Dennis in NC

Rudy, get your head out of your a$$, go read the friggin' article about the Jolley trade. Note that: "Oakland gets the 26th overall selection, moving back into the first round after trading the seventh overall pick to Minnesota for Randy Moss in March. New York also gets a second-round (47th overall) and two sixth-round picks (182, 185) from Oakland, while the Raiders get a seventh-round selection." So, the Jets moved down 21 spots (47 take away 26, Rudy) and got two 6ths for a 7th. Also: No quality free agents? Benny Anderson doesn't count? Just WHO would Rudy approve as a "quality free agent" fer chrissakes? Losman is not a rookie. Rudy, your inflammatory stuff is really annoying. I should just ignore it, but sometimes a punk needs a boot in the a$$.

Here's the link to the article. I thought it was a cool thing he did. Some of our more cynical posters may see it as a bad thing... JP speaking at sports banquet

I voted for Leo in lieu of Jerry Sullivan. Isnt Jerry a beat writer? He's a basketball guy stuck in a football town, I suppose.

"Camel Toe" by the Cameltones (Bob & Tom Show) "Hot Hot Hot" by Mighty Sparrow or Buster Poindexter

Oh boy, at 5-27, they must really hate to lose Ronnie. What will West Texas A&M do now??? Ronnie was probably a spammer, too, marketing his whatever by bulk email. I wonder if Gregg-o bought any of what Ronnie was selling...

What a moronic article. This Borges guy certainly has a bug up his arse re: the sweatshirt guy. "some greedy egomaniac"? You mean Belichik? "can't handle a player with that much talent"? You mean his team doesn't lose enough to pick high in the 1st round? I don't care much for "the sweatshirt guy" either, but this article is completely stupid IMO.

I will be working on a research paper, so I will be at my computer all day, watching TSW and ESPN (in that order!) for the latest news. Will also watch the TV on and off as the day rolls on. No party, though, not enough football fans here...

Kelly, that is definitely the cool thing about this little story. I can just picture Willis saying "Are you Wilson?" and can imagine Ralph's amusement. Can you imagine yourself being that cool, just addressing the 1/4-billion dollar business owner like that? I love Willis, and can't wait to see what he brings to the 2005 Bills.

I just came across this story about Willis. Not sure who posted it, but it tells us a lot about Mr McGahee... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted June 10, 2004 A good friend of mine is a bartender in a fancy West Palm Beach restaurant. Ralph Wilson was in there awhile back at the bar, and my friend talked to him for a long time after saying what a big Bills fan he is. Ralph was apparently extremely gracious and talked for quite some time, and told my buddy this story... The very first time that Willis McGahee ran into Ralph he walked up to him and said, "Are you Wilson?" Ralph smiled and said, "Yes, I am." Willis said, "I'm McGahee". Ralph again smiled and said, "Yes, I know." Willis goes on and says "What are you into? What kind of stuff do you like to do?" Ralph replies that he likes to play tennis a lot and has been doing it forever. Willis looks him over and says, "I bet I could beat you." Ralph laughs and says, "Do you play?" Willis just smiles and says, "Nope. But I could still beat you." Ralph was apparently laughing as he told this story to my buddy, and loves McGahee and his sense of humor and competitive attitude.

So, I wonder, if you had the #9 pick (theoretically, of course) and passed, and passed again, and picked some guy at #11, does the agent buy your story that your guy is not a Top 10 pick? Hmmm... When Minnesota missed their pick (not paying attention?) a year or 2 back, when they got DT Kevin Williams, did they pay him #7 money or oops #8 money?

How about that Colts 1-2 punch of Steve Emtman and Quinton Coryatt? How would you like to blow the overall #1 and then the #2 as well??? Auggghhh! Try to redeem yourself a couple years later by taking Trev Alberts at #5? Oops!!!

Great article, a series of pictures, on classic draft busts. On Cade McNown: His lack of accuracy, poor decision-making and an attitude that reminded many of Ryan Leaf limited his career in Chicago, and he was never able to stick with another team for any length of time. McNown did, however, date a Playboy model. Draft Busts!

Here's a few things about Rod from last summer. The all-state QB stuff made me wonder if he could be a "slash" guy for the Bills. Sorry, could not find the link but I had the article... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ College: Played at the University of South Carolina, including three seasons for Lou Holtz. ... Was on team that went 0-11 in 1999 to 8-4 and 9-3 the next two seasons, winning bowl games. ... Was All-State quarterback at Delbarton High School in New Jersey. Threw for 2,800 yards and 30 TDs in his career. Leo Roth Staff writer (August 31, 2004) — ORCHARD PARK — Rod Trafford said playing football at the University of South Carolina for legendary coach Lou Holtz was a rich experience. How rich? "People pay $20,000 a pop to hear Lou Holtz speak and I got to hear his speeches for free for three years," said Trafford, a free agent tight end for the Buffalo Bills. "It's really like a performance when he's up there but he has such great messages. I was very fortunate to be with him, turn a program around, and be able to talk about it today." Trafford would love a similar experience with Mike Mularkey, who is attempting to turn around a 6-10 Bills team in his first season as an NFL head coach. After joining the Bills' practice squad in November, Trafford, 25, from Morristown, N.J., has turned heads this summer by playing more plays at tight end and H-back than any of the five players at his position in training camp. With NFL teams mandated to trim their rosters to 65 by today, the dreaded numbers game has arrived for Trafford, who plays with obvious joy. Without making any promises, Mularkey wasn't afraid to pay Trafford a strong compliment. "He should be able to play in this league, I think that right now," said Mularkey, who played nine seasons in the NFL at the same position. "If desire's not enough, you've seen flashes that he's got talent enough. "Rod is playing his tail off and I like guys who play hard," added Mularkey, who pretty much described his own style. "He constantly wants to learn and he does what we ask. He's been pretty solid, all through spring and now. He's an interesting guy." Holtz thought so, too. A one-time walk-on quarterback under former Gamecocks coach Brad Scott, Trafford's college career ran the gamut. He was part of South Carolina's 21-game losing streak — 0-10 under Scott and 0-11 under Holtz in Holtz's first season. But in 2000 and 2001, Trafford started on teams that finished 8-4 and 9-3 and twice capped the season with wins over Ohio State in the Outback Bowl. Those 17 victories represented the most successful two-year period in South Carolina football history. "He came in and just basically whipped us into shape," said Trafford of Holtz, the eighth-winningest coach in college football history who rose to fame during his 11 seasons at Notre Dame. "I remember the first meeting he scared the crap out of us. Guys were slouching in their chairs and he yelled, 'Get your butts up!' It took a while for people like myself to buy into his little thing he had going, his system, but once everyone did, you could see the success." What was Holtz' message? "He said he was starting a new train service and said 'You're either jumping on our getting kicked off.' That was his bottom line. Guys had to change and believe in his system, the whole team concept, or you'd be left behind. He was a huge motivator. We did some pretty unusual things." Like meditate each Friday night. You know, see the ball, be the ball. "He'd turn the lights off in the locker room and have everyone lay down for these visualization sessions," Trafford said. "He'd tell us some pretty unbelievable stories from the past." Trafford, who was an All-State high school player in New Jersey, has been working on a good story of his own. After college, he was out of football for a year but later signed with the New England Patriots, who assigned him to NFL Europe. "It was an awesome experience," said Trafford, a free spirit who played in Scotland. "I didn't want to come home. If I wasn't playing football and trying to make it in the NFL, I'd be traveling Europe and doing something crazy so it was nice to be able to get a little taste of both." Trafford grew up on the Jersey shore doing all the beach sports; he's an avid surfer and fisherman. But he's no laid-back beach bum when it comes to blocking and muscling his way free to catch passes in the red zone. "I can turn it on and off pretty good," Trafford said. "When off the field or doing other things, you wouldn't know I play football. But I'm totally serious about this sport. I can be a (jerk) on the field. It's a business and there are times to do what you're supposed to and carry out the things you are taught. At the same time, you've got to have fun with it." After going to camp with the Patriots last year, Trafford was released but earned tryouts with Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Seattle and Buffalo. With cut down time here again, he knows the drill. On Monday, he was still practicing hard and with a smile on his face. "You can beat yourself up and kill your whole psyche if you keeping thinking, 'What's going to happen to me?'" he said. "I try not to even think about it. I just appreciate the opportunity I have each day I come out here."

A little bit more on what the Special K means: ketamine (Ketamine Hydrochloride Special K, K) Ketamine is a short-acting general anaesthetic that has hallucinogenic and painkilling qualities that seem to affect people in very differently ways. How thoughtful to name your child after a drug... Well, Mary Jane is a nice name, but Special K?

Aryan Justice? I expected a blond. The baby looks kind of dark-skinned. I wonder if Ma and Pa have any clue about the white supremacist clowns that use tha name Aryan... Geez.

Wow. Urhines Kendall Icy Eight Special K Is that like "your highness"? Aside from that, it sounds like one of those pedigreed dog names, where they include the parents names... "Icy Eight"... is that like a Glock 9 or something? "Special K" is probably daddy Kendall's nick name. People can be so clueless... My aunt was an OB/GYN nurse many years ago in Buffalo. The new mother heard the nurses talking and said "Placenta! My, what a pretty name!" The nurses managed to talk her out of naming her child Placenta...

Or if TD were a SNL fan (seems unlikely)... "Dennis, you ignorant slut!" to reply to Green's proposals.

Doesn't Pat Surtain have an $8Million cap number right now? Wouldn't that be a big stumbling block to trading him??? Compared to Clements' reasonable cap number for 2005.

Or the (paraphrased) classic "he doesn't sweat much for a fat guy..." "Does not have great hands and can fumble but can be productive as a pure runner." Does this sound familiar? Pure runner? Like don't ask him to block???

I like your idea. I wonder what kind of offers for Clements are out there. He's a great CB/PR, but paying those top 5 types gazillions of dollars, and then seeing them return punts.. oy vay! I think a move like this strengthens the future roster, even though it may suffer in 2005 a bit. If we can get a 1st and 2nd, or some such combo, I would do it.

I don't think so, but some folks do. The holes in Travis' game make him like half a player to me. His lackluster blitz pickups make him a poor option to stay as WM's backup, IMO.

Well, I certainly did not intend to trash Ma & Pa Bledsoe. It's great work they do. I just thought their teaching of "decision-making" skills was a bit ironic, given Drew's weak points. Certainly, Drew has kept his self-esteem up amidst all his bashers.

Bledsoe's mom and dad give seminars on boosting your child's self-esteem: "Mac and Barbara Bledsoe have been talking with parents for more than 20 years about how to help instill positive behavior and good decision-making skills in their children." Hmmmm.... maybe a pat pat pat on the head now and then... good boy! Ma & Pa Bledsoe seminars

Are these satellite photos really a couple of years old? That's no fun, I want to see the up-to-date photos!

Interesting thought, DeeRay. The #44 pick for Travis would be great. The $ numbers I have always heard were $3M for Shelton's next 4 years, and $1.25M for Travis in 2005. Where do your numbers ($3.5M and $2M) come from?