RuntheDamnBall

"I'm listening to the f---in' song!" "Eddie Shore! Old Time Hockey!"

Way to miss the point. This team lost more than just Bledsoe last year - especially to injury - and they lost games as a team. How about not having Spikes for 14 games? No, I'm sure that made no difference. Bledsoe's greatness = 4 more wins, of course! With a better cast of personnel, Bledsoe wasn't able to finish in a win-and-you're-in-game against a team of 3rd stringers with nothing to play for. I'm sure it gets old for you to hear that, but it's never going to be less true. That team lost - again - as a team, but the supposed veteran leadership that you're indicating Bledsoe provided was in short supply when the task was pretty damned clear.

I guess signing a FA is not as much of a deft maneuver as the Peerless trade (which was a definite coup, don't get me wrong). But put me in the TKO camp. He is a guy who, on a winning team, would rank with the all-time great Bills if he can stick around for a good while. He is already one of my favorite players ever -- to watch, and just in general (and I actually kept a good eye on him in Cincy -- have always liked him). In order for us to really believe, we have to really believe that players like that want to come here. I am really, really glad TD made that move, even though many of his others didn't have the intended result.

I'd rather have the players who want to be here and give 100% than the more "talented" guys who think they're above the team and can bring it when they feel like it. Moulds is history, and it's not all rosy -- in fact, it's mostly not rosy. I'm fine with turning the page.

Of anyone, I'd expect the ex-Bears to have respect for Jauron. Villareal has gone out and said as much. I imagine it was discussed between them. In the meantime, I thought CV really wore down last year so if he expects to start (and, to be honest, I'd love to see someone else outplay him), I don't mind him putting less miles on the tires right now to save it for later.

"Nothing is f----ed, dude."

Most people here concede the team effed up in that regard. They should have let the QBs compete. It would have let the people who had illusions that Bledsoe was going to take the team any further down a lot easier. And it certainly would have been better on the team. Don't let the fact that TD and MM sucked in terms of decision-making cloud the fact that Bledsoe had a really good chance to help us make the playoffs and didn't seal the deal.

As long as we're playing that game, how about With Pat Williams: 9-7 w/o: 5-11 With Travis Henry: 9-7 w/o: 5-11 With Rod Trafford: 9-7 w/o: 5-11

Right now, Bledsoe's stats compare him a bit favorably to Dave Krieg. And Krieg had better postseason stats. Granted, this is over a few more years and Bledsoe has him by a good margin in yardage. Still, would you even think of putting Krieg into the HoF? I wouldn't. Both were/are good, not great, NFL QBs who would need a lot of help winning a Super Bowl -- help, like a pretty damned amazing offensive line we never had.

YES! You gotta believe.

Can't disagree with Darin here.

I think the D was a little lackadaisacal, and there were some points where things Tallinder does (like feeding it to the forwards off a rebound while they're on the burst to take advantage of their speed) were REALLY missed. The D wasn't piss-poor, but Jillson hurt us a few times as you mention, and that was all the Canes needed. They do need to be much more aggressive on the forecheck. When they are (see Game 3: second period) they simply look awesome. When they aren't, well, exhibit A is tonight's 4-0 drubbing.

Indeed. Look, I feel terrible tonight. But I'm still going to listen to Jeanerret's call on Sunday and be really, really excited to hear my team play for the top prize in the sport. I suggest the rest do the same!

the Lips are and have been great for a long time. My fave album of theirs is The Soft Bulletin. Do yourself the favor of checking it out. Their records are so well-produced, too. Dave Fridmann is making some of the wildest-sounding rock albums going right now. I think when his time is done he'll be viewed the way people see George Martin these days -- a true innovator. Don't let Tom razz ya. A lot of guys around here think Eric Johnson and Steve Vai still rock.

Agreed. Again, I'm not going to seriously question Ruff. He's the man for a reason. BUT, and this is a big question to me: Jillson seemed to do better the other night when paired with Rory. Now granted, Rory isn't exactly the most seasoned vet, but the fact is, he's more comfortable out there than Janik. Why pair the two newbies? Why not put Lydman with Janik / Paetsch? Wouldn't it be better to have the callups paired with the vets / guys with more playoff experience to make life easier on all of them? And while Janik looked better than he did in Game 2, I still see no reason to commit to him for Game 5. Teppo, Teppo, PLEASE come back!

No, no, no, these guys suck and have always sucked. Miller sucks. Briere sucks. Darcy sucks for not picking up three starting quality defensemen at the deadline. Get with the goddamned program.

It's really getting tired, JSP. When he looks good, he looks good. When he doesn't, he doesn't. It doesn't mean he sucks, and it doesn't mean he's all-world. But we wouldn't be here without him.

well, i was wrong, to my chagrin. An OT loss might have been easier to take...

Darius Kasparaitis. Hands down. I hate that little troll.

I am actually not going to predict an outcome or score, but I have a funny feeling that it's going to go to overtime tonight.

Other thing is, Janik is a PIM leader with the Amerks. Last thing we need is less discipline and a bad penalty. Right now we get all of those we need from Mr. Liability aka Rory.

I question the logic of playing Janik also. Look, in Lindy we trust, but it didn't seem like they trusted Janik at all in Game 2. Why is he getting another shot, especially when it sounds as though Paetsch plays more like Tallinder?

In most cases, politicians are never going to be viewed in a good light.

I think you might hint at it here with regard to McGahee. I wonder if, to an extent, that Fiesta Bowl put a scare into him that he might not make it through an NFL career injury-free and, subsequently, lose millions. So, he plays well enough to be well-regarded and make money, but heretofore has not been the kind of guy who leaves it all on the field. I want to say better of him because I think he is sooooo capable. But I want to see more out of him, that's all. JP plays with heart -- maybe too much. The O-linemen, yeah, I'd question their heart. I'd love to see a real fiery, commanding center on this line whipping them into shape and building some cameraderie. Moulds: don't know. His penchant for taking things personally should not be confused for heart, I don't think. In the end, he's a No. 1 receiver "me guy" like many of them. I think he gave a lot for this team, but not all -- and it showed when he didn't go all out for some passes early in the season. I think here in Buffalo we just want to see guys out there giving it their all, hearts on sleeves, playing like nothing else matters. I'm seeing that in the hockey team right now and I hope we see the same in the football team. One reason I am a Losman proponent is, while he needs to keep his emotions in check, he's definitely got the fire, and if he can start producing, that's going to become the kind of thing that's infectious -- I don't see that in Holcomb or in (admittedly little) what I've seen of Nall.

I've moved on, but the Rock was indeed a fine college and summer party brew of choice. Now it's all Hefeweizens and Brooklyn Pennant Ale. BTW, anybody here tried Ayinger's beers? They brew some amazing stuff.