TC in St. Louis

Today's draft is only 7 rounds, maybe 250 players. Not too long ago, they went 12 rounds.....remember House Ballard? History is filled with names of low round picks and free agents who had solid careers. Bart Star was a 26th rounder or something like that. Tasker wasn't drafted, was he? We picked him off Houston's waiver wire. I remember reading that Peters had exceptional speed for a guy his size, and was really thrilled when the Bills picked him up the day after the draft. He's not a starter, but he seems to be a special teams demon. That doesn't necessarily get you into the Pro Bowl. Let's see how he does this year, and next year, and the year after and all that.

I like Nate, I think he does a fine job. Top DB in the league? I don't think so. He made the Pro Bowl, but wasn't that as an alternate? He's as solid as they come, but Champ Bailey money? I hope TD can sign him and not screw up the salary money for the rest of the team. Tom's done a fantastic job, with the exception of the Mike Williams pick, of keeping us out of the top 10 draft choice money. He got McGahee late in the first, Evans at #13? and Losman in the 20's, and no first rounder this year. He's a pretty smart guy that Donahoe.

95. Show up in a "Too Drunk to F%%K t-shirt, and take her to The Aristocrats

the bravest boy in the world is now the bravest boy in heaven

Maybe the worst thing about it was that the guy who said, "Just give it to them" sprinted in from 40 yards downfield. The thing was on the front page of the USA Today the next day. The front page of the whole paper, showing the receiver coming down, his feet were in the air a foot above the sideline. Then they called interference on the Hail Mary...I've never seen that call before or since. When the Pats scored, Wade pulled the team off the field and Bledsoe sneaked in for 2 points against nobody. My wife had come in from shopping when the thing happened, and I was kneeling in front of the t.v. screaming, "THEY STOLE THE F@@@ING GAME!" She says I have Football Tourrette's Syndrome, but this was the worst she'd ever seen.

I was watching the Rams/Jets game, and it went into overtime. About a minute in, the Bills game was over, and there were shots of the Jets sideline, and some high fiving going on. They had clinched a playoff. Had the Bills won, the Jets would've had to win the game in overtime to make the playoffs....if the Bills and Jets finished with the same record, the Jets won the tiebreaker. It's fact. Once they clinched, there was a change in the vibe of the game. They let it go, they lost their intensity. Which really pissed me off, because the last 2 Rams games were basically against lame ducks....the MNF game against the Eagles, the Eagles literally handed them the game. And the Jets played tough till the Bills lost, and the Rams took it in overtime. Then the Rams played the Falcons, and were absolute Swiss Cheese on defense. There has never been a worse defense in the playoffs than the 2004 Rams. So my favorite team....the Bills, failed to make the playoffs, and the Rams backed in, and got blown out.

My main point in the original post was this: They wouldn't have made the playoffs anyway. The Jets would've beat the Rams. I'm not bashing Drew. I'm praising him for screwing up. There is a subtle difference. He was instructed what to do with the coin toss, and he decided he was smarter than the coach, and that single event may have cost them the game. Winning, as I said earlier, would have been nice but meaningless. Losing gave them the motivation to work harder in the offseason.

Had the Bills beat the Steelers that day, many of the offseason changes (i.e., farewell Drew) may not have taken place. Not to mention that had the Bills won that game, the Jets probably would've beat the Rams in overtime. They knew the Bills lost, so they sort of mailed in the overtime. I was watching, trust me. They could've won that game. And the Bills would've missed the playoffs. And would've drafted a bit lower. And they might have been satisfied with the season, going 10-6. But the loss has left the entire organization truly motivated to excel this year. They spent the offseason frustrated and pissed and determined to get back on the field. In my opinion, the Steelers played a nasty and ferocious game. They didn't lie down and roll over (like the Eagles on MNF v. the Rams a week earlier, they played like Trott Vocational that night). I was in a sports bar where there were about 50 Steeler fans, and they were going nuts during the game....in fact, they got kicked out of the bar, and they will not be back this fall. The fans were motivated, think of the team. Plus, Drew took it upon himself to change ends of the field at the coin toss, and the Steelers not only got the ball, but the wind in the 1st and 4th. Thanks, Drew. But I guess I really mean that. Thanks, Drew. Thanks for blowing that coin toss, which resulted in the loss, your departure, and the emergence of a truly motivated team.

I've been a big fan since the 70's. He puts everything into his live shows, and I think he's a great songwriter. He does not suck. He's a successful musician and is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You may not like him at all. I can't stand Rush, that guy's voice reminds me of Alvin and the Chipmunks, but I cannot deny the talent. It's a great country full of choices.

I am a huge fan of Bruce, and he is coming to St. Louis with that acoustic show. But I have a problem paying 85 bucks to see him by himself. To me, that's just greed. The guy has plenty of dough. Dude sold out 10 stadium shows in Jersey with his band. 75 a ticket. I saw the Tom Joad show, and although it was really terrific, he had no piano, and it was a bit of a low energy show. This looks like a much better show, but I still can't justify the cash outlay.

Carrie. She's got a chance to join the list of good looking girls who are country music stars. I don't know who these stars are, because I can't stand country music. Bo, on the other hand, does not strike me as rock star material. He dresses like a 70's love child, and that hair went out of style around the same time. If you're gonna have long hair, it can't be so clean. He can sing pretty well, and should release Vehicle and make the money the Ides of March missed out on. Bo has a slight edge in performance because he's been doing it longer. I think the country has made up its mind, and its mindless minds are going to pick Carrie Underwear.

He signed a deal with Bill Lawrence, the guy who created "Scrubs," and the show will probably be a midseason replacement next year on either CBS or ABC. He's held off on sitcoms for a long time, waiting for the right vehicle. I knew that Brian opened for a bunch of Seinfeld dates, but I didn't know he'd been to Buffalo. Maybe they should put that on their schedule for next year. A guy named Mario Joyner often opens for Seinfeld....and Chris Rock. Likable, but not really that funny. He's got the easiest job in show biz opening for Seinfeld and Rock. Flies around in private jets, gets laid a lot, makes great money, doesn't even have to work that hard.

I've been around comedy since the mid 70's. I've seen many more than I care to mention. Regan is the best. Go to his web page and find a clip or something.

I don't know why I'm posting this. Probably because I'm in Vegas, it's 2 in the morning, and I have to go to the airport at 4:30. I played golf with Brian on Friday. In my opinion, he's the best comic....well, let me rephrase that.....the funniest comic ever. You could check him out at www.brianregan.com. but he's never really been to western new york. he's just plain funny, great, clean, and he has a deal with the same guy who created Scrubs for NBC. Same management as Ray Romano, who I just saw last night in Vegas. Ray is really strong, but Brian is funnier. Anyway, I was just wondering if any of you have seen Brian Regan. Still checking in to see what's up with my favorite team of all time. I check here 3 times a day, minimum. Prediction: TH to the Titans for a conditional pick, minimum 4th rounder, as high as a 2nd if TH gets 1200 yards.

Last year the Fins gave up a 3rd round pick (the 2nd pick in this year's 3rd round) to the Rams for Lamar Gordon. Dude had like 450 yards in his career. Now people are trashing Donahoe for not trading Henry for a 4th rounder? The league can go screw itself. We've got great RB's right now. 2 of them. Watch out.

He didn't have to do it today. Remember he traded for Bledsoe early the 2nd day. You can speculate all you want. Maybe the snag was Travis's agent couldn't cut a new contract with Philly. Who knows? He could deal Travis tomorrow for a 2nd rounder in next year's draft. Or a 4th this year and a 3rd next year. But I doubt he will give him away. He is not in a position of weakness. Travis can be traded halfway thru the season, too. Players get hurt. Travis Henry is a commodity of value, and he should not be sacrificed in a panic situation. He is an asset. I think I agree with TD anyway. He knows a lot more than I. He took McGahee and Losman a year early, and both look like good picks.

I'm not unhappy with the picks, just confused. Seems we had other needs. But I think that Roscoe may end up being Az Hakim or even that KR guy from KC whose name escapes me at the moment. I've been frustrated that we haven't had a real go-to guy at tight end, really, ever. Metzelaars was good, Reimersma good, but we've never had a real go-to guy. Maybe the staff thinks we have one now. They must be counting on Tim Anderson to fill Pat Williams' slot. And Sape. Defense isn't the problem with our team. I think they will address the offensive line with a couple more free agency signings, and a couple guys tomorrow.

Last year the Dolphins gave up a 3rd rounder for Lamar Gordon, the backup running back from the Rams. A year earlier, the Skins gave up a 4th rounder for Trung Canidate, a washout. Neither of those guys hold a candle to Travis Henry. If they can't get a 2nd, I wouldn't make a deal. Period.

Easy boys. Just trying to pump a little propaganda for the Philly possibilities. Alliteration!! Travis has a lot in the tank. I read the story in the Philadelphia paper, and they may be using this as leverage to get Westbrook signed to a long-term deal. But it might be enticing to have a guy like TH motivated to run to prove his value. I'll miss him.

Travis is a great running back. He galloped for over 1300 2X with the Bills crappy OL and Drew at QB. The Eagles stand to get a Pro Bowl calibre back in the prime of his career. He will excel in Philly. I don't think he will do nearly as well in Tampa or Arizona. Philly is the place for him, and they've got the picks to git r done. I say he is worth a 2nd and a 4th. Or a 2nd and a conditional pick for next year.

A year ago when my sister told me of her wedding plans, I told her, "Look, that's the week of the Final Four in St. Louis. Bad week for us." My wife runs guest services at the Edward Jones Dome, so this is the biggest week in the history of that venue. She couldn't go, our 2 year old couldn't go. And most importantly, by having the wedding on April 2nd, they made sure that I lost my courtside post doing security for the Final Four. So, the day was doomed from the start. And when the Pope died as we were driving to the Church, I told her, "Look, you should've picked a different date." But we decided that my parents had pretty good seats for the wedding, and they probably high fived His Holiness as he was escorted into the Pearly Gates. There were a few people at the Church who were really upset that we went ahead with the ceremony. There were camera crews from 3 local news stations filming us as we stood on the steps of the church for some "candid" shots. The one guy who stuck the mike in my brother in law's face was the worst. "How do you feel about getting married an hour after the Pope died?" Answer: "I was very sad to see the Pope suffering like that, and I'm glad his suffering is over, and he is in a much better place right now." Combined with his previous answer, I think he knocked it over the fence. The bride is Jan, the groom Paul. Jan Paul. Pretty close.

My sister got married in Denver Saturday afternoon, about an hour after the Pope passed away. I walked her down the aisle, as both my parents have passed away in the last couple years. It was weird, the press was there, TV cameras, a reporter shoved a mike in my future brother-in-law's face and asked him if he thought the Pope would want them to go ahead with the wedding, considering he had just died an hour ago. His reply, "I think the Pope would want the world to continue celebrating the sacraments." At a certain point during this Catholic mass, my sister was reading these devotions...."for our friends who have traveled from all over the country to help us celebrate our marriage....." the church refrain, "Lord hear our prayer." Finally, she said, "and in honor of both our parents, Lord, may the Buffalo Bills win a Super Bowl in our lifetime" Lord, hear our prayer.

I don't remember most of the names, but I thought the big guy from Ohio was the worst last night, and the Commie was pretty weak too. I've never liked the blonde, I don't like the way she puts her tongue between her teeth when she smiles, she looks like my nephew Dewey. I think Anwar needs to drop Stevie Wonder from his repertoire, either that or poke his eyes out and become Stevie Wonder. Constantine thinks he's Bono, moving around like that most of the time. I was amazed he didn't break out with "With or Without You." Nadia is pretty good, but when she came out like a Gremlin last week, I think she cost herself serious momentum. Nikko is a kid we used to see at Karaoke next door to my theatre in St. Louis. Good kid. When he got the boot, we were going to have him do a fundraiser with that Aloha chick, but then he got the call Saturday morning, good for him. He's got momentum. The Ohio kid will continue to advance as long as the entire state of Ohio, as well as northern Kentucky (slow dialers, still don't have touch tone phones down there) continue to vote for him.....till we reach about 8, then he should get canned. I don't know who's going to go next week, but I'm pretty sure that Carrie's gonna win the damn thing. I liked Bo's "Time in a Bottle," it showed versatility. I don't know what that was he sang last night, but I didn't like it. He cannot win the contest.

In a related story, a Wendy's employee was hospitalized with a kidney bean in his nose. I was having a Caesar Salad at Brett Hull's restaurant here in St. Louis, when I found a hair....a long, long hair, of Rapunzel length, and I pointed it out to the server. Server asked, "Would you like a new salad?" I didn't know how to take that, so I replied, "No. Do you have any more hair?"

If you look at the best lines in the NFL, which right now seem to be New England's and Pittsburgh, the key to the success is in the coaching and the schemes. Particularly in New England, it's difficult to find a superstar on that line. It's a bunch of lunchbucket guys who do what they are instructed. Pittsburgh's line is coached by A Hog. Russ Grim. That guy is all attitude. I'm here in St. Louis, and they are talking about giving Pace 50 million. That's insane, the guy was a turnstile in the playoffs. He's lazy. We don't need a slightly better than average left tackle making 4 times the guy next to him. We need 5 guys who unite to knock the opposition out the way. In fact, I'd let Mike Williams and his fat contract go too, and sign more attitude guys. Do we have any attitude guys on that line?