merlin

Story in the local Indianapolis paper talking about "mind games" involved in streaks where one team just can't ever seem to beat another includes a reference to the 20 consecutive losses hung on the Bills from the Dolphins from 1970 - 1979 .... Mind games in sports "John Rauch, Harvey Johnson, Lou Saban, Jim Ringo and Chuck Knox might have recited the same motto. They were Buffalo's head coaches while the Bills were losing 20 consecutive games to Miami from 1970-79. That the Bills were persistently pathetic through most of that stretch explains away much of the Dolphins' magic. But Buffalo went 9-5 in 1973 and did it again in 1974. Of their 10 losses those two seasons, Miami inflicted four."

Just curious ... does anyone think there is a run-stuffing DT who will be available in next year's draft who could come in and fill that role as a starter in 2006? GO BILLS!

Looks like Denny Green noticed how great things worked out for the Bills when MM refused to divulge who the Bills' starting QB would be, and is following suit. I'm sure this is panicking the Flaming Thumbtacks this week! Green not tipping hand on Warner, McCown

According to Bill Simmons of espn.com, anytime Tommy Maddox "or any other quarterback of his ilk" is named the starting quarterback for a team he has picked to win, he wants a rule that automatically switches his pick to the other team. He then goes on to name the rest of the quarterbacks that fall into that category ... and JP is one of them ... The Tommy Maddox Corollary

Don't you mean "Intelligent Design"???

Thanks so much! GO BILLS!

A while ago someone posted a link to a website that featured hilarious animated cartoons about various sports stories (mostly NFL-related); a couple of the best ones involved Kellen Winslow, JR (rookie contract negotiations, and then the motorcyle incident). There have also been cartoons about Drew Rosenhaus, Mike Shananhan, and Dennis Green/Kurt Warner. Anyone know the website I'm talking about? TIA. GO BILLS!

More info about Travis Henry's suspension ... "...Fisher said they asked league officials about Henry before the trade and were only told that the running back was in the program." so ... that means that Henry must have failed at least one drug test while he was with the Bills? I don't remember ever hearing anything about that. And then Fisher goes on to say " ... "We expect Travis to get help, comply fully with the league requirements as far as the suspension is concerned. That would include testing, counseling, etc., etc. ... " This sounds more like an addiction problem of some sort, rather than steroids ....

This was sent in by a reader to Peter King's mailbag: From Christopher Hughes, of Brooklyn, N.Y.: "I think the NFL needs to implement a sidelines dress code for the head coaches. The three who really are making this an issue that must be addressed are Bill Belichick, Mike Mularkey and Mike Sherman. Belichick always looks like a slob. Sherman was wearing this faded green sweatshirt that looked like something he's been wearing to do yard work for the last 10 years -- like one of those sweatshirts that's been your favorite sweatshirt for a decade and your wife is trying to get you to throw out. The worst culprit yesterday was Mularkey, wearing khakis, a white T-shirt and a baseball cap. I thought he was a grounds crew member at first. If the NFL can be so anal when it comes to how the players look on the field, there's no reason it can't do something about the way the coaches are dressed. It wouldn't let Mike Nolan wear a suit, but it'll let Belichick go out there looking like he just rolled out of bed.'' To his credit, Peter King dismissed it as a joke.

Greg Easterbrook's TMQ column " In other news, didn't the Buffalo Bills look sweet in their 1965 throwbacks? These uniforms feature red, white and flag blue -- not to put too fine a point on it, but the single most successful color scheme in world history. The look was a huge improvement over Buffalo's current livery, based on a hue TMQ calls Nineteenth Century Rusting Russian Dreadnaught Aft Bulkhead Cyanic. Bills, just switch back to your old uniforms -- the 1965 look or the equally handsome colors of your Super Bowl run. All will be forgiven! You can leave the current ugly uniforms on the loading dock at league headquarters, no questions asked. " Other Bills-related references: Stats of the Week No. 8 : Buffalo has won 10 of its last 13 games. Buck-Buck-Brawckkkkkkk No. 2: Trailing 22-7 at Buffalo, the Texans faced fourth-and-3 on their 33 with 5:55 remaining. You need two touchdowns. Punt, and even if the opponent goes three-and-out, the clock situation becomes impossible. Plus, it's only fourth-and-3; the average NFL offensive play gains almost five yards. Go for it! In trots the punting unit. Often in situations like this, coaches play to contain the margin of defeat rather than take every possible chance to win. Dom Capers wanted the defeat to seem close; at his season-ending performance review, he doesn't want the first item to be, "We started the season by getting blown out by the Bills." But winning, not keeping the final margin respectable, should be the only goal. Tis Better to Have Rushed and Lost Than Never to Have Rushed At All: Willis McGahee gained four yards on his first five carries against Houston. When the run doesn't work right away, many teams immediately give up and go pass-wacky. But often the running game starts slowly, then builds steam as defenders tire. Buffalo kept giving McGahee the ball, and on his remaining 17 carries, the gentleman rushed for 113 yards. NFL teams, don't abandon the run.

This may have already been pointed out, but one comment in JP's Q/A session on buffalobills.com bothered me a little. When asked about the "near-interception" that the Texan's Antwoin Peak had in his hands, a sure TD, but dropped it, JP responded this way: Steve Gasiorek (Sloan, NY): On the almost interception, was it Josh Reed or yourself that made the wrong read? Great game though. Go Bills! J.P. Losman: First off that wasn't almost an interception. It was a play where there was some miscommunication. It wasn't either one of our faults. I thought he said one thing and he thought I said another so it was very easy to understand why he did something and why I did the other thing. It was just something like I said earlier. We have to focus and concentrate more this week. HUH??? What does that meant "wasn't almost an interception"??? Hope that's not what he meant ... and that he did LEARN something from that experience! GO BILLS!!

MIKE STRATTON!!!

What about Josh Reed? I didn't see the game, and I didn't hear that he did anything spectacular ... but it sounds like at least he didn't drop any passes yesterday ... caught JP's 1st NFL regular season pass. Anyone who saw the game care to comment on his play?

It will be interesting to see the outcome of the COLTS-RAVENS matchup this week (Sunday night game). If the RAVENS can throttle the COLTS offense, and score enough points on their own (against a "suspect" COLTS defense), they will make believers out of me.

Hand-off to Willis McGahee .... right side ... gain of 6 yards. GO BILLS!

I'm surprised they cut BOTH Trafford and Cieslak .. doesn't that leave them pretty thin at TE (Campbell, Euhus, and Peters in case of emergency?)

I'm afraid all Haddad could have done would have been to grow a few more inches, and become noticeably faster. I'm disappointed he didn't make it - he sure has enough heart to play this game. I am happy about Wilson, too. Sure hope Reed makes the best of this (last?) opportunity!

Just noticed this quote from Bobby April in the SI article about the Bills linked on the front page ... this is sounding like Roscoe will be available for the opener!! "When wideout Roscoe Parrish, a rookie second-round pick out of Miami with 4.37 speed in the 40, injured his wrist in camp, no one wore a sadder face than special teams coach Bobby April. "He'll be back by the start of the season, and then you'll really see something," April says. "[The other coaches] like him as a third wideout, but I like him as a return man. I know we've got Terrence McGee, but Roscoe is dynamite as a punt returner. I would not want to have to tackle him."" Bills preview from SI.com Great news if this is true!!! ALSO, this means that we won't have to risk having Nate Clements back there on punt return duty. That never did make sense to me. Hope Roscoe can get used to that "weird spin" that the JESTS new punter apparently puts on the ball ... preseason opponent teams seem to be having lots of trouble handling them without fumbling .... GO BILLS!!

Scam e-mails Just came across this website that documents a bunch of "scam" e-mails where someone (usually from Nigeria) offers to buy merchandise/services, but has to pay with a cashier's check already made out in an amount much higher than the asking price of the merchandise ... and asks the seller to "refund the difference via Western Union wire funds transfer" ... and then, of course, the check turns out to be fake, etc. This scam has been around for a LONG time, and seems to be the #1 means of employment in Nigeria (the government looks the other way - only way such a poor country with no natural resources to speak of can make any money. ANYWAY, this website is maintained by a woman who sells horses for a living, and she is constantly the target of these scams. So she's decided to "turn the tables", by stringing them along as long as she can, wasting their time, etc. Some of the stories these scam artists come up with are hilarious.

Just curious if anyone knew if Wayne Gandy, formerly of the Stillers and now with the Saints, is any relation to Mike Gandy, formerly with the Bears and now with the Bills?

.... not that there's anything wrong with that ....

I'm thinking about trying to make it to the Bills/Colts pre-season game this weekend (I live close to Indianapolis). Found a bunch of "cheap tickets" for the game on eBay .. but I have no idea what kind of venue the RCA dome is like. Most of the tix are in the "upper level", but many are at least in the middle of the field (45-50 yard line). Anyone have experience with the RCA dome? Are tickets in sections 338-340 worth $10 each (taking my son and grand-son, so I need 2 ...) Even though it's pre-season, I'm kind of excited ... first live Bills game I will see since I left Buffalo in 1978!! GO BILLS!!!!

Multiple picks for Henry? " The Buffalo Bills have traded running back Travis Henry to the Tennessee Titans for undisclosed 2006 draft picks, Bills president Tom Donahoe said Monday." Sounds like the Bills got something more than just a 3rd Round pick? Maybe a lower round as well, or maybe the 3rd rounder is upgradable based on performance? GO BILLS!

Sorry ... I got told once (in no uncertain terms) that any non-BILLS topic should be labeled OT ... and this is only tangentially related to the Bills ....

Drew at it again "Agent Drew Rosenhaus has another new Green Bay client. And that means Packers officials have another veteran player seeking a new contract. Rosenhaus confirmed Tuesday that he has been retained by starting defensive tackle Grady Jackson, who joins wide receiver Javon Walker and tailback Najeh Davenport as Packers players who have joined his burgeoning stable during the offseason. And the ubiquitous Rosenhaus said that Jackson, who is entering the final season of a two-year, $2.3 million contract he signed late in 2003, is seeking a contract extension. "We talked to the Packers people [Tuesday]," said Rosenhaus, "and the information we got from them was not encouraging at this point. But I'm always an optimist, so we'll see what happens. But the current situation doesn't work." It is likely that, without an extension, Jackson will not report for the start of training camp on July 29. Walker, who has skipped all of the team's offseason program, probably will miss the beginning of camp as well. Davenport, who signed the one-year restricted free agent qualifying offer earlier in the offseason, is expected to report. " ... if Willis has a decent year this year, things will get very interesting next year. For all of you who think that TD is the "anti-Christ", what does that make Rosenhaus?? ;-)