Can't believe the Bills are relevant nationally, for the first time, well I guess since Trent Edwards started us 5-1 in 2008 before we collapsed. I'm hoping this year's team is fundamentally sounder. We seem to move the ball well, both through the air and on the ground - a good sign, of course if Freddie or Fitz goes down, all bets are off. And, our run defense seems much improved. As for the pass defense - four interceptions yesterday (off Brady of all people) was great, but you can't expect that every game. I'm thinking a pass rush is going to have to emerge at some point, for us to make the playoffs. We'll see....Merriman had like one pressure yesterday, on something like 40 attempts by Brady - so he was certainly not his old "Lights Out" self. I guess we can just continue to outscore people...
Cheers.
Ralph
Monday, September 26, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
At Least You're not a Bills Fan
From Bill Barnwell's daily update (of the current NFL free agent frenzy) on Grantland:
"Say a word for the Bills, who have to spend about $30 million or so to hit the salary floor by the end of this season. They started their arduous trek to the basement by giving 30-year-old cornerback Drayton Florence a three-year deal worth $15 million. They're sort of like the Panthers, but they don't even have the ability to woo most of their own free agents into re-signing for ghastly sums of money. Expect Donte Whitner to follow Paul Posluszny out the door. Some mid-tier free agents with a high tolerance for cold weather are about to become very happy people."
"Say a word for the Bills, who have to spend about $30 million or so to hit the salary floor by the end of this season. They started their arduous trek to the basement by giving 30-year-old cornerback Drayton Florence a three-year deal worth $15 million. They're sort of like the Panthers, but they don't even have the ability to woo most of their own free agents into re-signing for ghastly sums of money. Expect Donte Whitner to follow Paul Posluszny out the door. Some mid-tier free agents with a high tolerance for cold weather are about to become very happy people."
Vikings sign McNabb
Since, I see Dr. D. is reading the blog, I thought I'd solicit his thoughts on his Vikings latest veteran QB signing. While Donovan McNabb is probably a better guy than Brett Favre (although T.O. might not think so), I really don't know if you are going to be able to capture the same magic that Favre did with the Vikings a couple years ago. McNabb was kind of a washout with the Redskins last year - although he did have several good to great years with the Eagles. The Eagles, of course, seem like they can put anyone under center and make them a good QB - A.J. Feely, Kevin Kolb, and Michael Vick have also enjoyed success - albeit in shorter runs than McNabb - under Andy Reid at Philly.
What tools does Minnesota have to help McNabb succeed? Well, they just lost Sidney Rice as a free agent, and most people considered him to be their best receiver. I guess you still have Percy Harvin, who looks like he can ball a little. And T.O., Ochocinco, and Moss are all out there as free agents...I think it might be a long year for McNabb. (He does have A.P. to hand off too at least.)
McNabb's signing fits with a long-time Vikings tradition of utilizing veteran QBs vs. developing their own talent. In order, there has been Joe Kapp (from the CFL), Fran Tarkenton (started with the Vikes, but then traded to Giants before being brought back), Tommy Kramer (their own guy), the Denny Green era, which brough Jim McMahan, Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham and Jeff George into town, Dante Culpepper (their own guy), Favre and now McNabb. What does this say?
What tools does Minnesota have to help McNabb succeed? Well, they just lost Sidney Rice as a free agent, and most people considered him to be their best receiver. I guess you still have Percy Harvin, who looks like he can ball a little. And T.O., Ochocinco, and Moss are all out there as free agents...I think it might be a long year for McNabb. (He does have A.P. to hand off too at least.)
McNabb's signing fits with a long-time Vikings tradition of utilizing veteran QBs vs. developing their own talent. In order, there has been Joe Kapp (from the CFL), Fran Tarkenton (started with the Vikes, but then traded to Giants before being brought back), Tommy Kramer (their own guy), the Denny Green era, which brough Jim McMahan, Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham and Jeff George into town, Dante Culpepper (their own guy), Favre and now McNabb. What does this say?
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Reviving the Blog
Maybe...or maybe I just needed someplace to jot down this one thought. Since the original concept of a blog was some sort of on-line diary - was that it, a Web log complete with links - I guess it is serving its purpose.
Anyhow, I came across this post by Chuck Klosterman on Edgar Winter today and while it is your typical solid Chuck K. post (Chuck K. rocks - and he spent some time in Akron), it is even better because Johnny Winter, Edgar's brother, played 8 Great Tuesday's last night. Fairly remarkable show. Johnny, who like Edgar is an albino, is mentioned in this article as being one of the 100 greatest blues guitarist of all-time and he certainly rocked last night. It was your typical beautiful Tuesday night on the bay, temperature in the 70s and a somewhat cool breeze blowing in - certainly a welcome respite from the recent heat.
Johnny looked like he was about 90 years old and sat down most of the time, while playing. He actually had to be helped off the stage (and probably on I'm assuming, but I didn't see it). I was all hyped for a solid blues show, but didn't really get into it until I went down near the stage and stood like 50 feet and front of him and watched. It was mezmorizing. He actually stood up for a version of "It's All Over Now" and then closed things out with an absolutely smokin' version of Dylan's Hightway 61 Revisited. Great stuff (and all for free. He's playing at a bar in Cleveland tonight and tix are $40 a pop) and I wanted to tell someone about it - Klosterman really - but dammit, for some reason, they make it really hard to find the writers' e-mail addresses on Grantland. Find that very annoying.
Anyhow, there's a post for you -whoever stumbles up this.
Cheers.
Ralph
Anyhow, I came across this post by Chuck Klosterman on Edgar Winter today and while it is your typical solid Chuck K. post (Chuck K. rocks - and he spent some time in Akron), it is even better because Johnny Winter, Edgar's brother, played 8 Great Tuesday's last night. Fairly remarkable show. Johnny, who like Edgar is an albino, is mentioned in this article as being one of the 100 greatest blues guitarist of all-time and he certainly rocked last night. It was your typical beautiful Tuesday night on the bay, temperature in the 70s and a somewhat cool breeze blowing in - certainly a welcome respite from the recent heat.
Johnny looked like he was about 90 years old and sat down most of the time, while playing. He actually had to be helped off the stage (and probably on I'm assuming, but I didn't see it). I was all hyped for a solid blues show, but didn't really get into it until I went down near the stage and stood like 50 feet and front of him and watched. It was mezmorizing. He actually stood up for a version of "It's All Over Now" and then closed things out with an absolutely smokin' version of Dylan's Hightway 61 Revisited. Great stuff (and all for free. He's playing at a bar in Cleveland tonight and tix are $40 a pop) and I wanted to tell someone about it - Klosterman really - but dammit, for some reason, they make it really hard to find the writers' e-mail addresses on Grantland. Find that very annoying.
Anyhow, there's a post for you -whoever stumbles up this.
Cheers.
Ralph
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)