MarkyMannn

Strife doesn't weigh on McGahee BY JASON COLE jcole@herald.com Willis McGahee has this annoying habit during interviews. Or is it brilliant strategy? Whenever he is lost for words, McGahee quickly slips in the phrase, ''Ya know what I mean?'' In the space of an eight-minute conversation last week as Buffalo's new star running back talked about returning home to Miami to face the Dolphins today at 1 p.m. at Pro Player Stadium, he dropped it 23 times and tossed in another dozen abbreviated versions of ``Ya know?'' It is as if people should intuitively understand McGahee's struggle, such as what it is like to have your knee shattered like a piece of porcelain in the Fiesta Bowl almost two years ago. To sit in the University of Miami team bus afterward, the tears alternating between the personal sorrow of seeing your pro prospects plummet and the collective anger of having lost the national championship to Ohio State amid controversy. It is as if people should readily grasp the work you did in less than four full months just to be able to jog for NFL scouts and coaches before the 2003 draft. How you topped that off by still being a first-round draft pick. It is as if people should just get it when you say it is no big deal that you sat out your entire rookie season getting healthy, continued to sit the early part of this season and then finally broke through with a vengeance when you were allowed to play. SMART GAMBLE McGahee, the No. 23 overall pick in 2003, has started six of the past seven games for Buffalo. He is making Bills general manager Tom Donahoe's gamble on him look brilliant. In five of the starts, he has rushed for 100 yards or more. Last Sunday, he scored four touchdowns against Seattle and has 726 yards and seven TDs overall on 190 carries. He has turned Travis Henry, a guy who had more than 1,300 yards in each of the past two seasons, into a quickly fading memory. Ya know what I mean? Perhaps the point is that it is not so unbelievable when you really understand McGahee. When you get the point that he is not loaded down with complicated thoughts or internal strife. At least half a dozen people who know McGahee and some of the other former stars at UM say McGahee is as mentally tough as anyone they have met. ''To him, that's how you do it,'' Dolphins rookie lineman Vernon Carey said earlier this season. ``The thing about Willis is that he's really talented and he works really hard.'' The mental pain of his horrific injury against Ohio State was gone in about two days, McGahee said. He set forth to regain his form, just as he had earlier in his college career when he had another knee injury. If it was going to take a while, that would be fine. McGahee learned plenty about patience sitting the bench behind Clinton Portis and even, for a short time, Frank Gore at UM. Ya know what I mean? Waiting behind Henry was no big deal. McGahee knew he wasn't healthy last season. Even earlier this season, the rust still was on McGahee in training camp. It quickly is coming off. ALMOST THERE McGahee said he's about roughly ''95 percent'' of where he was before the injury. What's that other five percent? ''That long run, that 70-yard run, man,'' he said. ``It's gonna come. When it's gonna come, it's gonna come, you know what I mean?'' Based on McGahee's progress, likely pretty soon. ''For a guy who hasn't played much, he sees the field amazing,'' Dolphins defensive end David Bowens said. ``Most guys, when they're just breaking in, don't see all the blocks and how they're setting up. They'll be running an outside play and he already sees the cut back way on the backside.'' There also isn't any awe in McGahee. Earlier this season, he faced Baltimore and cornerback Deion Sanders. Sanders was McGahee's idol growing up. Was it fun to face Sanders? ''I would say . . . How do I say this? It was real good, buddy. It was real good watching him play because I always imagined myself just like him. I still got it in me,'' McGahee said. Did you talk to him? ''Nah, it ain't nothing like that,'' McGahee said, dismissing the notion of hero worship and then flattening it. Did he tackle you? ''Nah, he can't tackle me,'' McGahee said. EXPLAIN IT Finally, one reporter broke in and said, ``Honestly, no Willis, we have no idea what you mean. We've never played. Can you explain it to us? What's it like to be out there on the field?'' ``I can't. You can't explain it like that when you're standing out there on the field . . . Ya know what I mean? There was a slight hesitation before McGahee caught himself. ``I'm sorry about that, man.''

Drew got the picks out of his system last week. 34-10 is what a rising good team should do to these FishFags. But it will probably be closer only cause we are on their turf.

I'll say this much, 6-7 weeks ago it was a given I was dropping my season tickets. And I split them with someone this year, first time I ever did that. I was just thinking about it Tuesday after the Seattle win, and I was like, no I'm not dropping, and I'm not splitting either in 2005. I feel good about the future, although QB can really mix up that future

John Davidson (Rangers announcer?) was on GR last night and said he expects the players in December to make a reasonable offer. At that point he felt ownership will have to make a decision. Compromise, or go to the wall for a hard cap. Personally, being in a small market, I like the cap. Otherwise we will never truly be able to compete for a cup. Yes, every year one small market club makes a run, but those are more like an abberration.

OK, everbody cut me some slack here, I didn't know that about Fedex. Can someone give me a little more detail on that one?

I hear ya. As a avid ATV'er, this is a sore point for me. Now is it in VA or WV where they have the Hatfield-McCoy trails? Those are supposed to be awesome. And the state supports these hundreds of miles of trails and this really brings in the tourist/riders

Obviously you miss the irony here. You support the B-Pro idea with NYS tax $$$ by arguing they sell ATV's. Yet how does NYS then support ATV's? You can't have it both ways

There's another NYS screw-up. So where are you going to ride that ATV? On land the state provides you for all the registration $$$ you pay? Oh gee, maybe NYS only takes your money and says "screw you"! Funny, so that money goes to Bass Pro to sell more ATV's you can't ride any where

SWEEP THE FISH!!! I picked Cinci. Steelers possibly could sit a lot of their players with a playoff spot clinched, so we could take them

You know one of the biggest things about McGahee is he has touched the ball 205 times so far this season without putting one on the ground yet. NO FUMBLES. That was one of T Henry's big problems in the past, although ironically with 100 touches himself he also has no fumbles this season. Hope this comment doesn't jinx Willis

I don't want to be Mr Negative#2, but someone please explain how a retail store coming to Buffalo and bringing maybe 50 minimum wage jobs is going to be a savior. And I can't believe that an outdoors store is going to be some sort of tourist mecca. I'd be a lot more pumped if a new GM or Toyota plant was coming to WNY

Isn't he the league's player rep union president? I heard an interview with him on local radio and he talked about how he spends hours a day dealing with player union issues. My thought was, shouldn't you be doing something for the team? You are collecting a paycheck after all. I believe he is instead positioning himself to be Gene Upshaw's replacement. ICE, you're right, waste of $$$$$$$$

Absolutely the best post I've seen about this situation on any board. You've got it RIGHT, JHJim

Signed it!!! This Marine walks into a room and must make a decision within seconds. He doesn't have the LUXURY of ANALYZING this for the next day or 2. It's me or him. Shoot him before he harms you. If the Iraqi guy didn't want to be in this position, he should have cleared out of town 2 weeks ago.

The problem with this logic is everyone thinks that their rookie QB will have the same results as Roethlisberger. I doubt it. While I hope JP does well, it is unreasonable to think he will have the same results as Ben R

Now just wack the BULLDOG and GR will be better

1983 I was wrapping up my degree at night at Buff State. I had 8 more credits than necessary, but short 2 credits in phys ed. My curriculum adviser says take Bowling 101 one semester and 102 the next and I'll fill that requirement. I worked 45-50 hours/week, 6 days, school at night, 40 mile round trip to school, and he would delay my graduation by a full year while I bowl 4 nights/week for 40 minutes?!?!?! I don't think so!! I took my issue to some sort of student arbitration board and it was waived immediately and I graduated. STUPID adviser

Reading his stories are one thing, but if you listened to him long enough on the radio, he was offensive. His style was kind of a sarcastic smart-ass who knew everything about the game. I could see why Hasek popped him

This is tough for the Chargers. Trade Brees and maybe Rivers becomes the next Ryan Leaf. I believe stats say something like half 1st round QB's ever have success. Rivers could be on the wrong side of that half. So could Losman. How practical would it be to trade Losman and sign Brees? I'm sure the same contract issues. But you never know. Right now Losman is a huge unknown

A ways back I was getting gas at the Indian reservation, the attendant asks how much and I said "fill it up, Chief". I mean I wasn't even thinking or meaning anything by that, just a response of habit. I was pretty embarrassed although the guy didn't think anything of it

OK, I wanted to beat this guy up too, but everyone else already did. I stayed to the bitter end, always do. Figured traffic would clear out too. I understand a pedestrian was killed on Southwestern after the game. What are the details? I walk the shoulder of that road to California Road where I park. Let me tell you the cars on SW have no regard for the walkers. Going as fast as they can within a few feet of people walking. You know, the parking lot is no better. Especially it seems the preferred parkers. I guess suite tix means you can mow them down in the lot

Why give up anything at all when a team can wait for free agency and get any one they want for nothing? Run the Ball makes good points too

After reading the article is today's Buffalo News, WHO CARES?? As a fan, unless the strike ends up with lower ticket prices for me, I lose! The best you can hope for is prices stay the same, and they are already too high. No matter who wins, the fan has little to gain. If the players win, they get to keep and increase their already big salaries. If the owners win, they get to reduce costs and make more profit. I guess we need to root for the owners so the Sabres can at least compete with equal salaries through the league, with a cap in place

Piz, I'm not sure about some of your recommendations. My son is a certified Ford Tech at a dealership. Some times after doing computer related work on a vehicle, they have to down load software direct from Ford so as to re-set the system. It may not be plug n go

With sophisticated electrical/computer problems, the dealer IS the best place. First, they have the equipment, second, they have manufacturer bulletins of various symptoms and repairs that allow technicians to diagnose problems quicker and more accurately. Corner garages cannot compete with this. Try another dealer, and although you paid $80, consider he did spend time on your car whether he repaired it or not. Here's another help. Try this web-site, it is the best. Go to "ask your questions", and post yours. It will be answered in a day or 2. http://www.carshowtomt.com/