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first, i don't answer to you. second, i question your second statement. you say that Mr. Wilson has not hired someone from outside the organization that worked out. so, -- are you suggesting he promote from within? -- or are you suggesting that his decision to spend big money on Tom Donahoe was wrong? -- or are you suggesting that he shouldn't have spent big money on Tom Donahoe? or are you suggesting that Mr. Wilson was snakebit for hiring Tom Donahoe, which is why he hasn't gone outside the organization to hire another GM since 2005, which actually proves that you agree with Mr. Wilson? -- or are you suggesting that he shouldn't have promoted Bill Polian to the GM job? exactly, what is it that you're suggesting? and i'm pleased your making reference to the "Inner Circle," because that's what the AP got out of Mr. Wilson a year ago. but you seem to be the one who doesn't think the media in town is worth a grain of salt, and yet you seem to be good at quoting us. my my, what a conundrum. jw

personally, i think what Mr. Wilson was trying to do, is not lie, by revealing the Bills were interested in Shanahan. it's why the team, afterward, sent out a press release noting it wasn't going to discuss its coaching search, which in an awkward -- yet truthful way -- is what i think Mr. Wilson meant to say when he told me he knew nothing about the guy. jw

then please, tell me if you recall Mr. Wilson ever saying something like this in the past: "We've got to revamp and take a look at the whole operation, and that's what we're going to do." and then say he is in a position to spend money on solving the problem. in all my encounters with Mr. Wilson, he's never gone that far. jw

with all due respect, I don't think this was a sound bite. in my dealings with Mr. Wilson, he doesn't speak for the purposes of sound bites. i believe he was and still is very much intent on revamping the front office and spending as much money on the project as necessary. the fact that the bills took an run at shanahan is an indication of that. i believe there will be a significant shakeup. jw

shoulda stopped before the "but." it is total speculation, and this is the 1,872nd post to start like this. jw

my feeling following several conversations with Aaron is that he's as much tired of the losing as he is tired of his body aching. he does look forward to living a healthy life after football. i also know that the perennial struggles in Buffalo and the constant turnover and lack of direction also weigh heavily. jw

Aaron's been talking about this for a while, as noted in my piece, and backs up something a poster wrote on this board back in august. personally, i think pass-rushing DE's are hard to find. and though Schobel's performance was inconsistent at times, i don't think he was over-rated. he was/is good. the correlation is evident this year, considering how an effective pass rush is helping the Bills DBs. don't know if Byrd would have as many interceptions -- or the entire team for that matter -- without the push the line's applied. and the fact that those sack and interceptions were down last year without Schobel is telling. oh, and by the way, the other reporter speaking to Schobel was Buffalo News' Allen Wilson. providing credit where it is due. jw

Latest and final version is out. Schobel considers retiring jw

Just filed a quick story on Schobel, who had interesting comments to make post practice to two reporters, including the AP. Should be on the world wide web shortly if anyone wants to look for it. jw ADD: Updated topic title. There will be more to story later today.

we have a wiener! jw

it's still Christmas. people get time off for Christmas. whether or not you celebrate Christmas, it's still recognized as Christmas. have a merry one. jw

jw

Christmas.

merry

off top of my head, in no particular order: -- Michael Clayton (Clooney, the new Bogey) -- Shakespeare in Love (one of the most seamlessly put together stories ever put on film) -- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (though it's somewhat dated by 6th viewing, the first 5 are a laugh riot with an all-star cast) -- To Have and Have Not (Bogey, being Bogey at his best, and I put it ahead of Casablanca, because I thought Bogey-Bacall was far more searing connection, though supporting cast far superior in Casablanca) -- Citizen Kane (well, d'uh, put yourself back in that time and imagine how revolutionary that movie must've been) -- Angry 12 Men (for a film that had no action, what a gripping story) -- Alien (because it was scary then and still is.) -- The Verdict (Newman at his most vulnerable best. just saw it again recently, and i was totally blown away.) -- The Sting (Newman and Redford at their young cockeyed best ... and a great story with fantastic supporting cast) -- Saving Private Ryan (wow.) -- The Godfather I, then II. ----- some honorable mentions: -- Aliens (might be Cameron's best action movie ... and no haven't seen Avatar, but the cranked intensity that runs through 2 is remarkable) -- Children Of Men (apocalyptic brilliance) -- Lost in Translation (having been to Japan, there's just something right with this movie, and only one on my list with female director) -- Nobody's Fool (Newman and Jessica Tandy, can even put up with Melanie Griffith ... to me it's Newman's "Hurt." as in Johnny Cash's career wouldn't have been complete without redoing "Hurt.") -- Star Wars III and V (or whichever the first and third ones were), because they were good. -- Glengarry Glen Ross. -- Ronin (best car chase) -- It's a Wonderful Life -- Reservoir Dogs -- Death Proof (best car chase with a person hanging on the hood) -- Blade Runner (though a little dated, a fine effort from my favorite director) -- Forgetting Sarah Marshall (something about this movie that refused to follow a paint-by-number script) -- Rachel Getting Married (JDemme shows why he's still very relevant, and what a performance by Anne Hathaway.) i'm sure i'm missing a whole bunch, but gave them some real thought. jw

probably not without someone getting hurt. jw

righto, crash. best picture in a very bad year from what i recall. jw

Mats rule. jw i'm out of control.

stop that. hey, Tommy Stinson's on it, and considering he's a former member of the The Replacements, and someone whom i've interviewed, i wouldn't suggest that this album is anything more than an over-produced penis-envy ode to someone who used to be good, but no longer is because his ego got the best of him. hell, it's no better than the crap rod stewart put out last year. ouch. jw

really, someone mentioned AC/DC? am i that old? ok, i'll bring up "Exile on Main Street." fer crying out loud. or how bout, "London Calling" in a piss-poor mood, after another long week and a job that now involves two coaching searches. scoop: UB hopes to have a press conference by next week. have a dark-horse candidate, but sworn to secrecy ... sorry spartacus. another blow for the fifth estate. we're doomed. goddamed doomed, i tell you. but now to the topic at hand. buftex, i hate to tell you, but in my opinion you are missing out. "Stereo/Mono" by Paul (i'll ignore your reference to "Pal," as an honest mistake tee,hee). and for those who missed it, Mr. Westerberg put out what I consider to be the album of the decade (though that's not saying much considering the crap that's come out lately, including Springsteen and Green Day's latest contributions to the baloney bin). and Paul's epic was called 49:00, which was out for about two weeks on Amazon before it was pulled because of apparent copyright infringements because it featured a medley of songs that likely wasn't going to pay the royalty freight because the album was selling for under a buck. he made up for it by putting out 5:05, in which he told the lawyers to go do something with themselves. and buftex, i'll, tell you the same thing i had said to a colleague of mine recently. if you want to appreciate the vibrancy of Paul post-Mats, give two songs a listen: "Fugitive Kind" (and you have to get through the prologue, you'll get what I mean when/if you hear it) "Gunshy" if there was a bizarro world for rock and roll hits and what should be on the radio (which is why i've not listened to radio for about 20 years), then this would be it. Mats Rule!!!!!! the one time i allow myself to be a fan. jw

biggest disappointment: tie: "juno" and "there will be dull," which is more notoriously known as "there will be dull." damn, can't stop writing that. "blood," dammit, "there will be (dull) blood" two god-awful movies, both involving two very overactive actors, who absolutely knew nothing about nuance, and two directors who couldn't control their precocious divas. jw ADD: and far too many blowhard critics, who fell over themselves in an attempt to show how freakin' out it they were, aka dull.

adding two more, both by The Drive By Truckers "Brighter Than Creation's Dark," which is one of the strongest albums put out in the latter half of this decade and "Decoration Day," which i just picked up, but came out in 2003. and of course there's a 'Mats connection. Peter Jesperson, the guy who discovered and gave The Replacements their start now has a hand in the DBT's. boy, howdy. jw

Tim Let it Be Pleased to Meet Me ... must i go through the entire Replacements catalogue? jw

heck, i'm merely pointing out that the Bills have won more games under Fitzpatrick this season. i can't say how Trent would do in these games. but he was given a significant amount of time to show what he's capable of, provided a two-receiver threat offense and eventually showed clear signs of regression, which led to his benching. Fitzpatrick, by comparison, has produced more wins -- managed more games, however you want to put it -- with the same banged-up line and receiving corps. it should also be noted that of the three games in which Buffalo's broken 300 yards total offense (TBay, Jax and Miami) -- and friends, around the NFL, that's not exactly a big number for most teams -- Fitzpatrick has been involved in two fo them. in stating my case, i am not throwing my support behind Fitzpatrick, but merely attempting to objectively answer questions first raised by the original poster. jw

being the contrarian that i am, Steely, and hey, what would you think of me if i wasn't, i actually prefer the original version of the Office broadcast on BBC. Gervais was far more hilarious as the boss, and the dweebish character now played by Rainn Wilson was a far bigger loser geek, particularly with his pasty white face and horrible haircut. but that's me. as for the U.S. version, Kevin's my favorite. jw