Sound_n_Fury

I think Reed's a long shot to make the HOF for three reasons: 1.) The group of 39 HOF selectors is made up of media representative for each of the 32 NFL franchises. In addition, there’s a representative of the Pro Football Writers Association and then six at-large representatives. Almost without exception, these voters are media people who have covered the NFL for many years. Some have been hanging around professional football for over 40 years. The Bills team rep, I belive, is Mark Gaughan (since Felser's retirement). Mark is a relative rookie among these older writers and most likely has very little power to sway voters to "back his horse," especially when the vote is close. 2.) Subconsciously, many HOF selectors may be sloting Thuman and Bruce as sure-fire inductees. That would be four guys from the same team/era in the hall, which is a lot for any team, especially considering the four SB losses. In a numbers game, unfortunately, 'Dre might be odd man out. 3.) As folks have mentioned, Reed was never a real media-conscious guy who reporters could develop a soft spot for (like Swan). In addition, despite his HOF worthy stats, many selectors probably still remember Reed for his famous (infamous) "helmet throw" in SB XXVI, which while not on the same scale as Thurman's "misplaced" helmet in SB XXV, was viewed as universally negative in all media reports following the game. The thing about these three points is that they don't really focus on Reed's career accomplishments. Rather, they're more about selectors' biases and perceptions, which can sometime be more powerful than reality. I'd love to see 'Dre in the hall, but my gut tells me he'll not get the respect he deserves in retirement, much as it passed him by, to some degree, while he was playing (particularly in terms of his contracts).

Oh man......

Jaguars | Henry a Possibility? - from www.KFFL.com Sun, 15 May 2005 17:13:21 -0700 Updating an ongoing storyline, Bart Hubbuch, reports for the Sporting News, the Jacksonville Jaguars may see the Buffalo Bills as a strong trading partner to help them acquire the veteran running back they seek. They could attempt to work out a deal with the Bills that involves disgruntled RB Travis Henry. Jaguars | Actively Looking for a Veteran Running Back - from www.KFFL.com Sun, 15 May 2005 17:11:10 -0700 Updating an ongoing storyline, Bart Hubbuch, reports for the Sporting News, the Jacksonville Jaguars are actively pursuing a veteran running back given the uncertain status around RB Fred Taylor's (knee) availability for the start of the 2005 season. As reported earlier, the surgery Taylor had on his knee was worse than anticipated and Taylor hasn't participated in any of the offseason programs that involve team drills. As noted previously, Taylor's availability for the start of training camp and perhaps the opening of the regular season appears to be in question http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team?statsId=30

Time for Jags to find an upgrade at RB By HAYS CARLYON Sports Writer The whispers that the Jaguars have underestimated the severity of Fred Taylor's knee injury are growing into roars. The Nashville Tennessean is reporting that Jacksonville offensive coordinator Carl Smith has indicated Taylor, 29, may be forced to miss the upcoming season. Ouch. Say goodbye to those playoff hopes. Without Taylor, Jacksonville's offense is dead for two reasons: The passing game isn't near ready to carry the load and the Jags have shoddy depth behind Taylor. LaBrandon Toefield is a third-down back, and not a very good one. Greg Jones doesn't possess the necessary explosiveness and shiftiness to be productive. With Taylor healthy, the Jags are a Super Bowl contender. Without him, they are a 6-10 team. The Jags must make a move. Even if Jack Del Rio is fairly confident Taylor will be ready, the Jags should still make a move. This season is too important. The fans are counting on the franchise returning to the playoffs for the first time since 1999. In a twist of irony, the team Jacksonville should call is the team responsible for the Jags landing Taylor -- the Buffalo Bills. The Jags need to send Buffalo a high pick in next year's draft to acquire running back Travis Henry. The move makes sense for both sides. The Bills, who already have a stud back in Willis McGahee, have been shopping Henry since the offseason started and seem determined to ship him out. Maybe the Jags could land Henry, 27, with a third-round pick. If not, they should offer a second-rounder. After a good season, it would be a late pick in the round anyway. Buffalo would likely bite. The Jags could make a run at Indianapolis' Edgerrin James or Seattle's Shaun Alexander, but it's unlikely the Colts would trade Edge to a divisional rival and the Seahawks would want a large chunk of premium draft picks. Plus, both backs are too expensive. The Jags have had good luck trading with Buffalo. By sending quarterback Rob Johnson to the Bills back in 1997, Jacksonville received Buffalo's first-round pick (ninth overall) and selected Taylor. The Henry deal would be productive in the short term, keeping Jacksonville's shot at a championship season alive. However, the trade has more benefit to Jacksonville in the long term. Henry's only fault is that he's not McGahee, one of the top rising talents in the league. Before losing his job last year, Henry was coming off two seasons in which he rushed for a combined 2,794 yards and 23 touchdowns. He's an elite back. And he has significantly less mileage than Taylor. Taylor's career attempts (1,637) are right in line with backs like Priest Holmes (1,615) and Stephen Davis (1,725). What do all three of these backs have in common? They are breaking down. Holmes missed eight games last season and Davis missed 14. Backs like Curtis Martin (3,298 career carries) that can still be highly productive despite the extreme wear-and-tear are rare. And the odds of a massive Martin breakdown grow by the carry. Meanwhile, Henry's tread has a lot of life left. He has logged 963 career carries in the NFL. That's in line with the league's top crop of fresh backs like Deuce McAllister (961) and Clinton Portis (906). The bottom line is this. Taylor is an old 29. Henry is a young 27. Henry could have his best days ahead of him. Taylor is clearly on the downside of his career. Here's what the Jags should do. Trade for Henry while he's still a bargain to ensure Byron Leftwich has a strong running game around him. Hang on to Taylor for a year, let him heal up and then trade him for a draft pick after the season to help make up for the pick lost in the Henry deal.

Packers | Showing Interest in Wright? - from www.KFFL.com Sun, 15 May 2005 09:07:00 -0700 Rich Cimini, reports for the New York Daily News, the Green Bay Packers are reportedly interested in USC DT Manuel Wright. As noted, Wright has made himself available for the NFL's supplemental draft. NFL | Right Spot for Wright? - from www.KFFL.com Sun, 15 May 2005 09:04:50 -0700 Rich Cimini, reports for the New York Daily News, the early thinking is NFL teams may be willing to spend a third-round pick in the supplemental draft on USC DT Manuel Wright. Scouts say he's boom-or-bust prospect.

From today's Jacksonville newspaper: Taylor-made comebacks get tougher By GENE FRENETTE, Times-Union columnist May 15, 2005 Fred Taylor says not to worry. His left knee will be ready to go by training camp. I believe the Jaguars running back believes that. Few players in the franchise's history are as brutally honest in evaluating themselves as Forthright Fred, but part of me wonders how well Taylor's knee holds up in 2005. It could pose a roadblock when the Jaguars enter their most promising season in five years. First, it must be acknowledged that Taylor has a solid track record of recovering from physical setbacks. He had five 100-yard games in 1999 after being deactivated three times for hamstring problems. Taylor rebounded from a strained medial collateral ligament in the 2000 preseason to rush for 1,399 yards. And after a groin injury sidelined him for most of 2001, he made 46 consecutive starts. But Taylor's I'll-be-fine pronouncements this time have a different feel. The idea that Taylor, who turns 30 in January, can proceed without a hitch next season looks more suspicious. Why? For one thing, it took four months for anyone from the Jaguars to acknowledge that Taylor's sprained MCL suffered last December was worse than the original diagnosis. Taylor conceded during minicamp that there was greater damage, but offered no specifics. Secrecy during the season, you understand. Teams are known to engage in gamesmanship with NFL injury reports to keep opponents guessing. What raises eyebrows in this instance is the evasiveness midway through the offseason. It's not like Taylor had a knee injury as serious as offensive tackle Mike Pearson. Remember, this was supposed to be a simple arthroscopic procedure. No big deal. But the tiptoeing on the subject from Taylor, and his unlikely participation in team drills until camp begins, casts things in a slightly different light. You just don't know if the Jaguars are erring on the side of caution or if there's something being kept hidden. The longer this mystery lingers, the more a cloud thickens over the 2005 season. It's great that receiver Reggie Williams looked much improved in minicamp. That quarterback Byron Leftwich appears ready for a breakout year. And many are salivating that first-round draft pick Matt Jones will provide a spark in the red zone. There's a synergy at One Alltel Place that this franchise is on the cusp of something special. Just don't forget to insert a major caveat -- Fred Taylor's health -- that history indicates must be part of the package. It's hard to paint the Jaguars as a playoff team if Taylor misses significant time. You probably know the Jaguars scored only 13 points when he missed the last two games of 2004, but the numbers are more alarming if you go back further. In 26 games without Taylor, the Jaguars are 12-14. Not good, but not horrific. Here's the telling part: They're 0-8 without him against playoff-bound opponents and have never beaten a team that finished with a winning record. Five of the Taylor-absent wins came in 1999, when the Jaguars had a quality backup in James Stewart. There's no such No. 2 on this roster, at least no proven one. LaBrandon Toefield hasn't shown it. Greg Jones was moved to fullback because he didn't have it. Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala had flashes as a Pittsburgh Steeler in 2001, but he deserves a Fragile Fu tag more than Taylor ever did. The Jaguars' offense is undergoing a makeover with the hiring of coordinator Carl Smith. But one indisputable truth remains: It's not going places without Taylor in it for the long haul. http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stor..._18742870.shtml

I work about 100 yards from the square, so I get to go quite frequently. I guess my age is starting to catch up with me. Sigh.... FYI, for others, here's the 2005 schedule: http://www.buffaloplace.com/aboutus/market...certseries.html

Actually, I was pretty underwhelmed with this year's schedule. I wonder if all the other free concert series that have sprung up in the area (Artpark, Canalfest, etc.) are making it harder for them to book acts.

Do you know if Hall's Sugarland teams were full 11-on-11 squads, or the 7-on-7 teams that a lot of smaller Texas schools played? I can't seem to find any info on this point.

Nice story. But it also reminded me of how much I hated Bryant. Could you imagine an !@#$ like that coaching college ball today: http://www.texasobserver.org/showArticle.asp?ArticleID=111

Cy Young's 511 career wins over a 21-year span. He won 30 games five times and 20 games 15 times. He also pitched baseball's first perfect game while with Boston. His size must've been a big (no pun) advantage...He was 6'2" 210 lbs playing at the turn of the century, when players were much smaller.

I never get tired of watching the players (especially the catcher) react to that bird exploding!

Your thread title is misleading. A St. Augustine newspaper columnist is interested in Henry...nowhere does it mention the Jags are. Now, I wouldn't be opposed to the trade parameters the guy lays out, but let's be honest...this scenario is just idle conjecture by a small-time newspaper at this point.

Ya think? May 1, 2005: http://webcenters.compuserve.com/compuserv...arch.jsp&first= May 9, 2005: http://movies.msn.com/photos/gallery.aspx?...ery=8018#photos May 13, 2005: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/HealthyWomen/story?id=754080 http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/sto...5p-264325c.html

TD has said for the right deal, he'd trade TH to Miami. It should be no different with the Jags (even if they are a better team than the Fins right now).

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050514/1061625.asp Couple linked to real estate scam caught By SANDRA TAN News Staff Reporter 5/14/2005 The law finally caught up with Venere Hutchinson, with the help of some astute police officers in Tennessee and a 3-year-old copy of The Buffalo News. Hutchinson and his then-girlfriend, Dana Upcher, were cited as among Buffalo's most negligent property owners in a 2001 Buffalo News investigation. The couple fled the state shortly before the state Attorney General's Office obtained indictments against them on multiple grand larceny and fraud charges in April 2002. For years, no one could find the two fugitives. Some speculated that they had fled to the Virgin Islands. The true story is far more interesting. ..... Cleveland, Tenn., Police Officer Andy Ratcliff was doing routine traffic monitoring on Interstate 75 on a Wednesday afternoon when he pulled over a GMC Yukon with improper tags. The driver identified himself as Michael David Smith and presented Ratcliff with a valid Georgia driver's license. His passenger identified herself as Dequlan M. Jones. She gave the officer an obviously fake ID, Ratcliff said. Both passengers appeared nervous but agreed to let Ratcliff search the car. Among the many items he found were: $14,000 in cash tucked away in a small tissue box, digital scales with marijuana residue, a laptop and disk apparently used for producing counterfeit money orders, some new electronics, and a copy of The Buffalo News from 2002. "At this point, we had no idea who we were dealing with," Ratcliff said. ...... He knew the couple had kept this old newspaper for a reason. He flipped to the front of the city section. There was the headline: "Couple sought in $2 million real estate scam." And beneath it was a photo of Venere Hutchinson. Bingo. "He had to keep a trophy," Ratcliff said of the paper. "That was really stupid of him." Ratcliff walked over to Venere Hutchinson's holding cell and held up the warrants he'd pulled up from New York State. "I hope you like Buffalo," Ratcliff told him, "because you're going back."

Actually, TD may be gaining more leverage / bargaining power over other GMs each day we get closer to training camp. Other teams are going to start getting desperate to fill holes and can rationalize giving up a 2006 pick for immediate help this year (Just win, Baby!). I think we'll see some team blink and give TD a 2006 3rd rounder with a conditional move to a 2nd if TH has a good year.

Hey, I never realized how funny all this stuff could be! The net's a giant repository of bizzare, useless information: http://www.thesuperficial.com/archives/000560.html http://www.bastardly.com/archives/2005/04/...transformation/ I love the investigative journalism on this one: http://www.liquidgeneration.com/blog/2004/05/blog-post.html

Check out the discussion on this blog...it's a hoot: http://www.jonmega.com/gallery/Lindsay-Loh..._Saved_Premiere (I'm just wasting time in front of the computer so I don't have to start my weekend yard work...don't flame me for googling this stuff up!! )

Yikes! I could care less about these "celebrities of the moment" but I just happened to see a pic of her last night and was thinking she was really starting to chub up! http://www.askmen.com/specials/2005_top_99/27.html That "starving artist" look must be some new Hollywood fad to generate publicity.

Wow. How much longer can the Jags put up with all the uncertainty surronding this guy's health. At some point they just have to cut their ties and get someone they can rely on week after week. TH would be a nice fit. You're right, I think this bears watching once training camp opens up.

Miller's 24 (07/17/1980) and spent two full years in the AHL now. He had a very mediocre playoff run (save percentage 0.909) and appeared to lose concentration too much down the stretch. At 170 pounds, I'm wondering if it might be a stamina thing. I'd like to see him devote this off-season to some real physical training and bulk up a bit (without losing flexibility, of course!). The AHL grind is tougher than the NHL, with all the bus tripping, but I think he needs to start playing more like a vet and less like a kid. Aside from Vanek, he's the best legitimate prospect in the Sabres system.

Ryan Miller melts down...throws puck at ref after 5th Moose goal! Good thing it hit another player first.

Signed with the Texans: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050513/ap_on_...bn_texans_moves