Is there a widget out there to rate the links if you are logged in on this side? I am thinking of the amazon type thing where XX number thought this review was useful.... That would be a little innovative, and would help to id which articles to read if you don't have time to read them all. That way the better articles would get more traffic. For example, I haven't read a Jerry Sullivan article in a very long time. However, he gets credit for the hit because I am not sure which Monday morning link is his from TBD. Chuck Pollock is probably my favorite writer covering the Bills, but unless you read TSW (i.e. most of the people the go to TBD), you might not know the Olean paper has a better sports page than the News.
Personally, I have never used the search on TBD, so maybe I don't have the right perspective. But, why not drop the search into the red menu area?