UConn James

Dick Butkis? Agreed that it was funny to see --- there's that story/legend about Howie Long turning the earhole into a vision hole for a rookie teammate who pissed him off during camp. This was even better than that. 'Course the only reason we can find this amusing is that no real harm was done. Straps not being on properly might have been the only thing that saved MJD from having a severe neck injury. Otherwise, he's eating his supper tonight with his back toward the table.

My point was that Bly's payoff came several seasons back, and by now --- with the increase in the cap --- those raw $s are probably closer to what Greer will see, especially if he keeps up this level of play. Even average players in UFA get big contracts, especially at the skill positions. I don't think we can justify that.

At least Poz got his money's worth on the facemask. MJ-D was wearing that thing backwards at the end of the play. Don't mean to flippant, b/c that kind of thing could've been serious, but it just highlights the stupidity of this year's all-or-nothing rule change. Guys will go for broke once they know they're gonna be flagged.

The way he's playing we won't be able to justify keeping Greer for what it'll probably take to re-sign him. We let Kiwakee Thomas go for the same reason. Then, when you talk about the UFA market where the money flows like wine, look at what Dre Bly got several years ago and we wouldn't be able to give Greer that. And especially not with a stable of young colts who are chomping at the bit. McGee, Youboty, McKelvin, Corner

I think that's the point. If Youboty keeps it up, he'll be in position to take over next year w/o a hitch. Greer will get a bunch of $ thrown at him in UFA, and good luck to him except when we play 'im. Marv's pick ain't looking too bad now, eh? Took a little while to materialize, but

Doubt this is going over well with the Pakistanis. Especially as their new leadership is already not liking us for the cross-border drone attacks. It may be intended as a slap in the face to Iran. A 'We will go to bat for countries that want to use nuclear for peaceful energy-creation purposes. That's not what Iran is doing.' We do reward those countries that come into the fold and play by the rules, even if they haven't totally done so in the past. But it could also be more selfish. Pollution on the west coast and what drifts over the US comes from China & India. Cut down on their dirty energy as their energy demand keeps skyrocketing and it directly helps us. And we get some brownie points with India --- in the midst of that key region --- at the same time. All in all, not a bad deal even tho it may have taken some browbeating.

Me too.

And rightly so. Dude almost got his QB killed b/c he wanted a little more money than the contract he put his name on. He's got a lot to make up for right now.

Oooo. No need to stop being a lady, Mickey!

Learning to come back thru adversity is something this team still needed to learn. This will pay dividends.

That's OK. Mickey swallows, too. Softballs right over the plate.

I'm sure Mickey will take care of it.

For this Big Least talk, my alma mater is 2-0 and put a pounding on Virgina last night.... It would have helped also to not have other conferences raid coaches, ie Rodriguez. It'll take some time to recover from that. NCAA-wide, as evidenced last year especially, parity is taking hold. But yes, they need to add 2 more strong football schools. If BC, Miami and VT weren't defecting bastards, we could actually have one of the strongest conferences. But they made their beds in the ACC... and see how that's worked for them!! Ha ha. UConn is starting a 10-game series with Notre Dame I think next year, which increases our national presence a little bit. I've long held that ND should join the Big East, even if it's a loose affiliation and they were allowed to set their own schedule. They're already in the Big East for most/all their other sports. Lots of basic organization issues that college football has simply refused to deal with for a long time (then again, when they do try to deal with things we get crap like the BCS). One hopes that they see the need for more structure and organized operations and that a playoff is instituted. Short of that, we've got the current helter skelter and a seriously uneven playing field re: rankings/championship.

I think that's going to happen regardless. If JMac wins, Lieberman's his SoS. If not, whether it's Joe caucusing with the Republicans by his own volition or possibly being handed his hat to be a true Independent since he won't be of much use to them anymore. He committed treason to the Democratic party; they'd have to be truly desperate... and they might not take him even if they are. He (and by extension, Connecticut ) can kiss those key committee slots goodbye.

Saw the interview last night. Nevermind that she didn't answer the questions regarding her state going after earmarks at her behest. Nevermind the question of how we are to believe someone who says that her administration would cut out earmarks (or, rather, the "closed-door" process of earmarks) when she's been among the most well-fed at the trough. It took her two false starts before uttering that absolute atrocity of a sentence. This is even after giving leeway for the oft spoken-to-written awkward translation. Like Gary Condit breathing a sigh of relief on 9/11/2001, I'm sure the Repubs are glad she doesn't have to face the Russert Primary.

First thing that comes to mind for me about HJ is the year they instituted that 'removal of the helmet on the field' penalty. This was to discourage the showboating and individual attention. This happened at the first (and only) game I went to at RWS, vs. the Lions in '97. He took his helmet off after a big stop to force a FG try, just over the crown of his head and then suddenly remembered and shoved it back on. He got flagged for it, no leeway. Lions QB ran in for a TD on the next play. Always admired his play in my nascent years of following this team and the orchestration of his departure by our FO (to go along w/ Bruce, Andre & Thurman's) fairly pissed me off.

This is a trait I saw in him in his first game vs. the Pats b/c the difference b/w him and JP in the pocket was so stark in my eyes. Some QBs can sense the pressure and avoid it, others just get flustered under pressure and eat turf more often than not. Trent's pocket presence even at this relatively early stage reminds me a bit of... Dan Marino. Dude was just hard to get to. There were so many times when Bruce was THIS close to pounding Mr. Isatoner only to have a side shuffle and quick pass. It made the times when Bruce did get him (still sacked him quite a few times, but it could've been so many more if not for Marino's attributes) a little sweeter. Not saying TE=DM... obviously not. But the awareness/avoiding the hit and getting the ball away are similar.

Thanks for the extrapolation. Sounds like a pretty funky way to spend a Sunday.

To be fair, Obama only had a relationship with the public persona of Wright. He's not responsible for Wright's private actions, nor would I really expect him to be aware of this stuff. How well do you know your minister, even one you really connected with? For those who went to college, how well did you know your academic advisor/professors who helped you shape your own thoughts? Do you know what's under their mattresses or in their cupboards? In 20 years, if you find out that a friend of yours raped someone while you knew them, does that mean you have to take responsibility for what they did privately? Obama has publicly divorced from Wright b/c the dude went nuts when the spotlight shone on him and the public and the private sides melded to create a pretty disgusting figure. I've had a few 'I don't even know who you are anymore' moments myself. Disclaimer: I'm not voting for Obama. I'm not voting for McCain. My only point here is to get us back to things that actually matter. Discuss actual policy. The health care thread a while back was a great example of this --- but judging from the general lack of interest shown in that thread, I'm forced to conclude that people would rather throw around vague boogey-man ex parte conspiracy theories about both campaigns... and then have the gall to bemoan the the lack of substantive debate! *edited

Scribo, just an observation, but what's the exact protocol? Perhaps the reason why (at least some of) those people refuse is that they think if they step outside, they're going to be escorted out of the stadium. Is it made clear to them that such groups really just want to have a discussion in the tunnel and then they'll (likely) be let back to their seat? Some people might figure, 'What do I have to lose, they're gonna throw me out anyway.' I understand it's the courteous thing to do by taking them aside so as to not embarrass them and not to detract others from the game, but it could backfire from the inference they make about your intentions. Such a statement as the italicized part could well be what happens in practice, but wasn't clarified. That must take some bravery at times!

Owning a firearm is not a crime, in and of itself. Probably there for show (furthered by no ammo) in the off chance that something happens i.e. carjacking, etc. The likelihood is small (but rising these days) and often just the sight of a pistol is enough to make a small-time crook run or buys you some time. Ninety percent of the time police show up after everything's already happened so personal security is self-help --- despite all the cop shows on the teevee show you, police are pretty much there for the insurance paperwork.

If this behavior is strange, I think I should be in the loony bin. My Rolodex cover has a label where I wrote, "Frustrations in My Daily Life." Wanting a little time to yourself --- especially when family/friends/entourage/hangers-on and wannabes are at your place stressing you out after you've been injured --- and driving off without a !@#$ cellphone ringing 24/7 with people asking you where you are and what you're doing.... Since when is this a crime or even something to be worried about? Sounds like he's got quite a few people around him who have pretty warped delusions of their importance. 'Oh no. Vince walked away from us. He must be mentally unhinged!'

Must be that Uncle Tim had God on and brought up His past quotes.... I'm too much of a doubting Thomas to actually believe in that stuff, that he's looking down and cheering the Bills but, man, I really hope he is. TR is the first thing I'm going to think of when Buffalo wins a championship.

Copy-editors are a thing of the past. And, stemming from that, so are newspapers' credibilities.