Buffalo Sports
DON'T GET ME STARTED on adding some thoughts after the Bills terrible loss to the Giants Sunday last, and the booing of Danny Briere two nights earlier.
First of all, there's a lot of crying about the failure of the NFL Network to really budge in allowing the greatest distribution of the Patrios/Giants game this weekend.
Let's be frank here. The NFL wans a huge, huge amount of money to allow Comcast and Time-Warner to carry the Network. As for me, 8 games during the season wouldn't sway me if subscribers were to pay more for that network. There are too many repeats of programs.....and not too much about the Bills.
In recent months, the NFL Network has been running ads encouraging people to drop Cable and go to satellite. That certainly didn't sit well with Comcast or Time-Warner. Comcast carries it on a tier channel with subscribers opting whether to pay for it or not. TW doesn't carry the Network.
The NFL Network said it would allow the Pats/Giants game on the tube if these Cable companies would send the issue to an aribitrator who would make the final ruling. If that would go to a third party - remember what happened to players who went to arbitration (3rd party) and received unwarranted huge bumps in their salaries.
If the NFL(Network) and Comcast and Time-Warner can't reach an agreement that would not cost subscribers any additional monies.....so be it. Frankly, I can live without it. If I want to see that game....let these little feet tippy-toe to the nearest bar with the dish and I'll watch it.
By the way, a law suit was mentioned recently against the NFL(Network) and now Congress is getting involved. Look out NFL. Once Congress gets into the act, you might be heading into uncharted waters. But enough of that.
BUFFALO BILLS
After witnessing the play calling this season that has led the Bills to collapse in the previous two games, not to mention some other unmentionable calls in earlier games, I'm making a big pitch for an offensive coordinator.
Here's what I want you to do. On New Years football days, watch the game between Hawaii and Georgia. Hawaii has about the most diverse and exciting offensive team in the world. It was introduced by June Junes, who coached Jim Kelly when he was with the Houston Gamblers. Jones ushered in the No-Huddle offense (together with Mouse Davis.) I truly believe Georgia will have its hands full.
I am strongly suggesting that the Bills make a pitch for June Jones as offensive coordinator of the team. He's no stranger to the NFL, having coached before. If Jones may not want a coordinator's job - then let the Bills front office finally decide whether Dick Jauron is geared to take the team to the promised land - playoffs. If not, why not interview Jones for the job and move Jauron into the front office with buddy Marv.
What disturbed me over the past two weekends and, especially, after Sunday's loss to the Giants was Jauron's constant praising, "They played hard....he played well...he performed....some mistakes were made, etc., etc., etc."
Jauron should speak his mind. The left tack;e who replaced Peters should have been called out rather than say he played hard, and/or performed well.
If the thinking is to get the Bills on the right path - is Jauron the man? That's why I say that it might be wise to keep June Jones in mind for offensive coordinator or better. Again, watch Hawaii's offense against Georgia. The Bulldogs might win....but Hawaii will put up points with that high-powered offense.
NOW THE BUSH BASHING, BOOING OF BRIERE
I was very disappointed when Danny Briere left Buffalo, together with Chris Drury in the off-season. Surprised? No, because the Sabres allowed McKee, Satan, Dumont, Taylor Pyatt, Rory Fitzpatricks, Marty Biron and others to leave town. Have you noticed, these guys are playing in the NFL.
The booing of Briere last Friday was unjustified. Let's face it. Briere really didn't leave for the big money he got out of Philly. He left because the Sabres didn't talk about extending his deal (with more money) because of the policy not to negotiate (or re-negotiate) during the season.
The Sabres, according to reports, began contact only a few days before he was to become a free agent. I assume that Briere might have signed, let's say, a 4-year deal at $5 mill a year if he were offered it a year ago. I also might be imagining that Briere-Drury-Vanek might have been had for a total of $15 million over a 4-year deal. Now two of them are gone and one of them (Vanek) got that $10 mill-a-year deal forced on the Sabres.
Booing wasn't the right thing to do. If anyone had to be booed, it should have been the front office for allowing that no-longer policy not to negotiate with players during the season. That was a huge mistake by the front office. Briere might have been open to conversations but as the season was closing, it became evident that he would be getting a huge offer on the free agent market. If anything, the Sabres should have signed him and if, let's say, they didn't want to part with the loot.....trade him and get something for him. They didn't do that, allowing Briere to walk. When he did.....so did Drury, following a parade that exited the team during the past three seasons.
Briere waited.....nobody reportedly spoke with him about a new deal until a few days before free-agency and he probably figured the team didn't want him. I'm sure that the team would like his 15+ goals so far this season to go with a lot of assists.
That the Sabres aren't nearly as good as they were a year ago speaks volumes about what happened. The next time Briere visits Buffalo for a game against the Sabres, he deserves to be applauded as was Teddy Nolan, Jay McKee, Pat LaFontaine when they returned after being dispatched by the front office.
Briere did what any other player in his position would do. Wait for the club to come to him during the season. They didn't. When a few days before free agency came up, all knew that Briere would get a monstor contract. Like McKee, Briere would not have cost the Sabres what the Flyers gave him had they negotiated a year ago.
So, hat's off to Briere and let's hope he gets a warmer welcome next time he's in town. Meanwhile, let's hope that the Sabres bring in a really potent offensive mind like June Jones to help lead the Bills offense on Don't Get Me Started.
© Copyright 2008 by Speakupwny.com
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