|
PAGES
BSD FAVS
|
You are currently browsing the archives
for October 2010
The American Hockey League announced today that Portland Pirates center Luke Adam has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Oct. 10, 2010.
Adam, making his regular-season professional debut, notched four points to pace Portland to a 6-5 win over Manchester on Saturday night. He assisted on two first-period goals to help stake the Pirates to 1-0 and 2-1 leads, and then scored the game-tying and go-ahead goals late in the third period as Portland rallied for the victory. Adam was a plus-2 on the evening and tied a game high with five shots on goal while earning first-star honors.
In recognition of his achievement, Adam will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Pirates home game.
Adam, a 20-year-old rookie from St. John’s, N.L., was a second-round draft choice (44th overall) by the Buffalo Sabres in 2008. He made his pro debut with the Pirates during the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs, notching two assists in three games, after completing his four-year junior career. Adam recorded 49 goals and 41 assists for 90 points in 56 games and was a First Team QMJHL all-star with Cape Breton in 2009-10.
 Paul Vecchio, Director of Communications at UB, has released the following statement regarding Scott Pettigrew and the stabbing that took place late last Saturday night.
“Junior UB student-athlete football player Scott Pettigrew suffered a stab wound to his upper chest early Sunday morning, was treated at ECMC and released later that morning.
“Scott is blessed he wasn’t hurt more seriously, he is very fortunate and we are thankful for the quick and immediate assistance from Buffalo’s emergency responders,” said head coach Jeff Quinn. “Scott has been in touch with his family and it appears he will be fine and will not have any lasting effects.”
Continue reading ‘UB Comments on Pettigrew Stabbing’
 To make for room for Shawn Nelson’s return to the active roster, the Buffalo Bills have released linebacker Chris Ellis.
Nelson didn’t play the first four weeks of the season because of a NFL suspension, and was inactive in Week 5 after the Bills asked for and received a one-game roster exemption.
Ellis started at outside linebacker on opening day when Reggie Torbor missed the game with an injury, and Ellis racked up a sack to go with five tackles. Torbor returned the following week and Ellis’ role since continued to diminish. The team is also working in Arthur Moats and undrafted free agent Antonio Coleman into the outside linebacker mix, so the numbers game essentially forces Ellis out of town.
Continue reading ‘Bills Cut Chris Ellis’
 There’s not much more left to say about the 2010 Buffalo Bills. They are dreadful, appalling, horrendous, awful and whatever negative adjectives you can think of. Without question, the defense is bottoming out. They proved against an average Jags offense yet again they’re incapable of stopping the run, generating a real pass rush or being able to cover tight ends.
I never thought I’d say this, but I’m starting to feel sorry for this offense. They’re not getting what they deserve and it’s now crystal clear that their not the big problem.
Here’s what we’ve learned (or in most cases, learned again) this week about the most hapless team in the NFL.
Continue reading ‘Jags 36, Bills 26: What We Learned’
 Some think the Buffalo Bills 2010 season has already bottomed out. Can things get any worse? We’ll find out this afternoon when the Bills host the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2). If you want to see the game, you’ll need a ticket as the contest is blacked out locally for the first time in 27 games.
The Bills are off to an abysmal start this season at 0-4 and dead last in the league in offensive yards, defensive points allowed and point differential. They face a Jaguars team that knocked off Indianapolis last week.
Buffalo will be without four defensive contributors; starter Terrence McGee and reserves Keith Ellison, Bryan Scott and Ashton Youboty.
Fred Jackson will get the start at running back with C.J. Spiller expected to improve on his three carries per game average. Marshawn Lynch was dealt to Seattle this week.
The game is a homecoming of sorts for Trent Edwards, who was claimed by Jacksonville after the Bills waived him two weeks ago. Edwards is the backup quarterback to starter David Garrard.
 There will be no 82-0 season for the Buffalo Sabres. In front of a raucous sell-out home crowd, the Sabres did little right in losing to the New York Rangers, 6-3 in their home season opener.
Normally reliable Ryan Miller had a poor game for Buffalo, allowing five goals on just 27 shots. Star forward Thomas Vanek was even worse, being held off the score sheet and credited with being on the ice for four Rangers goals.
Jordan Leopold scored a pair of goals for the Sabres in his home debut and also added an assist. Derek Roy scored the other Buffalo goal, his third in two games.
Buffalo hosts Chicago Monday night at the HSBC Arena.
 Buffalo State (1-4/1-3) dominated all phases of the game, setting a school record for points, touchdowns and margin of victory, blasting host Western Connecticut State (0-5/0-4), 71-3, for its first victory of the season in an NJAC contest today at the Westside Athletic Complex.
The Bengals found the end zone a total 10 times (eclipsing the previous single-game touchdown record of eight), and in all tallied points in six different ways, scoring four times via the ground, three through the air, on interception, fumble recovery and kick returns, and added a field goal. The 71 points shattered the previous standard of 59 in a five-overtime game against Mercyhurst in 1996. The 68-point margin of victory also smashed the previous record of 46 over Thiel in 1994.
“It was a great win for the players,” said Buffalo State head coach Jerry Boyes. “It was a nice reward as we executed on offense, defense and special teams for the full 60 minutes.”
Continue reading ‘Buffalo State Steamrolls West Conn, 71-3′
 After back to back springs of prematurely hitting the links early, The Buffalo Sabres were one of the regular seaason surprises of the NHL 2009/2010 season. Instead of a borderline playoff team relying on streaky forwards and an unproven defense, the squad handily captured the Northeast Division title behind strong team play, the brilliance of rookie defenseman Tyler Myers and Ryan Miller’s emergence as the best goaltender in the league.
Unfortunately, the team fell back to earth in the playoffs, as key injuries to Thomas Vanek and Jochen Hecht put the offensive load on Derek Roy and Tim Connolly, who wilted under the pressure.
The defeat at the hands of the Boston Bruins raised significant questions about the team’s toughness and resiliency and an offseason devoid of blockbuster additions did little to silence the Sabres’ critics. However, although there are a lot of familiar faces donning the blue and gold this season, it will be a new team taking the ice in 2010.
Continue reading ‘Our 2010-11 Buffalo Sabres Season Preview’
I spoke to a source within the Buffalo Bills organization and I’ve been told that when Shawn Nelson is placed onto the active roster, it’s going to be veteran defensive lineman John McCargo that’s let go to make room.
The Bills have until Saturday afternoon to decide if Nelson, returning from a four game suspension, will be ready to go against Jacksonville on Sunday. If he is, the Bills will have to make a roster move. If not, they’ll have to do it next week but regardless, I’m told it’s McCargo that is the “overwhelming” favorite to be the odd man out.
The Bills have made several roster moves over the past 24 hours. First, Jamon Meredith was release and Mansfield Wrotto promoted from the practice squad. Then on Tuesday Marshawn Lynch was traded to Seattle for two draft picks and running back Andre Anderson was promoted from the practice squad.
Buffalo traded up to the 26th overall pick in 2006 to select McCargo, but he’s been mostly ineffective during his tenure with the team. He’s accumulated just two and a half sacks and forced fumble in 32 career appearances.
He’s been a healthy scratch for all four Buffalo games this season, despite showing promise as a defensive end during the preseason.
If you’re the rare owner of a McCargo No. 97 jersey I wouldn’t run out to the yard for a burial ceremony quite yet– we’ve been wrong before. But I’m pretty solid with this pending move.
The Buffalo Bills have signed defensive end Ra’Shon Harris to the practice squad today, as first reported by Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
The sixth round draft pick of Pittsburgh in 2009 was cut before the start of the regular season and was picked up by Carolina. He played in two games for the Panthers before being waived and was signed again by Pittsburgh in October but was inactive for the rest of the season.
Harris recorded 65 tackles and had four sacks in college at Oregon.
The Bills had a practice squad opening after elevating running back Andre Anderson to the 53-man roster following the Marshawn Lynch trade. They still need to release a player once Shawn Nelson is activated. Mansfield Wrotto was promoted from the practice squad Monday. He could go back down if the Bills don’t release a veteran to make room for Nelson. I’ve been told for several days that John McCargo is the leading candidate.
Since this website was launched in September of 2009, we’ve and myself in particular, have been hard on Marshawn Lynch. Maybe it’s wrong of me, but having being spoiled by the Bills winning and personalities of the players as I grew up watching them, I expected more on and off the field from players like Lynch when I got involved in the media world.
I don’t regret many of the things I’ve written about him over the past few years. Clearly, he’s admired by his teammates but I consider him a malcontent to the fans and community that support the team. I also know for a fact he showed a lack of respect for a lot of the former Bills that occupied that locker room when the team was great, most notably Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas. There’s really no need to get into things further because Lynch is gone, now a member of the Seattle Seahawks after Wednesday’s trade.
I have to admit, getting to know him over the past few years I fully expected him to tee off on the organization after the trade, acting like a prisoner freshly released from the can. But since I teed off on him ad nauseum when I felt it was warranted, then it’s time to man up and give him some credit. Things may change in the blink of an eye…err quote, but Lynch has said nothing but the right things about his teammates and the organization since being traded.
Continue reading ‘Lynch Says All The Right Things Upon Departure’
 With Patrick Lalime recovered enough from a groin injury to resume his role as Ryan Miller’s backup, the Buffalo Sabres have sent goaltender Jhonas Enroth back down the AHL Portland Pirates, and have set their opening night roster at the maximum 23 players.
To start the season Buffalo will carry 13 forwards and eight defensemen.
Although nothing has been set in stone, it’s expected the team’s four forward lines will look like this: Thomas Vanek and Drew Stafford between Derek Roy, Tim Connolly centering Jochen Hecht and Jason Pominville, Rob Neidermayer centering the third line that features Mike Grier and Nathan Gerbe, and Paul Gaustad and Patrick Kaleta on the fourth line with either Cody McCormick or Tyler Ennis.
Continue reading ‘Sabres Send Down Enroth, at Roster Max of 23′
 Proceeds from the upcoming U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Dinner will benefit both Craig Charron and The USA Hockey Foundation, as announced today by USA Hockey. The event — which includes the formal induction of Art Berglund, Derian Hatcher, Kevin Hatcher, Dr. V. George Nagobads and Jeremy Roenick — will take place Thursday, Oct. 21, at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y.
After playing 12 years of professional hockey and skating for Team USA in two International Ice Hockey Federation World Men’s Championships, Charron is currently undergoing treatment in a fight against gastric adenocarcinoma (stomach cancer), which was diagnosed earlier this year.
The 42-year-old lives in Rochester, N.Y., with his wife and four young children. Despite his illness, Charron remains committed to serving as the general manager of The Sports Centre at MCC, coaching youth hockey teams and working as the varsity boys’ hockey coach at Spencerport (N.Y.) High School.
Continue reading ‘U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction to Benefit Craig Charron’
 I spoke to a source inside the Buffalo Bills organization and learned that fifth round draft pick Ed Wang is practicing again regularly with the team. However, despite playing offensive tackle at Virginia Tech and being projected at tackle for the NFL, Wang has been practicing exclusively as a guard with the Bills.
Wang, the first full blooded Chinese player ever drafted into the NFL, was the ninth pick (140th overall) in the fifth round in this past April’s draft. He’s yet to see any game action because of a leg injury suffered on June 4 that the team termed a high ankle injury.
The organization has remained extremely tight-lipped regarding his progress, but we’ve learned he’s physically close to being game ready.
Continue reading ‘Ed Wang Practicing Exclusively at Guard for Bills’
 If you’re the 1972 Miami Dolphins, you can go ahead and order that champagne right now. We’re just past four weeks into the season and already Kansas City is the lone team without a blemish in the loss column. It’s a great feel good story, though it certainly won’t last much longer. This season is the polar opposite of 2009 when it was obvious early New Orleans and Indianapolis were on a Super Bowl collision course.
The good news is that it makes for a plethora of exciting and unpredictable games. This is just our fifth weekly power rankings poll and we’ve already had three different teams chart the tops. Last week we learned anything can happen. The Rams have run off two in a row, the Browns beat the Bengals, Donovan McNabb had a triumphant return to Philadelphia and hopefully, the Buffalo Bills have finally bottomed out.
Here’s our week five NFL power rankings. Feel free to disagree:
Continue reading ‘NFL Power Rankings – Week Five’
 So the Marshawn Lynch era is over in Buffalo, and the return from Seattle is a fourth rounder in 2011 and a conditional pick the following year.
First and foremost, the move was necessary because there isn’t enough footballs in this (to this point) anemic offense for C.J. Spiller, Fred Jackson and Lynch. Spiller is the ninth overall pick while Jackson signed an extension just a year ago, and is a young 29 years old.
Jackson proved last year he can carry an offense, gaining more than 1,000 yards both in rushing and kickoff returns. He deserves more playing time and now will get it.
Continue reading ‘Bills Historically Weak Hitting on Fourth Rounders’
 Jay Glazer of Fox Sports was the first to report that Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch has finally been traded. He’s been dealt to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a fourth round pick in next year’s 2011 draft and a conditional pick the following year.
Lynch trade talk has been on and off ever since the Bills selected C.J. Spiller with the ninth overall pick of the draft last April. Seattle has been linked to Lynch ever since draft day, when it was rumored the Bills rejected an offer for him.
Lynch finishes his Bills career with 2,765 rushing yards, 670 receiving yards, and 18 total touchdowns.
He’s also been linked over the past few months to Green Bay and Philadelphia, but it’s out west to Seattle where he’s headed.
We’ll have plenty more on this move later, as it appears the Bills are in full-fledge roster turnover mode. Given the state of the 0-4 team, that’s a good thing.
All we know for sure is that somewhere, Fred Jackson is jumping for joy.
**UPDATE** Adam Schefter reports that the conditional pick is a 2012 sixth rounder that can go to a fifth based on performance.
 It’s been a run of 26 successive Buffalo Bills home games fans have been afforded the opportunity to watch their hometown team on television. Sadly, that streak is but a few flips for the calendar from coming to its conclusion. The Bills are winless, appearing more unwatchable than ever, play an unappealing Jacksonville Jaguars team this Sunday, and more than 11,000 tickets still remain.
Can you hold fans accountable for that?
Forget the Super Bowl era glory days, it feels like centuries ago since the Drew Bledsoe and Eric Moulds-led Bills even had a winning season. Yet week after week, ever since December 24, 2006 when they hosted Tennessee, Ralph Wilson Stadium has sold out. Through thick and mostly thin, loyal fans of Bills football are a glutton for punishment.
That may not be the case anymore.
Continue reading ‘Wilson Should Do The Right Thing For Angry Fans’
 It’s like being stuck between a rock and a hard place for forward Mark Mancari.
In four of the last five years, Mancari has posted 20 goal seasons; he’s been an AHL All-Star twice and holds the record for the hardest shot (102.8mph), yet he’s stuck in the AHL.
He’s caught in tweenerland, where a player is exceptional at the AHL level, but for any number of reasons can’t seem to find their way to the NHL on a consistent basis, which has left Mancari somewhat frustrated.
Continue reading ‘Mancari Stuck Behind a Rock And a Hard Place’
 University at Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack has been named the Mid-American Conference East Division Defensive Player of the Week following his standout performance in the Bulls’ 28-26 win at Bowling Green on Saturday.
Mack had a team-high nine tackles, including a career-best four tackles for loss. The redshirt-freshman also had two quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one pass break up and one sack. He was part of a defensive effort that limited Bowling Green to a season-low 176 yards of offense and only ten first downs. Mack’s first quarter sack and forced fumble set the Bulls up inside the Bowling Green 20 where Buffalo scored their first touchdown of the game.
Mack is making an early statement for MAC Freshman of the Year consideration. The Fort Pierce, FL native leads the MAC in tackles for loss with a team-best eight. He also leads UB with four quarterback hurries and ranks second on the team in sacks (2.5) and pass breakups (5) to go along with his 23 tackles.
Continue reading ‘UB’s Mack Named MAC Defensive P.O.W.’
 The Buffalo Sabres announced that Grant Ledyard, Director of Youth Hockey Development and Head Coach of the Buffalo Jr. Sabres, will conduct 15 separate hockey clinic sessions for Mite, Squirt and Peewee aged children beginning Sunday, October 17 at HSBC Arena. The goal of these clinics is to inform and instruct participants on how they can improve every aspect of their own individual games.
The cost for each of the one-hour clinics will be $30 per participant. Alternatively, participants can choose to pay $75 for all three days. They will take place on three Sundays: October 17, November 7 and November 14.
The times for the clinic are as follows:
Continue reading ‘Sabres to Host Youth Hockey Clinics at HSBC Arena’
As reported last Friday, Jamon Meredith’s days as a Buffalo Bill were likely nearing an end. Sources said that Chan Gailey grew tired of Meredith’s inconsistency and promoted rookie Cordaro Howard past him on the team’s depth chart. After being inactive the past two games, Meredith has been released from the team all together.
The Bills have promoted Mansfield Wrotto to the current active roster, though that may only last a week. If Shawn Nelson, returning from suspension, is able to play this Sunday, Wrotto probably goes back to the practice squad. If not, he’ll remain on the 53-man roster but be inactive when the Bills take on the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday.
Rookie offensive tackle Ed Wang is still not ready to play.
We don’t know how things will play out regarding the reserve tackles and roster addditions/subtractions over the next few weeks, but one fact we now know for sure is Jamon Meredith is looking for work when just a few months ago he was expected to compete for a starting job.
 According to a report in the Burlington County Times, the Philadelphia Eagles have contacted the Buffalo Bills about a possible trade involving Marshawn Lynch.
The Eagles are searching for a running back with starter LeSean McCoy out indefinitely with a broken rib suffered in Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins.
Lynch has carried the ball 37 times in four games for Buffalo this season while splitting time with C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson, running for 164 yards despite an offensive line that has struggled to open any holes.
There have been rumors of a Lynch trade since the start of last offseason, but with the team off to a 0-4 start and going nowhere, coupled with the need to get Spiller more involved offensively, this is a rumor that may very well have some teeth to it.
Stay tuned for more updates.
 According to TSN, the Buffalo Sabres have waived forward Matt Ellis.
Ellis has served a role as one of those forward grinders that makes up for a lack of offensive talent with grit and determination. He played in 72 games with the Sabres last year, accumulating just three goals and 10 assists. In his two seasons with the game that spanned 119 games, he chalked up 10 goals and 15 assists.
The signing of Rob Neidermayer during the offseason put the writing on the wall for Ellis’ departure.
The 12 forwards expected to have opening day jobs include: Thomas Vanek, Drew Stafford, Derek Roy, Jason Pominville, Jochen Hecht, Tim Connolly, Neidermayer, Mike Grier, Paul Gaustad, Tyler Ennis, Patrick Kaleta and Cody McCormick.
Nathan Gerbe, despite a solid preseason is not likely to be in the opening day lineup. However, Lindy Ruff may decide to keep him in Buffalo as an extra player.
On the defensive side its Chris Butler, Andrej Sekera and Mike Weber competing for what will be two roster spots on opening day. Ruff has no made no official decision.
Also, Marc Mancari has cleared waivers and will likely be assigned to Portland.
 Here are some things we already knew learned following the Buffalo Bills latest embarrassing loss, a 38-14 laugher (pun intended, Donte) to the New York Jets at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
♦ First and foremost, we’ve learned once and for all that this year’s edition of the Bills is even worse than advertised. Playing in front of a fired up home crowd and against a division rival missing key defenders Calvin Pace and Darrelle Revis, Buffalo stunk up the field from the opening kick. The 38-14 final score sounds much closer than the game actually was. There’s nothing positive to take away from this game. The offense was horrible and the defense even shoddier.
Continue reading ‘What We Learned From the Bills – Week Four’
|
|
