Random Thoughts: Aaron Schobel gets released...Training Camp fights...The history of the Bills 3-4 defense doesn't add up...Excuses for the Sabres

No surprise here that the Bills decided to release Aaron Schobel. Lets go over the reasons why it was a smart move.

1) He's overrated and isn't worth the 8 million dollars he would earn this year. Schobel has always been susceptible against the run and it seems like the majority of his sacks have come off blitzes.

2) He's 32-years old and the team is rebuilding...not a good mix. The Bills need to find as many young players as possible (Maybin) that can actually play in the NFL. Having Schobel start, throws a wrench in those plans.

3) He doesn't want to play here. And frankly, I believe this whole retirement talk was a way to force the Bills hand. I wish he would have just come out and said, "Yo, I don't want to be here and I want out." If you still think his motives were all about finding the fire from within to return, please go back to his quotes from June about the decision being in the "hands of the Bills."

4) Sorry, but you can't come up to camp a week late and then learn a new position. Not going to happen.

Honestly, I wish the Bills would have done this in March. They could have then used the remaining money from Schobel's deal to lure in more free agents. I'm sure the money will now go into Spiller's contract, whenever he decides to sign. The funny thing about Schobel is that even if fans/media come to grips that this was all a ploy to get him released, it's not like someone is going to say, "Well, this will tarnish his career." The reason being is that no one really cares about the guy. It's strange, isn't it? He's 2nd in sacks in Bills history and no one gives a crap about him.

I've been saying for months that the media has done such a piss poor job for the way they have covered Schobel. There was hardly an outcry from the media about him just leading the Bills on about whether he would retire or not. Now that I look back, I think the reason why the media didn't run with the story was because fans didn't really care about him. Hell, I think fans liked Phil Hansen more. I mean, there was more of an outcry for Tim Kennedy leaving Buffalo than Schobel getting released.

Anyways, its been fun, Aaron. You played on some bad teams and I'm sure if you were surrounded by better teammates, you would have been more idolized by Bills fans.

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I'm about 4 time zones late on discussing last week's camp fights, but I have to say, I'm all about nasty practices. Last week's festivities showed intensity and a "Don't take s#$t" approach. I'm sure we all know what happened, Aaron Maybin shoved Fred Jackson from behind and a few of the offensive lineman took exception. The biggest stunner was when Eric Wood yelled for Maybin to "Give some of that money back you aint f'ng earned."

Very creative.

Anyways, I was a little befuddled on how some of the fans/media started calling Maybin out, saying that he was a punk. I'm sorry, but do you know how many late hits happen in training camps? 100's. Maybe watching a bunch of "Club Dick" training camps made people forget that football is a contact sport and this sort of stuff happens.

Anyways, I'm not sure where the comments of "Maybin is a punk" are coming from. Maybe it has to do with him having the Leonard Smith hair cut? Is it because he celebrates a special teams tackle as if he scored a safety in the Super Bowl? Anyways, I'm still trying to figure out what makes him a punk?

I can only come up with three answers to that question:
1) He's probably not the most pleasant player to interview from a reporter's standpoint.
2) Fans are still bitter towards him for holding out last year and view him as being greedy.
3) I've read on some blogs or message boards (They are always right) that Maybin is a little arrogant.

Frankly, those are stupid reasons to not like the guy. So what if the guy is arrogant? Until he smokes weed in his car or runs over a fat chick in Downtown Buffalo, he shouldn't be called a punk.

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Look, I love the 90's Bills just as much as the next guy. Those Super Bowl years were the greatest moments in Buffalo Sports history. I loved every single moment of those years and wish I had a "Hot Tub Time Machine" to go back and relive it. However, I've been reading in certain publications and message boards that going to the 3-4 defense is like going back to the glory years.

Seriously?

In case you didn't know, the Bills ran a 3-4 defense throughout the 90's. However, and this is a BIG HOWEVER, the reason why those defenses were good, wasn't because of the 3-4 defense. It was because of guys like Bruce Smith, Cornelius Bennett and Darryl Talley. It didn't mater if the Bills were running a 3-4, 4-3, 46, Boeing 747, or The Water Boy Defense, because the defense was still going to be good. Last I checked, Marcus Stroud and Maybin aren't Smith and Bennett.

So, please, lets just lose the connection from 90's, especially with this bunch.

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I swear, I love all you Sabres apologists. You people always find a way to justify any boneheaded decision that the Sabres have ever made. Of course, the Sabres had to let go of Drury/Briere if they wanted to sign Ryan Miller (Even though they could have got them for less than 5 million a year). Yes, Tim Connolly deserves a raise because he's a point a game player (even though he's hurt 35% of the time). Yes, lets be patient with Darcy Regier (Going on 14 years of patience). If you can't tell, I'm being sarcastic.

Now, we have a new spin on the madness of the everyday life of the Buffalo Sabres.

So, let me get this straight, you all believe that this entire Tim Kennedy ordeal was all about the Sabres picking Tyler Ennis over him? Are you fricken kidding me!?! Did you not listen to Darcy's press conference? Did you not hear how many times he mentioned the word "cap" and "budget?"

Hell, I think when Darcy mentioned Ennis being Kennedy's replacement, the apologists simply decided to make that the legit reason. "Yes, if they signed TK, Ennis wouldn't have a shot at being on the roster." Hell, I don't even think Darcy realized that was an excuse until he said it. It probably just came to him while he was talking. I bet the moment that Darcy said that, he probably just realized that would be a great excuse to give to the sheep/apologists.

Do you realize how stupid that logic is? I'll break it down list style for you.

1) If the Sabres liked Ennis over TK, wouldn't they have explored trading him prior to the arbitration hearing? And please, don't give me the lame ass excuse that there was no intrest in him because no other teams picked him up off waivers. I'm sure the reason why Kennedy didn't get picked up had to do with teams knowing that he was going to get bought out. So, if that's the case, why inherit the arbitrator's contract? You can probably get TK for cheaper because he's already going to pocket money from the Sabres. Better yet, Why the HELL would they goto arbitration if they didn't want him to be on the team? What? Did Cellino and Barnes get a percentage if they used their courtroom?

I also love how the apologists, who made Kennedy out to be this "Can't miss kid" when he was with the team, are now acting as if he was nothing but average. Aren't these the same people who have been touting the young players for the Sabres? The same people who talk glowingly about the future? You know, preaching the Sabres company line of overvaluing youth.

Sorry, but I've always said that Kennedy was a nice player, with some upside. But I never, EVER, said he was the future of this team. I'm sure some in the media (Certain WGR morning hosts), mentioned during the regular season that they loved this kid. Lets not forget, this is the same player who Brian Burke picked for the World Championships. I assure you, if the Sabres did look around prior to free agency, TK would have been gone. They didn't shop him around because they thought they could get him cheaper.

2) How many players did Tim Kennedy outplay last year? Well, the first name that comes to mind is Drew Stafford. So, why couldn't the Sabres just buy out Stafford? Better yet, why not have everyone go to camp and battle for roster spots? Of course, I know what the answer is going to be, Stafford would cost more for the Sabres to buy out. Which, of course, kills the logic of it being about Tyler Ennis over Tim Kennedy.

3) Are you really going to pick some AHL goon, who played like three games in the playoffs, over Kennedy? I'm sorry, but the Sabres already have guys like Kaleta, Gaustad and Morrison who can hit the crap out of people. The Sabres were screwed because Cody McCormick already signed his deal. Frankly, I'm sure if the arbitration took place before McCormick signed his contract, the Sabres would have offered him a two-way deal. McCormick really didn't have much of a leg to stand on in negotiating, mainly, because he played sparingly last year and is a journeyman player. Again, it's more evidence that the Sabres didn't anticipate what TK was going to make.

4) Jerry Sullivan made a great point on his blog today, believing that the Sabres were just trying to send a message to their young players that they better NOT think of taking the team to arbitration. I know some will scoff at that notion and think that Sully is just stirring it up because the Sabres and TBN don't exactly see eye to eye. However, that logic wouldn't exactly shock me. Consider this, it's the same organization that suspended Teppo Numminen for having a heart condition. Yes, they are callous, my friends. Plus, I'm sure Larry Quinn was in a foul mood after his Bass Pro experiment blew up in his face (OK, that probably has nothing to do with it..or does it?)

Honestly, this is nothing more than apologists always trying to find a silver lining with the Sabres. I swear, if you were mice and Darcy had a flute, you'd all be at the bottom of Lake Erie. Bottom line: The Sabres didn't want to spend $200,000 for TK. And like they do every year around this time, they reaffirm that they are NOT serious about contending for a Stanley Cup.

Aaron Schobel having second thoughts?

Buffalo Bills players are scheduled to report to training camp on Wednesday. Simply put, Aaron Schobel won't be there. He likely won't be there when practice opens on Thursday, but the 9-year veteran told Eyewitness Sports on Tuesday that he hasn't ruled out playing for the Bills in 2010.

Reached at his home in Texas, Schobel told Eyewitness Sports Director Jeff Russo on Tuesday that he's not made a decision on his future, but that at this point he's at least considering coming back next season. That's a change of stance from when Schobel stopped just short of saying he was retiring about a month ago, but the veteran says he's on a diet, working out, and is leaving the door open for a possible return.

"I would say I'm leaning more towards doing it (playing) then I was a month ago", Schobel said on Tuesday. "At this point I'm thinking about it. At that point (a month ago) I didn't want to even consider it. I wanted to enjoy my life like I was done with football. Lately both me and my wife have decided we have to do something." (WKBW)

Mind of Joe

I guess I'm suppose to be happy that Brett Fav...err...Aaron Schobel may decide to finally grace his presence at Bills training camp at some point. Look, I've said it before, I'm not a big Aaron Schobel fan and now that it is becoming clearer that the guy doesn't like training camp, I'm starting to dislike him even more.

Look, I know that in most cases I would chalk up missing training camp as much ado about nothing. However, if Schobel comes back to the Bills, he's going to have to learn a new position and a new scheme. Those sort of job demands should light a fire under Schobel's ass to get to camp, or at least make the Bills press the issue with him.

Now, I understand what Schobel fans will say, "Hey, the Bills have no proven pass rushers and need all the help they can get." I get that logic, but you have to understand that the Bills are rebuilding. Sure, fans will start reading previews about the Bills and the excitement of training camp will make people dream of the playoffs, but this team isn't close to competing. And by the time this team starts contending, Schobel is going to be raising cattle in Texas 24/7. Now, if the team isn't going to do anything this year, then what's the point of keeping Aaron Maybin on the bench? What? So he can work on his special teams tackle celebrations?

The Bills have to get Maybin on the field to find out if he can play or not. Sorry, but Maybin isn't going to learn much riding the bench, especially since he's learning a new position. If the Bills didn't have a young player like Maybin waiting in the wings, then I could deal with Schobel returning. However, Maybin's development takes precedent over dealing with Schobel's retiring or unretiring.

As for what the Bills should do with Schobel if he returns; I say trade him. I know that's easier said than done because of the money he makes, but there has to be a market for a guy coming off a 10-sack year. I think having a defensive end combination of Mario Williams and Schobel would be pretty impressive if you're a Texans fan. As for the Bills on the field, it would be a step back, but in the long run, it would workout for the Bills and Maybin. Now, if the Bills decided to cut Kelsay and put Schobel at the other outside linebacker spot, then I could deal with that as well.

On a side note, you have to wonder if Schobel is just planting the seeds for other teams to at least call the Bills and gage interest in trading for him. This marks the first time since the end of last season that Schobel is showing signs of wanting to play football. Hearing that statement would only entice other GMs to make calls to the Bills and enquire about his availability. It has to sound a lot better to a hear from a guy that wants to play football, instead of staying home with his kids, right?

Lets not forget (Even though the media did when reaching Schobel for comment) that it was just a month ago that Schobel said, "The ball was in the Bills' court" with regarding his future. Now, no one has asked Schobel what he meant by that, but on the surface, the logic seemed to imply that he wanted to get moved and it was up to the Bills to make it happen. At least, that's what I got from it. So, stay tuned.

Just a quick Sabres rant

Look, I'm not going to get into my hell bent rage against the Sabres front office. I've actually gone against my promise of July 7th being the day that I would kill the team for not making substantial changes. However, I'm still giving the team more time, AKA, I'm just not in the mindset of pouring out my guts into why this team doesn't care about winning the cup. I actually may save that for a podcast.

However, I'm here to add a little clarity on what is perceived by Sabres apologists, who act as if other Sabres fans that demand change are nothing more than toothless idiots that call the WGR whiner line daily. We all know the Sabres aren't going to sign a guy like Kovalchuk. We have come to the realization that any player that demands 7-8 million dollars a year will never be on this roster. So, don't come out and act as if we are demanding the team to burn money and put Tom Golisano's trust fund for his kid or Monica Seles in jeopardy.

I assure you, we are not. What bothers me is that there are moves that other teams are making that on the surface, seem to be a little one sided. Chicago gives up a bunch of their key contributors for prospects. Yes, I know, apologists will act as if these prospects are the lifeblood of each of these organizations, but if you can get a proven commodity in return, you make the deal. I know in Buffalo we act as if these kids that come from Portland or Rochester are the second coming to Tyler Myers or Daniel Briere, but that's not always the case.

(On a side note, are we like the only hockey market that looks more forward to prospects playing in Buffalo than any other fan base? I seriously doubt that Flyers and Rangers fans are sitting there and drooling about some 2nd round pick playing on the parent club)

Pretty much my rage is towards Simon Gagne. Here's a proven scorer, who has two 40-goal seasons on his resume, traded to Tampa Bay for a bag of pucks and a philly cheese steak. Yes, I know, apologists will mention that he's injury prone. Of course, that logic doesn't come into play when you're talking about the Sabres giving a raise to Tim Connolly...can you say contradiction?

Anyways, Gagne would have been perfect in Buffalo. He's great on the powerplay, has a ton of playoff experience and would be a legit rental (Unlike Torres and Moore) for the Sabres. I mean, god forbid the Sabres actually decided to go for the Stanley Cup for one year. I mean losing their 12th defenseman from "The System" would just jeopardize the space time continuum for the franchise.

Now, before you all send me the emails and comments about Gagne having a no-trade clause, let me put it to you this way: Now, I'm not a GM or a blogger that has the CBA and the bible of Darcy in my night table. I'm just a stupid blogger who wants the Sabres to win the Cup. Now, if that's my goal, I'm calling Philly and I would pretty much double what Tampa Bay was offering. I mean, that's how lame the deal was for Philly.

Now, if Gagne had a problem with coming to Buffalo, then I'd have Lindy Ruff, or Ryan Miller, or Brad Riter, or Luke Russert, or Jim Kelly call him and say that we are a great city that is aiming to win the cup. It's not like Gagne would have to stay in Buffalo for the next 10 years of his life. He's a free agent at the end of the year and I really don't think he'd be that dead set against coming here for 8 months. Maybe I'm wrong. But you know what, at least I would try. And that's all I want from the Sabres.

I don't need a 10-million dollar player. My expectations are small. I just want a player who can put the puck in the net 20-25 times a year and bring other intangibles to the team. I don't need a school lesson on small market economics to know that Gagne's contract would almost equal out to what Tallinder and Mair were making last year. Plus, the Sabres are going to have even more cap relief next year with Rivet and Connolly's contracts up (And I assure you, they are not coming back). Again, it's not about killing off guys that I don't like on this team, it's about getting better. The Sabres don't have too much money tied into the cap for next year and beyond.

Anyways, the majority of this rant was geared towards people who announce on facebook or twitter that they are sick of people who complain about the Sabres. I'm sorry kids, but the Sabres haven't gotten better and we have lived through too many summers where this team has coasted on trying to act as if Tyler Ennis or some dumb ass prospects are the key additions to this roster. I watched all 82 games last year and came away knowing that their success was NOT a team effort. It was mostly due to Ryan Miller bailing this team out. If it's a one man army, then you need to add more troops to the equation.

Rant over.

Lalime is back

The Sabres have agreed to a one-year deal with Patrick Lalime, who was the No. 2 goaltender the past two seasons.

Lalime, who turned 36 today, went 4-8-2 with the Sabres last season with a 2.81 goals-against average and .905 save percentage. The 12-year veteran has a record of 200-169-48 and a 2.57 GAA with Pittsburgh, Ottawa, St. Louis, Chicago and Buffalo. He is 9-21-5 during his stay with the Sabres.

Lalime's deal will pay him $600,000 for one year. (Sabres Edge)

Mind of Joe
If this is the first time you are visiting my blog, you need to know that I'm a Patrick Lalime apologist. Hey, even I can be an apologist once in a while. I am totally fine with the signing. Look, I'll say this until I'm blue in the face, the reason why back-up goaltenders have struggled for the Sabres is because Lindy Ruff doesn't know how to use them. He was spoiled by Dominik Hasek during the 90's and today, he's spoiled by Ryan Miller.

Patty played just fine at the start of last season with convincing wins over the Hawks and Penguins. However, one bad slip-up on a western road swing and he was doomed to Lindy Ruff's dog house. It's very hard for a back-up goaltender to play once a month and be able to maintain his edge. If Lindy can stick with a formidable goalie rotation, like he did at the start of last season, then Lalime should be fine.

Now, let me get a couple of back-up goaltending rants off my chest:

1) For all you Brion lovers (yes, I know he's off the market), the only reason why Lindy Ruff trusted Marty during the two years after the lockout was because the team that surrounded the goaltending was pretty F'n amazing. During that time, if the Sabres let in four goals, it didn't matter, because the team would be able to produce goals by the boatload. Biron's numbers from 05-07 were around a 3.00 GAA and a .900 save percentage, which happens to be worse than what Lalime put up last year. I assure you, if Lalime was with the Sabres during that time, he wouldn't have gotten booed. Maybe when Biron decides to hang up his skates, the Bironiacs will move on from the back-up quandary.

2) It's the back-up goaltender!! I'm sorry, but do you think the people in New Jersey, Vancouver or NYC (Rangers), give a crap about the back-up goalie? Hell, No. And I assure you, it's not because they are stupid fans, it's because most back-up goaltenders aren't that good. If they were good, they'd be starting. Personally, I just think all back-ups are a dime a dozen. Whoever the Sabres signed, it wouldn't have made a difference because they are all the same.

3)Plus, it's not about the backup, it's about having the team around your scrub goalie be able to elevate their games. The Sabres rely so heavily on Miller's performance that if he struggles, the team loses. It's simple as that. This isn't 2007 when the Sabres had six players who can score 30 goals and take the pressure off the back-up goalie. There have been a number of games over the years that the players in front of Lalime have totally failed.

4) Most importantly: Ryan Miller likes Patty...and if Ryan is happy with Patty, then so should the Sabres front office and coaching staff. It's called star treatment, kids.

Niedermeyer comes to Buffalo

The Sabres, still searching for more grit after a first-round playoff exit, have signed forward Rob Niedermayer.

TSN.ca reports the deal is for one year, $1 million. He is coming off an identical contract with New Jersey.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound center spent last season with the Devils, recording 10 goals and 12 assists in 71 games. The 16-year veteran, who is the younger brother of future Hall of Fame defenseman Scott Niedermayer, has played 1,082 regular-season games for Florida, Calgary, Anaheim and New Jersey. He has 181 goals, 269 assists and 882 penalty minutes. (Sabres Edge)

Mind of Joe

In short: I'm very cool with the signing. Yes, it took me about two minutes to figure out which Niedermayer we were getting. I think there's like two of them or something. Anyways, I was actually big on the Sabres trying to add some Stanley Cup winning experience at the trade deadline. Hell, I was even advocating for the team to trade for Rod Brind'Amour.

You always hear from the press that the Sabres lack maturity and mental toughness. Now there are three ways you can go about fixing those problems:

1) You can grow up (Um, seems like the core took a pass on that one).

2) You can do a roster overhaul (Yeah, Darcy ain't doing that).

3) You can bring in guys to make other players accountable (Ding, ding, ding).

The Sabres needed more than just Craig Rivet and Mike Grier to provide leadership. It's not a knock against those guys, but maybe having a player with the ring will help the locker room grow up. It's also a bonus that he's coming from two franchises that know a thing or two about winning multiple cups. I mean, this isn't a player from the 2004 Tampa Bay squad that caught lightning in a bottle.

If I had a dollar for every time an expert, coach or former player mentioned the need for a team to get more SCF experience, I'd be a rich man. Too many times over the years the Sabres have coasted through a part of the season (or in last year's playoffs), where having a legit leader might have been beneficial to reel the guys in.

As for what he brings to the ice, well, he's definitely an upgrade over what Adam Mair or Matt Ellis would bring to the table. However, how much more grit do the Sabres really need? I know the city of Buffalo and its fan base would support and love a team filled with blue-collar guys that could score 10-15 goals a year.

However, you need more than just a bunch of those guys to contend for a championship. I can't help but harp on the fact that the Sabres seem to have an abundance of 3rd and 4th line guys. I've said all along that two of the top six forwards on this team (Hecht and Stafford) should be playing on the third line on most NHL teams. Now, if you want to try and sell me on Gerbe or Ennis making the jump, well, I need more than just a 10 game stretch of games to believe that.

Again, I'm not trashing the signing, but there needs to be that signing/breakup of the top six forwards for me to really applaud Regier. The core of this team is what needs to change, not the 3rd and 4th lines. Anything else in my view is just a tweak and I have lived through too many offseasons where the tweaking of the guard was the norm and not the changing of it.

Thoughts on the 1st day of free agency

On the Jordan Leopold signing

Here's what I know about Jordan Leopold: He is a defensemen that can carry the puck into the offensive zone and is a pretty decent passer on the blueline. Is he Tomas Kaberle? No. Is he an upgrade over the Sabres unimaginative offensive defensemen? Yes.

Look, we have said all along that the Sabres needed offensive impact on the blueline. I've gone on and on about the need for the Sabres to get someone who can man the powerplay. I haven't watched enough of Leopold to really judge what he can bring to the table, but you have to think that he's an offensive upgrade over anyone that the Sabres have. Now, that's more of an indictment on what the Sabres have, rather than what kind of player Leopold is.

Now, there are some things that worry me about Leopold. For one, he has zero, I repeat, ZERO playoff goals for his career. That's not good when you are worse off than Tim Connolly in post season credentials. Plus, he's kind of injury prone and will now be playing on his 5th NHL team since 2002. Eh, I'm actually starting to change my mind on liking the signing...No, No...must go with my gut.

Now, I'm not going to sit here and rag on what Leopold is making. Three million dollars a year really isn't that much when it comes to a team that entered today being 13 million under the cap. Now, if Leopold sucks here, then all bets are off. BTW, to all the people that feel the Sabres over payed for Jordan, what did you expect? It's free agency. You aren't going to get cheap players.

Losing Hank and Toni

I don't want to say I told you so, but I told you I didn't think the Sabres were going to resign either of these two guys. I've gone over ad naseum about the Sabres system; Once you get to that UFA category, you are as good as dead to them. Here's the thing about the money Toni and Hank got, if you were to tell me last year that those two players were going to get over 3 million dollars a year on their new contracts, I would have assumed that you were related to both players or your name was Heather B. Both guys were on the verge of exile to the KHL a year ago. Luckily for their bank accounts, both guys rebounded nicely this year, Hank especially.

However, here's the thing you have to consider: Are you really going to give a multi-year deal and a raise to two players that have had years of inconsistency (Putting it mildly) and are now just coming off the ever so mandatory "must do well" contract year? Think about it. It would be kind of like a poor man's version of what they did with resigning Connolly. OK, that's a bit of a stretch. But you get what I'm saying, these are two guys that have been really bad at times during their stay in Buffalo. I'm not talking about going through the peaks and valleys of a season. We have seen what the bad Hank and Toni look like for the Sabres and we all know that the bad can go on for a very lonnnnng stretch.

Frankly, it's because of the Leopold signing that I'm not going crazy about losing both guys. I know, I give plenty of s#@t to Regier, but if there's one thing that I happen to believe in with the Sabres, it's their ability to draft/develop blueline talent. The Sabres have always done well with developing stay at home defensemen. It started with Jay McKee in 1997 and has gone all the way to Tyler Myers. Lindy and Darcy have a proven track record when it comes to drafting your typical boring ass defensemen. As for developing offensive players...well, that's another story. Plus, you have to consider the factors on how much Ryan Miller and Tyler Myers helped out in the rebirth of Lydman and Tallinder. Of course, it could be the other way around or something along those lines. I'll just lean towards M&M helping out L&T more.

Now, before you think that I'm going soft on Darcy, I assure you, I'm not. The dude has to make another move, preferably for a play-making center. By my numbers, the Sabres still have plenty of money or better yet, a player that they can move off their roster for an established center.

Now, if this is your 2010 Buffalo Sabres, I'm going to be plenty ticked off. However, this is a decent start for Regier and company. I truly believe that in order for the Sabres to get better, they have to trade either Roy, Pomer or Connolly to get a top 20 center. We can just lose the idea of the Sabres getting rid of one of their prospects or 1st round picks because Regier will never allow that. If Regier can find that legit centerman (Jeff Carter), then this will be a successful offseason for the Sabres. If not, it's just another summer of the Sabres saving 3 million dollars off their bottom line.

As for today, if you are all about getting more offense than defense, you should be happy with the Sabres blueline. If you are all about stay at home defensemen, then you are probably disappointed. Like I said, the Sabres haven't had any problems in grooming the Lydmans and Tallinders of the world. Instead, it's been trying to find the next Brian Campbell that has been difficult for the Sabres. No, I'm not saying that Leopold is next Campbell, but he's a better option than say Montador and Rivet manning the point.

You are not going to get killed today, Regier. You actually caught me on a good day. My parents are in town and they brought me some homemade sauce. So, I'm actually going to hold onto my "It's still early in the offseason" card a little while longer. However, you still need to make one more move before our July 7th deadline. If not, you will be getting the Bucky Gleason treatment from me.

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--

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--

Get me this guy!

Patrick Marleau. That's the guy I want the Sabres to go after this offseason. He's going to cost you 7-8 million a year, but I think he's more than worth it. Now, I know some people will think a signing like that would represent a breath of fresh air, while others will scoff at the notion of it.

Well, if you are representing the breath of fresh air, then good for you. If you are taking the company line for the Sabres, well, that's your opinion. Sorry, but I'm sick of hearing fans gasp whenever a player signs a multi-year contract during free agency and act as if they just got their wife's credit card bill from Gucci. AHHH!! You spent money on what?!

People, it's not your money, it's Tom Golisano's. More importantly, the Sabres need Marleau's help. Look, the biggest problem the Sabres have endured over the last three years has been their inability to find a play-making center that the opposition has to game plan for.

They need the type of guy that when the chips are on the table, he is going to say, "F#$k it, I'm winning this game." The Sabres don't have that guy. They have tried doing it with the top six forwards for the last three years and it just hasn't clicked. Now, I do know about Marleau's short-comings. I know he had the captaincy stripped from him and he has been on a team known to choke once or five times in the playoffs. I get all that. But, he's a huge upgrade over what Derek Roy and Tim Connolly bring to the table.

Now, if you do look at Marleau's playoff stats, they don't seem to be too shabby. Over his last five postseasons, Marleau has averaged almost a point a game and is coming off a very impressive 40-goal campaign. Read my lips, the Sabres DO NOT have a legit number one center. You can shove Tim Connolly's playoff resume from five years ago down my throat all you want, but I happen to be living in the now with this hockey team. I know what I didn't see in the playoffs and that were goals by my number 1 and number 2 centers.

I know some of you are going to act like Darcy Regier and tell me about the market and the cap. However, if the Sabres listen to me, it won't be that hard to fit Marleau's salary under the cap. Hate to make it sound simple, but all the Sabres have to do is lose Connolly, Stafford and Mair to fit the former captain under their payroll. I don't give a crap about getting fair value for Connolly and Stafford. If you have to give them away for draft picks and a bag of pucks, then so be it. You would then use the remaining money towards signing Marleau.

I know that some fans will point to Tyler Myers contract being up in two years as a cause for concern about giving a player like Marleau that sort of money. I understand those concerns as I do share them myself. However, that is still two years from now and if the Sabres have learned anything from the Vanek contract fiasco, then they should be writing up Myers' new contract as we speak.

Now, I do get that some fans will keep on Regiering a thought like this. They will say that a huge contract like that would put the Sabres in the poor house and that Bank of America will go under. You know, the same stuff we heard when Chicago and Philadelphia gave boat loads of money to a number of summer free agents. Which, of course, seems to be working out just fine for both teams. Sorry, but if Marleau stinks, you can always trade him. Scott Gomez made 7 million dollars a year after signing with the Rangers and was god awful. Yet, New York was still able to move him.

Fans have to realize that general managers and coaches have egos the size of hockey rinks. Some coaches/GM's may feel that they can change the way a player performs by their system and what line they are going to be playing on. Some even keep on re-signing guys just to prove that they were right about trading Michael Peca. In other words, if a player has promise and a large salary, history shows that another team will still take a chance on them. Not every team acts like the Sabres do by looking in the bathroom stalls for loose change. Some teams take chances as they really don't worry about the money aspect or the market. It's called winning at all costs.

Bottom line: If this year's NHL playoffs have taught us one thing, it's that you need scoring. You need offensive players that the opposition are afraid of. The Sabres need that fear factor and I think Marleau would represent that.

How the final four in hockey are killing one of the Sabres excuses

The sound of pages getting turned and PR people spinning rhetoric are making its way to the HSBC Arena.

You see, when I watch the NHL playoffs, I can only relate outcomes of games/series to what might have been for the Sabres. Man, if only the Sabres had another scorer or if Ryan Miller played like he did in the Olympics. I try and look at the outcomes as a measuring stick for what the Sabres need to do in order to get to the top.

The Sabres, on the other hand, have always used the postseason results as a way to make themselves look better. When Marian Hossa didn't win a cup with the Penguins, Darcy Regier pointed out that deadline deals are overrated and do nothing for your team. If it wasn't deadline deals, the Sabres would tell the public that the money that the Flyers and Hawks have invested in their teams via free agency did nothing for them in the playoffs.

I've always been one to scoff at the Sabres for always acting arrogant in some ways of shooting down other team's methods of building a contender. You know what I'm talking about. It's either deadline deals don't improve your team crap or free agency is for the devil. The Sabres have been going with that thought/excuse process for far too long. Seriously, where do the Sabres get off telling fans why other team methods are wrong?

Well, I opened this blog up by talking about the PR minds for the Sabres might be bugging out just about now. The reason for it has to do with the Final four in the playoffs. You see, the San Jose Sharks, the Chicago Black Hawks, the Montreal Canadians and the Philadelphia Flyers have used the business model that the Sabres have detested...greed...AKA, the Sabres being cheap and unimaginative with their roster.

The Sabres have always made it a habit to crap on the teams that don't follow their methods. Like whenever free agency starts and someone signs "X player" for millions and we hear the garbage about how teams that go through free agency always get burned. All four of these teams in the final four were very aggressive last summer. They threw money at players via free agency or trades. Frankly, all four of these teams are the epitome of what the Sabres hate. Teams that spend money like drunken sailors at a bar during Spring Break.

During last summer, I can remember hearing Larry Quinn on WGR putting down the business practices of the Canadians and Flyers. His argument for calling out the Flyers was for what they had given up for Chris Pronger. You know, the same crap we always hear with the Sabres raising their eyebrows whenever someone deals for a star player and make it out that the team gaining the star is losing their entire minor league system.

Of course, trading isn't the only thing that gets under the skin of the Sabres. God forbid you actually decide to go out and sign free agents that are worth more than 2 million dollars. Well, all of the above teams have either traded for star players or signed mega-money players. If memory serves me correctly, a lot of the Sabre shills called out Montreal last summer for doing a complete overhaul on their roster. You know, it's not against the law to try and improve your team during the summer. Sorry, but Montreal was sick and tired of losing in the 1st round of the playoffs.

Of course, free agency has been the key for Philly and Chicago for years now. Everyone keeps on waiting for the Apocalypse when both these teams are going to run out of cap room and will be cutting guys left and right and filling their squads with the Adam Mairs of the world. As for the Sharks, they didn't sit on their hands while having the hockey world call them out for being choke artists. They were aggressive and traded for Dany Heatley and are now a series away from getting to the team's first ever Cup Final.

Here's the bottom line: The excuse of "free agency and giving excessive amounts of dough to players leads to nothing" has run its course with the Sabres. A team that has spent a ton of money on free agents and trades is going to win the Stanley Cup this year. If the money doesn't make you think twice where the Sabres are at, mix in the Stanley Cup match-ups for the last two years with the final four from this year and you'll see teams that are loaded with finishers. Like I've been saying all along, the era of New Jersey Devils clutching and grabbing is over. Just look at the final four goaltenders remaining. Even last year's four remaining teams didn't have all-world goaltenders. When Cam Ward has been the best goalie of the Finals for the last four years, that should tell you something.

In the end, what should tell you something is that the Sabres need finishers. Whether it's trading for one or finally paying a number one center more than five million dollars, the Sabres need to keep up with the times. The teams that you are going to be watching now have made bold moves to get their clubs this deep into the playoffs. The ball is in Regier and Quinn's court. Then again, it's been in their court for years now.