That Aud Smell

And with apologies for again invoking (1) the name of a hated rival coach (the greatest of all-time) and (2) the name of a deceased, disgraced NFL player ... but the way Belichik used Hernandez was ahead of its time. That guy used to be everywhere -- split out wide on a few downs, then lined up as a FB on the next drive, lookin' like an H-Back on another, and so on.

Spot on. This is what it's about, really. And I like him. I do. I think he's smart and I appreciate that he doesn't take himself too seriously. And he's got a good voice - he's nice to listen to. Anyway, I respect his need to manufacture debate, etc.

There’s a prayer service this weekend, as some may already be aware. In connection with publicizing the prayer service, Kim’s dad gave the following quotes to a reporter from TBN: “Kim Pegula recently told her parents, ‘I’m fighting and I will continue to fight.’ …. ‘She’s very determined in what she does,’ he said. ‘You can see that in the therapies she’s doing right now. She is determined to come back to the person that she was.’” +++ Those quotes seem to differ with this part of Jessie’s Players Tribune essay: ”She gave everyone so much of her time and effort. She lived it and loved it, and it was felt by everyone she met. Now we come to the realization that all of that is most likely gone. That she won’t be able to be that person anymore.” +++ It doesn’t sound like any Pegulas are attending the service. Terry reportedly gave his blessing to the event. I do hope that they’re all on the same page. As much of a tragedy as something like this is, it could be compounded by dissent within an extended family.

There’s another tweet - it’s threaded. But he’s also got Olsen listed as someone who didn’t quite work out because he was “traded.”

I like Joe, and that's an interesting list. But the argument (?) he's advancing isn't a compelling one. For starters: The league's changed; the game's changed. Second point: The fact that ATL didn't figure out how to feature Pitts is a shame and an indictment of their organization. Third point: I really like the idea of having a basketball player at tight end.

I agreed with this post - and especially concur here. To me, they took a receiver. He's denominated a tight end. But that's really more semantics. They are going to line him up in the slot, a lot. But I also think they're going to line him up all over the place. Not unlike how the Patriots deployed Hernandez (yikes just for the mention of his name) in the heyday of their 12 personnel - that guy was all over the field. Two really good takes here. And honestly: Can you imagine a more on-brand player for the Cowboys than Kincaid? I agree that they will be on the field together a lot. But, as I said above, their roles, their spots in the formation will be quite different. For my part, I don't think I ever need to see Kincaid with his hand in the proverbial dirt when the ball is snapped (unless it's part of some super cool trick play that goes for a score). Get that guy standing upright and finding space.

Draft grades are inherently dumb at this point in time. But it is interesting to read pundits’ immediate reactions to this pick. Those who know the player and can envision his usage seem to love it. Those who don’t know much about the player and/or have a reflexive “but they already have Knox” take seem to hate it.

I’m encouraged by this pick. ”Tight end” is a bit of a misnomer. This guy isn’t generally going to line up next to the tackle with his hand on the ground. Knox will do that. Kincaid is a receiver. And a damn good one, from what I’ve read.

I've heard those contracts referenced when discussing another team having overpaid its top centre (generally in the way of "hey, we have 2 legitimate top-6 centres for a bit more than the price of their 1 overpaid centre"). But I've not yet heard the Cozens/Thompson contracts discussed as obvious overpays. Is that what this is?

I thought this was a really interesting and insightful post on the subject - this chestnut here was particularly good.

I think they want to trade down a bit. It also sounds like a lot of teams want to trade down. So they'll need a dance partner. So much of that is going to be unknowable until the draft starts and players start to rise or fall. And the question of whether a player has risen or fallen will be different for every team. I am hoping that there's a team out there that wants to get back into (or just into) the first round when it's the Bills' turn. The LB angle is a natural one. There's that player out of Iowa that I keep seeing mocked to the Bills. Thing is, the Bills haven't visited with him at all, as far as I can tell. Not even at events like the combine or the east/west game. There's a Milano type prospect that they seem to be targeting - Mapu out of Sacramento State. But that looks to be a Day 2 or Day 3 prospect. This is a fun event to follow and try to predict. I've read and heard a few times that TE might be among the best position pools in this draft. The Bills had private visits with at least 5 players at that position - 2 or 3 of those players have been talked about as potential 1st rounders.

Good hockey guy? Ehhh. I would not say that. Good business guy? I think that's fair. You're fond of that position: That you know nothing - and really can't profess to know anything - about a public figure like Quinn. I don't buy that. People in positions like that communicate plenty about who and how they are, personally. And we are entitled to reach our own conclusions about them.

No one will deny that he has good hair. A "good guy," he mos def is not. Unless your definition of that term is warped. Good to know a family member and/or crony of Larry's is still prowling this little ol' message board. Edit: May need to expand the above beyond family members and cronies. Although, I'm honestly unsure what other varietal of Buffalo-booster would extol Quinn in this way. The logorrhea aside, the rant above is bizarre.

Rodgers being in the AFC East is something that worries me, as a Bills fan. That said ... there is a glorious opportunity here for some good ol' fashioned Big Apple dysfunction and acrimony.

Getting an aged future HOF quarterback worked out quite nicely for the Bucs and the Broncos. Rodgers to the Jets is poised to be a big problem for the Bills. As for OL, I've read several times that it's viewed as a poor draft for that area. But keeping #17 in better shape must be a priority. This perspective is baffling to me. I've seen it a fair amount among the Bills' faithful. More baffling still. If last year's Jets had received slightly better than average quarterback play, they would have been a dark horse contender for the AFC title. Not the AFC East title. The AFC title. Trade for D Hop now.

Future first ballot hall of famers tend to have well-known names.

I don’t put much stock in last season. He had no talent around him and was essentially checked out. If his head’s right, he will be a huge upgrade at QB for the Jets.

Welp. The AFC is frickin’ stacked with QB play. Can we get a transfer to the NFC maybe? Swap us out with the Lions or something.

I keep waiting for his quotes to be in the paper surrounding the bizarre psychodrama going on at Nardin Academy. (He serves on the board there.)

Also, shoutout to OSP for making his way into the news in connection with Steve Pigeon's having violated the terms of his supervised release from his federal and state convictions for making an illegal campaign contribution. Golisano reportedly told Pidgeon's current attorney that Pigeon is providing key consultancy services in support of the launch of a business school that Golisano has created and endowed. Pigeon's current attorney is representing Pidgeon in a criminal case involving allegations that Pidgeon sexually assaulted a girl younger than 11 years old. 😬

This sounds right. If it's not the precise number, it's close. Also, I'll quibble with the term "gift." It was a form of compensation, I reckon.

Oof. And that list excludes arguably the greatest Sabre team ever. Last team to do it was the Toews/Kane/Keith Blackhawks. Not sure which year.

When there was that other kicking goal allowed at the end of the season (can't recall who did it (for some reason, I want to say Giroux?)), I had to at least credit the league for being consistent. A puck directed into the goal by a kicking motion is allowable if the kick is not deemed to have been an intentional effort to direct the puck on net (i.e., if the kick is seen as an effort to control the puck to the stick). Of course, that's not how the rules are written. But that's how they're being applied, it seems.

In watching it again, I noticed that, far from leaving his skates and launching himself, Dumba ends up off balance and falls over because of the impact.

Any appetite for a discussion on whether Dumba's hit was late? High? To my surprise, I find myself sort of agnostic on the topic. Sorta late. But not overly. Maybe kinda high. But not really. Violent, for sure.