Dan Gross

I still stick by my assertion that the management looked at Losman as being a two year "project," that he has great potential due to his raw talent but needed time to "refine" into a pro-level QB. I think the key word "eventually" in that analysis, his availability late in the first round (behind the other 3), the re-do of Bledsoe's contract (and how it was structured), and the fact that Losman could not find his way to the #2 position by year's end (yes, even with injury he should have been able to get there were he the overall package) show that. The Bills, therefore, are "stuck" in the position of continuing with the "devil they know" (depending on whether they look at Bledsoe's performance from the final game in terms of the sacks and turnovers or the "2 minute" drives at the end of each half), or finding a QB that's "good enough" for one year. I think their situation would lead them to keeping Bledsoe as starter for next year, as the market for "one year starting QB's" would be low. Maybe they put the "starting QB job is up for the taking" carrot in front of all 3 QB's, but I don't see this staff working that way.

and how many club seats were renewed in that time? How many season tickets sold? How many games sold out? From a GM's perspective, "success" is not always entirely measured by on-the-field performance (regardless of how you measure said on-field performance).

That's correct. Last I checked it was a UDFA that was eating our defense up for over 100 yards. It was Moulds and Reed dropping catchable balls (and Reed getting the ill-timed interference call). It was Bledsoe not playing well. It was Sam Adams getting an ill-timed offsides (did anyone else think that Hines Ward got away with a textbook holding call on the 4th down scramble? Not that it matters). If you were to cut everyone whose mistakes had a hand in losing this game, you'd be re-building with a bunch of dead money. Embarassing that it came at the hands of 2nd stringers, but a team loss nonetheless.

That's where the ownership has an upper-hand. The NFL had no developmental league (outside of colleges) when it decided to use replacement players, the NHL has a ready-made one. Bettman's trying to drive a wedge between the have's and have-not's before trying it though, as he likely thinks he could get a lot of line-crossers if he plots it out right.

Congrats! As I always say to people having their first: If you think time flies now, just wait.... Somehow you will get in a new zone, where a single night might feel it lasts an eternity but yet the weeks will fly by. Good luck. Glad to hear things went well.

And why don't people just say "sextuple u" for web addresses?

The NHLPA is a joke. How can it be taken seriously when its top players go off and steal the jobs of European hockey players? And of course I don't expect they are getting NHL salaries in Europe, so I guess that means they will play hockey for considerably less money.

Well, hell, it's a town of 4000 (yes, that's the right # of 0's), whaddya expect?

Taking the wife and two kids to Last Night Perry http://www.lastnightperry.com/ (used to be First Night, but then the licensing fees for the name got too big). Let the kiddies get tired out there and when they're ready come home. The 5 year old will be allowed to stay up to watch the ball drop if she manages to stay awake. Go to bed shortly thereafter. I'd suggest those with families find their local "First Night" type celebration. Buffalo used to have a good one (when it was downtown). Haven't been since they moved it to the Elmwood Museum district.

That's too bad. I could never find myself reconciling the fact that Lenny Brisco, the dad from Dirty Dancing (my wife likes the movie) and Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast were all the same guy.... Good actor.

You aren't going to wait for Mark Weiler to tell you to start believing? I believed from the beginning. Earliest evidence from the Wall that I can pull up of me saying anything about us having a hope for the playoffs is right after our 2nd win. I wasn't ready to concede the season being over until we were mathematically eliminated, those who said at the time "realistically eliminated" be damned. I don't post too much on it as I jinx things too much (anyone (besides Jack in Syr) remember my former title and how I got it?).

How about those inexplicable timeouts to end the 1st half this week?

I hear you jester. Remember last year was the debate over whether there should be more wild-card teams? All of a sudden this season happens, and while having more playoff teams would almost guarantee us a berth, it would make the NFC situation look even worse. You're right. The problem is 4 divisions. 3 Div Champs + 3 WC is better than what we're looking at.

Wow, they're pretty good.

As many here have already said, I would have expected that it was Donahoe's expectation that Bledsoe would perform well this year. JP is a QB that has all the essential raw materials to be a top quality QB in the NFL, but he's "raw" in his use of said talents, and needed a maturation/refinement period before he takes over the reins, a "project" as it were. He is not the type of QB you take if you need one to start that same year. Notice how he still sits as #3 on the depth chart, despite being healthy for a considerable clip of time. I think things are moving along well, and that Donahoe is breathing a sigh of relief that the offense is working with Drew in it, rather than worrrying about retarding the growth of Losman.

My gosh, was that a caption to a picture in "Circus" or "Hit Parader"? Yeah, I believe he was knighted into the Royal Order of the Cameltoe. Now where's that Piece of Mind? I knew I left it lying around here somewhere...

That's okay, as they learned in the Spanish Inquisition, fear and surprise are the main weapons. Giving fair warning just doesn't work.

It seemed to me the worse I was behind in watching the game, the worse the Bills did, so I at least try to get home in time for the game. Also, I don't wear Bills gear. I did when we had the party at our house for the Miami game. The TD pass to Evans came as I was changing out of it...

Huh? Wasn't he cut? Cut == no contract oblingations, doesn't it?

Thanks to Bryce Fisher! He may have saved our season!

Yeah, I guess, but I don't exactly care for the way he's holding the football. It kinda says "punch it out! Please!" Anyway, I think it's cool that I could hire him for my kids' birthday parties: http://www.willismcgahee21.com/appearance.asp

The player interviews that feature the player saying "I'm glad God helped us win today" just get me. As if He decided that the other team was filled with heathens and needed to be defeated?

You're right. I was tuned into average per game as opposed to just looking at the stupid total.

You can get them much cheaper than that. Here's an online place: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=perc...ase_pid/448300/

Yeah, I was noticing that earlier. If our offense gets 106 (IICC) more total yards than Pittsburgh's, we'd move ahead of them. Then, if Minnesota decides to play offense, it could happen. Tell ya what though, I'll take 106 fewer yards of offense and the victory if given the alternative.