Lynch to Meet With Goodell Today

Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch is making the trip to New York City today to meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell regarding his recent run in with the law.

According to Clark Judge of CBSSports.com, “Lynch is likely to be suspended for one but no more than two regular-season games.”

This comes after Lynch pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge stemming from a Feb. 11 arrest in Culver City, Calif.

At the time of the arrest, Lynch was charged with possession of a concealed firearm. The felony gun charge later was reduced to three misdemeanors though (two of them were eventually dropped). Lynch was sentenced to three years of probation and 80 hours of community service (Lynch has a really good lawyer).

One game would be great for Marshawn and the Bills and would be a very small punishment. I thought Marshawn would be looking at four games at the least.

It all comes down to how much Goodell puts into his hit-and-run incident last year, and that marijuana was found in the vehicle that Lynch was pulled over in a couple months ago. The commish’s views on those two things will determine the severity of the suspension (whether Lynch is considered a repeat offender, or falls into the league’s substance abuse policy).

Goodell is known for his strict ruling though, which is why one game still doesn’t seem like an option to me.

More to come…

Agent Bus Cook in Buffalo, Possible Trade on the Way?

Here is the latest from ProFootballTalk.com:

"Former Bills offensive lineman Ruben Brown disclosed during his WECK radio show on Monday that agent Bus Cook was in Buffalo.

Apparently, former Bills receiver Eric Moulds, who was represented by Cook during his playing career, mentioned to Brown that Cook was in town.

According to NFLPA records, Cook represents no players currently under contract with the Bills. Thus, speculations is centering on a possible trade of Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler or tight end Tony Scheffler, both of whom are Cook clients.

Our buddy Brad Riter of WECK thinks that Scheffler is the more likely trade target."

I would have to agree with Riter on this one (although I haven't listened to him since his days on WGR when he was a complete ass).

Scheffler stands at 6-foot-5 and 250 lbs. In comparison that is an inch and 10 lbs less than prospect Brandon Pettigrew, a player that many people around the league think the team is going after.

The difference between the two is that Scheffler has experience. He is a tall target who hauled in 40 catches, 645 yards and three touchdowns last season, his third year in the league.

It would be interesting to see Cutler leading the Bills next season though. I for one would be for it. No offense to Trent, but Cutler is much better.

Here's just a quick comment from PFT that I agree with 100%. It really makes you start to think.

Why would the agent come into town by himself if it was just for Tony Sheffler. That type of deal could get done over the phone. Something smells fishy here!!

More to come!

Could LB Angelo Crowell Return to Buffalo?

Here is the latest from Tyler Dunne of BuffaloFootballReport.com:

" Angelo Crowell is visiting with Buffalo Monday to discuss a possible return, but look for him to head to Tampa Bay. According to NFL.com’s Steve Wyche, Crowell has already begun preliminary contract talks with the Buccaneers."

Bringing in Crowell is a big step though, seeing as the Bills and Crowell went through a rocky patch last season, when the Bills put the linebacker on IR after it was revealed that Crowell had a knee injury. He wasn't expected to miss the entire season though, only a few weeks of action.

Crowell isn't a star playmaker, but he is a guy who has been very reliable in his 6 seasons with Buffalo. He is a tackling machine, and would fill a whole the Bills need. I am all for Crowell returning to Buffalo.

It will be interesting to see if the Bills go hard after Crowell. If the Bills want a guy bad, they go after them hard in their visit and seeing that Crowell already has started discussions with the Bucs, it makes sense to me that the Bills would offer him a deal if they really want him back.

The deal on the table with the Bucs is believed to be for only one year.

More to come throughout the day. Stay tuned.

T.O. to Wear No. 81, What is the Big Deal?

I knew that the Bills signing of Terrell Owens would bring national media attention to the Buffalo Bills but I didn’t realize in an effort to break a story, media members from all over the country (even you Jim Rome) will now have knee jerk reactions to anything with the star wide receiver’s name in it.

The latest news surrounding T.O. is about him “taking” the number 81 from fellow wide receiver James Hardy and that it is just the first of many problems to come in the future for the Bills.

I hate to break it to everyone out there but that is certainly not the case.

When Owens met with Bills management in his visit at One Bills Drive, a number 81 jersey with his name on it was hanging up in a locker. Of course T.O. was getting that number. Who in their right mind thought that T.O. was coming to Buffalo and picking up No. 84 or 88?

The Bills were looking at this deal to help them out on the field but also to bring money in too. Not having the future wide out wearing the number he is known for would not sell as many jerseys as they have now.

This is just a story that the media is taking way out of proportion and James Hardy’s comment during an interview on Sirius NFL Radio proves this.

“(Terrell Owens) is over a 10-year veteran and usually the organization, really they can just take the number from you and give it to him if they wanted to,” said Hardy. “But with the respect the general manager has for me, he came to me and I was willing to give him the number. He’s a Hall of Fame receiver and it was really an honor for me to give him the number.”

Just so everyone knows, Hardy has no connection to the No. 81 at all anyways, it is just a number that was available. My guess would be that he would like to put on No. 82, the number he wore in college, but that currently belongs to Josh Reed.

We can all thank the media for taking a story and blowing it way out of proportion.

A tip to the fans out there, make sure you research a topic about T.O. before you form an opinion on it. The national media certainly isn’t doing it for you.

Donte Whitner on His Newest Teammate and More

Link filled post tonight!

ESPN had Bills safety Donte Whitner on Sportscenter today, and like most fans, he is excited that Terrell Owens is coming to the Buffalo Bills.

Here's the link: sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/clip?id=3960890">the link.

Here is Owens addressing the media at One Bills Drive today for the first time.

Here's the rest of it.

Chris Brown covers T.O. one-on-one which you can see here.

More Thoughts on T.O. Coming to Buffalo

Buffalo was impatiently waiting. Fans, journalists and talk show hosts were waiting for the Bills to make a move in free agency to improve the hometown team.

The city wants head Coach Dick Jauron out, and is sick of missing the playoffs year in and year out. Three straight 7-9 seasons to go with a nine year playoff drought will do that to a football town.

I can not tell you right now if Buffalo will be able to make the post season this year, but what I can tell you is that the front office is trying and it looks like the Bills should start the slogan; “Playoffs or Bust” for this upcoming season.

What I can tell you though is that the team is much better today than they were yesterday. Signing play making wide receiver Terrell Owens will do that to you.

T.O. is coming to Buffalo after signing a one year deal this afternoon at Ralph Wilson Stadium that will pay him $6.5 million for this up-coming season ($0.5 million less than Laveranues Coles, another veteran wide receiver that the Bills were interested in).

It is a great move by the Bills both on and off the field.

They went out and got a NFL star (whether it is for good or bad reasons) that can still perform at a high level between the hash marks.

Nine out of the past eleven seasons, Owens has eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark (including 3 straight in which he was between the ages of 33-35). It is also the 3rd straight year that he has hauled in double digit touchdowns.

Even at 35 years old, the guy can still play.

With Owens being teamed up with Lee Evans, the Bills finally have the receiving threat they have been looking for since the days of Eric Moulds and Peerless Price.

Owens will take the pressure off of Evans, and help turn him into the deep threat that he really is. Add in slot man Josh Reed, who can always find a hole in a zone defense, and speedster Roscoe Parrish, the Bills have players that they can stretch the field with.

Having running backs Marshawn Lynch (after his suspension) and Fred Jackson to help out as well might even turn this offense into one of the best in the AFC. The running game will help take pressure off of the passing game and vice-versa.

Defenses will be scratching their heads every week.

It all comes down to young Trent Edwards, who is entering his third season as a NFL quarterback, the year that QB’s blossom. With all of these targets around him, it would be hard for Edwards not to succeed.

If the defense sends a blitz, Edwards will have two playmakers with man-to-man coverage who can go up and get the ball. If they drop back into a zone and focusing on Evans and Owens, Reed will be able to settle into zones and pick up first downs.

You can say what you want about his attitude and all of the drama that he might bring, but he is entering a city that won’t be following him, 24/7 like he experienced in his previous jobs.

Not to mention the fact that T.O. usually splits a locker room during his second season with a team and seeing as he is only signed for one year, I doubt he will do much damage to team chemistry.

Even limp wristed Wade Phillips kept him in check during his first season with the Cowboys and seeing as T.O. will be looking for the big contract at the end of this season, he has to perform on the field while also behaving. The interest wasn’t very high for him this off-season (with teams even making statements that they were not going to sign him) and there will be even less if Owens rips apart another team.

Marketing will sky rocket for the Bills too. With a team that is possibly expected to move in the near future, bringing in a NFL star like T.O. will sell tons of tickets and merchandise to generate revenue for the team. Plus, it gives a team that receives little to no national attention, a little bit of the limelight.

It is definitely a gamble on the part of the Bills, but it is one that is very low risk. They pick up one of the best wide outs in the game for the right price, while also limiting any damages to the team by T.O. with any of the problems he might bring.

Income, talent and wins are what all organizations are looking for. The Bills took the right direction with the signing today.

They also did something important too, showing the fans and the city that they are committed to winning, something they have not done for a long time.

While it might not bring a championship ring or even a playoff berth, it will make football in Buffalo interesting to say the least.

Get your popcorn ready!

T.O. Signs with Bills!

It's official, the Buffalo Bills are feeling the heat from fans and are going to try to do whatever it takes to make the playoffs this season, and it starts with the signing of WR Terrell Owens.

The 1 year deal is expected to make Owens $6.5 million this season ($0.5 million less than it would've took to sign Coles).

I'll be honest, I am pumped for the deal. For the price and for the one year deal it will limit the impact that T.O. has on the locker room (it takes T.O. to rip apart a team). Plus it gives the Bills two wide receivers that are true number one threats.

Say what you want about his attitude, but the guy is a playmaker. Can't wait to watch him in a Bills uni this season.

It is certainly a gamble, but seeing as that it is only for one season and T.O. will be looking for the money next season, he has to perform and behave if he wants another big deal. Is it a risk? Yes but for all the Tim Connolly haters, I would have to say that the T.O. risk is actually smaller than Connolly's.

More to come.

Buffalo Bills Interested in Terrell Owens?

Have the Bills lost their minds, or do they realize how important it is to make the playoffs this season?

Either way, the Bills are looking at a ton of free agents to fill holes in their teams, and the latest is Terrell Owens.

From ProFootballTalk.com:
"Per Capaccio, coach Dick Jauron initiated the process, lobbying the front office to consider Owens."

First off, I doubt that this would happen. For starters, T.O. wants to go to a team with a good QB who will get him the ball. That puts the Bills out unless they sign him to a huge contract, something that they are no going to do. They are not going to throw millions of dollars to make a 35 year old wide receiver the highest paid player on the team.

As for by some miracle they do pull it off, half of me is excited at the possibility but the other side would be extremely upset.

Why would I be excited? Well the guy can still play. He is a big presence at 6-foot-3, 218 pound. Even with his starting quarterback out for a stretch last year, T.O. still had over 1,000 yards and 10 TDs.

That makes it 9 out of the past 11 seasons that TO has eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark (including 3 straight in which he was between the ages of 33-35). It is also the 3rd straight year that he has hauled in double digit touchdowns.

He is of course, locker room cancer though.

Talent wise, it would be a great pick up but the Bills are filled with young players and I don't know if it is a good idea to bring in T.O. as a guy they would look up to.

Boy, T.O. could certainly take the pressure off of Lee Evans and as a marketing strategy, a T.O. signing would bring in season tickets and merchandise sales through the roof.

It will certainly be interesting to see what happens, stay tuned.

Bucky Gleason and the Tim Connolly Situation

One of these days I would like to become a sports journalist one day, like some of the other bloggers out there.

At least I have a few columnists that I read that show me how not to write (thank you Buffalo News).

The most recent is Bucky Gleason, and how he handled the whole Tim Connolly situation (along with some of his points on the trade deadline).

His first Tim Connolly editorial came out and praised the center for being a game changer and that he needs to remain on the team. A few days latter, he flip flops and says that the Sabres should be open to trade the center. Then he goes bananas about Connolly being signed to a long term deal.

Here are just some of the quotes from his articles that have just really rubbed me the wrong way.

Talking about the Sabres goal at the trade deadline: “The objective going into the deadline was to push the Sabres closer to the postseason this year while improving their long-term future.”

Funny because with Connolly being as young as he is (only 27) the Connolly signing actually does both, keeping them in the race for the playoffs this season while also giving them two more years of a highly gifted athlete.

“Nobody would deny Connolly’s talent, but Roy is a better center and will make $1.5 million less in the next two years.”

I will say that Gleason is good at making his arguments just by the way he words things. What he doesn’t mention though is that Connolly is the forth best player on the team (behind Roy, Thomas Vanek and Ryan Miller) and will make $0.5 million less than Jason Pominville.

As much as Pommers is loved in Buffalo, Connolly is better overall. Tim plays both play the power play and penalty kill too, just like Pominville. I’m not saying chose between the two of course (because Pominville rarely misses a game) but you have to take the contract into context. Connoly is the 4th best player on the team. Vanek, Roy and Miller all have pretty sizeable contracts seeing as they are the stars. Connolly will be joining them.

“Heck, you wondered Wednesday if Connolly would blow out an eardrum while answering the call from his agent.”

This isn’t really a Gleason only thing, but come on now. I get it, Connolly gets hurt a lot. Can we stop trying to make creative jokes of it.

“No team would pay that much over five years for a soft finesse player who lacked leadership if it knew he would miss a third of the games or more.”

Wow, kind of harsh for a player which Gleason had this to say a few days before:

“The only thing we know now is what the Sabres always knew, that Connolly is one of the most gifted players in the world when his body and mind are right. He makes the impossible look effortless, converts plays that most only conjure up in fantasy.”

“He’s a rare talent, one not exactly floating around for pennies on the open market.”

He goes from one of the most gifted players in the world to soft. Although I will cut Gleason some slack, I’m pretty sure you have to use the word soft in any article written about the Sabres in the Buffalo News.

I personally don’t see Connolly as that soft of a player though. Does he hit? No but he doesn’t shy away from contact either. With a guy with his injury history, you would think that he would be scared to get touched, but he isn’t. He goes into the boards and has taken some hits since he return from injury. He isn’t gritty by any means and is a player based around skill but he is certainly not soft.

Also I’m pretty sure Darcy doesn’t have a crystal ball he can look into it to see who is and who isn’t going to be injured. I’m pretty sure Bucky was a guy who wanted the Sabres to go out and give Daniel Briere but he has missed a good amount of time due to injury too. Funny how he doesn’t bring that up at all. But that would show him that you can’t tell when the injury bug will strike. Connolly might go down tonight or he might play injury free for the rest of his career.

” Buffalo is still stuck with Maxim Afinogenov after failing to find a taker.”

I’m sorry but someone who covers hockey should know that no one in the entire NHL was going to give the Sabres anything for Afinogenov. Sure people might have liked a late round pick but let’s be honest the NHL draft is a crapshoot that late. Why not keep him around and see if he can give the team a spark to help them stay in the playoff race?

Like most Buffalo sports bloggers, I am feed up reading constant knee-jerk reactions in the local paper. It’s not like I have another choice though. I love Buffalo sports and the USA Today or NY Times is certainly not going to spend any time on Buffalo teams. I would say that 95% of the editorials are negative too. I get it the Bills suck, Dick Jauron is terrible and both teams have bad managements. Saying it everyday in a different way is not a good read.

While we are on the subject too, writers don’t know more than the normal sports fan sometimes. It seems like writers and radio hosts here think they know everything and that everyone else is a idiot. While I will say that some people are indeed morons, they don’t need to be screamed at or made feel stupid. There are ways to get a point across without yelling. Just because you write, doesn’t mean you’re right.

I just can’t stand listening to some people in the area, just going on and on about people. I hate to break it to them but the writers and listeners are the people who put you were you are today. Without them, you would be, well, writing a blog no one reads.

Hey at least I don't flip flop.

I'm open to suggestions too. Love an article? Hate it? Think I am an idiot? Respond in a comment below or send over an e-mail to buffbillsfan517@yahoo.com.

Lynch Pleads Guilty, Will Serve No Jail Time

Whoever has been Marshawn Lynch’s attorney will be getting calls from many more clients very soon (as long as they can afford it of course).

For the second year in a row, Lynch has escaped any real punishment from the law, from last years hit and run (resulted in a traffic ticket and suspended license) and now the gun charge from this off-season.

ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio received a statement from Lynch through an e-mail:

“Today I pled guilty to a misdemeanor violation of having a firearm in a vehicle,” Lynch said in a statement e-mailed to PFT. “I am embarrassed by my recent arrest and conviction. I deeply regret that I placed myself in this situation.

“I have made mistakes in the past. Although I have learned many lessons over recent years, I obviously have not learned enough.

“I apologize to my family, the Buffalo Bills organization, my teammates, the Buffalo community, and Commissioner Goodell. I have already learned from this recent mistake and am sincerely committed to being a more responsible citizen and better representative of the NFL.”

There is still no word about any discipline action from the NFL, but it will be coming. I expect a 4-game suspension but in the same article, Florio thinks that he “wouldn’t be surprised by a four-game suspension, reduced on appeal to two.”

Lynch has to turn it around now though, seeing as one more slip up could result in him being kicked out of the league for a whole season. He already has two strikes against him now.

The Bills might be waiting for word from the league, seeing that if Lynch does not get suspended maybe they won’t go after another running back (although the Bills are probably thinking like me, that he will get at least a few games for his actions).

Lynch will receive no jail time.

Ales Kotalik Traded for 2nd Rounder

The Buffalo Sabres have traded away the king of the shootout.

Ales Kotalik will now be suiting up for the Edmonton Oilers as the Sabres trade him away for a 2nd round draft pick.

The winger had 13 goals and 19 assists for a total of 32 points.

The 6' 1", 227 lbs. right winger has a game changing shot and is amazing in the shootout however he didn't play up to his size and avoided contact a good amount of the time.

One Western Conference executive summed it up nicely, stating that “He leaves you longing for more.” He’s great in shootouts. Unfortunately, most teams know it’s the only time he’s within 5 feet of the net."

Coles to Cincinnati More Than Close, It's Official

Free agent wide receiver Laveranues Coles has signed with a team for the up-coming season. That team is not the Buffalo Bills.

According to Adam Schefter of NFL.com, the Bengals signed the wideout to a four-year, $28 million contract.

No real surprise here. He didn't want to play for Buffalo.

On the plus note, this will be the last Coles article you will have to see from me.

Sabres Trade Picks for Forward Dominic Moore and Goalie Mikael Tellqvist

The Buffalo Sabres were active on deadline day, trading for a forward, goalie and resigning one of their own.

First off, how could I not start with Tim Connolly.

The center signed a 2 year deal for $9 million ($4.5 million per season) and it has completly split the Sabres fan base.

Lets be honest here, no matter what Darcy did with Connolly, somebody would have been pissed.

Say he is traded. Well then their are outcries that the Sabres are giving up on the season.

Say he stays but isn't resigned at the end of the year. People will be pissed that he is gone or when he has a good season with little to no injuries people would be complaining that they should've kept him.

Re-signing Connolly is a great decision, as long as he remains healthy. Sure you can say he is a wimp or all ways gets hurt, but if Connolly stays healthy for most of the next two years, fans will be loving the new deal. Connolly is most likely the third best forward on the team, and keeping him was the right choice.

As for the money, it was expected. He is a high skilled guy who is a difference maker in the lineup. Even if he only plays 60-70 games a year over the next two seasons, it will still make the Sabres a better team on the ice.

Hey, playing games might be overrated, seeing as Jason Pomminville has played in every game this season and has been a disaster. His $5 million next season is also more than Connolly is going to make and when Connolly is on the ice he is better than Pomminville, no doubt about it.

Lets just pray he stays in the lineup.

I am left scrathing my head over the pick up of Mikael Tellqvist though.

The Sabres didn't need a goalie, unless they are just not comfortable with an unproven 20 year old backing up Lalime or if Miller is out for almost the entire season.

Lalime has been playing outstanding since Miller went down, and the team in front of him hasn't done anything to help him out at all.

Tellqvist is a respectable 7-5-1 with a .907 S% and 2.86 GAA.

His contract is up after the end of this season thoguh.

He is expected to fill the backup role, the same spot he was in with Phoenix this season.

He will give the Sabres fans and players a little more confidience with him between the pipes as the backup over young Enroth. With roster space being unlimited now (as long as the team is under the cap) it will be interesting to see if Enroth goes back to Portland or remains to pratice to with pro squad.

The move to get Dominic Moore from the Maple Leafs was a good one as it brings grit with a scoring ability to the lineup.

The 28-year-old center has 41 points in 63 games this season (12 goals, 29 assists).

Just like Tellqvist though, he will be an unrestricted free agent after the season and some reports I saw say that he wants more than $3.5 million per season. That will be hard to do for Buffalo with Connolly's new deal and goalie Ryan Miller's extension kicking in for next season. Moore might just be a rental player to provide some grit to help the Sabres make the playoffs.

(I'm sorry but I had to include this video of Moore because it is one of the cooler things I have seen in sports in a while):

Coles to Cincy Close

Well so much for that rumor we saw earlier in the day, it looks like wide out Laveranues Coles is close to signing with a team, but it isn't the Buffalo Bills.

It is being reported by Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com that the free agent wide receiver is close to signing a deal with the team. Here's the latest:

"As the Bengals offense begins a massive transformation that head coach Marvin Lewis hopes continues with the signing of veteran wide receiver Laveranues Coles, running back Cedric Benson officially began his reincarnation as one of the team leaders.

All signs were pointing to a deal with Coles getting closer and closer, a move that would bring quarterback Carson Palmer two receivers with more than 600 career catches"

Doesn't look good for Buffalo now in terms of signing Coles with free agents visiting like crazy now (including RB DeShaun Foster today). It seems to me that the Bills are moving on.

I don't want speculate too much, but it seems to me that the offer made to Coles is off the table no and the Bills are moving on.

Tim Connolly Re-Signs (Two Year Deal)

Per TSN.ca:

"Tim Connolly is officially off the market as the Buffalo Sabres have re-signed the oft-injured centre to a new two-year contract extension worth $4.5 million per season.

The 27-year old began his career with the New York Islanders before being traded to the Sabres for Michael Peca in the summer of 2001. He has been productive while healthy, but he has suffered through a series of concussion related issues. Connolly missed the majority of two full seasons (2003-04, 2006-07) with serious head injuries, and this season, he has played in only 29 games while dealing with back and rib ailments.

He has 11 goals and 15 assists this season for the Sabres.

The Syracuse, New York native is earning $3.5 million this season and was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Connolly was selected in the first round, 8th overall by the New York Islanders in the 1999 NHL Entry draft."

If he stays healthy, he is certainly worth the money. It seems with Connolly that the IFis pretty big though.

More to come.