I one of those guys who isn't too concerned yet about the NFL's lockout. When we get to August and these guys aren't getting paid things will start to come together.
Remember the players don't get paid during the off season. Both sides have their key issues which are holding up the process and pro-longing the lockout. Look at what happened to baseball after their last strike. Attendence and ratings fell. The same could happen to the NFL. Right now the NFL is America's sport. If the lockout continues into the season it would curb mu interest in the game. Then I might only watch Bills games and forget the rest.

The Pirates Playing .500 Ball

The Pirates dumped the Dodgers Monday night 4-1 on 1490 WESB. Pittsburgh has won three straight and is a game above .500 for the first time in May since 2004. Yes, there are better players and pitchers than years past. But, credit Manager Clint Hurdle. He's a baseball man, won with the Rockies and has instilled pride and yes we can in these young Buccos. The hitting is better, the pitching is better andthe overall picture is brighter. The one problem area is defense and if the Pirates can cut down on the errors they can be a .500 team this season. The reason is the manager Hurdle and his coaching staff.

Bills Draft Anaylsis

The Bills needed to get better on defense and five of their eight picks were on that side of the ball.
The Bills got better on the line, with the pick of Marcell Dareus of Alabama, linebacker, with the pick of Kelvin Shepprad of LSU and cornerback, with second rounder Aaron Williams of Texas. The Bills added depth at defensive back with later picks too. Buffalo will be better defensivedly in 2011 and you have my word on it.

Remembering #7

When I was young I grew up with the French Connection and the late Rick Martin. I can still see the French Connection skating at the old Aug in Buffalo. Gilbert Perreault centering a line with left winger Rick Martin and right winger Rene Robert. They were among the best in the NHL. Some of my fondest memories of #7 include Rick's slapshot. I will never forget seeing the French Connection reunited and back on the ice at the Arena a couple of weeks ago after Terry Pegula completed his purchase of the Buffalo Sabres. There again was #11, #14 and of course #7. rico, you will be missed.

Frank Williams

French Connection Reunited

What a night for the Sabres and new owner Terry Pegula.
During a pregame ceremonial puck drop Pegula and his two sons were joined by The French Connection Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin and Renee Robert. The picture brought back memories of when I was a teenager and they were flying up and down the ice at the old Aud in Buffalo. Thanks Mr Pegula for that moment and buying the Sabres.The Cup will one day ride down main street in Buffalo.

Sabres Sale

The Sabres sale to PA businessman Terry Pegula is being announced today. Let's hope that Pegula will give the team the resources to challenge for a Stanley Cup.
Get rid of the under performing Sabres and there are a few that need to be moved or released. This team needs a change. Players have become comfortable. Take a look at the general manager and finally the coach. The Sabres fans sorely need to see change and it starts with Pegula. The past owner has been absent. A new owner and new direction. The other major Buffalo sports team has recognized that it needed to go in a different direction last year. Now it's the Sabres turn.

Bills Draft Update

Look at the four teams left standing in the NFL. 3 of the 4 best defense and the 9th best defense n the Bears are playing for the right to go to the Super Bowl. I guess the Bills had better address defense first in the April draft and shore up that side of the ball. Two of the best quarterbacks aren't there, but the top defenses are.
The AFC is loaded with great defenses, including the Steelers and Jets. So the Bills had better look there first in the draft. A defensive end and outside linebacker are the key positions to go for first.

Steelers and Jets

Well, it's round two between the Steelers and Jets Sunday on WESB. The Jets won round one 22-17. I think round two could be rather interesting. The Steelers are good defensively and so are the Jets. This one could be 14-13. I'll bet this game comes down to a turnover leading to the winning score. These two teams are evenly matched and well coached. For the Steelers to win they must not turn the ball over. Field goals could be the key. This one comes down to a field goal and the kicker who is most accurate that day wins it.

NF L Surprises

What a weekend for the NFL and the playoffs. The Packers beat the Eagles, The Seahawks surprise the Saints and the Jets finnally beat Peyton and the Colts. The playoff games show that the Bills have a long way to go if they want to compete on that stage. Three of the top four defense prevailed. You have to stop the run to win in the playoffs and the Bills had the worst run defense in the NFL last season. In fact their defense against the run has be awful for two straight seasons. The Bills need a quarterback, wide receiver, tight end and right tackle on offense. On defense they need several defensive lineman and linebackers. In fact of the first seven defensive positions the Bills need six players. Only Kyle Williams is good enough to be in the playoffs for the Bills.

Break up Bills; Steelers in Trouble

The Bills have won two straight and four of six. They are headed in the righ direction and considering the talent on this team Chan Gailey's coaching staff has done a remarkable job in turning things around after an 0-8 start. The least two games against the Pats and Jets will be tough to win. They must forge ahead and begin prepping for the college draft in April.
The Steelers are in a different situation. Injuries are catching up with the team and the loss of Troy Polomalu is damaging. The Black and Gold seemed to lose their swagger in the loss to the Jets. The Steelers have a pair of win-able games, Thursday against Carolina and on January 2 against the Browns. The key will be staying healthy, as that has been the biggest problem with the 2010 Steelers. If the Steelers can get healthy they could make a run.

Is Lee Evans Through in Buffalo

What's next for Lee Evans in Buffalo? Evans went on IR Tuesday with a high ankle sprain. Evan's wasn't the number one guy this year, that honor went to Stevie Johnson.
Evan's production was down and he wasn't the first choice of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick in the game plan. I'm betting the Bills will cut Evans lose at the end of the year and look at drafting a top receiver in the draft, if one of their quarterback possibilities is gone in the first round. Right now the Bills have just one wide receiver who was drafted. The other of four were undrafted free agents. Do the math.

The End is Near for Farve

It's sad to see Brett Farve, beat-up and broken. But after he had the ankle surgery last spring he knew that he would lose a step and not be as able to avoid the rush. The ankle injury brought him back to the pack. Now he looks mortal. When Bills linebacker Arthur Moats hit Farve on December 5 you could see it coming. Bret was vunerable. It's sad, but that's the way Joe Montana left the game, with a concussion after a hit in the AFC Championship game in the 90's at the Ralph against the Bills.
Now Farve may go on injured reserve, ending his season and most likely his career. Canton is next for the former Packer, and that's the way I'll remember him.

Bills Win, Again

The Bills beat the Browns Sunday. The Bills are now 3-10 and it looks as though they won't get the number one overall pick. It loks like my dreams of getting a franchise quarterback may be disappearing. Maybe we need another running back. Just kidding. The Bills still need a pass rushing linebacker, a right tackle and a defensive end. The quarterback may have to wait and Fitzpatrick is playing well, so that helps. Oh well all may not be lost.

The Pens are Red Hot

The Penguins have won eight in a row and are 10-0-1 in their last 11 games.
Why? The play of goalie Marc Andre Fleury. Fleury is 10-6-1 with a 2.44 goals against average. Fleury got off to a slow start but has stopped almost everything he sees during the recent win streak. He lost six of his first seven games, but has gone 9-01 lately. If Fleury stays hot and plays well this team can challenge for the Stanley Cup.

The NFL's 18 Game Proposition

The NFL wants to go to a 16 game schedule. That would knock the preseason slate to just two games. The reason, the NFL is concerned about poorly attended preseason games in August.

But, an 18 game schedule would stretch the season well into January and have the Super Bowl in late February. As i stands now the season is too long. and, what about the injuries. When the league went to a 16 game schedule years ago the amount of injuries went up.

The players are concerned that the 18 game schedule will further increase the amount of injuries and players who end up on the season ending injured reservelist.

It's more about increased revenue for league owners through higher rights fees with the extra regular season home game figured in.

The NFL is the largest business in America and wants to get larger.

What a game!

The Steelers game had all the highs and lows for both Steeler and Bill's fans Sunday. The Steelers looked great in the first half, but not the second. This one was one that could have been won by the Bills, but in the end the Steelers running game won it and the Bills run defense lost it. And, what about the serious one, Stevie Johnson? He could have won it for the Bills, but dropped the ball. In fact dropped passes did in the Bills. Johnson had five, including the one in overtime. Oh well, the number one pick is still within reach for the Bills and a division title for the Steelers.

What a game!

The Steelers game had all the highs and lows for both Steeler and Bill's fans Sunday. The Steelers looked great in the first half, but not the second. This one was one that could have been won by the Bills, but in the end the Steelers running game won it and the Bills run defense lost it. And, what about the serious one, Stevie Johnson? He could have won it for the Bills, but dropped the ball. In fact dropped passes did in the Bills. Johnson had five, including the one in overtime. Oh well, the number one pick is still within reach for the Bills and a division title for the Steelers.

Ahhhhh, it's Thanksgiving and that means football!

Today its the NFL's annual Thanksgiving day triple header. Wow! There are three games and maybe one might be interesting. Not the Patriots and Lions or Saints and Cowboys, but the Bengals and Jets. The Jets are the NFL's cardiac kids. It seems as though they wait till the end of the game to crank up their offense. Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is truely becoming an elite quarterback in his second year. Could you imagine another 4th quarter comeback tonight, maybe overtime? Hey anything is possible with the Jets. And, their coach Rex Ryan he's a treat.

Bills Get Second Win

The Bills won their second game of the season Sunday beating the Bengals on The Hero.
Wow, two in a row. But, the number one pick is now in jeopardy. The Panthers are 1-9 and the Bills are 2-8. At the rate the Bills are going they'll screw up their chance for one of the top three quarterbacks in next April's college football draft.
Tommorrow, the Bills and Steeler Sunday at the Ralph.

I want the #1 Pick!

I now know what winning is all about. Sunday the Bills beat the Lions 14-12 on The Hero. It felt great,err, maybe not so great now. See I want the first overall pick in April's draft. But with the Bills and Carolina Panthers both 1-8 it could come down to the strength of schedule and then the Panthers would win it. So, now that we have a win, no more victories this season. See I'm thinking like the GM of the Bills and I want the best quarterback in the 2011 draft. Whether it's Ryan Mallet of Arkansas or Stanford's Andrew Luck, I want the choice. I do not want the leftovers. Get it. So the Bills are done winning for the season, or else.