K-9

I’ll say it one last time and then let it go: “unpolished” or not, the NFL GM and scouting community rated him a can’t miss prospect. All opinions to the contrary were based on a sub 60% completion rate in college and put forth by talking heads who had little other pertinent information to go on. He was never gonna fall out of a top 10 draft position. And that status was in spite of his lack of experience and polish at the position. As for that prototypical size and arm strength, while certainly an advantage, they weren’t what the personnel gurus were most impressed by, either. Rather it was his demonstrated aptitude for the position during his week at the Senior Bowl and subsequent interviews with teams during the draft process that convinced NFL gurus he was the real deal. Like I said earlier, Daboll said he never saw anyone like him before. I also heard that from staffs with the Falcons, Jaguars, and Chargers as well. Anyway, it’s all water under the bridge as the GMs and scouts were proven correct in their assessment. Those talking head pundits who cited poor completion percentage in college and predicted him to be a bust? Not so much.

Allen was never considered anything less than a blue chip prospect by those who get paid to make those evaluations for the teams around the league. Indeed, he may have been the first overall pick in the draft had he come out in 2017. The narrative that he was boom or bust didn’t take off until after his last college season and it was fomented by talking head pundits who cited his completion percentage as the reason he was such a risk and once they settled on that narrative, they weren’t capable of backing off that position. Even today, there are those talking heads that are intractable on the subject. I think that narrative has been accepted by many fans which is why they think he was a swing for the fences in retrospect. But again, that was never the position taken by those in the league that make personnel decisions. His physical traits and aptitude for the game as it pertained to his interviews, white board breakdowns, and play analysis were off the charts. Several coaches, Daboll included, said they’d never seen anyone like that previously.

Allen wasn't a big swing for the fences at all. He was always considered a top 10 pick in the draft by league scouts and other evaluators. He had considered coming out early the year before as some had him projected to be the first QB selected.

We might wanna temper expectations. He was a 5th rounder for a reason. For all his positive physical traits, he isn’t an elite athlete and had a problem with drops in college. Some scouts think he should lose a few pounds, too. Not because he’s got a weight control issue, but because it may improve his athleticism. Intriguing prospect none the less.

The MSG deal with the Sabres’ gives them the exclusive rights to broadcast games so that would preclude the team from doing anything similar to what Vegas did with Scripp Sports. Edit: the current MSG deal was for 11 years and it expires after the 2027/2028 season.

Are grit and sandpaper the same as jam?

Good point. Cozens was definitely banged up after he took that shot off his ankle. I was surprised he came back at all after that, let alone later in the game.

Surprised Cozens wasn’t named since he did so well last year. Is he just not interested in playing this year perhaps?

Good for Lindy.

Yep. Definitely gonna miss his pressers. He was one of a kind.

I have disdain for only one ex-Sabre so it doesn’t bother me in the least to see the others do well. And it’s not about getting annoyed when he does well, it’s about the joy when he screws the pooch. That said, I fully understand he’s too talented, so these moments of joy when the villain messes up aren’t frequent enough.

Absolutely. Starting the backup goalie is as much about a galvanizing rallying point for the team as anything else. I mean they’re benching the presumptive Vezina winner for crissakes.

Makes the most sense. I think if Swayman wins and looks good doing it then we may have seen the last of Ullmark in the playoffs.

The other important factor in his improvement, which was evident even before he joined the top line, was getting him as far away from VO as possible.

Why are posts about the Amerks playoffs being intermingled with posts about the NHL playoffs?

Ouch. It will be interesting to see who Boston starts. Do you bench the Vezina favorite or show a vote of confidence that he can rebound with a Vezina like performance? Or do you go with Swayman but risk a blow to Ullmark’s confidence in the process? Given Ullmark’s crappy playoffs last year and his continued struggles this year, I go with Swayman and hope the team uses that as a rallying cry. And if Swayman plays lights out, that means your Vezina favorite may not see the ice again in these playoffs.

It’s not about finding out in the forum, it’s about finding out before Goodell has made the announcement. Some who are privy to league communications just can’t help themselves.

As one of his harshest critics, I can very much appreciate the comment on Mitts and as I’ve said, he’s managed to turn his game around. I’m more than glad to enjoy that dish of crow. Unfortunately, unlike Mitts, Joki hasn’t managed to show that same level of improvement in his game. That’s not trashing Joki in the least; I’m just recognizing that he’s suited for a third pairing level.

Borgen is kind of a moot point anyway. As to Joki, yeah, you’ve made your position known several times in the past. So I have to ask, do you actually watch him play in our D end? 😄

Borgen would be second pairing over Joki, that’s for sure. He’s just better at playing the defensive position. That said, Borgen would be bumped down to third pair in favor of the legit second pair D man we will he acquiring this summer.

Start with John Mackey and work your way down.

Joe DiBiase is a little b word who thinks fantasy football is real and this take about 1st round TEs is as irrelevant as it gets. Hey Joey, how about TEs selected in other rounds over the last 17 years? News flash Joey: as a prospect, Kincaid is head and shoulders above any of the WRs you had a school girl crush on last night.