Like A Mofo

No update, just that the NHLPA called for a PC at 4pm....Im sure they are working on something now...I know there is a lot of pessisimism...but I really think they will make a deal today.

I would love that. Nothing sweeter then beating the Leafs when it comes to the Sabres.

No most cannot do that...they dosent give someone "instant gratification"..sometimes everyone seems to only want nowadays.

We all WANT the Bills to win NOW no questions asked, but is this team really that old or something? Most of the key players in the Bills core aren't really that old: On offense, Losman, McGahee Evans, Mike Williams are all young, Moulds will probably have 3-4 very good years left in him. On Defense, Pat and Sam should be ok for the next 2-3 years DT, Schobel and Kelsay are young, Takeo Spikes, London Fletcher will be around for quite some time, Nate Clements and Terrence McGee are young, Milloy should be good for a few years too. Plus who knows who the Bills will draft or get via FA this year. Id love to see 11-5 or so in 2005, but if Losman gets good experience, and the OL continues to improve etc....2006 can be a very big year for the Buffalo Bills.

Now is when this whole thing really begins...I DO NOT believe in this Bettman "ultimate Final offer" stuff...if the union gets closer, NO WAY the NHL rejects it, they would look TERRIBLE...and with big egos comes worrying about their image...its gets resolved.

How about Sean Salisbury...he talks a lot of smack for someone who did stevestojan for his career...maybe he can backup his tough talk on the field.

It will get done by tomorrow, my prediction Dear Gary, Yesterday afternoon, Bill Daly presented us with an offer from the League that, for the first time, was not linked to League-wide revenues. We appreciated your willingness to adjust your position and we worked to respond in kind. By evening, we had fashioned and reached out to you with an offer from the PA that included, for the first time, a team maximum cap. This offer built upon the 24% rollback and other changes in favour of clubs, which were presented by the Players on December 9, 2004. As you know, and as Ted told Bill, our offer of a team cap represented a radical step for the PA. We took this step because we too believe that our sport will be damaged greatly by the cancellation of this season and the continuation of the lockout through next season. Click here to find out more! We wish that the NHL had offered a no linkage proposal before yesterday so that negotiations in that arena could have commenced sooner. However, we recognize that they did not and we agree that time is short. In that spirit, and in a final attempt to reach an agreement, we are adjusting our offer of yesterday in two respects. First, we are reducing the maximum individual team cap to $49 million in salary, which does not include the $2.2 million per team in benefits due. Second, we will adjust our exception provision so that it is available to teams only twice during the six year term and for up to only 10% over the limit of $49 million (to $53.9 million), at the tax rate of 150%. The exception provision is important so that a successful team does not have to arbitrarily dismantle its roster after it has achieved particular success or is in a unique phase of its player roster cycle. I have attached a short summary of the main deal points discussed by Bill and Ted yesterday, as modified above. I can be reached at the usual phone numbers. Regards, Robert W. Goodenow Executive Director & General Counsel NEW CBA DEAL POINTS 1. Term - 6 full seasons (through 9-15-11). 2. CBA System Incorporation of NHLPA December 9, 2004 proposal into the recently expired CBA, with indexing of financial provisions (per diems, etc.) at 2% per year, with the following additional changes requested by the NHL yesterday: (a) Increased salary arbitration rights for Clubs -- to be agreed upon. Salary arbitration available after Player leaves Entry Level System. (b) Cap on Exhibit 5 Individual B Performance Bonuses -- to be agreed upon. © Replace NHLPA Revenue Sharing Plan with NHL Revenue Sharing Plan to share at least $88M in each year of the Agreement. Clubs may credit any payroll taxes paid against their revenue sharing contribution. 3. Team Payroll Limit - $49M in salary and bonuses 4. Minimum Team Payroll - $25M (each team can fall no more than 10% below only twice during term). 5. Minimum Player Salary - $300K (as per NHL Proposal) 6. Payroll Taxes - $40M - $43M (25%) $43M - $46M (50%) $46M - $49M (75%) $49M - $53.9M (150%) only twice per team during 6 year term 7. Indexing of Tax Rates and Payroll Minimums & Maximums All dollar amounts would be in place for 2004-05 (pro-rated) and 2005-06. Dollar levels for tax rates, payroll minimums & maximums for subsequent years either constant or increased by % change in greater of either hockey related revenues or only the gate receipts and broadcasting segments of hockey related revenues from the 2005-06 base year. 8. 2005 Playoffs 55% of playoff revenues to be paid to Players for the 2005 playoffs.

Good point.

Shocker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love how this word "thuggery" is really only passed around when talking about the NBA....sure its there, but are all NFL players choir boys or something? not even close! The Real reason the NBA isnt that good anymore is too much 1 on 1 play and too much physical play, plus a lot of the best players in the NBA arent in good NBA markets either (Lebron in Cleveland, Shaq in Miami, Garnett in Minny for example)..Chicago and NY markets for the most part have been dead for years now, CHI is recovering a bit, but most do not notice that yet.

Why? I find it interesting!

Any reason why that is?

And as much as I hate to say it, there are plenty of teams in the conference that can make similar claims like the Bills can. Baltimore, Cincy, Houston, Jacksonville and Kansas City for starters.

Good post BF. Even thought I am 100 percent supportative of moving on from the Bledsoe era in Buffalo, not EVERTHING about Drew was bad. He did help re-energize the franchise. He has class. I wish him well, but its so obvious there are limits to what he can do now. Its time to roll the dice with the kid. Case closed.

Are Peter King and John Madden related?

Have you accidentely ever walked into Bill Cowher's jaw?

Its over ladies and gents.....screw this league....I hope it goes under... NHL done 2/14/2005 It should come as no surprise to anybody, but the end is near. It's expected the National Hockey League will put out an advisory later today that it is calling a news conference for tomorrow afternoon in New York, at which time NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is expected to officially cancel the 2004-05 regular season and playoffs. Individual NHL clubs are said to be planning their own local news conferences immediately following Bettman's announcement.

Apparently he is only remembring the first 8 games of 2002...Drew really had some impact on some fans with those performances against swiss cheese defenses didnt he??

EM was too worried about a lot of the passes that fell at his feet after a vintage flat footed misfire by Drew.

Always good to see a thread started by R. Rich! And I agree with you about getting other issues taken care of (especially OL) before we worry too much about a kicker, and you bring up good points about 3 of the greatest kickers being undrafted FA's.

Like I said...another LAMP!

Another LAMP!

Eli Manning isnt JP, or are they the same person at last check???

Ladies and gentlemen: Please give a warm welcome to the weekly "Bills are moving to LA" post of the week!! Congrats!!!

Nah we shouldnt...we should bow down and get on our knees like E$PN does for the Pats right?? And Im sure 99 percent of Pats fans knew Brady was the real deal when they saw his name come over the draft pick ticker on E$PN2