The Dean

All fair enough. I have no actual proof it wasn't him. But I also think if Whaley discussed it with Pegula and Rex, Brandon probably knew about it before it was announced, too. These guys are in regular conversation. It's hard for me to believe this all happened that so quickly (talking to Rex and Pegula for example) that there wasn't time for Brandon to know. IMO it had to be someone further down the pipeline.

Yup. Youngest coach to ever win a Super Bowl. .600+ winning percentage. Yup, he sucks bad.

I missed one he missed. But, yes, either way.

I'm thinking:

Inexplicable, IMO. So your kicker missed a FG earlier. You KNOW he can make that. Why not give him a shot?

I'm guessing most people felt sorry for her before the mutilation.

I'm shocked he passed that up.

Sammy.

Until he screws up!!! My sources (good, but not quite what they used to be) say it definitely wasn't Brandon. He has no interest in running the football side. I believe they are right on this one. My guess has always been an assistant coach of or another minor FO type.

Wow! What a great article. I finally get that Kenny has embrace the "Pinto Ron" moniker, if he introduces himself that way. Once a typo, now a nickname. Perfect for Buffalo. And he is right about one thing. A tailgate at Hammer's lot is life changing.

Agreed. But it wasn't Brandon. Also agreed. They are in lock-step, for the most part. Whoever accused Whaely of "going rogue" wasn't high in the management chain.

Nothing better to do today, Beerball?

Outstanding!

The proliferation of guns clearly results in more gun deaths. I'm not sure that is even an issue in a situation like this. Incidents like this, aren't the argument against (or for) guns, IMO. Freaks who want to kill can always get their hands on guns. Yes it is easier in the US than in other countries, but let's be honest here--these idiots can get guns just about anywhere. The idea that others having guns in these situations is also idiotic, IMO. Maybe someone else with a gun stops this idiot. Maybe they contribute to the killing. But, in general, guns produce gun-related deaths. Many by accident or unintentional use. The issues are quite complex. My personal belief is one that supports the 2nd amendment, but with some reservations. But to make these horrendous events a political issue, for either side in the gun debate, seems a bit over the top to me. There are real issues, outside of these events, to consider. IMO these everyday issues are more important, and don't rely on the vitriol attached to these kind of events.

By another ex Bill, Aiken. I just thought that should be noted.

Just horrible. Now idiots from both sides of the gun issue will try to make this their most recent political issue.

Indeed. La Hacienda was around for years, on Pine Ave and 9th (I think. maybe 10th) in a small shack. Aldo bought it and moved it (might have been moved before he bought it, not certain) to 31st (or so). Many will say the pizza went a bit downhill then. Maybe. But not by much. Aldo has run it very well for all these years, IMO. It, the Como (it is what it is), Fortuna's (a great Italian restaurant owned and run by my friend Joey Fortuna), Viola's and DiCamillo Bakery are Niagara Falls institutions. Pete's Market House is another--but that has gone through so many ownership/name changes, it's hard to keep it in that same category. Finally Trusello's, now called DG Bakery, is once again, alive and well. A fabulous spot for great bread, and unbeatable bread dough pizza. A great Niagara Falls institution come back from the dead! I'm sure I'm missing one or two.

I got several emails about it. It has a full bar, and a good reputation. Only problem is, I have no money or collateral to get that size of a loan. I do have some friends looking into it. I can run it (at least the front of the house---have to hire someone who knows how to run a kitchen), and put in the sweat equity. But unfortunately I'm not in a position to buy it. I'd go back to WNY in a heartbeat.

The Bob and John's La Hacienda I knew was on Brighton, I think. When I googled it to see if I had it right, it said it was on Hertel. Since I lived off Hertel too, I got a bit confused. But I think the original Bob and John's was on Brighton. But then again, I drink ya know. The key is to, if possible, eat it there. Also, the pepperoni is by far their best pie. I always order pizza's well done/crispy. La Hac does a pretty good job with this most of the time. But I let them know, anyway. As has been already mentioned, the pepperoni is from Ezzo's in Ohio. They have two kinds of small, curl-up pepperoni. For pizza, there is no equal. We have a guy down here from Buffalo with a pizza place. For years it's been very good. Makes his own sausage. I used to drive 40 minutes each way, just to get the hot Italian sausage. His pepperoni was always weak, though. So I turned him onto Ezzo. Next time I went back, he didn't have the Ezzo's. He said they needed him to buy too much, the shipping was prohibitive, etc.. Now he no longer makes his hot Italian sausage. Last pizza I had there sucked, and his reputation is starting to get bad. People do the dumbest things to screw up a good business. Funny thing. When I was in SF this spring, I quickly googled the local pizza ratings. Of course, these were a mixture of NY style pizza, real Italian pizza and new-fangled California stuff (yech). While I was in North Beach a few times, I would stop at Tony's Slice House (the take out arm of Tony's Coal Fired Pizza). The place is consistently at, or near, the top of all the ratings. Clearly it was Ezzo's pepperoni and it tasted like a La Hacienda (Niagara Falls) pizza. Great! Tomato paste? I doubt they use any paste. I liked Bocce Club at first, and still do a bit. But I eventually got sick of the sauce. Good, in small doses, I suppose. There was a Bocce's offshoot (former partner or employee) on Kenmore (Englewood, maybe?--somewhere near the Main St campus) back in the 70's that was pretty good, too. In the early 2000's wasn't there a real "Italian-style" pizzeria with a coal or wood burning brick oven? Never had a pie there. Can't remember the name, but always thought I should have had a pizza there.

You should be. Wait. What?

I too went to that game with The Senator. I flew in from San Francisco for the pleasure. What I remember most about it (other than the drubbing the Bills put on the Raiders) was how warm it actually was in the stands, once that game got going. The fans were pumped, standing and screaming (I think the standing neutralized the wind factor)---I had to open my coat, I was sweating so much. I certainty remember it being VERY cold in the parking lot while we performed a very-rushed tailgate. But as I said, the cold simply wasn't an issue during, or after, the game---at least for me.

This. It wasn't about them not being good players, but bad characters. The thing is, the Bills undoubtedly did extensive research into these issues, and came away feeling comfortable drafting them. I wonder how in-depth much research into the issue Rodak actually conducted? I'm thinking nothing "not much". Yes, this seems to have been getting a lot of play recently. The best thing you can do with Rodak is to COMPLETELY ignore him. Every click, every thread, every controversy only serves to make his stock better at ESPN. And, yes, I am contributing to that now---but I promise I won't do it often. And I don't think Rodak has any vendetta against the Bills. Yes, he is a Pat* fan and apologist. But he isn't out to get the Bills. He's likely just a second (OK, maybe thrid) rate sport's reporter, doing a relatively half-assed job--as with most reporters---and, well, most people with respect to their jobs. Noting he does distinguishes him from the pack of interchangeable hacks who make their money reporting on sports. I don't even think he looks to print negative stories (unlike Sully and Bucky) as that really isn't his charge. He does the bare minimum and it shows.

La Hacienda in Niagara Falls, NY. (No relation to Bob and John's La Hacienda.) The owner is looking to sell the place. A real shame if it closes.

TT's camp denied the entire story, from what I remember--this has nothing to do with the pictures in the TMZ story. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25293595/tyrod-taylors-agent-week-1-diamond-mouthpiece-a-complete-fabrication There are a number of these links, had you bothered to check it out. But then again, Dr Wright simply said he made the mouthguard for Tyrod. Not that Tyrod ordered it, or had any intention of wearing it. Maybe h's just a fan, in search of publicity.

That story was immediately discredited by TT's camp. Bingo! Bills logo.