State of the Bills Roster: Defensive End
by Brian Galliford on Feb 8, 2010 11:30 AM EST
in News
49 comments
Super Bowl XLIV is in the books, and while the city of New Orleans takes the next two weeks to party like they've never partied before - you deserve it, folks - the rest of the NFL can now turn its full attention toward building toward the goal that the Saints achieved last night.
Back here in Buffalo Bills country, we're still reeling from last week's news that the team will be moving to a 3-4 alignment under head coach Chan Gailey and new defensive coordinator George Edwards. Few facts are known at this point, but what we do know is that Buffalo isn't anywhere close to being equipped to run a traditional 3-4, and that the front seven in particular will be subjected to a great deal of house cleaning.
Late last week, we talked about the team's current prospects at nose tackle and rush linebacker, the two most critical positions to any 3-4 alignment. Defensive end is not as critical in most 3-4 alignments, as they're usually gap-control positions at which average athletes can get you to the promised land. That's not to say good players can't be dominant factors from that position; I'm sure you all remember Bruce Smith fondly. Buffalo has a lot of candidates to play end in a 3-4; unfortunately, most of them, again, aren't snug fits.
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We've had reports from ESPN folk who apparently have too much time on their hands, with their network not doing the game. Adam Schefter says multiple teams have asked the Birds about all three of their quarterbacks and three teams have called about Michael Vick. Sal Paolantonio added that three teams - Cleveland, Denver and Buffalo - have had multiple conversations with the Eagles about Donovan McNabb.
Congrats to the New Orleans Saints
by Brian Galliford on Feb 8, 2010 7:53 AM EST
in News
67 comments
It's always nice to see the little guy win the big one. A hearty congratulations to the New Orleans Saints, and their outstanding fans over at Canal Street Chronicles, for their Super Bowl XLIV victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
It's hard not to be happy for former Bills cornerback Jabari Greer this morning. He's a good player and a good guy, and now he's a champion. Same goes for former Bills safety Pierson Prioleau. Heck, I've even got a soft spot for Anthony Hargrove, who misbehaved his way out of Buffalo but found a pretty excellent way to redeem himself last night.
Gregg Williams? Eh... congrats, I guess. Now please stop talking about teams you used to work for.
I don't necessarily ache for former Bills GM Bill Polian, because the dude's got a ring. But it's gotta sting to be known, at this point, as the guy that's 1-5 in Super Bowls, with a win over - wait for it - Rex Grossman's Chicago Bears the only highlight. The same goes for Peyton Manning, easily this generation's best player, but without the hardware to cement that status - and now he's got a loss to a (slightly) inferior quarterback that thoroughly outplayed him, too.
The off-season is officially upon us, even though it's been invading Buffalo for well over a month now. We'll get to that this afternoon. For now, do what you're doing at your office this morning and get your final thoughts out on Super Bowl XLIV and the 2009 NFL season.
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Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 2/8
by MattRichWarren on Feb 8, 2010 7:28 AM EST
in News
16 comments
Ex-Bills lineman Hargrove rallies back - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"The Buffalo Bills unearthed a gem when they identified defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove (pictured top, left) as a player they wanted in 2006. Hargrove wasn't ready to shine yet."
Scott Pitoniak: Call it: Manning 34, Saints 27
"Back to Polian, I can't help but wonder how different the history of the Buffalo Bills would have been these past 16 years if he were still in Western New York as GM and president. Purely speculation on my part, but I believe there would have been at least two Lombardi Trophies in the lobby of the Bills administration building at One Bills Drive."
Flashback - The Morning Call - Allentown PA
FEB. 9 2000 -- Andre Reed asks for and receives his release from the Buffalo Bills, ending his 15-year association with the NFL team. The former Dieruff and Kutztown University standout plays one more season with Washington and retires with 951 receptions, 87 touchdown catches and 13,198 receiving yards.
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Colts vs Saints: Super Bowl Sunday Open Thread
by Brian Galliford on Feb 7, 2010 9:30 AM EST
in Events
111 comments
Indianapolis Colts (16-2) vs New Orleans Saints (15-3)
Sun Life Stadium, Miami, FL
6:00 PM ET, CBS
SBNation.com Coverage
Colts: Stampede Blue :: Saints: Canal Street Chronicles
There's nothing else we need to say. It's Super Bowl Sunday. Chow down, party up, rock out and strap in, because Super Bowl XLIV has the look of an excellent one. It's Colts versus Saints, and this is your open thread for today's big game.
| krytime | Brian | Kurupt | poz | sireric | Ron | MARV | MRW | WA |
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| 34-31 | 33-24 | 34-27 | 41-37 | 65-42 | 55-48 | 34-31 | 38-35 | 42-31 |
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Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 2/7
by MattRichWarren on Feb 7, 2010 8:43 AM EST
in News
19 comments
Reed still on HOF waiting list - BuffaloBills.com
Former Buffalo Bills’ wide receiver Andre Reed will have to wait another year for the hallowed call to Canton, Ohio. The Hall of Fame Selection Committee voted in the Class of 2010 Saturday in South Florida, a list the former perennial Pro Bowler was not a member of for the fourth consecutive year.
After Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith, Hall of Fame vote had surprises - Jim Trotter - SI.com
It's dangerous to make predictions about when someone will be inducted, but the wait for Reed and Dent looks to be shorter than longer. There is growing support for both, and the fact that each made the cut to 10 this year should bode well. Also helping the cause for Reed, who missed the first cut last year but made it Saturday, is that current Hall of Famers are coming to his defense. Michael Irvin and Rod Woodson both said Saturday they would vote in Reed, the Bills' standout wideout, ahead of Carter. Said Irvin: "Andre Reed didn't just catch passes, he caught passes that counted. His catches led his team to four Super Bowl appearances." Such comments are being heard with greater frequency regarding Reed.
BillBoard: Reed makes final 10
"Reed was one of four receivers up for induction. Two of those receivers, Reed and Jerry Rice, made the cut-down to 10. Reed was eliminated in the vote down to five finalists." Mark Gaughan was the man responsible for selling voters on Reed. I think he did a good job. Send him an e-mail to than him and make sure to mention Buffalo Rumblings: MGaughan@buffnews.com
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Brandon the key to Bills' front office working
by Brian Galliford on Feb 6, 2010 1:36 PM EST
in Opinion
72 comments
Wednesday evening's confirmed report that the Buffalo Bills are set to hire Doug Whaley as the team's new Assistant General Manager has me excited. To be fair, it doesn't take a lot for me to get excited about Bills football, but it's the actual football that gets me riled up, not the organization itself. As a life-long Bills fan, it's what happens on the field that I am much more optimistic about on a year-to-year basis.
Granted, the football in Buffalo has been subpar over the past decade. Only the lowly Detroit Lions have missed the playoffs for as many consecutive years as our lowly Bills. The team has swapped out players and coaches as quickly as a chain smoker rifles through packs of cigarettes, but the end result has been the same for a full decade: no post-season. When what happens on the field is the same no matter what you change, it's pretty clear that the men putting the product on the field are to blame.
For a decade, Buffalo's front office has, in general, been a failure. They've tried things there, too, from hiring a proven talent evaluator in Tom Donahoe, to bringing back a former coach in Marv Levy, to developing a consensus approach between departments spearheaded by Russ Brandon. This is an area that I have, in general, been eternally pessimistic about; I don't often get overly critical in my postings here, but this post, while temporarily cathartic at the time, still rings true.
Or, at least, it rang true until December 31, 2009. That's when Wilson hired Buddy Nix as his new General Manager, promoted Brandon to CEO, and let Nix go to work. I like what's happened to this point, which includes the hiring of Whaley and the firing of former pro personnel chief John Guy. There is obviously more work to done. But in order for the Nix regime to achieve its goals and turn the Bills into a winning franchise, it's Brandon - yes, Russ Brandon - that holds the most important key.
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Stampede Blue has a beer with Peter King
As we start getting prepared for this weekend's Super Bowl, I thought I'd share a little love for our Colts blog, Stampede Blue. BigBlueShoe is down in Miami covering the Super Bowl from media central, and he sat down earlier this week to chat with Peter King - a man he has derided many, many times.
It's truly an outstanding interview. Part 1 is linked above, and Part 2 is right here.
2 days ago
Brian Galliford
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