LongLiveRalph

Jos. A. Bank??? I'm glad it works for you, but that place is a joke. If my kid needed a First Communion suit, or if I was a tax accountant, I'd consider that Jos. A. Bank next to the Orange Julius at the mall. If I needed a suit to look like a well-dressed adult, I wouldn't go near there. $1000 should get you seven suits at that place. Maybe that will be their next sale..."A suit for every day of the week for $1000!"

Quick...Who was last season's defensive rookie of the year? I'm willing to bet most of you can't name him without looking it up. (I honestly had no clue. And he was in the AFC East.) So who really cares??? Cushing won an award from sportswriters for on-field performance. The sportswriters and the AP are NOT the NFL. It is not their job to decide what is wrong and what is right and who should've been playing and who shouldn't have been playing. Their job is to vote on who performed the best, on the field. If the NFL says Cushing was allowed to play, then he is eligible for all awards. How are people more outraged about a worthless award and less outraged about the ridiculous 8-month process that spiraled from this failed September test??? What if Cushing had 14 tackles, two INT, two sacks, and a fumble recovery against the Bills, in a game he possibly should've been suspended for, and the Bills missed the playoffs by one game??? I can't believe this isn't the true issue here. Additionally, the NFL informed Cushing and the NFLPA, but not the Texans. That's just ridiculous. Anyways, Cushing failed his test in September, but subsequently passed five other tests throughout the season. And he's still going to miss four games and forfeit several hundred thousand dollars. It's the NFL's process, not the voters, who should feel this wrath.

This is the correct outcome. The Associated Press writers can only vote based on what a player does on the field. The fact that he failed a test in September and the appeals process took 8 months is the joke here. How hard is it? NFL Office: "Mr. Cushing, you failed your drug test for ______________. Please come to New York on Wednesday and state your case. We'll have our final decision next week." If something is on the banned substance list, it's either an illegal product, a performance-enhancer, or a masking agent for a performance enhancer. The list is public knowledge, distributed to all players, and whether they knowingly or unknowingly take something is irrelevant. You fail a test, you're suspended. Easy. Appeal? Reviewed and denied. This substance in your system is on the banned list. Therefore, if the NFL let him play, the AP should vote him the ROY if the voters feel he was the best rookie ON THE FIELD. You start to go down a slippery slope when you're making decisions based on what should or shouldn't have happened, rather than what did happen. If the NFL acted appropriately and Cushing missed four games, he wouldn't have been ROY. Since he played all 16 and played well, the AP only has that to work with. The re-vote in itself was a mistake.

First of all, I wasn't aware that a person's or band's political preferences could be "wrong." They might be different from yours, but maybe yours are wrong? Who knows and who cares. This is a music thread bro, get over it. Britney Spears said we should always trust and support our president. Do you like her music?

Is this all part of that Pens' "cakewalk" to the Finals that you were talking about two weeks ago?

I am a big fan of the Raconteurs, I like some of the White Stripes stuff, but I found the first Dead Weather album to be horrible. Close to unlistenable. I'm all for music that breaks the mold of what's "normal," but that album just seemed to stretch the limits of senseless noise. That said, I will definitely give this second album an honest listen. I'm open to everything and like to hear as much as I can of what's out there. White rips on a guitar and to call him "more style than substance" suggests you don't understand his mojo. The last thing he cares about is his "persona." He's in three different bands currently, exploring different sounds in all of them. He is supremely talented. It's okay to say you don't like someone. To say they're untalented is different. Above, a post mentioned the Hold Steady. I think they are a frontman away from being a great band. That dude just doesn't have the voice to take their talents to the next level (for my tastes at least.)

Roberts had a season where he pitched 346 innings and had 31 complete games!!! Unbelievable!!! If you tell a manager now at the start of the season that you would guarantee he'd have two starters who would accumulate 346 innings combined, he would take it in a heartbeat. They pray for 200 from a starter.

I really don't agree with this topic at all. I think this case has been covered pretty thoroughly by all news outlets, sports and otherwise. I saw Brian Williams report on it the other night on the NBC Nightly News. Not the lead story, but about 7-8 minutes into the broadcast it was mentioned. It's on CNN and the other cable news networks, and all over the internet. What do you mean "Why isn't it getting noticed?" Just being truthful, I have seen it everywhere. I was at the gym on a treadmill yesterday and the story was being reported on three TV's at once, ESPN, Fox News, and CBS. I think that if it was a pro athlete, it might be a bigger story. If it was a more mainstream sport, it might be a bigger story. But I think you've got your double standards mixed up-- it's usually the other way around than what you're referring to. The media LOVES reporting the "pretty white girl" tragedy, whereas the black or Latino girl murdered doesn't get much play.

Not sure if you're being serious or not, but if you were, way to pick the one guy out of 20 who wasn't a high draft choice in order to claim that you can get a solid tight end on any street corner... Gates was 1st team All State in high school in football and basketball. He had a football scholarship from Nick Saban to play at Michigan State, but Saban wouldn't allow him to play basketball also. He wanted to play both...So he dropped out of MSU after one semester, went to Eastern Michigan, bounced to a few JC's, and then settled at Kent State where he was an excellent hoops player. Immediately after basketball he starting training for football and got tryouts with several teams, mainly based on his exposure in basketball of leading Kent State to the Elite 8. He is so athletic, he was able to contribute as a pass catcher his rookie season, catching 24 balls for 389 yards. He worked the whole offseason to become a full-time tight end, and his career has exploded from there. If he played football in college he would've been an early-round pick, no doubt. NFL teams saw potential in his athleticism but were skeptical because he was 6'4" and in basketball shape, meaning he needed to add some pounds. Some teams saw him as a "tweener", including the Bills probably.

I hear yah. But let's be real, the tight end position is far from a strength. They struggle to get open and make plays. The top 20 pass catching TE's in the NFL in 2009, and their draft position: 1. Dallas Clark- 1st rd (24) 2. Jason Witten- 3rd rd (69) 3. Tony Gonzalez- 1st rd (13) 4. Antonio Gates- (undrafted, didn't play college football) 5. Vernon Davis- 1st rd (6) 6. Kellen Winslow- 1st rd (6) 7. Brent Celek- 5th rd (162) 8. Heath Miller- 1st rd (30) 9. Zach Miller- 2nd rd (38) 10. Gregg Olson- 1st rd (31) 11. Visanthe Shiancoe- 3rd rd (91) 12. Jermichael Finley- 3rd rd (91) 13. Todd Heap- 1st rd (32) 14. John Carlson- 2nd rd (38) 15. Fred Davis- 2nd rd (48) 16. Jeremy Shockey- 1st rd (14) 17. Dustin Keller- 1st rd (30) 18. Bo Scaife- 6th rd (179) 19. Kevin Boss- 5th rd (153) 20. Owen Daniels- 4th rd (98) Of the top-20, there are nine 1st round picks, three 2nd round picks, three 3rd round picks, and then a 4th, two 5ths, a 6th, and an undrafted FA. All of those players had at least 40 catches in 2009. The Bills, who have had lack of presence at tight end for years, have on their roster: 87 Klopfenstein, Joe TE 6-5 262 26 4 Colorado (Rd 2 pick 46 by the Rams in '06, waived in '09) 82 Matthews, Michael TE 6-4 270 26 4 Georgia Tech (undrafted) 89 Nelson, Shawn TE 6-5 240 24 2 Southern Mississippi (Rd 4 pick 121 by Bills in '09) 80 Schouman, Derek TE 6-2 223 25 3 Boise State (Rd 7 pick 222 by Bills in '07) 88 Stupar, Jonathan TE 6-3 254 25 2 Virginia (undrafted) The Bills drafting TE's since 2002: 2009- Shawn Nelson- 4th (121) 2008- Derek Fine- 4th (132) 2007- Derek Schouman- 7th (222) (He was listed as a FB in college) 2005- Kevin Everett- 3rd (86) 2004- Tim Euhus- 4th (109) That's it. Everett may get a pass because he suffered a knee injury in his first camp, and obviously had his career end in tragic fashion....but before the neck injury there were whispers of his failed potential. When you look at the major producers in the league, it takes generally a high pick to fill the void. Based on that list above, you could say definitely top-70 and more likely a top-50 pick to get an elite TE. Jeremey Shockey made tight ends valuable like Polumalu made safeties valuable. It changes your whole scheme when you have a top-line player in those spots, and creates match-up nightmares. That's why these players are coveted. The Bills seem to want to continue to fill this never-ending void with low-round picks and undrafted FA's. They shouldn't be surprised when their tight end catches 17 balls. Neither should the fans.

My general feeling is to use the Internet, subscribe to Kiplinger's, subscribe to Morningstar, get a solid tax accountant, and do it yourself. (vast generalization) I think with financial advisors that you are giving away money to somebody whose knowledge- above what is readily available for free- is not worth the price. It is a job for them and they may not necessarily have your best interests in focus. They may try to steer you towards their firm's funds and investment tools. There are great financial advisors out there who get a call before their client spends a dollar, and the clients LOVE them. As mentioned above, if you're just looking to diversify, save for retirement, save for kids' college etc. then you can do it yourself, no doubt. Just do your research. If you have financial questions beyond that involving estate, inheritence, and the like, you may want to consult a pro. I'd take a creative, professional tax accountant over a financial advisor ANY day.

You're crazy. The 30th ranking above for the TE's is on the money. They've had Capt. Checkdown as their QB for parts of three seasons and have had ZERO production out of the tight ends. Trent Edwards should be a dream QB for a TE to be productive. Get open six yards downfield, he'll find you. The Bills have a bunch of practice squad nobodys and they continue to address this need by using a 5th round pick every year and telling the fans what a "steal" they picked up. FYI- Having three tight ends means you don't have a tight end.

Not long ago the Saints fan base would've been at or near the top of this list, for just accepting mediocrity. Buying a Bills t-shirt after a 5-11 season doesn't make me a "sheep." It means I like the Bills. Nobody likes losing. The front office doesn't like it, the players don't like it, and certainly the fans don't like it. But it doesn't mean that I don't look forward to the next Sunday in September, having a few cocktails and a burger in the parking lot with my six friends and my brother, and then sitting 22 rows from a professional football game. If I worried about my team being "championship caliber" before I deemed that they were worthy of my support, I would've missed out on a lot of great games and even more great times. People who watch sports for some sort of redemption of their own personal value are really missing the big picture. Watch for entertainment, and HOPE your team wins a championship. It's a difficult task and will feel GREAT if they pull it off. But it doesn't really change anything. Ask the people in the Lower Ninth Ward how that Super Bowl has worked out for them. This is why Cowherd sucks. He cites NYC and the Yankees, which is a franchise that should be left out of ANY comparison. They are a financial anomaly. Yet he conveniently forgets the SAME market, the Knicks, Rangers, and Jets, who consistently fill the stadium and buy all the team gear, and yet have a total of three championships over 150+ combined seasons. It's only Yankees fans in NYC who "demand" a championship??? Please. The dude is a stiff.

It was widely known for a LOOOOONG time that Dez Bryant's mother had problems. It was widely known that Dez grew up in a house where drug use was rampant and there were constantly people moving thru. Dez Bryant has told this story before. So obviously every NFL team knew he didn't have a "1950's suburban" upbringing, including the Dolphins. Now to this question you don't think was out of line...What if the answer was "Yes"? What if the answer was "No"? Knowing what you know already about Dez Bryant, how does the answer to the prostitute question factor into your evaluation of the player? Additionally, what if the Dolphins drafted Dez Bryant? Can you imagine starting out your term of employment with a company who asks you in the interview if your mom is a whore? Is that the appropriate way to begin a relationship? Would that employer EVER have your complete respect? I think it was extremely unprofessional. Nobody has been able to explain to me how this information benefits the Dolphins. The only answer I get is, "They're going to pay him $30 million." So the F what??? You don't turn off your human filter, ever. And giving someone a boatload of money isn't an excuse to disrespect him. Why didn't they ask him if he surfs for child porn and likes fondling children? Don't they have a right to know??? I mean, they're going to give him all that money...It's not out of line...Right???

I say go with "The 12 Pack"

There are a few ways to look at this. Let me begin by saying Boston is far from a powerhouse, I'm not trying to paint them that way. Pittsburgh is most definitely a powerhouse and is easily the favorite to win the East now. However... In 2007-08, Boston finished #8 in the East, and faced #1 Montreal who dominated the Bruins, winning all 8 during the regular season. Boston got down 2-0 and 3-1, but forced a game 7 where they were eliminated. In 2008-09, they were #1 in the East (by a mile) and were one point behind San Jose (117 to 116) for the President's Trophy. Boston led the league (by a mile) with a +78 goal differential. In the playoffs, they swept the Canadiens VERY easily in the 1st round. Against Carolina in Rd 2, they won the first game, lost the next three, and then battled back to tie the series, only to lose game 7 in OT. In 2010, that same team is essentially intact. They will get Marc Savard back for the 2nd round, which should at the very least provide a boost to their power play, which was successful in Rd 1 to begin with. Before Halak's performances in the last two games, they had the best goalie in the playoffs. They have a solid, big, veteran team who plays with a nasty demeanor. I'm not saying they would or should be favored to advance in any series, but they are far from a pushover, and don't "suck" at all. Any series victory by them shouldn't be a huge surprise. They are in their 3rd consecutive year of playoff battles with essentially the same roster. And now they have home ice in Rd 2. If Rask plays like he's played all year, they are dangerous.

Wow, what a wild game, that was pretty sweet. I think the playoffs are better and hockey is better off with the Capitals in the mix, but I'm glad Montreal won. A hot goalie and power play goals in 6 out of 7 games. Plus taking 3 out of 4 in Washington, where the Caps DOMINATED during the regular season. The Caps beat up on their cupcake division all year, but reverted to their typical gag form in the playoffs. Love it.

Flag on the play.

This is terribly frustrating, because it's proof they can play a certain style when they CHOOSE to do it. They show the ability to sacrifice the body and play with urgency and get pucks on goal and crash the net. Unfortunately, they typically don't choose to do it until they're trailing by one after 57 minutes. In playoff games against a divisional rival that are consistently decided by one goal, it's baffling that professional players would need to be reminded that barrelling into the corner on a forecheck in the 1st period could result in a goal that is just as important as one with two minutes left.

More from the rumor mill: Even though the Sharks are on to the 2nd round, Darcy has already contacted Patrick Marleau's agent. However, the offer was so low that the NHL doesn't plan to pursue tampering charges.

Looks like he just caught a pass in the flat from Edwards on 3rd & 9 and is about to pick up 6 yards.

Lydman was always a favorite whipping boy of mine, but other than about a two week downspell, he had an excellent season. He and Myers were easily the two best D-men. Tallinder was pretty solid as well, and his help as Myers' defensive partner shouldn't be overlooked as a key to Myers' easy transition. Montador was average at the start, horrible mid-season, and dependable toward the end and in the playoffs. Rivet was absolutely horrible. Slow, weak, and bad hands is not the hat trick you want in hockey.

Bail money and fines, while more expensive than a taxi, will still be much cheaper than a DUI.

Yes yes Chef Jim, as crazy as it may sound to a nerd like you, occasionally some friends (hmmm...I better explain this...human beings that have faces, not avatars, and you can actually speak to them rather than typing) will come over and we'll cook up a bunch of food, order a boatload of wings, and drink beyond the legal limts. It just so happens that there is a decent amount of food to be sent home with these folks, while the rest is refrigerated. I hope that helps. In such a case, I eat my refrigerated wings COLD the next day! Something just doesn't seem right when they're reheated.

I agree man...I always seem to agree with most of your posts about the Sabres...Pretty measured, they are far from the greatest team ever when they win, and far from the worst team ever when they lose. They've signed Connolly to two contracts now when he's been pretty worthless. "A point-per-game player when he's healthy" as Darcy calls him. Well, he's rarely been healthy, and when he is, he performs a major disappearing act when it matters. Truthfully, the fact that he stuck his nose into the fray and scored that tying goal in Ottawa in game 1 2006 is amazing...He plays like the most unclutch player I could imagine. Roy is the least of this team's problems. In an 82 game season, he is probably their best forward in 50 of those. Granted, when he's bad, he's bad. But he continues to produce on a team that severely lacks production. Simon mentioned in a post that Pominville makes Roy look like Gretzky. I agree. I don't know what it is, I can't stand Pominville. I know he's produced also (on a team that lacks production.) Something about his game drives me crazy. He seems a step behind, and super predictable with shots and passes. And he's as soft as they come. As for Lindy...I am on the fence. He seems to get a MAJOR pass, consistently, because of the roster. Yet, everyone consistently talks about the great relationship he has with Regier (both about to enter their 14th season.) If you think Lindy has nothing to do with the players who have departed or been acquired, you're crazy. I really think Ruff is living off of the ECF and SCF runs of 98-99, and the ECF runs of 05-06. He has been lackluster otherwise, even with the best goalie in the world between the pipes. Like buftex said, it seems to be many of the same issues that plague the team. The Sabres have missed the playoffs in 6 of his 13 seasons. Take it for what it's worth, but everyone blames Drew Stafford for "sucking" (which he may.) However, he entered the NHL playing loose, and used his size and skill as a benefit on a 3rd line to score goals on a talented team. Now he's so twisted up about "the system" and his responsibilities that he's a mess and a healthy scratch. Raffi Torres commented several times on how hard it was to get assimilated to the Sabres style, and scored zero goals for the Sabres since the trade deadline (in what every "hockey person" out there thought was a good trade for Buffalo.) Well, they won a division title, so they were doing something right. I'm just saying, Ruff has a history of snuffing out the creativity of players who might require some extra rope to be successful. Thomas Vanek could be a 50 goal scorer in this league but Lindy will likely keep him in the 27 range, while making snide comments to the media about what Vanek was missing in his "defensive responsibilities." Like you said buftex, dissapointing loss. I wasn't ready for it to end, I would've loved a game 7 and would've loved the Pittsburgh challenge (with home ice.) But this team just didn't have it. Boston's supposedly anemic offense made Buffalo's forwards look like a joke. The PP was horrid, much as it was in 2006. They have an all-world goalie for the second time in a decade. They blew it once. The second guy will be 30 this offseason. It's time to take a serious run at this thing. If they continue with the status quo and the "internal improvement" model, then they just don't get it. The recent drafts have been promising. But they players they've chosen to build around, and the free agent (or lack of) signings have been less than inspiring. This next season will be a big one for Lindy and the front office. Now this "young" team has playoff experience, in a tough series against a rival. Now it's time to take the next step.