Entering the 2009 season, Fred Jackson was well on his way to winning over the hearts of the Bills faithful. He made the team as an undrafted, former NFL Europe star in 2007 and his persistent toughness and unrelenting grit allowed him to flourish as Marshawn Lynch’s sidekick for two seasons.
Following opening games last year against the New England Patriots (140 total yards, 1 TD) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (163 rushing yards) when his repertoire of versatility was on full display, there was growing sentiment throughout Western New York that Jackson could replace the suspended Lynch as the Bills’ starter.
Continue reading ‘How does Fred Jackson fit into Bills plans?’
USA Hockey announced today that 11 players have been added to the 2010 U.S. Men’s National Team that will compete at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Men’s Championship, May 7-23, in Cologne, Gelsenkirchen and Mannheim, Germany. In addition, Joe Sacco, head coach of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche and a finalist for the 2010 Jack Adams Award as the league’s coach of the year, joins the coaching staff as an assistant coach.
Highlighting the additions is defenseman Jack Johnson (Ann Arbor, Mich./Los Angeles Kings/Univ. of Michigan), who was a member of the silver medal-winning 2010 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team. A Team USA veteran, Johnson is making his third appearance on a U.S. Men’s National Team (2007, 2009). In addition to his recent silver at the Olympic Winter Games, Johnson has captured three medals at IIHF World Championships, including the gold medal with the 2005 U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team, the silver medal with the 2004 U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team and the bronze medal with the 2007 U.S. National Junior Team. Johnson was also a member of the 2006 U.S. National Junior Team.
Continue reading ‘Tim Kennedy added to U.S. Men’s Hockey Roster’
Perhaps no one is catching more flack for the Sabres first round playoff collapse than general manager Darcy Regier. Among the chief complaint from fans is his inability to help the team at the NHL trade deadline.
Last year the lone move Buffalo made was sending a second round pick to Toronto to acquire forward Dominic Moore. After scoring 12 goals and 41 points in 63 games with the Leafs, Moore produced all of one goal and four points in 18 with Buffalo. The Sabres missed the playoffs.
This time around was different. Buffalo was leading the division and in a dog fight for seeding near the top of the Eastern Conference. Other teams close in the standings made moves left and right around deadline time for talent, and for the second straight year Regier overvalued the core of his roster and acquired but one player.
Continue reading ‘Regier admits Torres deal was a mistake’
Lindy Ruff, Darcy Regier and Larry Quinn will address the media at the HSBC Arena this morning at 10am in a scheduled season-ending press conference.
There are many issues that need to be discussed and eventually resolved, though few if any will be decided today. But one thing we can tell you is who’ll be behind the bench next season.
The Buffalo News reported last night that the Sabres have exercised their option on Ruff to return as head coach next season.
Ruff has been with the Sabres since July 2, 1997 and has coached 984 games with the franchise, the third-longest tenure of any coach with one team. His 483 wins with the Sabres is fourth-best for a coach with one team, trailing Toe Blake (Montreal) by 17 for third.
Since Ruff became the Sabres coach in 1997 there has been 153 coaching changes in the NHL, a number sure to grow again.
We’ll have plenty more from the press conference later today.
The International League’s top offense was too much for the Bisons to handle on Wednesday night.
Durham got home runs from Chris Richard, Angel Chavez and Rashad Eldridge in a 9-2 victory over the Herd in the second game of their four-game series from Coca-Cola Field. The set is now tied a game apiece with another match-up on Thursday at 6:05 p.m.
Durham entered the game hitting .300 as a team. They also had a large lead on the rest of league in total home run (25) and stolen bases (31) after just 20 games.
Continue reading ‘Bisons fall to Durham 9-2′
