ExWNYer

Will I watch the Patriots* game tomorrow? No, but I will watch the Chiefs game...

Mel and 'high' might belong in the same sentence...Mel and 'praise' do not. (BTW...FIFY) ?

I understand that mock drafts, while fun, are largely an exercise in futility but...of all the pundits out there, has Mel Kiper ever picked the Bills 1st Rounder correctly?

Yeah, he definitely didn't want to go anywhere. He said in his presser that he planned on this being his last year. I'm sure he didn't want to pull up stakes just for one more year, especially with a wife and school-aged children to consider. Glad he's back and at a good dollar figure for the team.

Which is exactly why I was glad that the Jest hired him. I honestly believe that they'll be doing this again in three years and Darnold will be be heading into the option year of his contract. Gase is JAG, IMO. I listened to WFAN the day they announced his hiring just to hear the reactions. I expected a pitchfork and torch mentality but, OMG, it was even worse than I had imagined...everyone from the hosts to the callers were completely irate. They make Bills fans look tame and rational by comparison.

Yeah, I know the drill all too well. Unfortunately, that's the 'hot take' world we live in now.

That's just...sad.

I don't know why any Bills fan would be rooting for the Pats* other than to wallow in their own self-loathing. That said, I'd like to think that KC will win this game but betting against Bill Belichick and with Andy Reid in a big game is a fool's errand. If the Chiefs win it, it will be because of a herculean effort by Mahomes and despite Reid's best efforts to bumble it away. I'll believe that the Pats* are done when someone drives a stake thru their cold, black hearts.

"Thanks, buddy! We couldn't have done it all these years without the help of you and your boys...and girl."

Banned-Jovi: "Suck it, Wahlberg! This is MY Fun Bunch!" Kraft: "Keep fisting me 'lefty-style' or Marky Mark is back with me in KC next week."

Capt. Andrew Luck became Gen. George Armstrong Custer...killed and scalped by the Chiefs.

Well, this is certainly a horse of a different color...

Maybe they can get him a protective uniform, much like the protective shell they got Kelso for his helmet...

Elway is not horsing around with his assistants. He's braying...er, saying 'neigh' to the rest of the league.

Those high point catches at the 2:18 & 2:33 mark are absolute things of beauty. I know it's a highlight reel and it's the CFL but he looks like a man amongst boys in that league.

I think they see Travis as more of an athlete, more versatile and able to possibly play elsewhere (OF, 1B). And like you said, he's had stretches where he hits, unlike Plaw. The deal with the Indians for Plawecki netted the Mets RHP Walker Lockett and infielder Sam Haggerty. The Indians traded for Lockett this past November ahead of the Rule V draft. They got him from the Padres who needed room on their 40 man roster. Walker is a big guy who, apparently, doesn't throw hard but uses his sinker to his advantage. He was projected as a possible back end starter as early as 2016 but didn't make it to the majors until 2018. Some think that his upside is higher than his numbers might suggest. He's starting pitcher depth for the organization or could have a role as a possible long man. Here is some analysis on Lockett after his trade from SD to CLE last November: https://www.prospectslive.com/featured-articles/2018/11/21/trade-analysis And this one is 20 months old when he was still a Padres prospect but praises his possible upside: https://www.minorleagueball.com/2017/4/21/15383986/san-diego-padres-prospect-walker-lockett Haggerty is an athletic, switch-hitting infielder with tools who can run and still has options. He might not amount to anything but he's worth keeping an eye on down the line (2020?)...he's listed as a second baseman but he's played some other positions, including some outfield.Could maybe be a backup shortstop. I was hoping they could get a little better return for Plaw...like a serviceable LOOGY for this season...but we'll see how this pans out...eventually. As for the deal with Houston for infielders J.D Davis and Cody Bohanek: The report on Davis is that he's not much of an OFer...too slow but has a good arm. Can play there in a pinch and he's also done a bit of pitching...if he's not terrible at it, he could serve as an 8th relief pitcher which is intriguing. Reportedly has a plus arm which helps him at 3rd. Quick hands but slow feet and average defense...can play 1B but probably doesn't have the bat to play there. He didn't get much chance with the Astros so there is a bit of the unknown as to what he could become. He had bad numbers last year but it was a small sample size so it's still kind of early to judge. He hit .340 in AAA and has been ranked in Houston's 'Top 10' prospects here and there, depending on who you believe. He has five years of control and two options remaining, which is good. He didn't use any options in 2017 but used one last year. There might be some possible starting 3B upside with him or at least a righty platoon to pair with McNeil, if McNeil moves to 3rd. Astros GM, Jeff Luhnow, said that they were not planning to part with J.D. Davis but "there was enough of a market for him that we decided to go ahead and explore it because there's no obvious spot for him on our 25-man roster next year, at this point. The Mets were aggressive." He called C Scott Manea "a key piece" to the deal for the Astros who needed catching help/depth. Luhnow also said, "We need more guys. Manea is a guy we think can move pretty quickly and has a chance to be a big league catcher. That was a big part of it for us." Cody Bohanek will probably be at St. Lucie or Binghamton. He spent some time in AAA for the Astros last year but it was probably just to fill a hole on the roster. It was a mid-season bump from Low A ball to AAA for two weeks, then down to A+. He hit .212 in A+ so the Mets could leave him there for more seasoning. He was drafted in 2017 so, at 23 years old, he's about the right age for A+: https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=bohane000cod&type=bgl&year=2018 The Mets are dealing lower level players for players who might help now and over the next several years and who might also fit their core. It does make me nervous that they are making all of these deals with competent front offices who have run circles around the Mets front office for years. Maybe BVW is finally changing that. I hope so...time will tell.

Luckily for you, the Bills are never on Sunday Night Football and rarely in the playoffs so your sobriety is safe. ?

Wow. Never seen anything like this.

Maybe, maybe not. I don't think he's a bad coach but I also don't think he's any great shakes either. Call me after Philip Rivers retires.

Thank you, kind sir. WRT AB, I think it's a moot point. I don't see this regime wanting to touch him with a 10 foot pole. AJ Green and Julio Jones, yes. AB, no. The Stillers have historically dumped guys before they either became a complete headache or demanded too much money. AB & Bell will be the next two on that list. If they're ridding themselves of two superb talents like that with an ever-narrowing window for Roethlisberger, I'd sit up and take notice. Big red flag, IMO. They both strike me as very selfish, 'me first' players. You don't want to take on those headaches if you're also shelling out megabucks for them.

? My boys are now 16 and 18. Hard to believe. I don't miss those diaper days but I do miss the innocence of youth as they grew into fine, young men. Enjoy every deliciously, aggravating, sleep-deprived minute. They go all too fast.

Shoulda kept it in your pants. ? (j/k) Congrats. ?

That missed Tucker FG...