tom webster

The notion that the GM hires the coach is becoming less prevalent as these franchises become billion dollar corporations.

You sure there aren't two Calloway Sabres?

Doesn't matter, even Cambria and his wife know Kane is a scum bag.

Natonal media seem to think that Panarin embellished that high stick and tell me when there has been two penalties called like that, ever? Elias tells every other stupid stat, let's hear that.

Murray said in his WGR interview that a rival GM told him his scout reprted that the Sabres didn't have much in the pipeline to which the GM retorted back that they are all on the big club. Its the normal progression now. As I said in another thread, you replace Moulson, Gionta, Weber and may McGinn with young veterans, hope for one surprise player and if your young stars develop as you hope, you should have a contender for the next five years. Then you only need 1 or 2 players a year to add to your prospect pool and the guys presently in Rochester are the guys moved at the deadline for rentals.

Getting younger as in Gionta, Moulson, Weber and maybe McGinn turning into 23/25 year old players. Getting younger doesn't set anything back. You asked how the Math works well figure it out, he is not trading O'Reilly, likely not trading Kane although I wouldn't rule that out. He's got 4 or 5 of his top 9 and 2 or 3 of his top 5 defenseman. When Jack and Sam are ready to help O'Reilly lead the charge, they will need some 25 year old wingers.

RJ thinks they are the same player. Every game that I have seen, at least for one shift he calls McGinn, Zemgus.

That might be your opinion, but not his words. Listen to WGR550 audio vault from yesterday. He is disappointed at the moment and will be disappointed if they finish at 80 points. However, he did say he will not trade for a veteran that might add 4 to 6 points in the standing if it means giving up a valued prospect. He did say he would "help" the team if he thought they were challenging for a playoff spot. He is still looking long term but still expects them to be better this season. He has never said he wants a top three pick this year but did say it would be a nice consolation prize if they didn't make the playoffs.

Does anyone realize how hard it would be to purposely screw with the schedule? With all the other variables they are dealing with I doubt there is much time to screw with the Sabres. Most of the weirdness associated with this schedule resulted from Buffslo asking for more afternoon games.

Exactly where I'm at and more importantly exactly where Whaley is at.

According to Ennis, he got hurt in his last game played. Nice thought, though.

They are in as good or better shape then 20 other franchises. Unless the NFL completely loses you, you will be back.

Bob McKenzie posted an article on College Free Agents and refers to a previous article where he talks about potential free agents already drafted. I'll try and link it at some point.

I understand completely. Just don't agree and think it's kind of sad.

I guess a lot of it is true, for the Bills and 20 other teams. To say that the playoffs are so far off is ridiculous. Two or three calls reversed and this team is leading the wild card race in spite of all these perceived shortcomings. I understand the frustration built by the last 16 years but if a new guy came in, somehow found a way to draft Andrew Luck and then proceeded to go 6-10, 9-7, 8-8 we would all be talking how a tweak here and there and they are Suprr Bowl contenders.Instead, 16 years has created a legion of whiner line callers. Oh, and the Jets have the lowest strength of victory, by far, of any of the playoff contenders.

I understand the questions and concerns but it's not about 34 games. DB is laying down the foundation. With TN, it was going nowhere. There is a reason that player after player make no bones about the night and day difference and there is a reason TN has no chance of ever getting a head coaching job again.

You are too young to remember the 15K fan stadium experiences. Even during the Super Bowl years tickets weren't an easy sell after the original peak year.As I said one hundred times before, if the position gets blame when it fails, it has to get credit when it succeeds. No secret I have supported Whaley and Brandon throughout but I wouldn't have hated if Whaley was deemed not a good fit.However, I have heard it is a virtual certainty that he remains whether a Senior advisor is brought in or not.

I really don't want to get into the whole "white collar/ business/ ponzie crime thing but........Adelphia is a business story that plays out countless times a day and the only thing that separates the crooks from the success stories is timing. I personallly know of at least three extremely successful business operations in WNY that were days away from being found out as "ponzie" schemes that flipped their "fortunes" and never looked back. JR was like several entrepreneurs that built a company, went public but continued to run it old school and then turned it over to a thieving, conniving son.

Anyone that had even the most casual relationship with them two knows that Timmy was the real crook.

Disagree on the way off part if, and we both agree its a long shot, TT develops into Russell Wilson. Problem is there is really no real way of knowing. For every Big Ben that continues to progress there are 100 Dennis Shaw/ RG III/ Kapernick et al that can't make that next progression. It is why I'm all for exploring all options while hoping that TT is one of those few, As an aside, I'd like you to revisit your QB evaluation for all 30 teams with only 4 grades; 1) No question we are set 2) Questions but we feel good 3) Too early to tell 4) We are in trouble

I agree 100% with the last few lines but I want them to win out for the following reasons; 1) The fans like me who enjoy winning and can't root for a loss 2) Potential free agents who may be more inclined to sign with a team that just missed out rather then a 6-10 team. 3) I hate the Jets with a passion. Anyone that attends UB, is a football fan and has had to endure NY fans can relate. The only qualifier, I would vote lose all three if it meant a complete housecleaning and a guarantee that the second coming of Bill Belichek and Tom Brady would be taking over. Since I would have a better chance of winning the lottery twice, I will go with 9-7.

The Jets have the fourth lowest strength of schedule in the AFC and the Redskins haven't exactly been beating the elite. I will be shocked if they lose all three and quite frankly see little benefit in doing so. Its one thing to hope top lose in order to acquire a Luck or Newton, quite another in order to move from 19 to 15 in the draft.

Its not common but there have been at least one high profile guy the each of the last couple of years. Hayes signing with Rangers instead of Chicago two years ago, that defenseman that Calgary drafted that I think signed with Minnesota.....

Kind of funny because as I'm sitting here watching the game in thinking that this team really needs two things to happen to really take a step up. Z really needs to step up to what I thought he would be and it needs one "surprise" forward to come out of nowhere.

I know, I am a Whaley apologist, a kool aid drinker, too optimistic. But what if, what if it wasn't 16 years but say 5 years and in the last three years they got a new owner, a new coach and went 6-10, 9-7, 8-8. In addition, they have an intriguing QB, a top level RB and an exciting young receiver. Look, I am as disappointed and embarrassed by this year as anyone. I was hoping for a more progressive coach, a more analytical guy and I was sure they would go 11-5 this year. But it is not all doom and gloom. Rex is like most of the rest of the coaches. McCarthy, Peyton, hell even Belichek make odd choices. The difference is that they have the QB that makes a difference and all the odd calls are forgotten. I have no idea if TT will develop into that type of QB but I think if it weren't for the last 16 years the fanbase would be excited about what he did this year. And if he isn't the answer, every year that goes by increases the likelihood that they stumble upon the guy that is.