JoeF

In a related story, 10 year old Timmy Smith of Minneapolis has announced the formation Smith Tickets, a new ticket brokering service based out of his room at Riverside Hospital in Minneapolis with a possible move to an unoccupied office on Hennepin Avenue. Unnamed investors have underwritten the business.

20,000...the same week Maddux reaches 3000K's and right on the eve of training camp....jesus do we need any more signs that this will be a magical year?????

There are a lot of trees...maybe he just missed it....

He does for football broadcasting what John McEnroe and Magic Johnson did for the talk show genre...

The guy has really done just about everything right since he got to ND... - Reaching out to the students - Aggressive recruiting - Great staff (even with Cutcliffe's health problems and resignation as OC) - Restabilshing some of the traditions Go Charlie--Go Irish... and to think--I hated this guys guts as OC with the Pats... Best of all HE is GONE from the Pats....

He is going to be the sideline reporter on the radio broadcasts for Bills games this fall. He will also provide moral support for fellow domer Mike Gandy as all his doubters want to wring his neck with every bad play not noticing 40 or 50 good or acceptable plays in-between.

I think it should be more situation based then a number of plays. I want to see him run through the core plays of the base offense, the shot gun package, the hurry up and goal line at least two or three times during the four games. Base when you pull him on the amount of exposure he gets to each of these situations with a ceiling of maybe 30-35 snaps per game and a floor of 20 or so-almost like a pitch count. You pull him sooner if he has say a couple of long drives in a game that involve all of these situations early... As far as the 1st team goes--timing with receivers in game situations is important. I would say the line, the receivers stay in--but go easy on Willis.

Raleigh recommendations: Art Museum North Carolina Museum of Art is a fun place that now has 3 miles of interconnected walking trails that take you over into the Meredith College/NC State area. This is about 4 miles from Central City Raleigh. I would second the Glenwood South Recommendation for eating. In downtown Raleigh there are museum's of NC History, Natural Sciences, the State Capitol, Governor's mansion--all offer tours. The General Assembly is still in session debating the state budget and will be at the time you visit. Great chance to see political inaction. Lots of good links here There is also an IMax theater (part of a children's museum called Exploris) about 4 blocks away from the Capitol Area downtown and a couple of serviceable restaurants around the IMax museum. Cafe Luna is serviceable italian. Owner is a former NY restaurant owner, Parker Kennedy, great guy. Imports all his ingredients for sauces, pastas, etc. Also in this area are Tir Na Nog--decent Irish Pub and City Market--an area with several restaurants including Big Eds which is a breakfast mainstay--try the Brains and Eggs..to follow LA's train of thought this must be where the native brains end up because they are certainly could not be part of the native cranium.... Raleigh City Market Exploris-Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at IMax Cafe Luna If its oppressively hot like the last few days--Strongly recommend the Indoor activities.....if not, the art museum, a walk on the trail and then lunch in downtown and an afternoon in around the capitol area is a really good day.

CL's comments about players butts are a cover for her true affection toward TD...

ieatcrayonz does not eat crayons

So let's look at the alternative paths here. 1) The Bills could have shown Jonas the money. Gotten the 12 games a year of Jonas healthy..a serviceable left tackle who will give up 4 to 5 sacks, be average to slightly above average in the run game. All this for the low, low price of 6 to 7 million a year. 2) We could have signed one of this crop of free agents...Lonnie Shelton, Anthony Clement, Ross Verba, Tom Ashworth, Barrett Brooks, Ethan Brooks, Anthony Davis, Jerome Davis (now in the CFL); Joaquin Gonzalez; Scott Gragg; William Henry; Ben Johnson; Adrian Klemm; Stockar McDougle; Kareem McKenzie; Fred Miller; Victor Riley; Victor Rogers; Oliver Ross; Marcus Spears; Chris Terry; Bob Whitfield--maybe a few others...nice cast of characters. Combination of old, questionable character; underachievers and system guys except for maybe a few. 3) Traded two #1's for Orlando Pace or Walter Jones...next number 1 pick is then 2008...and have about 20% of our cap space tied up in OT's -- not a realistic choice. 4) Drafted one of the top 3 tackles--none of whom is at the level of the Tackles available the last couple of years. Maybe signing Gandy and staying put isn't the right thing...but there is not a flood of experienced highly regarded talent out there this year at this position. I still believe we need depth--but before we talk about how !@#$ing stupid it is to be in this position going into camp--realize that the alternatives were not that great.

There's no crying in football..... Nick Saban is the new Jimmy Dugan....

I was going to PM Hammered and ask him where Buddy and his betrothed were registered. Hey, maybe its a player's dog---Buddy could be in for a life of luxury. Come to think of it...sounds like Buddy already has a life of luxury...

Okay, what alien kidnapped the real Rian Lindell or the real Bobby April????

Diet Dr. Pepper just got splattered on my screen GG...i hate that burning sensation in my nose....

I was monitoring South Florida broadcast media this AM--and picked up this report from an unknown local affiliate... And in today's news, the Dolphins opened training camp..let's go to our reporter Roy D. Rage with the story.... "Thanks Chet. Interesting news from Camp Saban this AM. Seems while its a beautiful morning in South Florida, there is an inexplicable fog over the players dorm here at Nova Southeastern University. In addition there are no less than 16 warrant servers lined up outside the dining hall waiting for players. Also the hair spray deliveries that ended with Jimmy Johnson's departure have once again started for coach Saban. An interesting start to camp. Back to you Chet...."

Agree wholeheartedly Kelly. We have a staff controlling the offensive scheme that is more tied to adjusting to the talent we have rather than making that talent adjust to their script. Its amazing what a difference that can make.

Lance for President! Sheryl Crow for First Lady How about UN Ambassador...Challenge all the other ambassador's to a road race to see who's policy vision gets implemented.

Looks like there will be time for a little champagne on the way to the finish line tomorrow. Keep it on the road tomorrow and LiveStrong... #7 one stage away

I don't think Teague will be an good/average left tackle, but he may be the best we have. As for C--we wouldn't have Preston at C it would be Tucker--who started several games there last year (Most of which we won and he graded out well) when Teague was injured. I don't think I haven't read anyone who wrote that Teague will be a great LT as you suggest that people think--but again, he may be the best we have.....He and Gandy are the two most experienced at the position we have.. Our lack of veteran depth on the OL scares me more than anything--I was disappointed when TD said this past week that the roster going into training camp was set--we need to go out and get one more veteran tackle (Gragg, Vegas Verba, someone) and then hope we are relatively healthy....

I always had great respect for Don Shula....that just grew about 1000%...Thanks Coach Shula!!! You mean he had one coach and one pork faced satan with way too much hair spray...

There will be at least one projected starter who is injured in camp and misses significant camp time, and a few Regular Season games. This will force us to look for some veteran depth on the waiver wire. Bennie Anderson will come in out of shape and slightly disappoint but will regain the starting LG role by game 4. The opening game line will be: LT Scott Gragg (stop gap- I know he's a RT).. LG Mike Gandy C Ross Tucker RG Chris V RT Big Mike By Game 4 it will be LT Trey Teague LG Bennie Anderson C Ross Tucker RG Chris V RT Big Mike With Scott Gragg first tackle off the bench; Mike Gandy first G off the bench; Duke Preston first C off the bench.

Let's look at the video replay....

Thanks #89 -- that's great insight coming from you. There are a lot of reasons to like the public image JP is portraying--his evolvement from a tough but very loving upbringing; he's great and direct with kids; he's a hard worker --- he fits WNY like a glove....You have seen him when the cameras and mics are off--and it seems like there is no "fake" in him..... He's the Bills QB which automatically means we cheer like hell for him--but him being a good person--makes it all the better.

I think happiness in society is good. People participating in porn movies have as much right to be happy as anyone I guess.