Buftex

Whoa...a lot happened tonight...looks like next week has lots of Chicago action. Eli and the FBI is going to be major...

Missed this earlier tonight...there was a part of me that really wanted this season to pan out much better, and Vanek ended up signing a long-term deal...obviously that wasn't happening, so here we are. Makes me wonder happens with Miller (obviously he is going to be traded) and Ott. I have given Miller lots of crap over the last few seasons, but he has been the best thing the Sabres have going this season... kind of bummed. Not sure what to make of Moulson..he is a 30 year old left winger whose contract expires at the end of the season. Do the Sabres try to re-sign him? Kind of goes against the youth movement vibe they are setting into place...why does Darcy Reigers' continued involvement in the future of the Sabres really make me leery? Oh well...Lindy is back in Buffalo this week!

People are strange... it has been said.

I rank Mad Men, and Boardwalk Empire as, far and away, my two favorite current shows, in that order...Breaking Bad was #1. That said, I hate to say it, Mad Men is one of those shows, I think, that people just love, or, just don't care about it. It is far, far, different than any of the rest. I just don't think, if you didn't like the first five, you are going to like it much more after that. It is not an "action" show at all...but a great hour of adult television, IMO. I will say, I was really disappointed by the most recent season...I am confident it will rebound for the last season. As for Boardwalk Empire, it is kind of a slow builder, I think it benefits from binge watching. Particularly in the first season, the first half really is sort of building a canvas for the show...tons of characters, and, seemingly, lots of pointless scenes...yet, many of those "pointless" scenes become much more relevant later on, some even in the second season. I like this, but, if you are watching these week by week, you really can forget a lot. There are other shows, like "Dexter" or "The Walking Dead", IMO, which would be hurt by binge watching... they have too many holes and weaknesses, I don't think I could sit through 3 or 4 without becoming conscious of how much time I am wasting on them...an hour a week is more doable...

The Bob Newhart show is an all-time favorite...she was great on that show. All these people from my youth are passing left and right...

Pooj- remember, Boardwalk takes place in Atlantic City, which at the time, would have been kind of like we think of Vegas nowadays...kind of a fake glamour and glitz...a bit contrived, like you say. I think it really is a pretty great show, though, I will confess, the first season in particular, I had a hard time getting into it...would watch one episode live, let them pile up on the DVR, and watch one or two here and there...I never got into the flow...however, I really think it hit its' stride late in that first season...I went back and watched them, in pretty rapid succession and it was so much better. I think you are correct, particularly early on, they spent a lot of time trying to set up the vibe of the location and the times, as opposed to engaging you in the storyline. In retrospect, a lot did actually happen in those early episodes, it just took a while for those things to become relevant. I think the 2nd and 3rd seasons were awesome...

Yes, I have been kind of waffling between the Steelers and Dolphins. Appears that Vick is playing so that cancels out the Giants. For some reason though, I still have this feeling the Giants are going to start playing better, offensively...and I don't think the Eagles D is very good... might just stick with the Steelers then...already have them, might as well save the $5 roster fee from making a move to pick up the Dolphins.

Good read. I remember around the time that Young was inducted into the HOF there was a story about the Tampa Bay Bucs having to ask Young to cash/deposit the checks they had paid him over his time there, as he had never cashed a single one. He would throw them in his top dresser drawer and forget about them. Apparently, at least in the first few years of his pro career, the only vehicle he owned was the used pickup he had purchased while in college. He lived a pretty simple life-style. Interesting guy. When I saw the title of this thread, I thought it was going to be some reference to his work on ESPN. Can't explain it, but over the last season or two, I feel like he is just "mailing it in" so to speak. Like he is really faking his interest in the NFL at this point.

Too soon!

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2013-10-25/reggie-rogers-found-dead-former-nfl-university-washington-defensive-tackle-lions-first-round-pick

I see that point made all the time, in regards to defending coaches on the "hot-seat". But, at the end of the day, you have the players you have...the franchise, for better or worse, is married to those players. There are plenty of coches who have been successful in all sports, having never played the game. Perhaps, for those coaches, they know how to asses the situation better. There seems to be a feeling, among some, that Rolston doesn't really have that knack. I didn't realize this, and just going from Hamiltons' observations, but Rolston apparently had more than a few detractors in Rochester. Personally, I will never claim to know hockey well enough to have a definitive opionion on this...but there were numerous times last year, and so far this year, where I had difficutly understanding what Rolston was trying to do, with his guys on the ice. Havnig John Scott on the ice, with 9 minutes left in a game where you are down 4-2, and your team is showing a pulse, is one of those. The guy has scored one goal in something like 86 games, and has one assist in that time. How is he helping you make up that 2 goal deficit?

Okay, which of these defense/special teams is going to have the best FF performance this coming weekend? Washington (@Denver) NY Giants (@Philly) Philly (vs NY Giants) Atlanta (@Arizona) Jacksonville (vs San Francisco) Oakland (vs Pittsburgh) Pittsburgh (@Oakland) Miami (@New England) St Louis (vs Seattle) Buffalo (@New Orleans) Pretty bottom of the barrel, I know...right now, I have Pittsburgh, cuz my normal defense (Tennessee) is on a bye week. I really need a win this week, so I am chasing points. These are my options! As always, input is appreciated.

Agreed...and he is good at his job. As much as I am not sold on Rolston, Darcy has to go first... he can't be allowed to make another major decision, like hiring a replacement for Rolston... Incidentally, heard Paul Hamilton on GR earlier tonight. As much as everyone here accuses GR of schilling for the Sabres, you can never accuse Hamilton of that. He was fairly adamant, in agreeing with Mike Milbury that Rolston seems in over his head. I also found it interesting that he referenced a tweet from Jay McKee (who Hamilton noted was fired by Rolston in Rochester, so he may have an ax to grind), saying that the players in Rochester, and now in Buffalo, don't respond well to Rolston, because he never played in the pros. Hamiton wasn't necessarily agreeing with that assesment, but he noted that neither Rolston, nor Chadd Cassidy (the Rochester Amerks head coach, and Rolston protege) had any NHL experience. To me, it feels like we have a professor and his teaching assistant in charge of our talent....

I would be shocked if that happened.

Let's hope the Chiefs beat the Browns this weekend...Bills hand them their first loss, at the Ralph in week 9! Would be a great way to start the second half of the season...but we gotta take care of the Saints first!

Another thing to consider: how much does the trade (rape?) help your trade partner? Does it help them so much, they could possbily keep you out of the playoffs with it? If I understand, the guy making the offer wants Thomas/Nelson & Tony G, for Julius Thomas. Tony G may not be elite, in the J Thomas level anymore, but he is not far off, and it is looking more and more like Ryan isn't going to have a lot of weapons...Gonzales' stock may keep rising. Meanwhile, J Thomas is in an offense that spreads the ball around a lot, so he may get you 18 pts 1 week, and then 4 the next.. I would settle for a steady 10 over that.

I think you are right.

Hmmm...tempting...but not knowing all the specifics of your league, considiering/asking yourself these things: 1- Does having Julius Thomas on your rostet make up for the points you would lose every week by not having D Thomas and Tony Gonzales? 2- If you trade D Thomas or Nelson, what shape does that leave your WR corp in? Are you making one spot (TE) stronger, by significantly weakening yourself at another spot (WR)? 3- J Thomas puts up some huge games, we know...but with the injuries to the Falcons WR corp, Gonzales, barring injury, should see plenty of passes come his way...he may not get you 20 pts a game...but is 12-15 from Gonzalez, plus whatever you get from D.Thomas or Jordy Nelson, worth the difference?

That is the way I recall it too. Pegula may have his heart in the right place, but he is trusting Reiger way too much...wake up Terry!

I think you made out alright in this trade... while I like your running backs, you could use another, and Matthews seems to be, finally, emerging as the Charges go to guy..and their offense has been very productive. So that is a big plus. For me, Douglas, just because of circumstances, may post better numbers that Brown down the stretch (I only say may...if Roddy struggles more, Douglas production will get less and less each week, IMO)...but with the receivers you have, I would imagine you would be starting Thomas and Nelson over Douglas or Brown, either way..so you gave up little for a #1 receiver, and a #1 running back. Good job!

I have always liked Black alright, but I heard him say something on the radio this morning that really irked me...he said "Sabres fans signed up for this"...uh, okay, I am not a season ticket holder (I don't live in WNY anymore), so I guess that doesn't necessarily give me the right to comment...but what the !@#$ does that mean? Who "signed up" for this train-wreck? Rolston is ineffective, at best...most of us who follow the team realzed this wasn't going to be a great season, but this bottoming out of the franchise doesn't have to be this bad. There are a few young guys who seem to have something, but I am not seeing enough from Rolston to believe that they are in good hands. Guys who were "young stars of tomorrow" under Lindy seem to be regressing under Rolston, not getting better. Sorry, I think this is not the right guy for this job. For the first time in 12 years I am not paying for the Center Ice package...I am not signing up for this...

My exposure to Bills Mazer came much later in his career. When I lived in NYC (1988-1992), he had an afternoon radio show on WFAN, which, I believe was the first 24 hour sports talk radio station...or at least the first I had ever heard. He a weekday "lunch-time" show, live from Micky Mantle's...it was awesome. It was pretty baseball heavy (not a huge baseball fan), but he always kept my interest. Loved hearing reminice, in a totally unscripted, casual atmosphere from a reteraunt. You could hear people chatting in the backround, the occaisional police car siren as it sped by. You really felt like you were sitting at a table with Mazer and whoever he was talking to. I miss that kind of radio. They didn't have so many commercials. Honeslty, at the time, I had never heard of him, and no idea about his link to Buffalo. I would hear him mention his days in Buffalo from time to time, and asked my dad about him. RIP Bill!

Point taken.

Just when I was feeling pretty indifferent about this show (after Breaking Bad, anything else pales in comparison), but I must say, the first two episodes of the season were very strong..the writing seems vastly improved, so far.

From the womb to the tomb...