ExWNYer

@Gugny @SinceThe70s @Another Fan Hallelujah! For the infamous 'player to be named later'. If so, pretty close to my half-used roll of tape reference. "McCann has been traded to the Orioles along with cash considerations in exchange for a player to be named later, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. The Mets have been shopping McCann around all offseason and have found a taker in the Orioles. New York will cover $19 million of the $24.3 million still owed to the catcher over the next two seasons, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. McCann will back up Adley Rutschman in Baltimore, so playing time figures to be sparse. The Mets still have Omar Narvaez, Tomas Nido and Francisco Alvarez as catching options." https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/orioles-james-mccann-headed-to-baltimore/

You're absolutely correct. He went to the Vikes after the Bills. I do remember being disappointed as a kid that the Bills did not keep him and remember my dad calling him 'Bobby Moore' before Rashad changed his name.

Chuck Norris is 82 years old. Odds are that kick would have landed to his ground-dragging nut sack...

I was excited when Jeff Nixon was drafted because he played here at the University of Richmond. As an alum of VCU and an avid Ram's basketball fan, I can't stand UR now but that's a story for another day. lol I was a huge fan of all of the guys you mentioned. Jerry Butler's career day against the Jest was a thing of beauty and, when the Bills acquired Diggs, it immediately brought me back to the day when they got Ahmad Rashad from the Vikings.

I wish some of the younger posters here could have seen good old #20 play. He was phenomenal. It's a shame that today's medical technology was not around for surgically repairing knees back in his day or he may have had a HoF...or at least a much longer...career. He was a special CB and is still one of my all-time favorite Bills.

@Virgil "Expectations might just be the worst part about being a sports fan. With a team that literally stopped punting, expectations couldn't be higher. Every win was by double digit points and we've been favored to win every single game. It's honestly crazy if you think about it. I've argued for years that one of my most enjoyable seasons was when the Bills went 3-13. There was no doubt the Bills were rebuilding, we expected to lose every game, and the 3 wins felt like playoff wins. You relish in those wins longer than you do when you are expected to win, and somehow, even after the drought, we can get too comfortable too fast. I say this as part of my excuse for not writing these as much recently, but that's not entirely it. I'm also trying to adjust the way I enjoy Bills games. At first, I thought taking notes throughout the games was diminishing the fun for me, but then I realized I was watching each game way to skeptically. I wasn't sitting back and enjoying the ride. I was instead looking for moments that would be interesting to write about, thus making basic plays seem pointless. I don't know what the future holds for me and these reviews, but it's been a nice little break." I completely understand where you're coming from here, Virg. When the Bills are really good, I find myself falling into a 'law of diminishing returns' mentality. While I love watching them and watching them win, I tend to get more angst from a loss than joy from a win. This was especially true during the Super Bowl years a couple of years in to it. The regular season became a necessary evil/exercise and I just wanted to get to the playoffs with everyone healthy and finally grab that elusive brass ring. I try to fight that urge now as I get older and try to soak in and appreciate just how special Josh Allen has become both on and off the field. If (when, hopefully), they finally get over the hump, I think it will be easier for me to just enjoy each game individually for the entity that it is. So many people that I love have passed and cannot witness what we have now, including my mom and, more recently, my dad in 2019. He only got to witness the tip of the JA17 iceberg. I hope I can witness the ultimate victory for all of them and share in it with my kids. I'm enjoying the ride and will take perennial winners over lovable losers every day of the week but I will agree that the lofty expectations of this team make the ride more stressful than anticipated. Some of the absurd comments on this board after a victory are proof of that. Have you ever considered recording the games and watching/enjoying live and then going back and watching again for your analysis/critiques/write-ups? It might be a less stressful and more enjoyable approach. Just a thought. Glad to see you 'back on the horse'. Go Bills!!!

I don't see Cohen running a Marlins-type 'win it and dump them' franchise. He didn't become the richest owner in baseball by just throwing away his money. They have said on more than one occasion that they will be doing this to win a World Series (or more) until they have a top farm system and are strong players in the international pool (Senga is already a sign of that). Even Cohen knows spending this much is not sustainable but this is how he wants to do it until they have everything in place where they can infuse homegrown talent with big acquisitions, as needed. I like that he has a vision and a possible successful business plan, unlike Fred & Jeff 'Coupon'. Whether it's money, a great farm system, or trades just use every means possible to win a ring(s). No other Met regime has ever done this. It's a new era. Move over Dodgers and Skanks. There's another big player at the table.

I heard this just a few minutes ago. So sad. Sucks that he was mere days away from the 50th anniversary of his 'Immaculate Reception'. I never liked the Stillers and can't stand them to this day but he was an all-time great. RIP, Franco

With the Cohen-owned Mets outspending EVERYONE, the Bills making the playoffs four straight years and being yearly Super Bowl contenders, and the Sabres leading the NHL in goals scored and maybe finally turning the corner, I feel like I am living in an alternate universe.

@Gugny @SinceThe70s @Another Fan Mets swoop in to sign Carlos Correa to a 12-year, $315 million deal after Giants' mess, per report O...M...G LET'S GO!!! https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mets-swoop-in-to-sign-carlos-correa-to-a-12-year-315-million-deal-per-report/ https://www.mlb.com/news/carlos-correa-mets-deal

That may not happen now with Otto back in the fold. I'd still look into it, if I were Eppler. BTW, that two-year deal might end up only being a one-year deal as there is a player opt out after 2023.

Just picked up by the Ravens.

@Gugny @SinceThe70s @Another Fan Per Ken Rosenthal, the Mets re-signed Adam Ottavino to a two-year contract today. I love it! https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-adam-ottavino-remains-in-queens/

It's his 'Bill Buckner moment' and puts him squarely in the 'Hall of (B)ill Repute'. Love. It.

The only way his actions are even remotely forgivable is if McGinest thought the victim was Tedy Bruschi...

I won't disagree with you. Mental issues are a very real health crisis in this country and hard to detect by those not trained to deal with them. The points I was making were simply: 1) Yes, Zay was disappointing during his tenure with the Bills. 2) In no way is it his fault that he was drafted where he was. It didn't work out in Buffalo and that sucks for us but best of luck to him going forward. Glad he has seemingly put whatever demons he was dealing with behind him.

I understand exactly what you're saying and agree that he did not live up to expectations. Some of that is on him, some of it is on the coaching staff, IMO. I disagree though that he "didn't live up to his draft spot and that is his fault." It's not his fault that he was drafted where he was drafted. That was a miscalculation on the part of McDermott/ the front office in place at the time and failure on the part of the coaching staff to get the most out of him. It happens. High draft picks don't always pan out with the regime that took them and some of them eventually figure it out with another organization. Hindsight is 20/20.

How is that his fault? Maybe your vitriol would be better directed at the Bills' front office and scouting department at the time he was drafted.

Yeah, I didn't have a reaction when I watched it, just stared blankly and indifferently. The first thing I noticed was his thick southern accent and immediately thought, "This is some rando who's never set foot in Massachusetts, jumped on the bandwagon during their Super Bowl runs (but isn't that the majority of Pats* fans?), and is ranting hysterically to draw clicks on social media." Guess he's succeeding. BTW, my ancestors on my Dad's side are from Sicily.

Buon Natale!

Good question. My guess would be along the lines of what you said. Nido & Narvaez would hold the fort/mentor Alvarez until he is ready and maybe it's a precursor to shipping McCann to Texas, if deGrom really does want him as his personal catcher. I'd imagine that the Mets would have to eat most of the money to do it though, not that it matters to Cohen. I would take a half used roll of tape for McCann at this point. It would be akin to burning incense in the clubhouse to rid it of his bad mojo.

Tua sees it snow See Tua freeze his arse off In a sea of snow

K-9 has gone rogue Should start a limerick thread Nantucket awaits