MLB 2010 preview: NL East

by Steve

The all time baseball mastermind is at it again, here is the WNYWatercooler 2010 baesball preview, we'll naturally start in the best division the National League Eastern Divsion

Philadelphia Phillies: Wins 88

Is Roy Halladay an upgrade over Cliff Lee? Can this team stave off the injury bug for yet another long season? Howard played 160 games last year, Utley 156 and Rollins 155. That doesn't seem likely again c'mon. Victorino may be one of the least unsung players in the majors.
Major Question Mark
Brad Lidge
Major Exclamation point
J-ro Utley Howard

Atlanta Braves: Wins 85

God damn how old is Bobby Cox? And for that matter Larry Jones? This team has a solid young core on the upswing. Surprisingly they did finish in 3rd place in 2009 but that is because they lost their final 6 meaningless games. Hanson, Jurrjens, Hudson and Lowe is a solid 1-4. Don't sleep on Yunel Escobar either.

Question Mark
Can Jason Heyward live up to the hype and be the greatest outfielder ever?
Exclamation point
Brian McCann is the second best catcher in baseball!


NY Mets: Wins 81

Is Jason Bay really the missing piece to put the Messts over the top? Santana is still a stud, Wright and Beltran are solid. Beyond those players nothing is worth mentioning. Pelfrey, Maine, Niese and Perez are about as shaky as it gets 2-5 with this size payroll. Daniel Murphy is not a top end first basemen wtf and is GMJ really anyone's answer anywhere in the outfield?

Question Mark
Can Jose Reyes bounce back and return to '06 form?
Exclamation point
Jose Reyes has to return to '06 form for this team to have a look at anything!


Florida Marlins: Wins 80

The new stadium is still 3 years out allowing Han-ram and Josh Johnson to get paid but this team won't need a new stadium to contend in this division. Cameron Maybin needs to take major strides @ CF, Uggla and Bonifacio are solid, but is Chris Coghlan and Cody Ross for real? Donde esta Jeremy Hermida?

Question Mark
Can Volstad, Nolasco and Sanchez become reliable solid starters ala the '03 team?
Exclamation Point
Hanley Ramirez is the 3rd best player in major league baseball!

Washington Nationals: Wins 64

Did you hear about some dude named Stephen Strasburg? I think he is a pitcher or something. Talk about pressure god damn. And to retain him for another year he isn't even starting the season on their big league roster.. good luck selling tickets. Is there a true Nationals fan out there? They have Scott Olsen but Jason Marquis is their #1. Good luck Pudge and Zimmerman.

Question Mark
When will Strasburg get the call up, 4/26?
Exclamation point
Stephen Strasburg!!!

Jimmy Clausen to visit Buffalo Bills

FML

Per a league source, Clausen will make pre-draft visits to the Browns. We're told that Clausen also will visit the Rams and the Bills.

Clausen had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his toe, delaying his Pro Day workout to April 9.

DO NOT WANT

2010 NFL mock draft 3/25/10 Buffalo Bills

by Schrum

2010 NFL Mock Draft: March 25, 2010
Here are the first nine picks plus the Buffalo Bills full 2010 mock:

St. Louis Rams- Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma: A lot of people think that Suh or McCoy should be the Rams pick here but they already have been building their D through the first round of the draft for a few years. Bulger is getting older and weaker and after Bradford’s pro day, which is in a week, it should be a clear cut decision to take Bradford.

Detroit Lions- Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska: You would think that the Lions would like to protect their number 1 overall investment (Matt Stafford) but the way the Lions have been boosting up their D this off-season, Suh seems to be the right pick. Plus the Lions head coach worked with Haynesworth in Tennessee, so he knows the value of a stud D-tackle.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma: The Bucs need help on the front line of their D more than any other position. I think they would prefer Suh over McCoy, but with Suh being off the board, the Bucs should run their choice to the Roger before he even gets off stage. McCoy is a mammoth in the middle and will be an instant impact player.

Washington Redskins- Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State: The Redskins not looking to get rid of Jason Campbell leads me to believe that they still like him. That being the case, they need someone to keep him off the turf. Okung is the best OT in the draft so this pick makes sense. Don’t be surprised though if they take Clausen with this pick and address OT later in the draft.

Kansas City Chiefs, Bryan Baluga, OT Iowa: This pick kills me because I think Baluga is the best OT in this years class. He will be ready to play first day of camp and will stay in that spot for the next 15 years, a la Bruce Matthews. This is a guy that I would love to be a Bill but I think the Chiefs will snag him. Trent Williams is also a viable pick, and one I hope they do make because I want Baluga.

Seattle Seahawks, Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame: If the Chiefs go with Trent Williams then I think they will take Baluga, but that is not the scenario I have this week. Hasslebeck is getting old and warn out and they just trades their backup Wallace to the Browns. They need a QB and with a new Sheriff in town, what better way to build a team than to start with a QB.

Cleveland Browns, Eric Berry, S, Tennessee: The Browns could go a few different ways here depending on who is available. They are in desperate need for a QB, WR, and CB that is why this pick is hard to make. Seneca Wallace is not their answer at QB, at least I hope not and they could use a WR like Dez Bryant, but I don’t think they can pass on Berry. They see 4 times a year what a game changing safety can do (Reed and Polamalu) so Berry is Holmgrens first pick in C-Town.

Oakland Raiders, Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland: No one knows what Al Davis does on draft day. He probably just puts up and over head in the war room that says “Who ever is the fastest, take him.” That being the case, I think Campbell makes it to Oakland. He is a freak athlete for his size. He has the speed that Davis loves and the Raiders need an OT badly. Some day DE with this pick, but they just franchised Seymour and traded for Wimbley, so Campbell makes the most sense for position needed and Davis’ requirements.

Buffalo Bills, Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma: If this is they way the draft shapes up, I would love it if the Bills traded down to pick up another 2nd rounder. Williams is good, but he is the 3rd or 4th best tackle in the draft. I’m not saying I don’t love the pick, because I think OT is our number 1 priority at this point seeing as Bradford and Clausuen are off the board. I think Williams will be around the 15th spot, so why not make a move down and pick up some extra picks. Nix did say, you need to keep the QB off the ground to be successful.

Round 2: Terrance Cody, NT, Alabama: With the transition to a 3-4 and no one on the Bills roster that could be a legit NT, Cody is the pick. He’s a mountain (350 lbs) in the middle and played for a championship team.

Round 3: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida: If he is there, we have to take him. We need a QB and Colt is too weak. If anything, Tebow brings grit and a winning attitude to OBD. We would probably waste this pick on a TE anyways. Maybe Tebow can play TE.

Round 4: Ricky Sapp, DE/OLB, Clemson: Knee problems have taken him out of the 2nd and 3rd round, so for him to be available in the 4th would be a blessing. When healthy, he is explosive and ferocious, a la James Harrison.

Round 5: Noel Divine, RB, West Virginia: The Bills have the power runner (Lynch) and the prototypical runner (Jackson). With Divine they get a “scat back” a la Sproles. A guy that will give you 5 yards on 3rd down no matter what and can catch and run like the wind off the edge.

Round 6: Naaman Roosevelt, WR, Buffalo: The Bills need help at WR. Evans, Hardy and Johnson are a decent 1,2,3 but behind them they have no help. Roosevelt put up big number in college. He didn’t run a fast 40, but I’d like to see a local kid get to stay in Buffalo.

Round 6: Brandon Sharpe, DE, Texas Tech: Had 15 sacks as a senior. Speed pass rusher. Anything is better than Kelsay and Schobel.

Round 7: LeRoy Vann, CB, Florida A&M: He is too small to play CB in the pro’s but runs a 4.3 40. Vann had 11 TD’s on special teams in the last 2 years.

Round 7: Mike Newtown, CB, Buffalo: He is another UB prospect. Has had a solid career at UB and will be hungry to make a pro team.

Buffalo Bills news and notes

Tim Graham asked Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix what he was doing at that moment.

"Sleep," he said Monday while taking a break from the NFL owners meetings at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes. "They asked me if I was going to be there, I said 'Hell, no. I ain't going to be there. I'm going to bed.'"

"I still think you build through the draft," Nix said, "but you can't fill every hole, especially if you haven't been very good.

"We don't get excited about the first week or being up there at midnight and 12:01, signing somebody. We let it play itself out and make sure that the guys we get fit what we need and fill a need."

Also no link but WGR mentioned today Nix is keen on Marshawn Lynch being back with the Bills in 2010. Also Eric Wood appears to be ahead of schedule in regards to rehab.

Also this

With the departure of Terrell Owens and Josh Reed, the Bills are in need of depth at wide receiver. General Manager Buddy Nix acknowledged need more players at the position, but indicated that they may not come via free agency.

"If a veteran came available, obviously we’d look into it,'' he said Monday at the NFL owners meetings. "But that’s not a target.''

What this means is James Hardy and Steve Johnson will get a chance to step up and prove they can be effective complements to top receiver Lee Evans. Neither player saw much of the field in their second year. Hardy, who returned after a knee injury late in his rookie season, spent most of the games on the inactive list.

Why are the Buffalo Bills interested in CJ Spiller ?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/09/bills-line-up-meeting-with-cj-spiller/

I'd rather die than draft another running back in the first round, This is easily the worst die the Bills have had this offseason. Drafting Tebow or Clausen would be better than taking another running back in the first round. This is illogical retarded and insane. God this better not happen.

MY 2010 NCAA bracket

by Steve

I'm sure you're all dying to know, so:
click on image to enlarge

Dwan Edwards signs with Buffalo Bills

Conflicting reports of leaving Buffalo sans a deal and now having an undisclosed deal in place, PFT is reporting per Schefter he is signed sealed and delivered.

Just hours after Dwan Edwards said that free agency has been difficult, the defensive lineman has taken himself off the market.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Edwards agreed to an undisclosed contract with the Buffalo Bills. Edwards, who should mostly play defensive end in the team's new 3-4 defense, also visited the Broncos and Seahawks.

Edwards told the Baltimore Sun Tuesday that some teams had expressed reservations about the neck he surgically repaired in 2008. It's a high-risk, high-reward signing for Buffalo.

Gregg Rosenthal had him as his 9th best free agent available FWIW. Statistically not a big year but Edwards appears to be a solid player still in his prime, assuming his neck injury is healed. He did have a sack in the playoffs also.

Buffalo Bills sign Andra Davis

ILB Andra Davis who has extensive use in the 3-4 defense was signed to a 2 year contract per this chicks twitter account. Kawika Mitchell step yo game up

Also this from blogs.buffalobills.com:

Not that the Bills need any help in their recruiting efforts with free agents, but players talk to friends in the league that have played in Buffalo and Bills free agent visitor Andra Davis was no different.

Davis admitted that he spoke with his 2009 Denver teammate Mario Haggan, who spent the first five years of his career in Buffalo.

“I talked to Mario maybe about 30 minutes last night and he had nothing but great things to say,” said Davis. ”He told me he loved it here and he told me I would enjoy it here and that everything was nice.”

When former players with no current ties to the organization still speak highly of the Bills, it obviously reflects well on the organization. Buffalo’s other free agent visitor Dwan Edwards, also got in touch with a former teammate that had knowledge of Buffalo in Justin Bannan.

Colt McCoy to visit Buffalo Bills

Per scouts.com:

Scout.com has learned that McCoy will travel to Buffalo for a two-day visit with the Bills front office on April 11th and 12th, and then hop on a plane and travel to St. Louis to meet with the Rams brass on April 13th and 14th. The Bills and Rams desperately need to upgrade their quarterback situation, and it appears that the draft is their best option to find a franchise signal caller.

No way this dude should even be considered until at the earliest the 3rd round. He isn't the answer.

ILB Andra Davis cut

Anyone looking for an upgrade over Kawika Mitchell on the inside in our new 3-4 defense?

Mike Klis of the Denver Post writes that releasing Davis may be the Broncos' most stunning transaction of the offseason. The 31-year-old Davis played in all 16 games in 2009, starting 13 at strongside inside linebacker, playing well against the run and also recording 3.5 sacks.

It's the second time in less than 24 hours that the Broncos have released a defensive starter, following the release of defensive end Kenny Peterson.

The Broncos also released defensive tackle J'Vonne Parker.

Streaky Sabres now hot

by Steve

Funny the difference a week makes. Seven days ago to the minute and I was ripping the Sabres from limb to limb. I called for drastic change as the only solution to the Sabres ills. Evidently all they needed was rook Chris Butler to ride some pine. Since that decision the Sabres are coincidentally 3-0 with two wins coming against prominent Eastern Conference opponents albeit both in overtime.

The odd thing is no one player seems to really be stepping their game up. Miller has played well but not great. Vanek has 2 goals and 3 points but hasn't been dominant. Mancari was called up but didn't really contribute until Wednesday's 4-3 victory over the Stars.

Maybe Lindy Ruff inspired them and woke their asses up. Wait no that is highly unlikely, so what is the deal with this suddenly hot team two points up on Ottawa with two games in hand?

Answer: This is who the Sabres are. A talented leaderless team with a really good goalie and a solidish coach. They are streaky. Torres has been a pile of MEH. The same giveaways and dumb ass plays are occurring but sometimes they win and sometimes they don't.

Really all this team needs to do to win is make one less mistake than the other team and hope Miller makes no mistakes. That combination has got them this far so who knows what their ceiling is? Vanek goes nuts, Rivet wakes up, and Connolly plays like a first line center and the ECFs aren't out of the question. Then again none of that happening and a first round bouncing isn't an insane idea either.

Six home games out of their last 17 games and only one in April. Better hope #1 in the Northeast is nearly locked up before fools day.

Buffalo Bills sign RT Cornell Green

NFL.com is reporting that the Bills have signed OL Cornell Green, 3 years $9 million. He started at right tackle for the Raiders the past three season. Cheaper than the last tackle we got from Oakland, Langston Walker, but probably at least as awful. He will be 34 before the season starts and has had at least one domestic dispute..

Ben Rapelisraper at it again

UHOH

As if this first day of the 2010 league year wasn't sufficiently hectic, one of the more ugly situations from the 2009 league year suddenly has migrated back onto the front burner.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been accused of sexual assault. Again.

TMZ reports that the alleged incident allegedly occurred (allegedly) early Friday in Milledgeville, Georgia, a town that when you say it sounds a little like "Allegedville."

The alleged victim and witnesses are being interviewed, and police have interviewed Roethlisberger.

Per TMZ, no charges have been filed yet.

Even if he's cleared, the fact that Big Ben would put himself in position to be on the wrong end of these allegations given everything he has experienced in Nevada makes us think that, yes, he really is as dumb as he looks.

And if you don't know what we're talking about regarding Nevada, we're glad that you have emerged from your coma. Please type "Roethlisberger" and "sexual" in the search box and you'll quickly be up to speed.

The difference this time around is that the alleged victim didn't wait a year to make the claim. She didn't even wait a day.

Chan Gailey fail

“I can’t tell you we are going to the playoffs in a year or two years, but we should be headed there, and soon,” Nix said. “It doesn’t matter what kind of splash you make now. What matters is two years or three years down the road that we’ve got this thing turned in the right direction and we’re winning.”

WTF? Can we pull a Notre Dame and fire this guy before the season starts. Someone double check the resume he submitted.

Calling all optimistic Buffalo Sabres fans

by Steve

I was all ready and willing to write something positive about the Buffalo Sabres. Especially since the only comments on Sabres posts are complaining because I am too negative. That was like a month ago. Since then the Sabres have lost their lead in the division, won only two of their last fifteen in regulation and falling faster than Lil Wayne's CD sales.

There are a million questions and nearly zero answers. This team blows big time. There are zero bright spots on this team. Ryan Miller will most likely play 19 of the last 20 games and will be burnt out. Myers was a lovely shock in Oct/Nov now we need him to get better. Oh wait we got the almighty Rafi Torres. WATCH OUT.

Thankfully I have a few solutions to right this ship and avoid a one and done in the postseason. Put Thomas Vanek on waivers and fire Lindy Ruff. UHOH! Not Lindy he he he he he uh gets the team to the post season 29% of the time the last 8 years. He is a genius, he has no offensive weapons, he has changed his system.

Wait what? Vanek is err was a perennial 40 goal scorer, he has had two of the best goalies of the last two generations yet seems to always lose the big games. (1 and 4 in Championship rounds) The team has tuned him out. He has made no one better. In fact he appears to be causing regression in a majority of the team.

Cutting Vanek, what will that do, we'll lose his scoring prowess. What scoring prowess. He sucks. We'll save $7 mil a year IF someone even picks him up and if not then it will be an obvious shot in the arm until we trade him in the offseason.

This team needs drastic change. They do this every year. They fall apart and underachieve. The change didn't come before the deadline now is as good a time as any. Wake the fuck up Regier and do something.

Bills trading up to get Bradford?

by STeve

This could easily be the worst idea of all time. I can't even fathom the idea let alone actually doing it. Give up next years 1st and this years and pay the guy A FUCKING FUCK load of money and he isn't even good? a spread offsense? surgery? Wow, holy fuck. i can't even imagine this to be remotely accurate no way. none. wow. A team with this many holes moving up trading away picks and tons of money on a question mark at best is like team suicide. It better be a cruel joke

Fuck Sidney Crosby

Get 'em while they're hot. Fuck Sidney Crosby shirts only $10: