LongLiveRalph

Problem is, it was an exhibition for BOTH teams. I completely realize it means 1,000 times more to the Le Moyne players...This is their one big chance to make noise on Sportscenter and take down the big kid in the neighborhood. But Le Moyne scored 36 points OFF THE BENCH!!! Thats the 6th, 7th, and 8th guys from a D-II school cashing buckets against a Big East team. Call it whatever you want, its a terrible loss for Cuse. Also, the Syracuse players seemed pretty pumped when they hit a 3 with 20 seconds left to take the lead 79-78...Sure didn't seem like a ho-hum exhibition game to them at that point...

Shouldn't be long

Another interesting tidbit to this story that I noticed when I saw some highlights: The tough guy Mr. Eye Gouge Spikes wears a visor!

It was Johnny Flynn who made Cuse go the last two seasons, but he was NBA-ready and is going to be one of the better PG's in the league for a decade. It's hard to tell a lottery pick to stay in school. Whoever was giving Devendorf and Harris advice was drunk...Or else those two just drastically overrated their own talents. It's hard to imagine either of them starting in Spain right now. I can't understand why you would leave if you were in their situation. They both could've lived one more year of the easy college life, replacing Flynn as the core of the offensive producers, shooting 1500 jumpers per day, and playing on national TV a few times a month, perhaps even playing well and impressing some scouts. Instead they've relegated themselves to the outer-orbits of the basketball world, where you hope for a 10-day injury contract, hooking up in the NBADL, or signing a contract to play in Turkey. I just don't get it. Cuse is in trouble. Maybe they could sneak through the PAC 10 with that roster, but the Big East is brutal every single night. The fact that it was an exhibition game is little comfort to anybody, they lost to a D-II school. Bottom line. Don't forget, it's an exhibition game for Le Moyne too...They weren't just playing six guys... Some LeMoyne stats: Christopher Johnson scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half, including a 3-pointer with 8.3 seconds remaining. Ekperigin had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Damani Corbin had 11 points and five assists and Kevin Roth added 10 points for Le Moyne, which outscored Syracuse 42-30 in the paint. Le Moyne also recorded a 36-10 advantage in bench points. "Le Moyne really outplayed us from the beginning of the game to the end," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. "It's just embarrassing the way we played," said Rautins, born and raised in Syracuse. "It's embarrassing to ourselves and our fans. It wasn't luck that they won. They came out and beat us fair and square." Ouch. Get the Boeheim Face ready for this season...

That's why Rome took such issue with Meyer's lame explanation of "those of us who have played the game blah blah blah..." and issuing the half-game suspension. Rome was saying, "You don't need one second of football experience to realize that the play was ridiculously dirty and he was intentionally trying to injure a runner who was already tackled."

Not a huge Jim Rome fan, but I was in my car at lunch and agreed with his take on this issue. He basically called out Urban Meyer, and stated that he'd have respected Meyer's decision in one of two ways: If Meyer basically said, "Football it is a physical game, there are extracurricular activities out of the referee's line of sight on every play, and things will happen. Georgia-Florida is a big conference rivalry game and sometimes players on both sides take that to an unfortunate extreme. Brandon did that, and I have spoken to him regarding the incident, and that is the end of it. He will not be disciplined further." OR--- "Brandon's actions are unacceptable. That is not how we play football at Florida, regardless of opponent or circumstances. Brandon has been disciplined internally, and will be suspended for the upcoming game on Saturday. Our program does not play that way, and this is a message that we will not play that way." Meyer completely muffed this by saying, "Yeah he did do something illegal and stupid and dirty...But it happens...Those of us who've played football understand...Suspended for one half." What a joke. How is that even considered a "suspension"? For what it's worth, Mike Golic, who spent plenty of college and pro days in the trenches, was appalled by how aggressively Spikes was gouging for the eyes.

I have a feeling that a 6'2", 210 lb speed receiver with hops and hands will get drafted somewhere similar to where he would've, provided he performs at the combine and is professional in his interviews. Let's be honest, absurd talent only slips so far before Mel Kiper changes his tune from "risk" to "value." It's disturbing that he quit on his team (after already having some discipline/academic issues previously) but a college degree and a team-first attitude have NEVER been a prerequisite for the NFL.

I read that the other day, pretty crazy. I don't think any one particular thing was overly shocking; it's just how prevalent and out in the open the refs were about the things they were doing. The "Memos from the league office" stuff is disturbing, too. It's obvious the league execs view it as a TV show just as much as it's a sport. It's just as possible to happen in the NFL, too. Those pass interference judgement calls and roughing the passer calls are strictly ONE ref's opinion, and are basically undisputable. They can have a HUGE impact on a drive, and on a game. I would not put it past the reality TV show that is the NFL to send the "ambiguous memo" to the refs, trying to nudge a marquee team into the playoffs over a team that is perceived to be lower down in the hierarchy. Given the nature of the game, and the fact that you can call holding on any play, it certainly wouldn't be too hard for the refs to at least provide an advantage for one team or the other. Ugly stuff, but big money has always had the propensity to lead to big corruption.

I've always loved the media fawning over the Pats for their selection of Brady, like it was some sort of genius move and they knew how special he could be. Granted, props to them for drafting him, as every other team had its shot, but if this great organization knew they had a diamond in the rough, they don't wait for the 199th pick to select him. If you think about what Brady has done, and the people he's impacted, it's incredible. Belichick was a sub-.500 head coach, now he's probably top-5 all time. Think of how much money he's made Robert Kraft, Charlie Weis, Romeo Crennell, Eric Mangini, Deion Branch, Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, Josh McDaniels, Scott Pioli, and on and on...All of those guys have made BIG money leaving New England, and all of those opportunities presented themselves because of their Super Bowls. Without Brady, it's hard to imagine it all happening...It's pretty crazy... It's hard to believe now but there were many split camps on the Manning/Leaf selections. Manning was probably considered safer, Leaf was more raw with maybe more potential. Have to give the Colts credit there, whether or not there was any internal waffling on the pick who knows, but they sure came away with the right one. You have to give them credit because screwing that up would've put them in NFL jokeland for 6 or 7 years like the Chargers, rather than the perennial contenders that they are.

And it seems that when those teams have a down year, it's 6-10 for one season and then back up into playoffs or playoff contention the next year. While they don't always have their mojo working every season, they also don't get bogged down into a decade of mediocrity in Pittsburgh, Philly, GB, etc. Sigh....

Just announced, Myers will be in the lineup tomorrow night for his 10th game, activating his pro contract. He will be around for the foreseeable future (at least 3 years) and hopefully a decade beyond that.

No question there's truth to your post, but unfortunately, it's not that cut-and-dry. If it were that simple, there'd be 30,000 people at the games. However, it cannot be ignored that the Bills are one of the teams that comes up when a relocation is discussed. Just as the fans' only voice of disapproval for the product on the field is with their wallets, their only voice of affirmation for what the TEAM means to the community is also with their wallets. It's a fine line of wanting to prove the value of a team in Buffalo, while not wanting to continue to support mediocre football and poor management. It comes down to a personal choice of the individual, and I couldn't begin to tell the next guy what to do, because neither is right nor wrong. Me personally, I live in Tampa and I still have a season ticket. In my mind, I'm not going to settle for the "dwindling fan base" excuse if they ever did pack up and move out. But I can EASILY understand the guy who dumps his ticket out of disgust for the management and play. Teams like the Dolphins and Redskins have the luxury of saying "F these guys, I'm not going to support them" and allow for blackouts and half-full stadiums, because there is no danger of NOT having the team there in Miami and Washington. The situations are different from Buffalo's current situation, it's true. And let's face it...Finishing 7-9 and hovering around .500 for the majority of the season (with a few meaningful games here and there) is a far cry from the 2-14 years of the mid-80's.

Hahaha I thought 44 seemed low... I glanced at the date at the side and it my inverse dyslexia must've read the 6 as a 9...My bad my bad. Thus explains Pitt at $30-some million...Wasn't sure how they were pulling that off with Crosby and Malkin both at $10M+...Hahaha what a doofus... Yeah, similar results as you pointed out.

He's proven he can win those games. He wins 7 of them every year. How about proving he can beat a good team? How about improving on that 1-8 record in his last 9 vs. the AFC East? Career loser. Finishing 9-7 while beating up on the other dregs of the league does little to change that. The only plus-.500 Bills team this decade finished 9-7 while white-washing a cupcake schedule. It didn't prove anything, and even got their starting QB released. He's a fine gentleman, and his team doesn't lay down. All the credit to him in that regard. Beyond that, his entire history shows he plays NOT to lose, and it doesn't work against the good teams who are a level above handing out victories to their opponent because of their own mistakes.

Big deal, so is every other team. The cap is $44 mil. Of the 30 teams in the league, 26 of them are at $40 million or more. It's not a difficult task. Most teams have a few high-end guys taking up the majority of the cap hit, Buffalo included, with Vanek, Miller, Pommer, and Connolly making up $23.2 million alone. The interesting number is Pittsburgh and Washington near the bottom. The overall team payroll has little to do with organizational frugalness, with regard to negotiational tactics, trades, scouting department, contractual issues like Myers, etc. The Sabres seem to have come around a bit, especially since the Briere/Drury fiasco offseason...I'm not trying to say they're the Florida Panthers...But they can't hide from their history. I don't doubt that Lindy and Darcy were having a little chuckle at their "We'll continue to monitor him" stance on Myers, as several have said in this thread. But if there was ever a team who would send a contributing, performing player down to junior for contractual purposes alone, the Sabres have a history. They've made plenty of moves that made zero hockey sense, but screamed "Bottom Line."

Yeah, I think so too...Darcy plays coy no matter what...He's never layed his plans out there for the media to report and others to read... Extending him now would be extremely poor management, in the same vein that sending him down to prolong free agency would be.

The Mrs. and I did 10 days in Costa Rica, it was incredible...Half the time spent in a beautiful, "normal" hotel right on the beach with ocean balcony...The other half spent inland, in a VERY nice villa in the Costa Rican rainforest/jungle. All kinds of hiking, ziplining, exploring, animal viewing, etc. etc. along with 5-star food and lodging. Great trip.

C'mon Jimmy Literal...Some room for exaggeration on a message board? Not with you on the prowl. The point I'm making is, if he's your guy and he's real deal, then why would free agency in 2011 differ from free agency in 2012? You're going to sign him to an extension regardless before his contract is up, if he continues to play like he's shown he can play. He's performing, you pay for performance. Russ Brandon/Jason Peters not withstanding.

Forecasting Dick for a 8-8 or 9-7 season is just doesn't make sense...His track record speaks for itself...One non-losing season in his entire career, which he turned into a home playoff loss in that first postseason game. The record that should be considered is not the season record, but rather the 2-22 mark against teams who finish their season with a winning record. Basically, bring Dick J back, and sure you can play the conservative game and eek out victories against the rest of the league's chumps. But play the Pats/Steelers/Eagles type teams? Forget it, Jauron's teams get run off the field. There can be some dispute as to where the blame falls with that record, but there's no dispute as to the record itself...THe numbers don't lie. So if Ralph wants to save some coin and avoid a buyout, then keep Dick and look forward to 6-10, 7-9. MAYBE the stars align, the Bills get results at home, and squeak into the playoffs. If it's Dick J jogging them onto the field, look forward to a 34-10 loss on the road at San Diego/Indy/Pit or some other contender. It's an unfortunate way to think for an optimist like myself, but the track record is there and is unavoidable.

This is sooo sad and sooo true, especially when it comes to money and being generally cheap. The ONLY reason to send the kid down would be that he becomes a free agent a year later. Most normal people would say "Who the F cares? Sign him to an extension TODAY then." But the Bills and Sabres take cheap to an unheard of level, and while I would say I'm 100% postitive the kid isn't going anywhere, you can't rule out anything with these wildcard front offices. On top of his outstanding play, he's supposed to be a great kid who has really endeared himself to the rest of the team. I was at the game in Tampa Saturday night, and the team barrelled off the bench and attacked Myers after his shootout goal, dragging him down to the ice and celebrating with him...Just interesting, considering Ryan Miller just made 6 straight penalty shot saves and he was an afterthought...But supposedly everyone loves his work ethic in practice, and his ability to take the general rookie potshots and "hazing" from teamates, etc. Tampa's big young D-Man, Hedman, and Myers were the two best defensemen on the ice Saturday. Hedman made a bad mistake on Buff's first goal, which is going to happen. It happened to Myers vs. Atlanta, and will happen to both of them all year (albeit hopefully less frequently, and not the same mistake twice.) But there was no question, with their size and reach, that they were the two forces to be reckoned with out there. When they start sweeping those long sticks around, it seems like they're scraping both sides of the boards.

The best part is, he talked trash about the head coach, saying that he knows nothing about football, has no business being a coach, etc. etc. Meanwhile, Adrian Peterson has 158 touches this season for the Vikings. Larry Johnson has 144 touches for the Chiefs. So basically, is Larry saying that his coach is an idiot and his team sucks because they keep giving HIM the ball?

Only airline (or maybe JetBlue and one other?) to turn a profit in Q2 of '09. They are by far the best airline in my book. But I think their business model has moved them well beyond the "economy" airline at this point, they are a major player. Not sure where you are dib? Did I see a post that said you're in FL??? Anyways, if you are, and on the west coast, there is an airline Direct Air that flies out of a small airport in Punta Gorda, FL, DIRECT to Niagara Falls airport. Rates are extremely cheap, usually around $89 or $99 per leg, with the max around $169 per leg. It appears especially valuable if your travel dates are flexible and you can fly on "off" days (Tuesdays, etc.) I have never flown it and never been to the Punta Gorda airport (about 1 hr south of Tampa, 1 hour north of Naples) but I'm checking their rates for Xmas. I'm in Tampa and fly JetBlue religiously, but you're right, the Xmas rates (on all airlines) are extreme this year. http://www.visitdirectair.com

Pretty much any reservation change on any airline is getting up in the $100 range. You have to be careful of that $14.99 trip insurance too...Many times, that is medical only...Personal change of plans does not exempt you from fees, even with the insurance.

Whatever the reasons are, Trent has not thrown down the seam or deep over the middle since the 1st quarter of the Monday Night game vs. Cleveland last season. That game damaged him, and it has looked beyond repair this season. Granted, he is already on his third offensive coordinator, but I'm not sure if that is better or worse. On one hand, it could be an excuse/reason that Trent hasn't gotten comfortable. On the other hand, it further drives home the point that regardless of the scheme/playcalling, Trent is going to throw short and safe the majority of the time. Let's not forget, Edwards only looked good in the first place when compared to Losman, a spazzy, confused QB who couldn't get a job as a backup in the NFL the very next year. Seeing as we are heading for an uncapped season, I don't expect the Bills to be in a bidding war for an available free agent QB, considering the money an open market would demand. Therefore, I'm bracing for another hopeful draft pick and three years of inconsistency until we know what we have with the next guy.

Not sure about success vs. failure...But these are the guys starting in the NFL today, by college conference. What's pretty crazy, not ONE starter from a Big 12 school. The Bucs may start rookie Josh Freeman out of Kansas State coming off the bye week, but right now it's Josh Johnson. The breakdown: BIG TEN: Drew Brees (Purdue) Tom Brady (Michigan) Kyle Orton (Purdue) Kerry Collins (Penn St.) Chad Henne (Michigan) ACC: Matt Schaub (Virginia) Phillip Rivers (NC State) Matt Ryan (BC) Matt Hassellbeck (BC) played there in Big East Shaun Hill (Maryland) PAC 10: Mark Sanchez (USC) Aaron Rodgers (Cal) Derek Anderson (Oregon St) Trent Edwards (Stanford) Carson Palmer (USC) Matt Cassell (USC) BIG EAST: Donovan McNabb (Syracuse) Mark Bulger (WVU) SEC: Eli Manning (Ole Miss) Peyton Manning (Tennessee) JaMarcus Russell (LSU) Matthew Stafford (UGA) Jay Cutler (Vanderbilt) Jason Campbell (Auburn) OTHER SCHOOLS: Brett Favre (Southern Missisippi) Tony Romo (E. Illinois) Kurt Warner (N. Iowa) David Gerrard (East Carolina) Joe Flacco (Delaware) Jake Delhomme (Louisiana Lafayette) Ben Roethlisberger (Miami, OH) Josh Johnson (San Diego)