Lori

So exactly how long DID "Buffalo's Best Talk" last, anyway? Three months? Six?

None of them are real high on my FFL list, either.... Just keep in mind, Green already has a four-game suspension on his record. Next time = full season. And given Green's track record at BC and in Cleveland, I wouldn't bet against there being a next time. But hey, that's just my opinion....

William Green? Ugg. Got any veteran RBs who aren't already in the league's drug treatment program?

....courtesy of former Times Herald photog (and still an Olean resident) Craig Melvin. Great pic.

Some good questions there, CTM. The stock answer as to what the Wall was created to honor: Personally, I think longevity HAS to be a part of that, and I wouldn't mind seeing that three-year minimum doubled. (In case anyone's wondering, all of the current players on the Wall would still qualify except for Kalsu, and he's a very special exemption to begin with.) But is it viable in the age of rent-a-teams, when signing bonuses and cap hits seem to have taken the place of loyalty? Not as much as it used to be, for sure, but in my opinion that makes the few exceptions even more exceptional...

Byrd has the same problem working against him as Ralph's HoF bid - since he played so long ago, very few of the committee members (media/club personnel) are familiar with his career. I wonder if they should set up a Veteran's Committee. But you're right - he should have been up there a long time ago.

A formatting mistake. What I'd like to know is, who voted for him?

Probably not Spielman, and I'd consider Paup borderline at best. He made the list because of his unbelievable 1995 season (consensus NFL Defensive Player of the Year) and making the Pro Bowl in each of his seasons in Buffalo. So yeah, I included them primarily as filler... but there was also an ulterior motive at work. Both of those players were just barely here long enough to qualify under the three-year minimum. And Lofton's not that far ahead of them, either - he was here for three full seasons after signing partway into 1989. The point? As great as Cookie Gilchrist was, he was also only here for three years. And none of the other three managed to talk their way off the team.... As for Bennett, Scott? In my opinion, his on-the-field output is tough to ignore... but as you point out, so is his jail time. I'll be interested to see how the committee handles his case. That goes for Canton, too - since they welcomed L.T. despite his MANY off-the-field transgressions, the precedent has been set.

Add Biscuit to the second half of your list, and I'm guessing those will be the next four inductees, with the order of selection the only thing to be determined.

I read somewhere recently (USA Today Sports Weekly, perhaps?) that most of Rosenhaus' clients who are currently holding out had different agents when they signed their original deals, meaning they don't pay DR unless he gets them a new contract. If true, that explains a few things. But that's not true in Willis' case; DR is the only agent he's had, correct? And now that he's starting, the incentive clauses should begin to kick in. End result.... I think we're OK for now.

First, let's revisit the criteria: In addition, I believe the selection committee has a short (unofficial) waiting period for retired players. O.J. was the first inductee, three years after he left Buffalo and two years after he retired; I think they've held to that tradition ever since. Bruce Smith has only been out for one year; he should be the only one on the list this would apply to. NOTE - while I included Cookie Gilchrist and Lou Saban in the poll (and you're more than welcome to vote for them), don't expect either of those inductions to happen any time soon. Anyone who walks out on the team in the middle of a game/season -- as both of those men did -- makes it a lot tougher to vote for them. Now, let the controversy begin.....

...and then a step to the ri-i-i-iiiight.....

Right on. When the TBD home page came up, I thought maybe the article poster was taking the day off - nothing Bills-related in either the BuffNews or the D+C today? That's not possible, is it? So I checked both their sites... the top story at the News was local high schooler Mary Saxer's national record in the pole vault, and the D+C led with Nazareth lacrosse. My apologies to the BillsBeat crew. Like I said last week.... " it seems like everyone's just trying to fill time until there's something actually worth talking about." last week's semi-sarcastic rant Why should TSW be any different? But just to be nice, Promo, I will "throw you a bone"... (check the index shortly)

That goes double for me. Positive thoughts headed your way, Chris - and if you need ANYTHING, you know where to find us....

According to what TD told the Booster Club last month, the throwbacks will be modeled on the '65 shirts - the ones with the stripes on the bottom of the sleeves, not the UCLA-style shoulder stripes worn from '61-'63. I like the shoulder stripes better, myself......

Well, we know about it already; not sure it's been officially announced, though. Personally, I wanna see those '65 jerseys TD told us about at the Booster Club meeting. Been a good two years since I added to my collection - and I'm already making a list, just in case they'll be selling personalized ones. (Kemp... Shaw... Stratton.... maybe a Sestak for my stepfather, for his birthday. That'll do to start with.) This, of course, assumes they're not as hideous as the '94 version of "throwback" shirts.

You're sick. But then, we already knew that. As previously noted: tickets go on sale at Ticketmaster tomorrow morning at 10AM for the events of June 3-4. Coincidence? Doubt it. And if the "Celebration of Champions" thingy turns into a Super Bowl-era Bills reunion, it probably does qualify as a 'major event'. At least to fanatics like us, anyway....

"It was a simple mistake on his (Vincent's) part that he made, something that just happened - you know, I fell kind of awkward, it just happened." From a one-on-one sitdown with John Murphy, aired on Sunday Sports Final: http://www.wkbw.com/sports.aspx?preview=&t...n&NStoryID=3339

"like a pterodactyl in a canary cage...like Godzilla stomping Tokyo...like a pit bull with behavioral problems"... Nice. He'll certainly be one to keep an eye on at SJF. Just so he doesn't get within five feet of JP....

Congrats, Satchmo, on 'officially' joining our big, happy, dysfunctional family!

The appropriate Ticketmaster pages (thanks for the heads-up, Hammer): Make-a-Wish Foundation Salutes "The Comeback" Celebration of Champions Tix for both events go on sale Thursday morning at 10AM.

Just checked my invoice. I've got two of the $430 tix; the 'handling fee' was $3, bringing the total to $863. So, you could potentially get 2 tix in the "Rockpile" sections for a total cost of $503. (Not a bad deal, as long as you don't mind sitting right under the scoreboard.) I like my seats (sideline row 6), but some people think they're too low. There aren't really any "bad" seats in the house, though - just depends on what point of view you prefer. And remember, parking is extra even for season-holders - $15/game in the stadium lots last season, though you can find it cheaper.

A-freakin'-men. Especially this: Still remember Jim Brinson doing his impression of a Fish fan, the day the Ricky Williams 'retirement' news broke..... AAAARRRRGGGHHHH *thud*

No. We're having too much fun!

Best value - but not the best seats - would have to be the new "Rockpile" section (200 level, scoreboard EZ). $250 each, or a little more than half of what I'm paying for lower-bowl sideline seats. Price range for non-premium seasons - and yeah, that includes preseason tickets; you don't get the option of declining them: $430 - 100-level Sidelines $420 - 100-level Corners, 300-level rows 1-20 $400 - 200-level Tunnel EZ, 300-level rows 21-38 (Sidelines) $370 - 100-level Tunnel EZ $350 - 100-level Scoreboard EZ, 200-level Scoreboard EZ (Corners), 300-level rows 21-38 (Corners) $320 - 200-level "Family Corner" (sections 224-228) $250 - 200-level Scoreboard EZ http://www.buffalobills.com/tickets/ has a virtual tour, stadium map, pricing, etc. ...