Random Thoughts: Fans wanting Kotalik...My Sabres wishlist...What I'm looking forward to with the Bills..and Vincent Jackson

---I must have been drunk or on some serious drugs when I came on Twitter the other day. You see, twitterites were leaving statuses about wanting to have Ales Kotalik return to the Sabres. Then I thought, wait, I don't do drugs and I'm not drinking (at the moment), this is really happening!! People, I understand we are desperate for the Sabres to make any move possible. Hell, I'd think if the Sabres signed any guy that played 80 games at the NHL level last year, there would be some sort of parade.

However, Kotalik?? Are you nuts!? Kotalik makes Tim Connolly look like Danny Briere. Do I even need to get into how his intensity resembles a bologna sandwich? Sorry, but I don't care how good he performs in shootouts, I wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole. Honestly, I don't want to sound sexist, but I think the majority of fans that want him to return, happen to be girls. For whatever reason, some girls find the guy to be attractive. Anyways, he's not coming back. So, enjoy the KHL, Ales---

---I know this won't happen and I don't even know why I'm even blogging about it, but why not give the San Diego Chargers a call and see what it would take to get Vincent Jackson. Jackson is an incredible talent and is coming off back to back 1,000 yard seasons. I know he would cost the Bills a lot in salary and compensation (2nd and 4th), but he does have ties with Buddy Nix and my confidence in James Hardy and Stevie Johnson isn't exactly sky high. More importantly, Jackson is still very young and would offer size and ability to catch balls in traffic that has been missing from the Bills since, well, last year with Terrell Owens---

---I know the word excitement and the upcoming Bills 2010 season aren't exactly going to go hand and foot. However, I have to say that I'm kind of intrigued to see how Chan Gailey utilizes Fred Jackson, Marshawn Lynch and CJ Spiller. I know most fans and media members are too busy trying to figure out ways to poke holes at Lynch staying in a Bills uniform. However, if you put aside your dislike towards Lynch, you could easily make the case that the Bills running back situation may be the team's strongest position.

The cool part is that all three running backs bring something different to the table. Spiller is the scat back, who is going to be used primarily in the passing game and is that home run threat the Bills desperately need. Lynch can be the type of back that can break tackles and has a tendency to make something out of nothing. Jackson can kind of do it all with running, catching and blocking. If the Bills have any chance in going...um, 7-9, they need for their running game to really take the pressure off their below average quarterback play and their new 3-4 defense---

---Alright, so we are on the eve of NHL free agency. Man, you know Sabres fans hate this time of year. It's as if you're at the school dance and everyone is asked to tango, yet, you're the only person sitting there alone and looking on in a jealous state of mind. Yes, that's free agency in a nut shell. Look, I can sit here and list you a bunch of free agents or guys that seem to be on the trading block. Instead, I'm going to make this simple: The Sabres need to find a legit playmaking center and a puck moving defenseman. These seem to be the first two qualifications on anyone's wish list. However, I'd like to add one more qualification to the list. I'd love to get a defenseman, whose M.O. is to decleat (or is it deskate?) any offensive player that skates in the offensive zone.

I remember watching the Bruins/Sabres series and the one player that jumped out at me was Johnny Boychuk. No, it wasn't because he injured Thomas Vanek in game 2, but it was because the Sabres didn't have anyone like him on the blueline. I know everyone is all about finding a playmaking defenseman, but I'd love to have someone that would be able to put the fear of god into the opposition---

Monday Thoughts: Bills quarterback depth chart...Sabres draft...Darcy Regier is insane..What is next for soccer?...and more

Bills Thoughts

--I've said all along that I don't really care who the starting quarterback for the Buffalo Bills is going to be. If you look at the body of work from all three quarterbacks, they aren't exactly shouting out starter material. If you are going to judge their history, it would seem that whoever wins the job is probably going to start for say...4-5 weeks, if that. Then after that, it becomes a quarterback carousel. If you ask me, the only thing that is up for grabs is going to be who has the first crack at the starting job. However, have no fear quarterbacks (Unless you're talking about pass protection), I'm sure you will get a starting nod sooner or later--

--Here's what concerns me: Don't you think it's a little too much to have three quarterbacks battling for the starting job in training camp? There are only so many reps a player can get, and since they are learning a new system, wouldn't you want your starter to have as many snaps as possible? I can't think of the last NFL team that had a quarterback competition with three guys. Yes, I know, Gailey has his own depth chart for the most important position on the team, but I'd like for him to make it more official on the field, rather than in his own mind--

--If I were a betting man, I think Trent Edwards comes away as the starter. That's just my gut feeling. I think the Bills hierarchy of Ralph Wilson and Tom Modrak have always been high on him. Yes, I know, there's a couple of new sheriffs in town to dispute that, but I still think that hearing how Wilson was all over the selection of Edwards in 2007, has to have some sort of clout--

--BTW, I know some fans think that Gailey is going to be able to come in here and waive his magic wand and turn around the careers of whoever starts at quarterback. Sorry, but if you think I'm suppose to look at Gailey's career in teaching Jay Fielder and Tyler Thigpen how to play quarterback as evidence to have confidence in his coaching abilities, then you must really believe in Santa Clause. Sorry, but those Dolphins teams that people want to point to were successful because of their defense, not because of Fielder.

Oh, and don't get me started on Thigpen. He played on team that had to constantly throw the ball down field because their defense was so deplorable, that they had to play catch-up the entire time. Look, will the Bills quarterbacks play better? Sure, anything is better than having 1st time offensive coordinators (IE: Van Pelt and Schonert) teaching you how to play quarterback, but judging by Gailey's credentials, he's no Mike Shanahan.

Lastly, it should be noted that the only time Gailey had pro-bowl caliber offensive players was during his time in Dallas and those players ran him off because of his offense. If you don't believe me, the proof is in the pudding. From 1996-2002, Gailey's passing offenses were ranked in the following: 27th, 22nd, 9th, 24th, 27th and 19th. Hey, I'm just repeating what I read, so don't shoot the messenger--

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Sabres thoughts

--I'd be willing to bet dollars to donuts that car accidents in city of Buffalo must have doubled between the time of 5:45-5:46PM on Friday evening. You see, Darcy Regier was on WGR with The Bulldog and stated one of his most insanely, idiotic statements to date. Regier said that he believes that the Sabres have two of the top 20 centers in the NHL.

No, the Sabres didn't trade for Jeff Carter and Patrick Sharp. Instead, he was talking about Derek Roy and Tim Connolly. CRRRRASSSSSSSSSSSH. Exsqueeze me? Baking powder? I've heard some whoppers that have come out of the mouth of Darcy Regier, but with those comments, someone needs to put a blue and gold straight jacket on the GM and drop him off at the same asylum that The Joker and Poison Ivy are staying at. BTW, if you played back Regier's lip quivering press conference at the end of the year, didn't it seem like he was over Connolly? Now, I guess they are back to being BFFs.

If Regier really believes in those two players, there's no way in hell the Sabres are going to shake-up their top six forwards...ever! I mean, we may as well retire the jerseys of those guys. Hell, I may as well not go on Twitter or read Hockeybuzz.com during the offseason. I mean, what's the point?

I really hope that Regier made those comments in order to send a message to other GMs that he's not just giving away Roy and Connolly. You know, posturing the market or whatever it's called. However, something tells me that he truly believes that. This is the same guy who said that resigning Tim Connolly at the trade deadline was considered the biggest deadline move the team could make. I'm sure there are other gems that I can reference from Regier's idiotic quote book, but I'm saving those for July 5th--

--Now, if you are looking for me to bag on the Sabres draft because they decided to select "safe" defenseman, well, you've come to the wrong place. I hate drafts. All of them! Military drafts, drafts from the door being opened, Backdraft the movie, MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL drafts. All of them make my skin crawl. The only kind of draft that I am into, happens to come from the tap at a bar. I said this during the NFL draft and without question it holds even more truer in regards to the NHL draft; Fans and media members who give grades on drafts are complete idiots.

I'm sorry, but I seriously doubt anyone in Buffalo has ever watched the Sabres 1st round pick play in a hockey game. Even if they did, there's no way you can tell if the kid's skills can translate in the pro game. Not to mention, the guy isn't even going to play a lick of NHL hockey until the year 2013 and that's whether he can survive the minors or some Ontario hockey league that I've never heard of. There's no reason to get bent out of shape on who the Sabres select.

The NHL draft is the biggest crapshoot in all of sports. It's really the only draft of the major four sports that the possibility of a player not wearing your jersey happens regularly. Which is why I don't understand the Sabres love for their draft picks.

In the end, you can't judge a draft until 3-4 years from now, so why try doing it now?--

--Now, I know some people weren't thrilled with the Sabres love for drafting more...and more defenseman. However, here's the thing you have to understand about the Sabres, their system is predicated on being able to get rid of older players that start making too much money and replacing them with younger, cheaper talent. As of now, it looks like the Sabres are saying goodbye to Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder. From the looks of it, we are going to be talking about a very inexperienced blueline for next year.

The Sabres don't know if Mike Weber, Chris Butler and Andrej Sekera can play in the NHL. As much as I'd love for the Sabres to kill off a couple of their top six forwards, good or bad, those guys can play at the NHL level. More importantly, the core forwards are signed for another 3-5 years (Vanek, Roy and Pommer) and judging by what Regier said about Roy, no one is getting moved.

As for the younger guys I've mentioned, we can't say that those players can play in the NHL. By drafting a ton of d-men, the Sabres are in essence giving their young kids a year or two to get their heads on straight and if they don't, all these young draft picks are going to be next in line. Of course, the simpler solution would have been to resign either Tallinder or Lydman, but that costs too much money (Eye roll)--

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Soccer thoughts:

--I was really sad to see Team USA get knocked out of the round of 16. Yes, it was a nice tournament showing, but the bottom line is that we have seen the US get to this point before, only to get knocked out before we could go out and buy a Landon Donovan jersey. They made it to the round of 16 in 1994 and 2002, and I'm sure the commentary from the experts were probably the same as they are now:

"Oh, this team is on the rise and the next time around, they are going to have plenty of experience to go deep into the World Cup"

Unfortunately, the way it has been working for the States is that every time they take two steps forward, they take another step back when they make their return to The World Cup. In both 1998 and 2006, USA didn't even it make it to the elimination round. Lets hope the third time is a charm in 2014--

--Of course, we are now going to hear the questions on whether soccer can become popular in the states because of the showing at the World Cup. The answer is no. Look, this has nothing to do with the game of soccer, hell you can lump in the NHL when it comes to reasons both respective sports have a long hill battle with becoming relevant in our sports culture. It has to do with competition. There are just too many options out there for the casual sports fan to enjoy.

There's a reason why a sport like UFC has made such strides over the last 5 years, it has to do with the lack of competition. Boxing is a complete joke and unless Steve Austin and The Rock are going back to wrestle, it's a runaway for UFC. Team sports like the NFL, MLB and the NBA are just too much to deal with for MLS and the NHL.

In order for those sports to really make it in American culture, they need for something catastrophic to happen to their competition. I'm talking a major drug/sex/gambling scandal of major proportions. Think the Black Sox scandal meets Ben Roethlisberger's nightlife. Maybe a possible lockout for the NBA and NFL in 2011 can do the trick.

Bottom line: Someone needs to drop the ball--

Sabres fans versus Bills fans

I've been meaning to write a post about this topic for a long time. The problem was that I just couldn't figure out a way to format my thoughts onto my computer. Well, I think I got it figured out. Let me start out with a history lesson. You see, when I was growing up, I was a die hard Bills fans. They were my first love and for the most part, they were head and shoulders above the other sports team in Buffalo, the Sabres. However, even though the Bills were more popular, there didn't seem to be this "us versus them" approach between both fan bases.

In other words: I kind of felt that we were all on the same page. Sure, there were some people who liked the Sabres more or vice verse, but there was always this sort of bond where you would want the other team to do well. You didn't look at the other franchise as being the ugly, red headed step-child. Sure, you had favorites, but in the end, you wanted Buffalo to win no matter what jersey they were wearing.

I think that sort of thought process still holds up with Bills fans today. As for Sabres fans, well, I'm not so sure.

You see, one of the reasons why I started writing this blog was because I was so sick and tired of listening to WGR crap all over the NFL, and then hold the NHL and the Sabres up as if they were part of the royal family. To this day, hosts like Mike Schopp, always find a way to crap on the NFL. Even after the thrilling playoff game between the Saints and Vikings, he wouldn't shut up about some stupid call that may have had a 20% chance of changing the trajectory of the actual game.

If you don't believe me, all you have to do is listen to WGR's round table they aired the other day. They spoke about the Bills for like seven minutes and nearly spent an hour on the Sabres and free agency. Of course, they exchanged a couple of insults on the Bills popularity in Buffalo. What makes me laugh is that the Sabres aren't going to do jack shit in free agency, so why even bother talking about it? Now, I can list you the reasons why WGR gives an abundance of airtime to the Sabres (Does Flagship station mean anything to you?). However, why must the station and for that matter, other fans always seem to find a way to put down the other sport in order to make their personal favorite pastime seem better?

Now, before you point the finger at me, I'll admit; Yes, I have been one to take many jabs towards the NHL and Sabres fans who think their city is hockey royalty, when it was only four years ago that the city didn't give a rats ass about hockey. Honestly, the reason why I've gone after Sabres fans is because I don't feel like hearing hockey enthusiasts crap on my favorite sport. Eye for an eye, tooth for tooth sort of thing. I don't need to hear Schopp crap on the NFL because he's probably jealous that the sport gets more headlines in June than the Stanley Cup Finals does. Sorry to keep on singling out Schopp, but other people in the Buffalo media have been just as guilty of it.

Now, like I said before, Schopp and WGR have their motives for making the NHL seem as the end all be all of Buffalo sports. Keep in mind that Schopp is the same guy who denounced the NHL after the lockout and claimed that he would never watch a hockey game again, yet, it only took him about 8 months to declare Buffalo being a hockey town, rather than a football town. Of course, that statement came the first year WGR had the rights to the Buffalo Sabres broadcasts.

Now, lets get back to the fans for a second. I truly believe that some Sabres fans have a hatred towards the NFL and the Buffalo Bills. Personally, I don't think Bills fans feel the same way about the Sabres and the NHL. I've talked to a number of football fans who passively watch the Sabres play, and they seem to be of the mindset of wishing nothing but the best for the blue and gold. Now, I've also been in chats and have read other Sabres blogs, where their authors seem to have the mindset of having a Bills free zone and if you mention them, you're going to get shit for it.

I can remember one time when I was visiting family in Buffalo, I was hanging out at Buffalo Wild Wings and there was a Sabres preseason game on TV. Next to our table, there were a group of Sabres fans that were really into this exhibition game. These guys were acting as if they were watching game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

They were going crazy and getting all amped up over some douche bag that wasn't even good enough to make the Rochester Americans. Now, during the game, Bills highlights came on the other TV set and these hockey fans just started ripping on the team and the NFL. They just couldn't shut up with the insults. Now, the insults weren't about the Bills sucking, it was mostly geared towards not giving a crap about the team. After hearing all of that, I couldn't help but think to myself: Dudes, you're cheering for the BUFFALO Sabres. You know, the key word happens to be BUFFALO! Why would you decide to just totally shit on the other BUFFALO team? Not to mention, it was preseason hockey!!

There's a reason why I watch the NHL, it's because the Sabres represent Buffalo. Maybe the Sabres success story after the post lockout triggered most fans to decide that enough was enough and it was time for hockey to be in the forefront of popularity in Buffalo. Sometimes success can make people start voicing their opinions more. Sabres fans may have heard enough about the city being a football town and in the process, they stopped pretending to be the football team's little brother. It's kind of like when Kobe Bryant started becoming an all-star and he didn't want to be considered Shaq's little brother anymore.

Now, I can get into a bunch of reasons why I feel that some Sabres fans hate the Bills. It can be a combination of not liking the NFL to being jealous of the publicity the sport gets. However, like I said in my opening, I find it to be that most Bills fans are more inclined to say "Ah salute" to the Sabres. Now, you may be thinking that I'm making Sabres fans out to be these arrogant types of people, who shove their noses up when they think of some drunk wearing Zubaz, who happens to be cheering for a Bills team that are 2-12. Maybe I am.

I just think that if you were to get a group of Bills and Sabres fans together in one room, it would kind of resemble a high school dance where the girls would be on one side of the gym, while the the boys would be on the other side. I think the boys (Representing the Bills), would try to converse with the girls (Sabres), and would mostly get turned away by the ladies.

Now, I get that I'm probably writing about a small percentage of the Buffalo fan base. I know there are a number of Sabres and Bills fans that intertwine with each others love for football and hockey. I just happen to be really sick and tired of hearing others crap on each other's sports. It's as if we are back in Elementary school and kids are saying that "My daddy is better than your daddy because he's an astronaut." It's like with the World Cup. Now, I'm not a huge soccer fan, but I do happen to think it's kind of a cool sport. However, you start getting all these people who come out of the woodwork, who crap on soccer and at the same time, soccer fans then start putting down the NFL.

In the end: Why can't we all just love the Bills and the Sabres? I love professional sports. If there's a cup or jockstrap involved, I'm watching it on TV (Eh, that sounded bad). Whether it's the Bisons, the Blizzard, or the Blitzers, if they have the name Buffalo attached to them, I'm cheering for them. Sure, you can pick favorites, but do you have to make it a point to shit on the other sport to make your sport cooler? I don't think so.

What do you think? Do you sense an adversary relationship between Bills and Sabres fans? Do you find Sabres fans to be haters of the Bills? Do you think Bills fans are more inclined to cheer for the Sabres? Am I just full of shit?

PS: I'm going to do some small posts dedicated to the differences between Bills and Sabres fans. Some of the posts will be comical, while others will be serious.

Random Thoughts

-Now, I haven't been paying attention to soccer as much as I should be, but I have to say that today's soccer game against Algeria was one for the books for USA Soccer. Now, is it the biggest goal in US Soccer history? I guess. However, will the goal be remembered? Well, it depends on how far the US team goes. They have been to the final 16 (Or whatever the playoffs are called) before and haven't had much luck during the elimination round. If they are one and down, the goal will be an afterthought for US Soccer-

-Memo to Ryan Miller: Yes, the Sabres had a nice regular season and maybe the team should get more credit for winning the division. However, how many cities in America are disappointed when their teams are one and done in the playoffs? A majority, and winning the championship is the ultimate goal for any fan base. Not to mention, you must not understand the disappointment that Buffalo fans have gone through yearly with their sports teams. Sorry, but I think it's safe to say that fans are sick of the glass half-full approach with the Sabres (Unless you're an apologist). Winning is what counts, not being average-

-So, let me get this straight: WGR sends Paul Hamilton to the stupid NHL Awards Ceremony and to a Draft, where players won't even make an impact until the year 2013. Yet, WGR refuses to pay for NFL experts to come on their shows to talk about the Bills NFL draft. BTW, I'm still waiting for the afternoon hosts to give me any sort of Bills draft recap. Well, at least we can get recaps of The Bachelor (Sigh)-

-So, you want to know what the Sabres company line is going to be this summer to sugarcoat the discontent from the fan base? I think having Tyler Myers and Ryan Miller winning awards are going to be their rally cry. I can already see Larry Quinn going on WGR and preaching about the future. I'm sure he'll come up with some stupid stat that the Sabres are the youngest team in the Northeast part of the country and have scored the most goals for players under the age of 22. Of course, he'll do the standard putting down of other teams in order to make the Sabres look better. Yup, that's the Sabres MO; they will always point to the future because Buffalo fans will always believe in their youth. They believe because they are so sick and tired of seeing the same average players like Derek Roy and Tim Connolly play on this team. Wait, it's not July 5th, so I can't kill the Sabres...yet-

-Sorry, but just because the Blackhawks had to trade Dustin Byfuglien and others to Atlanta, doesn't mean their world is coming to an end. They are going to be just fine because they have so much depth and talent-

-BTW, I have absolutely no interest in seeing some schmooze of an award show that has a fricken has-been hosting it and a rock band, who hasn't been big outside of Buffalo since 1996 perform/appear on a awards show. Yes, I'll tune in for the Vezina and Calder trophy presentations, but after that, peace out-

-FYI: I'll be shocked if Miller doesn't win the Vezina and that has nothing to do with whether he is better than Brodeur or Bryzgalov. If you were to look at hockey for this season (Including the Olympics and NHL), Miller was easily in the top five for most relevant player in American culture for hockey. The NHL would love to have an Olympic hero like Miller to take home the award for best goalie. No one outside of Phoenix gives a crap about Bryzgalov. As for Brodeur, the guy has been there and done that. Bottom line: The NHL isn't going to let Ryan Miller go home without getting a cheap headline...and I'm NOT talking about the all-star goalie attending the Twilight Movie premiere-

Some random Monday thoughts

With 10 days left until the start of NHL free agency and most fans clamoring for the Sabres to make a roster move or two, I've decided to give the Sabres until July 5th. In other words, if the Sabres don't make a significant move by that day, and I'm not talking about re-signing Tallinder or signing Montador version 2.0, then I am declaring war on Darcy Regier.

Now, if you were to put a gun to my head and ask me what I think is going to happen, my prediction would be as followed: They are going to cut loose Tallinder and Lydman, sign a low-end defenseman that makes like 1.5 million dollars a year and then sign/trade for some guy that gets like 10-15 goals a year. Now, if that sounds like a successful offseason to you, then you must be glowing with anticipation for Trent Edwards taking the field under Chan Gailey's offense. I just don't believe that the Sabres will trade away a guy like Connolly or Roy.

Yes, I'm sure you all think that I'm just being negative and channeling my inner Bucky Gleason, but I've watched this regime over the years to know that I have seen enough to know that I am NOT going to see enough in the offseason. When your GM has only made two summer trades in the last seven years, what makes you think it's going to be any different this offseason? What? So Larry Quinn and Regier were emotional during their year end conferences? This team didn't make the playoffs last year and they only added Mike Grier and Montador. They are coming off a division title, so why would they make changes if they didn't last year? Honestly, tell me what makes you think it's going to be different?

Still waiting....

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Quick Thoughts:

--Does it really matter who the hell the Bills starting quarterback is in September? All along, I've been wanting Brian Brohm to get the nod over Edwards and Ryan Fitzpatrick. It's mainly due to not wanting to see another year of Captain Check Down and Jim Breuer. However, if you think about it, none of these guys are probably going to do much, if anything this year. In other words, the Bills franchise quarterback isn't on the roster, so why stress out about who should be the guy?--

--Not to sound all negative today, as I'm sure I'll get to a positive thought sooner or later, but I'd like to say that I just don't give a rats ass about the NHL Draft. Sorry, but I don't. The majority of these guys drafted are either never going to make it to the parent club or they will make it to Buffalo by the year 2013. Yes, I know, spare me with the emails on Tyler Myers. That kid is a once in a lifetime...OK, more like a once every five years type of draft pick. Bottom line: I can't get excited about drafting guys who won't make an impact until I'm 33 years old--

--Now, if you want to get excited about drafting some 18-year kid, then by my guest. However, don't try acting as if you are excited about the future because of whoever the Sabres drafted. No one knows what these guys are going to do or whether they will even make it to the parent club--

--I'm no soccer expert, but it looks like Brazil is taking the World Cup. They look unstoppable. Then again, I don't know d#$k about soccer--

--Back to the Sabres for a minute. Yes, I've read the rumors about Tomas Kaberle and Nathan Horton, but my goodness, how many rumors have we heard over the years involving the Sabres? How many of these trade scenarios actually came true? Wasn't there a rumor we were gonna get Teemu Selanne last year? Here's the thing about the Sabres, they don't let anything out of the bag on what their intentions are. I can't think of a rumor that has come true involving the Sabres--

--I definitely would love to have Kaberle on this team. Last year, the Sabres were brutal on the power play and it really came crashing down against Boston in the playoffs. They need a quarterback on the blue-line to deal with their woes of moving the puck and getting shots on net. The Sabres haven't had an offensive defenseman since Brian Campbell and before that it was..um...Jason Wooelly? Any hoot, I think we can all say that they need some new life on the blueline. It's time to stop messing around with Jason Pominville or Derek Roy on the point during the power play--

--As for Nathan Horton, honestly, I don't know much about him. Sorry, but I follow the Sabres, the teams in their division and some of the top tier teams. As for the teams down south, well, they may as well play in South America. This is all I know about Horton, his numbers sound very similar to what Derek Roy brings to the table and he has the exact same contract. Now, here's the thing that worries me, I listened to Paul Hamilton the other day and he mentioned that Horton needs someone like Lindy Ruff to motivate him. Whoa, stop for a second. Why would the Sabres trade a guy like Roy, who by all intense purposes doesn't listen to his coach and has nights that he's just coasting, for a guy that needs motivation? Does that make any sense to you?--

--Look, I'm all for changing the culture of this team, but getting someone that needs motivation isn't changing the culture. In fact, it's just adding to the culture. We have enough guys on this team that need motivation. Now, I've heard some apologists mention that Lindy Ruff was able to motivate Daniel Briere when he came to Buffalo as a reason to believe in Horton. However, that was seven years ago. How many players have the Sabres brought in from other teams that have fallen on their faces?--

--Now, if the Sabres did trade Roy for Horton, I wouldn't kill them for it. As a matter of fact, I'd probably be cool with the deal. It would at least prove to me that they are serious about making some changes that don't involve their jerseys. However, I'd rather have them get a guy who has the same production as a Horton, but that doesn't need to be motivated. In other words: Someone that doesn't really need our help to straighten out their career--

--How about Patrick Sharp? Here's a guy that has seen it all. He's been on losing and Stanley Cup winning teams. That's something I'd like the Sabres to find this offseason, a guy that knows what it takes to get to the promise land. The Sabres haven't had a player on their roster with Stanley Cup winning experience since Chris Drury. I think it's time to find the next young leader with some real playoff experience. Plus, Sharp can play--

Another rant on Marshawn Lynch

Finally, Marshawn Lynch decided to grace his presence at the ever so important (Sigh) OTAs. I was hoping that because of his appearance, we wouldn't have to hear the media kill Lynch anymore. I was hoping I could just turn the page on this whole overblown Lynch saga. However, after hearing his interview with the local media, I just can't....and it has nothing to do with the running back.

Now, before I get on my soapbox, I understand that when you are interviewing an athlete who doesn't really want to talk to begin with, you are going to have issues as a reporter. You have so little time to hammer out questions to your interview subject that you need to think quickly on your feet. However, if you listen to the whole Lynch presser, which only lasts about four minutes, some of the questions asked of him were just so idiotic. For one, Chris Brown of Bills.com, decided to ask Marshawn questions about his weight. HUH? Yes, his fricken weight?! Not only did he ask one question about his eating habits, but some in the press core decided to follow-up on how much Lynch is packing these days...and I'm not talking about illegal guns.

First off, no one gives a rats ass about Lynch's weight! Even if Lynch was the starting tailback, I couldn't care less if he was eating five square meals a day or smoking weed to get the late night munchies. It's pathetic journalism to ask him a stupid question like that, especially when people have been building up his disdain for being here for the last five months. Then you wonder why fans in Buffalo feel that the media doesn't do enough to ask hard questions. His weight?...please.

Here's the bottom line on the whole Lynch saga: I haven't given two shits about him not attending OTAs. Like I've said all along, I don't care about the 3rd string running back practicing in voluntary workouts. Here's what I would have asked Marshawn if I were at the presser:

"Marshawn, recently you had an interview with Yahoo.com talking about how you're misunderstood and how you've been mistreated by the city of Buffalo. You mentioned that your dogs were being taken away and someone threw beer at your car. How do you feel about the city?"

Honestly, that's what the media should be focusing on. In my opinion, that is going to be the defining moment for Marshawn Lynch and the Buffalo Bills. People keep talking about how Lynch not attending OTAs and being a mistake away from a major suspension are the real issues involved. It's not. I wrote after he was being investigated for stealing 20 bucks from a cop's wife, that the story wasn't going to paint Buffalo in a nice light with NFL players. His agent and Kawika Mitchell's comments about the Buffalo Police Department being full of racist rogues didn't help matters. When you also add in fans throwing beer at your car and the city taking away your pitbulls, I just don't think it's going to make would be free agents bang on their agent's doors to call Ralph Wilson and Buddy Nix.

That's what should be the core of the Lynch saga. Those sort of stories are going to effect the Bills more in the long term than whether Lynch knows Gailey's offense in June. People must realize that players talk to each other and when they hear stories like these, it's not going to help the Bills in recruiting players.

Look, I love Buffalo and speak highly about it to co-workers. However, most outsiders don't know any better and think it's a hell hole. Part of me thinks that Lynch had stayed away from OTAs because he doesn't want to be in Buffalo....and I'm not talking about playing for the team. I'm talking about being in the city itself. Personally, he may think that he's being targeted by the cops and would rather chill in California than be here and risk getting in more trouble.

7 things that may change if the NFL went to a 18-game schedule

I just read a report that the NFL Players Association and the league just had a meeting involving the likelihood of adapting an 18-game schedule. If this new schedule goes down, it's going to change a couple of things about the way your NFL team prepares on and off the field.

7) Games at neutral sites

For the last few seasons, the Bills have always gloated about being able to sell over 53,000 season tickets. However, one of factors involved with selling so many season tickets is that buyers only have to purchase seven home games, while the 8th home game takes place in Toronto. That sort of international experiment that the Bills have used, makes me think that the NFL is going to adopt a similar philosophy. Look for multiple regular season games to take place in venues from China to Mexico. The NFL is all about making as much money as possible. I assure you, that money can come in the form of pesos or euros.

6) Running back by committee will be a given

As of right now, just over half the NFL teams have a running back by committee philosophy. Most teams have made the case that by having two different types of running backs, gives the offense more options. Of course, it also prolongs a running backs shelf life. If the NFL goes to an 18-game schedule, there's no way in hell you can have a running back carry the ball 20-25 times a game. I mean, you could, but that running back is going to be dead by the age of 25.

5) Expanding rosters

Remember all those injuries that the Bills suffered last year? Well, if you throw in two extra regular season games, then you probably are going to have open tryouts by November. I'm sure Al Bundy or the dude from the movie Invincible will be loving that sort of idea. In other words, they are going to have to expand the 53-man roster for NFL teams. Injuries are a part of the game and since the games are going to be expanding, so should the roster size.

4) Stats will become water downed

Remember when 2,000 yards rushing and 4,000 yards passing were milestones for an NFL player? Well, what's going to happen when you add two games to the equation? Obvious answer: those stats are going to be much easier to accomplish. I guess having a 2,500 yard rushing season would warrant some sort of acclaim. Say goodbye to Dan Marino's regular season passing yard record and the same goes for Eric Dickerson's rushing record. Ugh, I can only imagine the sort of analysis that will come into play by comparing today to yester years: "Well, this guy had an extra game to play, so his season shouldn't be regarded as the greatest in league history."

3) Salaries will be going up

Well, if you are playing two extra games per season, by my math, an NFL player is going to get a 10-15% raise. That's all I got for you on this one.

2) Not as many preseason games

Hooray!!! How many times over the years have you said that preseason games suck? Well, from the looks of it, we are all going to get our wish and preseason games are going to be cut down to just two. Thank god! You want to know what the worst part about preseason football is? Well, it's NOT having to watch back-up players, who will be bagging groceries by September 1st play in meaningless games; it's having fans and media members jump to ridiculous conclusions after watching the first team offense or defense play in an exhibition game. Preseason football is a complete joke, a farce, a mirage...it just doesn't exist. Coaches and players use remedial game planning in order to not get star players hurt. Plus, they don't want to tip the opposition on what kind of plays they plan on running during the regular season.

1) New match-ups

OK, this happens to be my idea. I think if the NFL goes to an 18-game schedule, they should implement a rivalry weekend for games. The same sort of match-ups that Major League Baseball has for Interleague Play. The NFL would make so much money off yearly match-ups, like the Giants vs Jets, 49ers vs Raiders, Texans vs Cowboys and Steelers vs Eagles. That's just the tip of the iceberg. I assure you, there is nothing like going to a game between interstate/city rivals. I've been to a few Yankees vs Mets match-ups and it's really an electric atmosphere. I can only assume that if the NFL adopted this sort of format, the Bills would probably play against the Toronto Argonauts. Just kidding...I guess the Browns will have to do. Ugh...I've seen too many of those classic match-ups. Maybe we should just stick with the Argos.

Random weekend thoughts: Lynch and Gailey haven't talked...Is Schobel really retiring?..ESPN/NHL..Larry Quinn loves 2 drink..and Chicago's cap woes

Editors Note: These topics may seem a little dated, but work has been kicking my ass as of late.

It looks like Aaron Schobel has kind of made it official with his retirement...or has he? Schobel said that he wasn't ready to play football right now. However, he did mention that the ball was in the Bills court. Um, well, if you are telling me that you don't want to play football anymore, then what the hell does the ball in Bills court mean?

Of course, that's a rhetorical question, as I know exactly what the overrated defensive end is trying to say. He doesn't want to play for the Bills anymore and would rather play close to home or on a contending team. Now, I don't understand why he's going this route in order to play somewhere else. He should just come out and say, "You know what, I'm sick of losing and I want to play for a winner."

Fans will either understand the logic or they just won't give a crap about the demand. I doubt there is going to be any hard feelings from the fan base. I mean this is Aaron Schobel. A guy that no one really has an opinion about, who has never endured himself to the local folks. I can only think of two reasons why Schobel is sending mix messages to the general public on his desire to play football:

1) He doesn't want to look like a selfish player or the bad guy. Honestly, I think that's a low percentage for being the real reason. I don't think Schobel cares enough about the fans to really go out of his way to not sound like someone who hates playing for the Bills. If he really loved the fans that much and cared about what they thought of him, he would at least try and talk to the press. I'd love to actually hear what Aaron Schobel sounds like. Seriously, I can't recall ever hearing or seeing a Schobel interview. The dude is like the invisible man. I mean, for having a defensive end that ranks 2nd all-time in sacks, you would think the outcry for him not to retire would be a hell of a lot louder from the fans.

2) He's doing this passive/aggressive approach because he saw what happened when someone demanded a trade/more money from Ralph Wilson. Who am I talking? Jason Peters. When Peters demanded more money and went public with his discontent, Ralph didn't blink and some felt that he wasn't going to give him a pay raise because of the way he went about asking for it. In other words, if you demand something from Ralph Wilson, you may not get it. Maybe that's why he doesn't want to demand a trade in public.

Bottom line: If I'm the Bills, I give Schobel a call on his farm/ranch and ask him if he wants to play for a contender. If he says yes, then I would get his ass out of Buffalo. I said after the season ended that Schobel needed to get traded. He makes too much money to begin with and learning a new position in a 3-4 defense wouldn't help matters. I have no clue what a trade of Schobel would get in the open market. I think if he actually came out and said that he wanted out of Buffalo, it might actually increase the demand for him. At least teams would know he still wants to play. Then again, who the hell would want to inherit his contract?

All I know is that when Jason Taylor was traded to the Redskins at the exact same age that Schobel is now, he was able to net the Dolphins a 2nd and 7th round pick. Now, Schobel is a downgrade from what Taylor was, so maybe the Bills can get a 4th and 6th. Whatever the compensation is, I think the Bills should try to accommodate Schobel with a new destination for next year.

BTW, shouldn't Schobel playing mind-games with the Bills organization get some sort of backlash from the media? Of course not, because we have Marshawn Lynch...speaking of Lynch...

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During the media's hellbent vendetta to get Marshawn Lynch out of town, I have either been on Lynch's side or just not giving a rats ass about the 3rd string back not being at OTAs. However, this latest twist between he and Chan Gailey has me scratching my head. The two still haven't met yet? Seriously? Now, I know some people have said it's on Marshawn Lynch to go out of his way to meet with Gailey, but where the hell is that written?

If you start a new job, I don't see it written in the employee handbook that you must seek out your boss and introduce yourself. Normally, the boss will come to your cube or invite you into his office to chat. This whole communication issue between Gailey and Lynch reminds me of being single and going to a bar; only to have the stupid unwritten rule that you have to approach the girl you are interested in, but not the other way around. Hell, it can also be summed up as being in a relationship and getting into a fight with your significant other, and both of you are playing the stupid game of chicken to see who apologizes first.

Bottom line: Both parties are at fault here and one of these two knuckleheads needs to get in a room and just say "hi" to each other. That way, Sal Maiorana and the rest of the Buffalo media can shut up about their hatred towards Marshawn Lynch. BTW, anyone in the media who has Gailey's back in all of this is probably just trying to kiss his ass.

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Quick Hits

--Look, I know some people feel that the NHL needs to stay on Versus because the network treats the sport like the Italians treat soccer. However, you can't ignore how ESPN tends to overexpose any sport that they have a TV partnership with. Case in point, The World Cup. They have sent over a crew of 100's to South Africa to preview game match-ups of a sport that is as popular in the states as the NFL is in Europe. Yet, they only send two on-air talents and a non-HD camera to the Stanley Cup Finals. You think if ESPN had a TV deal with the NHL it might have been different?--

--My busy schedule has kept me away from blogging about the NBA Finals. All of the games have been played well, but the officiating has been god awful. Andrew Bynum not being healthy has been a huge blow to the Lakers. BTW, I can't stand Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Nate Robinson--

--I still like the Lakers in this series, as I think if they can just concentrate and play to the best of their ability, they can run the Celtics out of the gym. Game four was an example of LA's problems in focusing. They should have won the game, but fell asleep in the 4th quarter--

--Memo to Larry Quinn: Can you stop going on WGR and confessing your love for getting drinks with Chris "The Bulldog" Parker? Seriously, every time he goes on the radio, he always makes a point of saying he's a lush. Example:

Bulldog: (After about 20 I thinks) So, how badly do the Sabres want to win the cup?

Larry: Well, Chris, you know, we have gone out for drinks before and I've told you how badly I want to win the cup.

Listen up, Larry, I'm sure you know that Buffalo is a huge drinking town and maybe you're just trying to sound cool by saying you're driving to Happy Hour or funneling beers with The Bulldog. However, even if you were killing beers with Obama or licking salt off of Paris Hilton's breasts after a shot of tequila, you will always be a complete tool in my book. In other words: You're not like us because you drink--

--I'm really surprised that The Buffalo News didn't send a reporter to the Stanley Cup Finals until game 6. I can only assume that it must have been because of budgetary reasons (Maybe travel expenses to the Olympics were too much). Over the years, TBN had always sent a reporter to cover the entire Stanley Cup Finals. Honestly, if they knew they were going to have to do some belt-tightening for the Finals, maybe they should have reconsidered sending someone to The Final Four or for all two weeks of the Olympics. As we all know, hockey is huge in Buffalo and considering how there were a number of local story lines for this series, you would have expected TBN to be there for every step of the way. Sorry, but more Buffalonians would be interested in that series than the Final Four or ice skating--

--Did you know that you can listen to Tim Graham two hours a week on Buffalo radio? I actually can't recall Graham's work when he was with The Buffalo News, but I'm really starting to become a big fan of his. Not only is he a good writer, but he actually does a pretty decent job during his spots on Riter Radio (Thursdays). Graham is one of the few national guys that you can really value his opinion when it comes to the Bills. I mean, how many times can Peter King write that Roscoe Parrish needs to get the ball 130 times a year without laughing our asses off. I would rather listen to Graham talk about the Bills than hear John Clayton's takes on WGR--

--Well, this is the summer that all the Regier apologists have been waiting for. No, I'm not talking about the Sabres actually doing something in the offseason. I'm talking about being able to celebrate that the Chicago Blackhawks are going to be in cap hell. If I could get a dollar every time I heard a Regier apologist mention that the Blackhawks cap woes would cause the franchise to declare bankruptcy and fall into a bottomless pit of doom, I'd be able to broadcast Buffalo at Florida games in HD.

"I can't wait until the summer! Chicago is going to prove that they had it all wrong. They are going to be on the cusp of declaring bankruptcy and the team will be engulfed in flames. HAHAHA! We are all going to be laughing at their stupidity, HAHAHA. Long live Darcy Reiger and the system!"

I wonder if people will have parties on the exact day the Blackhawks have to be under the cap. If you can't tell, I'm being awfully sarcastic with this post. Sorry, but just in case the Blackhawks have to lose a player or two, it will be more than worth it. They reached their goal and if I were a Blackhawks fan, I couldn't care less what happens in the offseason.

BTW, I think Regier apologists have to give Chicago the benefit of the doubt. I'm sure the front office has a summer plan all made out. You see, when you lock-up your core group for years to come (Kane and Towes), you can afford to lose a role player or two. Of course, their role players would be star players on the Sabres. In case you need an example of this, think back if the Sabres decided to be proactive in re-signing Briere and Drury, but had to let go of Jason Pominville during their heyday after the lockout. You think the team would have really missed Pomer?--

--Way to stay classy during your parade speech, Patrick Kane. Seriously, can that guy be anymore South Buffalo. Honestly, I think the NHL needs guys like Kane, who are cocky and arrogant. The league needs personality--

Editor's note II: Well, Mike Harrington from TBN just tweeted to me that The News hasn't sent anyone to a "fly-cup" Finals since 2002. As he put it, the majority of U.S. cities don't cover the Finals unless their team is in it. He did say that the last two years were different because TBN didn't have to fly to the Stanley Cup Finals. I will say this, I've worked in TV production for 8 years and have booked flights and travel for destinations all over the country. I totally get how expensive travel can get.

Random Thoughts: Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup...What's next for the NHL..My feelings on Kane winning the Cup...and more

-What a Stanley Cup Finals! Look, I'm not the type of fan that worships the ground that the NHL walks on. For a number of years now, I've been the type of person to pretty much go south for the summer when the Sabres are eliminated from the playoffs. In other words, wake me up when next season starts. However, this Finals match-up drew my attention. We had lead changes, goals galore, Jeremy Roenick crying, Chris Pronger in a skirt and even a Buffalo shout-out. It had everything. It was hockey at its finest and if you didn't enjoy the spectacle, then you must really hate Danny Briere and Patrick Kane. It was a far cry from what we were watching before the lockout with match-ups like Tampa Bay vs Calgary or New Jersey vs Anaheim. It was a great moment for the sport and judging by the ratings, a lot of fans realized how special the moment had become-

-If the prior two Stanley Cup Finals didn't give you an idea on what your team needs to do in order to hoist the cup, well, this year's match-up should have done the trick. YOU NEED SCORERS?! Crosby, Malkin, Zetterberg, Briere, Kane, Richards and Toews are the types of names you need in order to win the cup. Not Derek Roy, Tim Connolly and a bunch of Paul Gaustads. The new NHL is all about having finishers on your team. Sorry, but I have a feeling that we aren't going to see a Stanley Cup team whose leading scorer has 25 goals. On a Sabres note; that logic should be on Darcy Regier's mind-

-Look, I'm going to sound like a piece of garbage for what I'm about to say. I'm happy that a South Buffalo native scored the game-winning goal and gave a shout-out to Buffalo. Really, I am. However, if you think I'm going to act as if Patrick Kane's success is just a notch below the Sabres winning the Stanley Cup, you're insane! I'm not going to be like Boston fans, who threw a parade for Ray Bourque after winning the Stanley Cup with Colorado. Sorry, but if the Sabres don't win the Stanley Cup, there is no second best for me. I don't care if the Chicago Blackhawks are full of my neighbors, childhood friends from school, Enzo the baker and blood related relatives. It's not even close and I just don't find solace in feeling all gushy for Kane winning a title. My rooting interest for team sports consists of my team winning the title. Sure, I'm happy for Kane and Brian Campbell, but it's not going to take away the disappointment that I have towards the Sabres losing in the first round of the playoffs. However, if you disagree, I understand why-

-Honestly, I actually felt more emotional towards Jeremy Roenick of all people, breaking down towards the end of the telecast than Kane giving a shout-out to Buffalo. I know, I'm sounding like a bigger jerk than normal and I'm not trying to crap on Kane's moment (OK, maybe I am), but my heart went out to JR. I don't know what it was, I think I just felt bad for the poor idiot. Maybe being a Buffalo fan and not being able to say we won the championship had something to do with it. His emotion was bitter/sweet; he was caught up in the moment of the Blackhawks winning the Cup, but it was very sad to know that he will never be able to carry the cup around the ice. I think the sad part is what hit home for me. I don't know, it's probably the last time I'll ever feel sad for JR-

-Memo to Mike Milbury: If you have kids that come home from school that are crying because they lost the state championships, please make sure your wife handles the kid's disappointment. I don't know if he was trying to be funny or compassionate towards JR crying, but he failed miserably at providing any sort of compassion. Yes, he was probably trying to lighten the mood, but he failed at doing it-

-So now that the NHL seems to be riding some momentum in viewership, what should they do next? Honestly, I think the NHL has done enough. They have made the game better than what it was five years ago. I think the puck is in the players end of the ice, and I'm not talking about the product. Look, you want to know what the NHL is lacking that the other major sports have a massive amount of? Colorful personalities. Marketing players aren't about just putting a guy on a cereal box or a Nike commercial. It's about showcasing an athlete on what he can bring to the table. Getting guys that you love to hate is something that the NHL needs to do. And please, don't give me Alex Ovechkin as being a colorful character. I'm sorry, but I have never found him to be funny, engaging, or controversial. If he was playing in any other sport, he would just be another guy with a lot of talent and no social skills. The NHL needs to find players who can give interviews that will entice the viewer to tune in without even knowing if the player can play or not. Charles Barkley use to be able to start a war of words with the opposition that would make me want to tune in. Love them or hate them, players like Terrell Owens and Chad Johnson are guys that you would want to tune in to see fall on their face or succeed. The NHL needs personalities like that. Sorry, but when you're only booing Zdeno Chara because he's tall and goofy looking, that's something that most fans aren't going to really get hot over. Bottom line: Get guys who can talk the talk and skate the..skate?-

-BTW, I hope we can finally end the Danny Briere bashing? I know most fans love harping on Bucky Gleason or people who miss a guy that scores clutch goals whenever the odds are against it. This playoff series should show you that Briere is the same player that helped captivate a hockey town that didn't give a crap about the product. The guy still has it, and his 12 points in the Finals were a point shy of Wayne Gretzky's record for a series. That's some good company. BTW, do I really need to make jokes comparing Briere's playoff resume to Derek Roy's or Tim Connolly's? Bottom line: I'd take Briere on my team over any of the current Sabre forwards-

Memo to Darcy Regier: Find me the next Daniel Briere-

Hasek plays on

It looks like Dominik Hasek doesn't know when to hold them or when to fold them when it comes to hanging up his skates. If you haven't heard, the 45-year old former goaltender has signed with the KHL in Russia. Normally, I wouldn't really write about this matter, but I decided to chime in and give my opinion on one of the most controversial players in Buffalo sports history. As usual, I'm going to be in minority on my thoughts on the Dominator.

Personally, I think fans that hate this guy's guts need to get a reality check and some Prozac. Let us deal with the two 800lb gorillas in the room. Now, for the gorilla that's not as dangerous (Curious George?) as the other one. Most fans have shown a lot of resentment towards Dom for requesting a trade out of Buffalo after the 2001 season.

First off, I have absolutely no problem with him wanting out. For almost the majority of Hasek's career, he had to deal with an organization that refused to provide the tools (John Rigas quote) to bring home a Stanley Cup. When you go three years with having Miro Satan as your best offensive player, you're being asked to do a lot for your team. His request for a trade came at a time when the Sabres refused to pay Micheal Peca four million dollars a season and just a year away from the owner making a visit to the Big House. In other words, Hasek must have encountered a psychic in the East Village of New York City because he was right on the money to request a one way ticket out of town.

Hasek had done enough for the franchise and asking to get traded to Detroit was his best option to win a cup. He had done more than enough to keep this franchise competitive, and something tells me that he knew the Sabres wouldn't be in position to payout star players like the Red Wings were doing. The proof was in the pudding with the Peca fiasco. All I'm saying is that instead of being pissed off at Hasek for wanting to be traded, you should channel your anger towards Darcy Regier and John Rigas for not surrounding the greatest goaltender in the world with star star caliber players. Hmmmm...doesn't that sound like something we are going through with Ryan Miller and this current crop of players?

Now, for the dangerous 800lb Gorilla (King Kong?) in the room, Yes, I'm sure we have all heard the stories on how Hasek might have quit during the 97' playoffs and got Ted Nolan fired. I'm not going to regurgitate the whole saga between Nolan and Hasek. In a nutshell:

1) Hasek got hurt.

2) Fans and media members questioned the severity of the injury.

3) Hasek beat Jim Kelley's ass.

4) Hasek got suspended.

5)Ted Nolan didn't really give a ringing endorsement to Hasek being hurt.

6) Hasek said he didn't want to be coached by Ted and the rest was history.

Now, I know a lot of fans have never forgiven Hasek for his feud with Nolan. However, let me tell you a couple of things about that "legendary" 96/97 team that so many Sabre fans have put up with the likes of the great Michael Jordan and Tom Brady teams in sports history....

O-V-E-R-R-A-T-E-D

That team was the most untalented group of guys in the history of Buffalo Sabres hockey. The only reason they won the division was because of Hasek's play. You can tell me all about how Brad May and Matt Barnaby were tough, gritty blue-collar players that would throw down 20 beers. However, without Dom, that team would have been in the toilet. The only reason that team is popular with Buffalo fans are because most people can't help themselves but get all emotional and happy whenever a team has a group of gritty players that score 10-15 goals a season and start a bunch of fights. I don't know what it was...I guess it had something to do with being blue-collar or whatever. All I'm saying is this; if I had to pick between having arguably the greastest goaltender in the world or a coach that had one good season in the NHL, I'm going with Hasek.

Bottom line: If Hasek is inducted into the Sabres Hall of Fame, I think it would behove the fans to cheer him with thunderous applause. If it wasn't for him, the Sabres wouldn't have made the playoffs from 1996-2001. If it wasn't for him, the Sabres wouldn't have made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. If it wasn't for him, the Sabres wouldn't have made money. Yes, he is a weirdo, but his skills on the ice should overshadow whatever issues you may have with him.

Report Card for all of Buffalo Sports: Volume II

John McCargo

Can somebody tell me why this guy is still on the team? First off, I don't even know what position he would play in the Bills new 3-4 defense. Secondly, the dude got traded two seasons ago and was deemed as damage goods by the Colts. So, that makes two teams that pretty much said go F$#k yourself to McCargo. Look, McCargo did show some flashes during his first two seasons with the Bills and looked to be a player on the rise. However, since 2008, the dude hasn't been seen or heard from. Part of the problem has to do with the Bills hardly putting the guy on the field, which I think has to do with the coaching staff being worried about getting him hurt.

Remember last year when McCargo was thrilled because defensive line coach, Bill Kollar, left the team for the Houston Texans? It was insinuated by some members of the press and fan base that McCargo would breakout since Kollar defected. Well, it didn't really work out that way. McCargo did next to nothing last year and the only reason he's still with the team has to do with the organization being desperate to justify his first round status with the club. Sorry, but if you have a new head guy in personnel like Buddy Nix, shouldn't he decide to do away with the previous regime's left over garbage? Bottom line: McCargo is lucky as hell to still have a job with the Bills. It also doesn't help matters that he's too small to play nose tackle in a 3-4 defense. Furthermore, he's considered a bust in my book.

Grade: F

CJ Spiller

Obviously, I can't give a legit grade to CJ Spiller because he hasn't even played a down for the Bills. However, I can still talk about what I would like to see him do during his rookie year. Look, I like the idea of the Bills going out and finding a "water bug" at running back. Hell, I even wrote about picking up one in my "GM for a day" pieces. However, I didn't like the idea of them using a first round pick on one. Here's what you need to know about Spiller. If you think he's going to come in here and carry the ball 20-25 times a game, you are surly mistaken. The guy is a change of pace back and is too small to deal with those types of carries. That's one of the reasons the Bills have decided not to trade Marshawn Lynch...yet.

Spiller is going to touch the ball 10-15 times a game via running and receiving. Those kind of numbers make me a little queasy to think that he cost the Bills the 9th pick in the draft. Of course, I've been proven wrong before and if the Bills can make Spiller into their version of Chris Johnson, then he'll be worth the high pick. Personally, I think the Bills need production from all three of their running backs to have a legit chance of doing something productive with their offense. I know most fans will think that three running backs are too much for the Bills to deal with, but don't forget what the Giants did during their 2008 season. Remember, the trio of Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw and Derrick Ward gained almost 2,500 yards in rushing and helped the Giants to a 13-3 record. Of course, having a legit quarterback in Eli Manning helped matters. Spiller will be an important part in that scenario, especially since the Bills don't really have a 2nd legit receiving threat on the team. The pressure is going to be on Gailey to find ways to utilize Spiller in the passing attack.

Grade: Incomplete

Ryan Fitzpatrick

You know, I kind of feel bad for Ryan Fitzpatrick. No one has really given him a shot to take the starting job for the Bills. If you really think about it, he deserves to be starting over the two guys he's in competition with. People want Brian Brohm because he represents the unknown and at one point was being touted as being the first pick in the NFL draft. However, if you just watched him play his one and only career game from last year, you wouldn't want him to be starting. Others want Trent Edwards, actually, scratch that, no one wants Trent Edwards. However, he seems to be the odds on favorite to be the starter.

However, when you are talking about Fitzpatrick, he's the same guy who outplayed Edwards last year and gained the confidence of his teammates throughout the season. He's the same guy who also got T.O. and Lee Evans 100-yard receiving games, which was something Trentative couldn't do. Of course, Fitzpatrick also started a game where he passed for less than 100 yards. So, he's not very good, but in comparison to Brohm and Edwards from last year, it's he, who should be in the driver seat to be the starter. However, what is working against Fitzpatrick is that he's labeled as a lifelong back-up. He'd be a decent stop-gap quarterback for a game or two, but as a 16-game starter? Eh...not going to happen. As a back-up quarterback, Fitzpatrick would get a B. However, I'm grading the player as a whole.

Grade: C-

Thomas Vanek

I have kind of a love/hate relationship with Vanek. Without question, Vanek is the most talented offensive player for the Sabres. He has 40 goal seasons on his resume and has really been a force to be reckon with since his arrival in Buffalo. However, he's making a nice chunk of change and because of his bank account, his standards for performing are deemed to be at a superstar level. Sorry, but last season wasn't anything to write home about. His 28 goals were his lowest goal total since his rookie year. Honestly, Vanek should thank his lucky stars that he finished the season on a high note. If Vanek struggled for his final 3 or 4 games, fans would be putting him in the same category as Tim Connolly and Derek Roy as guys they would like to jettison down Lake Erie.

I think most fans feel sorry for Vanek because he seems to really care about how well/bad he is playing for the Sabres. It's sometimes hard for fans to vilify a player when they seem to hurt just as much as the fans do when he fails. Well, I most certainly can vilify Vanek. The guy needs to play better and I know if he believes in himself, he can be the Sabres best offensive weapon. Here's the bottom line: Vanek needs to get back to what he did when he first walked into the NHL in 2006. That's being creative with the puck and being aggressive. Too many times last year I saw Vanek not believe in himself and just plant himself in front of net and try and chip in rebounds. That's not his game. Be creative, Thomas. Because if you play next year like you did this year, fans aren't going to feel bad for you anymore.

Grade: B