muddy waters

Yup -- Derk Anderson would be a real smart choice. Big, strong, nothin flashy QB with 4 years experience. I think he would fit in great and provide some durability. And he's not from California. I think he comes from Oregon and would fit in well in WNY. Get it done!

Barring a trade, these are the players in order that I think the Bills should pick in Round 1 if they are available. Peterson Willis Okoye Hall Lynch Peterson would no doubt have an immediate impact on the offense, and Willis would immediately have an impact on the defense. Either one would work. My guess is that both could be gone, which would then lead the Bills to Okoye, Hall or Lynch. I really think any of these five would be worthy of the 12th pick. I think it would be well worth it for the Bills to surrender one of their 3rd round picks to move up and grab Peterson, but I would hate to see them give up their second round pick.

Patrick Willis Tony Hunt

I say a move to the North would be phenomenal. C'mon the old AFL rivalries have passed. The North teams -- especially the Steelers and Browns -- are the teams with fans, cities and style of play that are most similar to the Bills. If you put the Bills in this division, new rivalries would develop fast. Maybe the Rothilsberger-Losman comparisons would rival the the Marino-Kelly comparisons. Let's face it, the Buffalo-Miami rivalry is not there anymore. Let's move on.

Tony Romo is the current boy wonder in the NFL, and Philip Rivers is getting some pretty good press too. But with only one solid performance under his belt, J.P. Losman still gets nothing but criticism whenever you hear his name mentioned by the national news media. I dunno, but I still think JP has the most potential of the three. He is learning things the hard way with a porous and inexperienced offensive line. I know he has a lot to prove, but I like to think that JP is the sleeper quarterback of these three who could have the best future.

I think it is rather arrogant for the NFL to air this holiday game only on the NFL Network. It would be nice to watch the game, but sorry I don't have the NFL Network.

N.C. State trio has exceled McCargo, Williams and Lawson are good enough to be taken in the first two rounds. Mike O'Hara / The Detroit News April 19, 2006 This is another installment in The Detroit News' annual series on the NFL draft. Life on the road is a blur at times for players making the rounds these days as they prepare for the NFL draft, traveling from city to city to visit teams. John McCargo made it to Tuesday's meeting with the Lions on time, but he stumbled trying to recall his itinerary. He arrived in Detroit on Monday night from Baltimore, where he'd met with the Ravens' coaches and front office. Before that he was in Cleveland. Next after Detroit is St. Louis, McCargo said, reviewing his schedule. Oops. Make that Kansas City. "I'm confused about the whole thing," McCargo said Monday night, laughing as he waited to meet with the Lions the next day. "It's just the process -- people anticipating, guessing what round you'll be drafted on." McCargo was a performer and spectator last year on a North Carolina State defensive line that ranked as one of college football's best. With Mario Williams at left end, Manny Lawson at right end and McCargo in the middle, the Wolfpack had three players who could go in the first two rounds in the draft April 29. Williams and Lawson combined for 39 sacks the last two years. McCargo was less-heralded, but he got credit for commanding enough double-team attention to free his teammates to concentrate on rushing the passer. McCargo suffered a stress facture in his left foot in the sixth game of the season. He underwent surgery to correct the break, but he missed the rest of the season. McCargo missed being part of the show as he watched his teammates perform. "I was happy for them, but I was also like, 'Dang, I want to be out there,' " McCargo said. "It was nothing serious. But that was my first time when I wasn't able to play. I had started every game since I red-shirted." McCargo, Lawson and Williams are close friends. McCargo and Williams shared an apartment on campus. They will go their separate ways in a draft that features Williams as one of its stars. After Houston uses the first pick to take Southern California running back Reggie Bush, Williams could go to New Orleans with the second pick. After that, there is a collection of ends and tackles that give the draft depth at defensive line. Haloti Ngata of Oregon and Brodrick Bunkley of Florida State are rated close together at the top defensive tackles. Michigan's Gabe Watson is talented and smart, but questions about his intensity and endurance arose when coach Lloyd Carr benched him briefly in 2005. Pass rushers are in demand -- the bigger the better. There is a premium for players such as Williams, who have size, power and speed. Lawson and Kamerion Wimbley of Florida State are regarded as edge pass rushers who can play end or outside linebacker. Williams is the defensive stud of this year's draft -- a pass-rushing left end who has been compared favorably in size and performance to the Carolina Panthers' Julius Peppers. In 2002, Carolina drafted Peppers second overall, between quarterbacks David Carr (Houston) and Joey Harrington (Detroit). At 6-foot-7 and 295 pounds, Williams resembles Peppers in physical stature. Both are tall, powerful and agile, and both play the left side. Williams had 12.5 sacks in 2005, and some of his test results for the NFL scouts were nothing short of off the charts. He had a vertical jump of 40 1/2 inches. As a junior, Lawson switched from outside linebacker to right end. He is projected as a pass-rushing end. He had 10.5 sacks in 2005, the second-highest season total in team history. Lawson lettered twice on the Wolfpack's track team. He was the ACC's indoor long-jump champion and finished second in the outdoor meet. The NFL scouts timed Lawson in 4.43 seconds for the 40-yard dash. That will help him get to the quarterback -- in a hurry.

I seem to recall reading somewhere that when Mularkey was hired as the Bills coach, Whisenhunt was his choice to be oc, but that TD wanted Clemens. Any truth to this? This might explain the coldness between Mularkey and Clemens. Clemens and Whisenhunt were both on the Steelers' staff with Mularkey.

Yep, Don Polec and Gary Papa are also still on Philly Channel 6.

Yep, Don Polec and Gary Papa are still there.

Boy does that bring back memories. You may already know this but Dave Thomas is currently the main weather guy on ABC-Channel 6 in Philadelphia, which is the top news station in Philadelphia. He calls himself Dave Roberts. He must be almost 70 now, but he still has the same youthful look. He is a very popular TV figure in Philly, who also does other events like parades, festivals etc. Also, his son is actor in Hollywood. He plays the main cop character on the show "Bones."

LeBeau similar to Bears coach By Sean Keeler, Post staff reporter Before this fall, the only time Dick LeBeau had faced off against Dick Jauron was on the golf course. ''Anytime we ever played golf,'' said Jauron, the Bears coach and former Bengals safety, ''he's won.'' But Jauron has a 1-0 edge over LeBeau on the football field since the two became head coaches in the NFL. The Bears dropped the Bengals in overtime, 16-13, on Aug. 4 at Soldier Field in the preseason opener for both teams. ''I'm a Dick Jauron fan,'' the Bengals' coach said with a grin. ''But not this week.'' LeBeau and Jauron have been good friends for almost 22 years now, and their football paths have crossed before: LeBeau was a cornerback in Detroit from 1959-72; the Lions drafted Jauron as a safety in 1973. In 1978, Jauron was waived by the Lions and signed with the Bengals. LeBeau became defensive backs coach in Cincinnati in 1980, working with Jauron for two seasons. More coals on the fire: LeBeau is a golf and history nut; Jauron majored in history at Yale. Before the two met, people who knew them both swore they were dealing with the same person. ''I've always been proud that people have associated Dick and I together,'' LeBeau said. ''Dick had come to Detroit right after I retired, and the guys up there said, 'There are similarities between you two that are very eerie.' When I had the opportunity to coach Dick down here and to understand what a fine person he is, I was very flattered that anyone would associate me with him.'' Jauron blew out his knee with the Bengals during the 1980 season. The next year, he spent most Sundays up in the booth next to LeBeau during the team's first AFC Championship season. Knowing Jauron was the son of a football coach, Bengals founder Paul Brown and future president Mike Brown asked if he'd be interested in staying on and joining Forrest Gregg's staff. He declined. ''I had been in football for as long as I could remember,'' Jauron recalled. ''I had decided it would help me to get away, just briefly. I knew I wanted to come back and always would come back.'' In 1985, he did, accepting an offer to join Hank Bullough's staff in Buffalo as secondary coach. After stops in Green Bay (1986-94) and Jacksonville (1995-98), he was appointed head coach of the Bears. Bears players have praised Jauron for the same reasons LeBeau's players have embraced him in Cincinnati. They're low-key in public, tactful with the media and, privately, competitive as all heck. Moreover, they're direct and fair, adeptly toeing the line between discipline and fun. And both are ex-players who have gotten points for treating today's players as professionals. '(Being compared to LeBeau), that's flattering to me; I don't know how flattering it is to him,'' Jauron said. ''The only thing I can tell you about Dick LeBeau is that he was the best that I played for. I really have a lot of respect for him . . . as good a coach as he was (to me), I just believe he's a better friend. I really admire the man.'' Publication date: 10-18-01

If Gray is gone, would this be a possibility?

What do think the Bills final record would be today if TD made a decsion to keep Pat Williams and Jonas Jennings? The veteran presence of these guys would definitely have bolstered the offensive and defensive lines and maybe made the rest of the lineman play better. Iwould guess the Bills would at least be 7-9 or 8-8. Let's hope next season the line gets more priority, but I fear it may be too late. Both lines are crumbling..

Sorry, but I don't get starting Holcomb on Sunday. I have all the respect in the world for Holcomb being a qb who can get things done, and I don't have a problem with a compteition in training camp next year for the starting spot. But right now, Losman needs snaps to gain experience and to earn the confidence of his teammates. I'm not surprised that the veterans on the team prefer Holcomb, but this is a meaningless game. It's a perfect opportunity to see what Losman can do and to let him learn. I have been a supporter of Mularkey as hc, but it ticks me off if he is starting Holcomb in an effort to save his job. That's totally selfish at this point in the season. I would have much more respect for him if had the guts to stand up and support Losman. Sticking with Holcomb at this point in the seasaon is cowardly and self-centered. Cmon Mike, look at the big picture of this team. Unless the franchise is totally giving up on Losman, there is no reason he should be sitting on the sidelines this week. He has incredible talent, but minimal experience. You don't need to see a journeyman qb this week, you need to play Losman. He's the guy the fans want to see. Let the kid play!

If Modrak becomes GM, I would not be surprised if he hired Jim Haslett as his head coach. When Modrak was with the Eagles, word was that he wanted Haslett rather than Andy Reid as Eagles' coach, but he was overruled by others in the organization. I think Haslett has at least another year in his Saints contract, but I can't imagine him staying there. Haslett has not done much recently, but he is with a screwy organization. He might do well in Buffalo, a city that he loves and an owner he respects.

I don't get it. The Bills were consistently getting positive yardage with the running game, but so often they get a first down and then start with a first down pass. Why? When the running game is working, and you have a struggling and inexperienced qb, why would they even consider calling a pass on first down and then second down? The offensive line was making holes for McGahee, and he showed heart and power and speed, so why not use him to control the offense? I still think Losman will be okay, but isn't the season plan to rely on the defense and running game, and not make hime throw so much? Frustrating to watch.

Anybody remember rooster Robin? Excellent local bar band in early 1980s.

The Browns agreed in principle on Saturday to a trade that will give bring 32 year-old quarterback Trent Dilfer to Cleveland in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick, according to the ESPN website. Dilfer, who has served as the backup for starting signal caller Matt Hasselbeck throughout most of his four-year run with the Seahawks, will be given a chance to compete for the starting job in Cleveland. The move to acquire Dilfer was made because the Browns were unable to re-sign quarterback Kelly Holcomb, who signed with the Bills on Friday. Dilfer played in 22 games since joining the Seahawks in 2001, throwing 13 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions during the four-year run.

I see all kinds of names being tossed about as a possible veteran backup, and I question if any are a better alternative than Shane Matthews. At 35 this year, he still has a season or two in him and he has the veteran experience that could help support Losman or fill in if he has to. I realize he may not have much left to take us through a season as a starter, but some of thother alternatives out there are ridiculous.

Link to article -- http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/spec...ts/10885548.htm Email of columnist: dmckee@phillynews.com

This item was in a sports column by Don McKeee in today's Philadelphia Inquirer. Seems like an ignorant comment to me... "The Mistake on the Lake. In the 20-20 vision of hindsight, it is now clear that the entire city of Philadelphia owes a heartfelt gesture of gratitude to Mike Martz, Jon Gruden and John Fox. If it weren't for these kind gentlemen and their success in keeping the Eagles out of three successive Super Bowls, this city now would be ""Buffalo."

Unless somebody offers a high second round pick, I say there's no way the Bills should trade Henry until preseason at the earliest. They should wait and see what happens. If some team loses a top back in training camp, I say Henry's trade value will soar. And then there's always that dreaded possibility that MaGahee gets hurtt. Henry is still a proven back, and let's hope the Bills don't get desparate and settle for a weak offer. I say his trade value goes up the longer the Bills keep him even if they keep into the start of next season.

I'm not quite clear on this. If the Bills, Jets and Broncos alll finish 10-6, which two teams go to the playoffs?

Mini Max Anderson