That Aud Smell

I remain unclear on how and why he left. In any case, the guy’s one of the team’s all-time greats. I would expect them to patch things up, at least so they can function normally for stuff like the 50th season. But no.

It's entirely possible that Terry had an honest, genuine affection for the Sabres of the late 70s and early 80s, etc., *and* that he later developed a fandom for (and loose business association with) the Penguins as they cycled through the excellence of Mario/Jaromir and then Crosby/Malkin. In fact, it makes a lot of sense. The two are far from mutually exclusive. Dude's a meddler. I thought that was conclusively adjudged?! The question is the extent to which he meddles. I've turned over the ROR thing in my head more times than I care to admit, and the only logical explanation I accept is that ownership compelled it. There are other possible explanations, but they don't make sense (which does not mean that a nonsensical trade happened - just that I think the only logical, rational explanation is that Terry and/or Kim decided ROR had to go because he was too mopey and sad (and they didn't want to pay a mopey, sad guy a huge bonus)). Please - it's Paddy. Patty is an aunt of mine who makes a terrific tater tot casserole. God bless her heart. And, not for nothing, Paddy remains persona non grata. I saw some Tweet about how he was conspicuously absent from creative content created for the the 90s era game. Super weird.

Meh? Don't get me wrong. The Sabres appear to be mired in mediocrity (a couple of elite young talents, a streaky overpaid goal scorer, and not much else), and I just don't perceive their path out of this rut. So, yeah. The Pegulas as owners of the Sabres for, lo, these past 9 years (NINE!), have pretty much shat the bed. But, by all accounts, they're not crooks like Haslam.

Decisively, I'd say. Comparing apples to apples, the Bills look to have been stabilized with the cool-headed, faith-based McDermott and Beane. They are widely regarded as running a competent, if not yet excellent, organization. From everything I see and hear, the Browns remain a complete tire fire. As for the Sabres, the criticism I hear more and more of late is that the Pegulas have basically "forgotten" about their hockey team. But isn't that sort of what we (many of us (okay, @PASabreFan)) wanted? and a happy thanksgiving to you as well, sir.

Go, Sabres. Really. What else is there to do?

This is encouraging news. The guy's hands are absurd. If he can just get stronger on his pins and more confident protecting the puck.

Ha. It was frickin' uncanny, though, how he played a key role in turning that game around. Almost as if ... wait a second! ... that's! ... THAT'S JJ WATT'S MUSIC!

casually and perfectly pulling off a modest - but fun - act of coordination or athleticism. e.g., clean billiards shot, darts bullseye, nothing but net three pointer. added value: if it is done to the amazement and wonder of a group of kids (who had no idea you (ever) had it in you).

I don't really cotton to these theories, but the arguments I've read here and elsewhere: Houston's a much larger market than Buffalo; Watson is a super duper star that the league would love to have comfortably in the unquestionably elite tier of talents (makes marketing Houston games a cinch); and, maybe more than anything else and perhaps only for the very near term, JJ Watt is the poster boy for everything the NFL wants to be or wants to be thought of as. (Seriously. JJ's almost like an NFL action figure.)

Well alrighty then.

^ That’s a fair criticism. Thanks for bringing me back from the edge.

Also, I think that quote from Borland is taken a bit out of context. I believe he was making more of a metaphysical point about how the incredible violence of the sport is ... for nothing, to no real end. Not that the games are scripted.

I can see why people would think there's some efforts to orchestrate certain outcomes -- even if those efforts are a bit haphazard, ad hoc and sometimes fail. I dunno. I keep coming back to the fact that there would need to be a significant number of people in on a scheme to make the NFL a "work," as they say in the pro wrestling business. Good luck with keeping that sort of thing under wraps.

Well, I do now. I think this is a possibility. But absent something more pervasive, I don't think such activity affects as much as people might think. OTOH, the failure to blow that one play dead on Houston (for delay of game) is the sort of thing that is easily susceptible to a theory that the responsible ref intentionally let just another 3/4 of a second elapse before deciding, yeah, I gotta blow my whistle. Same with the blindside block, I suppose.

I suppose this could be happening in isolated pockets - a la the NBA and the Tim Donaghys of the world. The refs are not asked to decide a game, but, if the chance(s) arise, they're asked to push the needle one way or another. I mean -- exactly. It starts tripping into the realm of the purported conspiracy regarding the "faked moon landing." Like I said.

Like @tom webster, I reflexively discount such thoughts and talk because the skill, resources, and energy that it would take to keep such ... conspiracies quiet and preserved from public knowledge are positively unfathomable. Then add into the mix the many billions of dollars that are spent and made in wagering on NFL outcomes. The mind boggles. The truth will out. It always does. If the NFL were pressing down on the scale, etc., we would know about it.

Okay - that's three posters, by my count. Who are the teams that are league-favoured? Is NE favoured?

Wait a second. Precisely how many regulars here believe - truly believe - that there's a standing conspiracy to fix/script NFL games? Show of hands. The refs made some blunders in the Texans game, sure. But if that Texans DB doesn't drop two sure-fire INTs (one of which should have been a pick-6), the principal reason for the Bills' loss would have been made even more clear than it otherwise was. OTOH, I did listen with interest when that disgraced NBA ref (Tim Donaghy (sp??)) talked about how the NBA would actively work to have finals games refereed in a way that would extend a series to a more profitable conclusion.

Damn. Sounds like a high ankle? Welp. Not as bad as it could have been, I suppose.

Welcome back. I certainly recall you as a regular. I have only a dim recollection of you're getting ban-hammered. Thanks for sharing what you did in your return. I'm glad to hear that you're on a better path. We all need mercy and healing.

All fair. Although none of those guys were chosen on JBOT's watch. And at least he turned the lesser Nylander into a young, nifty d-man who should be good going forward. Good post. Fair points, all. It really has been the player's development that has just stunk out loud.

Having a big swing and miss on Mittelstadt is a significant mark against Botterill. It's also high on the list of reasons why the Sabres are (still) a mediocre-to-bad team.

I never fail to forget those facts. I'll post that photo again in 2 years and, by then, will have forgotten that it's not Stafford and Pominville holding Roy.

Thanks. Now I have that Tik Tok meme/song stuck in my head. C'mon. These are somehow now halcyon days.

Yowza. How's that for perspective? Where have you gone, Derek Roy? Sabres nation turns its lonely eyes to your sausage. Also: Let's go, Buffalo. Because, what else?