would have been dark for quite a while. Let's talk about some things quickly and we can try to get back on schedule today.



- We already know Timmy is back on the injury train, but what I thought was great about it was Lindy's reaction:

"He's nursing a little bit of a sore groin, which I think after playing a couple games and missing training camp, it's to be expected that he can be a little sore after finally getting into the heat of the battle," coach Lindy Ruff said.

Translation: We totally know he's made of cotton candy and sex drive. We're okay with it, so you should be too.

- The good news is that Jochen is no longer Brochen, and will play tomorrow. My best guess is that Stafford sits unless Timmy can't pull his penis-parts together in time.

- Interesting story from our friend Side of Pork about Jim Kelly's take on the fans Sunday. He did a nice job pointing out where Kelly is being a bit absurd, but I sort of agree with Jim on this one. There's not much fans can do to change how the defense plays, but it seemed mighty quiet there on Sunday. Could have been a combination of things, but I expected a lot better.

- If you're not aware, this Saturday our friends at FirstTimeLongTime are planning a little get together for the Sabres game. It's safe to say that unless swamp monsters attack that morning I will be there along with a few other writers from Buffalo's finest sports blogs. Heck, even Chris may show up. More information will be making the rounds shortly, but if you are interested in attending we would love to have you.

Later today we will have more to talk about, but for now, be careful where you draw your anti-Semitic penises...

On Star Power, "Dead Wood", and The Game

by Ryan

Last week the big news in the NHL was Alexander Ovechkin back in Russia spending time with his grandfather. While he was out, another Alexander made some noise with some news of his own, which I'm sure you've heard by now.

What's so special about [Crosby]? I don't see anything special there. Yes, he does skate well, has a good head, good pass. But there's nothing else. Even if you compare him to Patrick Kane from Chicago ... [Kane] is a much more interesting player. The way he moves, his deking abilities, his thinking on the ice and his anticipation of the play is so superb.

Crosby has since responded to that comment, but what had a few people asking questions was this:

I think that if you take any player, even if he is "dead wood," and start promoting him, you'll get a star. Especially if he scores 100 points. No one is going to care about anyone else. No one is going to care whether he possesses great skill. Let's say you put someone in front of the net and let him deflect pucks in, and he scored 50 goals; everyone will say "Wow!" and then hand him a $10 million per year contract. That's what they like here.

I hadn't really nailed down who he was talking about with this, but D.O. at Die by the Blade thinks it may be about Thomas Vanek. After thinking about it for a bit it does make sense to me, and makes what I asked about Vanek after the Caps game all that more interesting. Here's what D.O. had to say about Atlas.

For those of us who have had the pleasure of watching Thomas Vanek, we know he does more than just stand in front of the net. Vanek is not afraid to stand in front of the net but he is one of the most creative players in the NHL today. He has deceiving speed and wicked wrister. He is also really good with his hands for a big guy that stands in front of the net.

I agree with what he says about Vanek, but I think there is a deeper meaning in what Semin says. There are distinct differences between North American and Russian hockey, and an extension of this is what someone considers a star player. For a very long time the Russian game has valued speed, finesse, and pure talent, while the North American (read: Canadian) game has its origins rooted deeply in defense.

Ken Dryden talked about this a lot in The Game, but in a way this is exactly what Semin is talking about. For him "star power" comes directly from your natural abilities. The way you move on ice, the way you interact with teammates, your foot speed and stickhandling. When all those talents add up it should equal points, and points with grace equal superstar status.

Not to get all Don Cherry on you, but the North American game is about more than that. There is a roughness to it, a grit that makes David Eckstein look like a nancyboy. While we appreciate that electric player as much as the next guy, there is an admiration reserved for that player who is willing to take a cross check for a goal. Standing in front of the net for a tip is not something to dishonor, rather it is a unique willingness that teams and fans value.

Guys like Tomas Holmström and Paul Gaustad are unique in their purpose. Thomas Vanek just happens to have that same drive along with all the other natural talents that make him a star. It doesn't necessarily make him "dead wood", just a different style of star. Sure, Thomas Vanek shouldn't have made $10 million last year, and he's still not worth $7.5 this year, but 43 goals in a year is more than just standing in front taking a beating. He's a pretty safe bet for 50 this year, and 50 goals is no laughing matter.

It may not be about Vanek at all, but what Semin is talking about still isn't without merit. He makes a good point about how the league is marketed, but in doing so displays a major difference between the Russian and North American game. Neither side is completely right, but I don't think the argument is all that bad of a thing to have.

Breaking news...

By Jon

From the Buffalo News...

Tim Connolly missed practice today.

In other news...

The sun is hot.


Ice is cold.


Clay Aiken is gay.

Batting .500

by Ryan

If there was ever an exercise in futility, it would be picking players for an All Star Game. Whether it be punch ballots, online voting, or text messaging; there will always be something a tad unfair about the process. In a way it is by design. Fans are biased and root for players the like even if they may be less deserving than others. That's just how it goes, and sometimes even Rory Fitzpatrick gets involved.

However, what doesn't make sense is when the candidates don't make much sense. Let's try the Sabres picked or the 104 player ballot.

Vanek. Good.

Miller. Good.

Teppo. Okay, I can live with that.

Roy. Really?

Seriously, out of all the people to pick on a loaded team, how do Numminen and Roy stand out thus far? Teppo has been solid and has five points, but when you have Jaroslav Spacek on your team how does he get the nod over him? Nine points and a +3 on a decimated defensive corps is pretty impressive, and quite the bounce back season in a contract year.

Then we have Derek Roy. He's come on as of late, but he's still averaging half a point per game on a team with five forwards ahead of him in team scoring. One of them is an All Star shoe in (Atlas), but where is Pominville's nomination? You could make the argument that Kotalik has benefited from Vanek's play and Clarke is taking advantage of a few injuries, but what about Jason's strong play?

Let's face it, he got the big pay raise over the summer for a reason, and he has been making some noise in the past few games, much of it his own doing. Not to say that Roy hasn't been playing well, but if you had to put Derek or Jason on your ballot, which one would you pick?

Then again, this isn't an exact science. From the Rink, of course, has all the hits and misses. Hey, at least they didn't pick Connolly.

A Candidate We Can Believe In

by Ryan



Hi, I'm Paul Gaustad.

A lot has been said about this year's presidential election. Sure today will be exciting, but I'm here to offer you hope for the future. Namely, hope four years from now. This may come as a shock to some of you, but when my contract comes up after the 2011-12 season, I won't be coming back to the Sabres.

I'm running for president.

Now don't get too upset, this is something I've always wanted to do. My love of the environment has been put to good use in Buffalo, but there's just so much more beyond recycling bins at HSBC Arena and sweet, sweet merchandising revenue. There's an entire world out there to save, and this is my chance to make a real difference before it's too late.

Of course, I've already picked out my vice president. This is a bit unorthodox, but I feel strongly about my running mate and want to make sure no one else has the chance to steal him before the general election. He's a bit cold at first, but if you give him a little love and attention he warms up real fast.



No, not the television, Obama called shotgun on that long ago. I'm talking about the little guy next to him, the aluminum can. Now don't get down on me just yet, let me explain. I mean, do you even know how much power an aluminum can has in it? Together with my charming good looks and his limitless energy source, we can't be beat!



Look at that, we're just too damn adorable. This election is going to be difficult, but I would hope we can put aside our differences and embrace the journey to the White House. I give you a decent faceoff percentage and strong forecheck, and you give me your vote. It's just that simple.



Gaustad/Aluminum '12: Because let's face it, we're pretty much there already, aren't we?

Shaq says: Vote or Die

by Ryan

We're here with Shaquille O'Neal, who maybe can give us some insight on voting today.



Uh, I've always been a voter and uh, I've always liked voting. I'm from New Jersey so, uh, um, they have the best voting in the country. I'm uh, just, um, happy to vote down here on my, (inaudible) night off.

I used to vote a lot. I've voted in Los Angeles. I've voted in, uh, I voted last week in Phoenix. I've always liked voting and uh, um, ah, voting and I enjoy it.

I don't know nothing about no write in ballots, no senate races, no Proposition Ks or no nothin. It looks hard, so, uh... it looks like there are some great voters out there.

So yeah, uh, go out and vote.

No And1 Tonight

by Ryan

It wasn't the prettiest of games, but it was a well earned win.

After four straight games against New Jersey that give away extra points, it was just nice to see a game end in regulation. The way the Sabres have started this year would make you believe it would head there again this year. Taking a 1-0 lead into the third after completely dominating play. We've seen the soft goal that ties it up, another point lost within the conference.

Miller actually spent the whole first period like this

Not this time. Miller was strong again, the defense held, and they overcame some penalties to put together another great road win. We've wondered if Miller would live up to the expectations a new contract brings, and two straight shutouts to playoff teams does answer the bell quite a bit. He's made sure to put two a bad games behind him, and knowing he will get a long rest and maybe a day off this weekend does a lot for the team's confidence.


Max's shadow forcing a turnover

The forwards put in a pretty solid effort as well. It looks like Afinogenov and Stafford, and Mair didn't get much ice time, but the Kaleta/Gaustad/Paille line was excellent. Kaleta in particular had a good game. Aside from the nice goal, he was everywhere on the forecheck, killing penalties, and even blocking an important shot late. Putting Pat out with two minutes to play with a shutout on the line is a great gesture from the coaching staff, and Kaleta deserved it with a great all around performance tonight.


It's good to see Rivet back, isn't it?

It's going to be a long week without a Sabres game, but we will find plenty to talk about. This team is getting healthy, and aside from a few hiccups last week they are firing on all cylinders. Vanek still had a good game, but nothing to show for it on the stat sheet. Miller is as lights out as he has ever been, and he's back to having a decent backup to support him.

This team is starting to look familiar, and I can't think of a better way to finish off a Monday than with saying that.



The Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl of the Game goes to Pat Kaleta, who totally deserves it. Kaleta always seems to make an impact, but tonight was more than that. His line was a force, and I'd like to see them stay together for a while and see what happens. With all the injuries we've seen so far, it would be nice to see a checking line set and ready to roll.

Be Your Connection on a Monday Night

by Ryan

Oh crap, Versus.

It's not that I don't like the Outdoor Life Network, I just think it's kind of silly in most regards. It has made some great strides in the past two years when it comes to game production and staff, and their playoff coverage was pretty good last year. However, critics will always look to its bull riding and fishing companions and ask what a "major" sport is doing on a channel most people don't care about.

We could beat this issue into the ground, but if you are like me a game on Versus means one thing: an away game in HD. This is a much bigger deal than people with standard definition television can imagine. Until last Christmas I was among you, but now I've seen the light. If you are reading this right now, cut costs everywhere you can, eat less, and buy an HDTV. It will change your sporting life for the better, and you can complain with me when the Sabres play in the crappy lighting conditions at Nassau Coliseum.

In any event, here's a few things you should know about the Devils or the league in general:

- If you know where to get a print copy of Buffalo Rising be sure to grab the November Edition. There's a great story about the Aud with some very cool photos in it, some of which they already have here. I'll keep looking for the online version and will link to it when I find it.

- Take a look at the standings. Doesn't it feel like the Rangers are going to finish the season in March and just wait until everyone gets done?\



- Mirtle picked Atlas as his Rocket Richard winner thus far. To that I say, nice shirsey. Oh, and Miller won his Vezina. If he stops having those soft-goal games for a while I agree.

- Everyone knows by now, but Brodeur will be out for tonight's game. Marty always plays Buffalo tough, but I'm more worried about the defensive system we just can't seem to beat. It will be interesting to see how effective the power play is against a team like New Jersey. We've had problems with offensive zone entries before, and I doubt they improve much against the Devils. Maybe Connolly helps them progress tonight?

- Zach Parise is the major concern tonight, with 14 points in 9 games thus far. Only our very own Atlas Vanek has more goals than Parise, so you know the kind of year he's had. He may be the first "hot" player the Sabres' defense will come up against this year, so I'd watch how well they play against the Devils' top line.

- No word on who starts for Buffalo, but you have to think its Miller because of the light week. I'd guess he splits starts over the weekend but starts against Weekes tonight. In any event, isn't it kind of nice that the option is there? Patrick Lalime is fun like that.

- I just got 15 seats together in the lower bowl, so I'm guessing there are still plenty of tickets left. Devils Hockey, it's Jersey's Team!

Donte's Inferno

by Ryan

When I saw Marv's number pop up on my phone I immediately thought back to the game's final minutes. The most important defensive series of the game was coming up on third down, and Donte Whitner was calling it game. Knowing everything we've learned about him over the past few seasons, you had to figure something was seriously wrong.

Now we know.

It's not the end of the world, but week-to-week is bad enough. On a defense already hurting with injuries and big names out, adding Whitner to the list only makes a huge division match up even tougher. We all keep going back to that tackle against the Raiders, but there was something about Whitner's actions that really sums up everything about him.

A few weeks ago 289 sent around an email asking who to put on a new "Fab Four" shirt. The main conflict was whether to put in "Poz" or Donte Whitner as the representative on defense. My vote was for Donte, but only because I really feel like he is the true leader of that squad. With Whitner out an unknown period, someone else has to step into that role; and maybe Paul can be that guy. We can only hope.

---

I'm the one that posts here the most often, but a lot of what we do is still a group effort. The reason we have four writers in the first place is because a lot of what we talk about comes from our own conversations, so if you ever see "Rich and I were talking" or something to that effect you at least will know what is up.

In any event, what we have discussed the most since yesterday's game is the possibility that the division is a lot different than we imagined. Miami looks better, the Patriots are still there, and maybe this Bills team isn't as good as they looked and felt like four weeks ago. Rich has a theory about the Jets I hope he gets around to writing, as well.

The idea that the Bills aren't "as good" is interesting, because I still think they are good. However, there is a major difference between "good" and "great". A 5-3 Bills team is still a playoff team, but there aren't many people that will say this team has a shot at making some serious noise. Rich said it best today: "I can totally see this team going 9-7, missing the playoffs and everyone somehow regarding it as an accomplishment."

I think he's right, but for me missing the playoffs will be a monumental collapse in a year that was designed for the Bills to succeed. The window is open, the playing field is level, and this team is beating themselves with mistakes we thought they had put behind them. We were convinced Trent was beyond those mistakes and the defense was holding strong, and suddenly we aren't so sure.

The reason it is so bothersome is because for a lot of people this year looked to be it. This is the year the Bills break through and play January football that matters. You win the division and you get a home playoff game. Just the thought of what that would feel like is enough to give you some hope, and even after that hope slips a bit it only makes you want it more.

I suppose that means I'm back in character today.

In Character

by Ryan



Yep, even when he makes mistakes his mouth is open.

Jon and I have a lot of similar interests, but where we differ is how we handle our sports teams. While I tend to sit on the side of optimism and hope, Jon lacks an earthly soul and assumes the worst at all times. This means a lot of conflict, and Jon telling me I'm wrong often.

However, today we have the same opinion about the Bills: we have very little to say about yesterday's game, and yes, that's a bad thing. The Bills only made a few mistakes but it cost them the game. Favre did absolutely nothing, Lynch was... well, I don't know what happened to Money yesterday.

All of a sudden the Bills are 5-3 with a game against the Patriots looming. They technically still have a playoff spot, but you can't be as high on this team as you were a few weeks ago, right? That's the question I suppose. On a day like today, are you a "Ryan" or a "Jon"?

I think I'm a bit out of character today.

Dugga-ween: Update

by Ryan

On Friday we told you about the hot joint to hit up for Halloween debauchery. We figured you were dying to know how it all went down, so of course we are going to tell you. Well actually, let's let Paul do that hisselfs:

DUE TO CONFLICTIONS THE PARTY HAS BEEN CANCELLED! sorry for any inconviniences

As you must understand, I was crushed by this. We may never know what put the final nail into Dugga-ween's coffin, but I already revealed one conflict in my post on Friday. The lesson?



Carmelo Anthony ruins everything.

Gameday Prep: Bills vs. Jets

by Ryan

Okay, I could have done much worse with this...

Announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms. Stupendous! (Courtesy of Awful Announcing)

Game Distribution Maps: Courtesy of the506.

Depth Charts: Jets, Bills

Stats: NFL.com, ESPN, or Yahoo Sports all do a good job. If you have fantasy teams through Yahoo, you're better off paying the ten bucks for "stattracker", it's a lifesaver. (Especially when you have three fantasy leagues with Yahoo...)

Things They've Been Saying:
- First of all take a look at this post from Buffalo Rumblings. There is a reason this place is the best Bills blog on the planet. Just great work there.

- Tim Graham has an interesting post from Scouts, Inc. about Edwards and his growth.

- Be sure to Text the Po-lice if you see any shenanigans at the game today. Hrm, probably not what Public Enemy was going for there...

- The New York Post has a suggestion for Brett Favre.

Pump-Up Song that Will Melt Your Face Off: "Little Sister", Queens of the Stone Age



We would praise the excellent use of cowbell, but Tampa Bay has pretty much killed it. Let's call it a jam block and move on.

Fun Facts:

- When Eric Mangini's wife birthed a child he named it after Brett Favre. No, really. I'm not going to link it because I'm too tired and it's really sad, but I'm completely serious. Dude, I know.

- 289 has an absolutely sick shirt you should buy. I would buy it with a "Kaleta Collision" shirt and get 20%off, but that's just me. You'll be the talk of your local Urban Outfitters with either. Trust me.

- I see no reason why the Bills don't roll today. Not to sound too confident, but the Jets have beaten no one, and almost lost to the Chiefs at home last week. The Chiefs. The team that Herm Edwards coaches and Larry Johnson slaps bitches for. Yeah, that one.

- A special welcome home goes to reader Greg B. and his son from Dayton, Ohio. They made the trip in to see the game this weekend and had some questions for us, which we were happy to answer. Hope he has a great time out there with 73,000 of his closest friends.




Go Bills.

Atlas 'Simplified'

by Ryan



When will they learn?

Take a look around the league and tell me what you see. What teams are defined by one player, one face bobbing above a uniform's crest? What names are thrown around when talk of greatness begins? Crosby. Ovechkin. Lecavalier. Iginla. All of them worthy of the praise and reputation they receive. All at the top of their game. But here's my question:

When does Thomas Vanek enter into this discussion?

We are now an eighth of the way through the season, and Thomas Vanek leads the league in goals. Okay, that could change. But what hasn't changed is his overall game, which sometime last year morphed into an absolute monster. Even when he doesn't hit the scoresheet Thomas Vanek has played the best hockey of his career over the last 30 or so games. When does he get recognition for that play from someone outside of Buffalo?

You saw him in action tonight. He beat the best young defenseman in hockey for his league leading tenth goal 72 seconds into a game his team absolutely needed to win, and scored another after a second effort rush to end the second period. Toss in a few mad dashes to break up plays on defense and another penalty-free night and you have another another great game from a player coming into his own before your very eyes.

Give all the credit in the world to a coaching staff that had their team ready, but even more credit should go to the players for responding in such a stunning way. It only makes Tuesday and Thursday that much more embarrassing to see them play like this against Washington. Miller was excellent, Connolly played well, and a few players got off the hot seat; but who has answered the bell more than Vanek thus far this year?

On a night when the best player in the world was not in the country, Thomas Vanek took over the game in a way you would expect Alexander Ovechkin to do so. He didn't celebrate like AO or skate as fast as him, but he made things happen all night and was the best player on ice at all times.

My question still stands. Just how good is Vanek when you stack him up with the rest of the league? Perhaps it is his cap hit, perhaps his country of origin, or maybe it's just because he plays in Buffalo, but when does this league take notice of what's happening at HSBC Arena when #26 hits the ice? More importantly, do we even want them to notice?

A few other things while I pour libations to our very own Titan:

- I know everyone makes fun of Alexander Semin, but it really is an odd name, right? The NHL is the only league where this is somehow okay for one of its stars. It would be like the NFL having a starting quarterback named Michael Wenis or something. Of course, he would probably play for San Francisco and no one would bat an eye.

- I loved the Kaleta/Paille scoring play. I know I said I'm not going to talk about Kaleta anymore, but I really like giving him some shifts with actual talent. The same goes for Mair. Sometimes a line shuffle works really well, and tonight it did. It will be interesting to see how the lines shake out when everyone else gets healthy.

- Miller's done with his crappy games for the year now, right?

- #19 was pretty okay tonight. He's going to play well, it's just going to be a matter of longevity with him. Then again, we all know this. Good to see him get 19+ in ice time, though, making my prediction wrong. Should we take bets on how many games he plays?



The Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl goes to Thomas Vanek, destroyer of cities, lifter of planets. Yes, we are totally keeping track of these. For the record, Thursday's went to Stamkos, and if we missed another one we will give one out there. Big prizes abound come season's end.

We hope.

Chicken Shooters, Timmy, and Alex on the Shelf

by Ryan

So it's November now. Somehow last month we managed to post 94 times, which is more than we've ever done. Somewhere along the line I may have dropped acid or something, but hopefully this kind of pace can keep going. Maybe triple digits this month?

Tonight the Sabres take on Washington, and I'd say this game is pretty important. Let's go with a few quick hits while you try to get that silver paint out of your hair.

- I'm sure you heard this by now, but Ovechkin isn't playing tonight. That means Semin is the main threat, and suddenly I'm very glad I didn't drop 80 bucks on tonight's game.

- The Sabres' finally had something to say about the Winter Classic rink that East Aurora purchased. It was only almost two months after news first broke, so yeah, good for them.

- According to Sabres.com, the lines you see tonight will be a bit different. I'm hoping for a Peters/Pominville/Paille trio, but that's just me.

- Speaking of Pominville, please take a moment to read Kevin's thoughts on Jason's usual post game jargon. Saying absolutely nothing in so many words really is a talent, and I think he's a straight shooter for upper management.



- Hard to imagine Max is the fourth leading scorer on the team, eh? So far Ales is leading the UFA-to-be scoring race, but we all know Timmy's going to have a big game out of the chute, right?

- Oh, and don't you wish you had ticket promotions like this?



All that and Mystics tickets? Sign me up!

- Sabres need this one tonight. Have to take advantage with the best player on the planet half a world away.

Who's That?

by Ryan



Coming out of the shadows for the first time this season, it's Tim Connolly!



I give him eleven minutes.