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for November 2010
 Three starters for the offensive line were back practicing for the Buffalo Bills on Thursday after sitting out yesterday’s practice. Demetrius Bell (knee), Eric Wood (knee) and Cordaro Howard (shoulder) were all back on the field Thursday during the portion of practice the media is allowed to watch. All three suffered bumps and bruises from last Sunday’s game in Kansas City.
Linebacker Andra Davis was not on the field for practice. He’s still battling a shoulder injury.
Howard is likely the permanent starting right tackle for the rest of the season after the team placed Cornell Green on injured reserve yesterday with a knee injury to free up a roster spot for Shawne Merriman.
Merriman will not be in uniform Sunday when the Bills try to end a seven-game slide against the Chicago Bears in Toronto. The game is sold out and will shown on television locally.
 Unlike last season when the Buffalo Sabres jumped out the gate smoking and eventually skated their way to a division title, there hasn’t been a lot of positive things to write about this time around. The team has lost four in a row and five of their last six. They currently sitting at just eight points, tied for worst in the NHL with Florida and Edmonton.
There’s plenty of blame to go around. Many are thinking Lindy Ruff, who’s been the Sabres head coach since 1997, has finally lost his team. For whatever reason, there seems to be little consistency on the ice and at times, little effort. Perhaps most bothersome is a lot of players barely seemed bothered, at least visibly, by the losses that keep piling up.
Continue reading ‘Montador a Bright Spot on Horrific Sabres Start’
 Jonny Flynn has yet to play significant basketball for the Minnesota Timberwolves this season. He’s hoping that will change soon.
“I feel great, I keep getting better and I can’t wait to get out there and run up and down the floor.” Flynn told Minnesota reporters on Wednesday.
The former Niagara Falls high school and Syracuse University star has been out of action since having hip surgery in July. He’s hoping to be back in game action by mid-to-late November. He had his first full contact practice this past Monday and admitted to experiencing a little tightness in the hip.
Continue reading ‘Jonny Flynn Getting Closer to NBA Return’
 The University at Buffalo volleyball team has placed seniors Kristin Bignell and Marisa Hornbaker on the ESPN Academic All-District First Team. The awards, sponsored by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), were announced on Thursday.
Bignell, who has a 3.90 GPA in exercise science, leads the Bulls defensively with 95 blocks, including 17 solos. Bignell is also one of four players on the team with over 200 kills as she has 201 on the season. Bignell was named the MAC East Defensive Player of the Week earlier this season as she had a 13-block performance against St. John’s including 11 block assists. She has seven double-digit kill performances on the year, including a career-high 19 kills against Kent State.
Continue reading ‘UB Volleyball Places Pair on ESPN Academic All-District’
 Ryan Fitzpatrick is averaging 230 passing yards per game in five starts this season. If he can stay healthy and head coach Chan Gailey elects to start him for the remainder of the season, and of course Fitzpatrick keeps up his pace, he can join some exclusive company.
Fitzpatrick is on pace to finish 2010 with 3,360 passing yards. Only three quarterbacks in Bills history have thrown for more yards in a season; Jim Kelly (five times), Joe Ferguson (twice) and Drew Bledsoe.
The 3,360 yards would be the ninth-highest in franchise history. That spot is currently occupied by Doug Flutie, who threw for 3,171 in 1999, the last time the Bills made the playoffs.
Perhaps the Buffalo Sabres are looking to rival their football counterpart Bills for local ineptitude bragging rights. If that’s the case, they’re gaining ground with each passing game. But assuming they’re not purposely playing themselves out of a playoff race this early in the season, the Sabres have plenty of work cut out for them.
Buffalo took on division rival Boston Wednesday night, the same team that unceremoniously knocked them out of the first round of the playoffs last year. If the Sabres were out of for any sort of revenge, they have a funny way of showing it. Buffalo reeked in their home joint for more than half the game, resulting in losing to Boston 5-2 in front of a less than hospitable HSBC Arena crowd.
Buffalo fell to 0-5-1 at home on the season and just 2-7-2 overall in their last 11.
Continue reading ‘Sabres Stink Up Home Ice in 5-2 Loss to Boston’
 It didn’t take Buffalo Bills tackle Cornell Green long to leave a dubious impression on fans. The 34-year old came over from Oakland last season in free agency and immediately stepped into the starting lineup at right tackle. Unfortunately since the first time he put on pads over the summer, his play was awful.
That’s actually an understatement.
Green started the first five games of the regular season and struggled mightily in each contest. Fans and the media were already calling for his outing, and that was before he injured his knee.
His season is now officially over.
Continue reading ‘Cornell Green Heads to I.R.’
 It’s likely to be a short term move, but for at least the rest of the 2010 NFL season, former San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman is now the property of the Buffalo Bills.
Merriman was placed on waivers after passing his physical yesterday by the Chargers. Buffalo, having the current worst record in the league, got first crack at him. To the surprise of many today, general manager Buddy Nix elected to pull the trigger.
According to a report by ESPN, the Miami Dolphins also put in a claim for Merriman.
Merriman will be owed approximately $1.8-million from Buffalo for the duration of this season.
Continue reading ‘Bills Claim Shawne Merriman Off Waivers’
 The Canisius College athletic department, in conjunction with the College’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) announced today that the groups will partner with the Western New York Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) to help raise awareness and money for juvenile diabetes in the Western New York area.
To kickoff this year-long initiative, half of the proceeds from the sale of tickets for the Nov. 9 men’s basketball exhibition game between Canisius and Buffalo State will go directly to the JDRF. Tickets for the game are on sale now through the Canisius ticket office and cost $5. Additionally, the Western New York chapter of the JDRF will be on hand at the exhibition game selling merchandise, with all proceeds going directly to the local JDRF group.
Continue reading ‘Canisius Hoops Game to Benefit Diabetes Research’
 As a running back, C.J. Spiller has been a colossal disappointment in his rookie season. Through seven games Spiller has just 120 yards on 32 rush attempts, hardly the type of numbers supporters of the team were hoping to see from the ninth overall pick of last April’s draft.
That doesn’t mean, however, that Spiller isn’t going to stamp his name on the Bills record book.
Spiller has 763 kickoff returns yards less than halfway through this season. He’s on pace for 1,744 kick return yards, which would obliterate the team record of 1,468 by Leodis McKelvin, who also did it in his rookie year in 2008.
Of course, Spiller is being aided by a Bills defense that is historically bad. He’s already returned 30 kicks and the way the Bills are giving up points, that total will increase by plenty. McKelvin set the team record on just 52 returns (averaging 28.2 yards per return). Spiller’son pace for well over 60 cracks at it.
The Canisius College hockey team and Niagara renew their rivalry on Tuesday at the Buffalo State Sports Arena. The two schools, who are meeting for the first time as Atlantic Hockey foes, begin their battle on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.
BATTLE OF THE BRIDGE RIVALRY
• After a one-year absence in the series between the two schools, the teams are set to renew their rivalry.
• The winner of the contest will not only gain points in the Atlantic Hockey standings, but also in the Battle of the Bridge series.
• The Battle of the Bridge is an all-sports competition between the two rival schools.
• In its fifth year of the series, Niagara currently leads during the 2010-11 year, 5-4. Each hockey game this season is worth one point in the competition.
• Both schools have won the Canal Cup twice in the series, with Niagara taking the title last year, 17-15. Canisius needs 17 points to reclaim the cup, while the Purple Eagles need 16.5 points to retain it.
Continue reading ‘Canisius/Niagara Renew Hockey Rivalry Tonight’
 With six touchdowns in his first seven games, Buffalo Bills receiver Stevie Johnson is on pace for 14 touchdown receptions. If he could keep the pace, not only would the former 2008 seventh rounder set a career-high, he would also shatter the franchise record for touchdown receptions in a season.
The Buffalo record is 11, and you may be surprised that record is NOT held by Andre Reed, nor Eric Moulds, Peerless Price, James Lofton or Bob Chandler.
Billy Brooks holds the Buffalo record, which he set in 1995. Brooks only had 55 receptions that year, but amazingly, 11 of them went for touchdowns. It was Jim Kelly’s next-to-last season in the NFL.
 Here’s your Buffalo Bills non fun fact of the day. If you begin at the 2001 season and conclude present day, the Bills would have to go on a 35-game winning streak to get back to .500.
Buffalo is 58-93 since the start of the 2001 season and during that time have put together just one winning season, going 9-7 in 2004 when Mike Mularkey was the team’s head coach.
For younger Buffalo fans that don’t review team history, perennial losing wasn’t always the case. From 1988 to 1999 Buffalo had 10 winning seasons in 12 campaigns. In fact, the Bills went 100-57 during the 1990’s.
 Buffalo Sports Daily is looking for one or two writers to provide reports and insight for our Buffalo Sabres coverage.
We’re in search of a writer who can provide quality game-day previews as well as detailed and insightful post-game recaps.
We’re also looking for a columnist with a knack for providing sharp-eyed opinions regarding the team once or twice per week.
Experience is preferred but absolutely not necessary. Buffalo Sports Daily is looking for a few talented individuals looking to expand their writing portfolio and experience for a large, growing audience. If you’re interested in the gig, email us at pmoran@buffalosportsdaily.com immediately for more information.
 Niagara men’s hockey sophomore forward Giancarlo Iuorio has been named the Atlantic Hockey Player of the Week, after his solid performance against Mercyhurst and Robert Morris this past weekend.
Iuorio finished the weekend with a goal and four assists for five points, netting a career-high three points (one goal and two assists) against Mercyhurst. Against Robert Morris, Iuorio netted two assists during a third period rally that fell short by Niagara. The Richmond Hill, Ontario native currently leads the team with six points, having netted two goals and four assists.
Continue reading ‘Niagara’s Iuorio Named AHA Player of the Week’
 The Buffalo Sabres announced that The Salvation Army will launch its annual holiday kettle drive on Wednesday, November 3 at HSBC Arena before the team’s 7 p.m. game against the Boston Bruins.
Salvation Army officers will be located at arena entrances with kettles to collect donations prior to the game. Sabretooth will also be on hand to help solicit contributions for the start of the holiday season.
The holiday Kettle Campaign is the Salvation Army’s signature fund-raiser in its efforts to aid those in need in the Buffalo area.
Since 1884, The Salvation Army has been a vital link within Western New York’s human service network. They provide individuals — regardless of age, gender, education, ethnicity or religion — with food, clothing and shelter, as well as social and spiritual support. Their mission is to offer hope for a better life by meeting basic human needs.
 Freshman Kyle Gibbons of the Canisius College hockey team continued the hot start to his collegiate career and for his efforts, he earned Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week honors for the second-consecutive week on Monday.
In last Friday’s 4-0 victory over Army, Gibbons matched career highs with three points and two goals. He netted two first-period goals, including his second career game-winner, to give the Griffs the early advantage and then added an assist in the third period to seal the Canisius victory.
Seven games into his career, Gibbons has already totaled eight points, five goals and three assists. He currently leads all freshmen in Atlantic Hockey with his eight points, three more than the next highest rookie, and ranks eighth in Division I among first-year players with 1.14 points per game. He is also one of just two freshmen nationally with two game-winning tallies during the 2010-11 season.
Continue reading ‘Canisius’ Gibbons Earns Honors For 2nd Straight Week’
 Right now the Buffalo Bills can’t buy an interception, which is a complete 180 degree turn from just a year ago. At this juncture in 2009 the Bills already had 13 interceptions en route to an AFC leading season total of 28. 2010 hasn’t been quite so kind to Bills defenders. They have just one interception this season in seven games, and it was by linebacker Andra Davis on a tipped pass in week five against Jacksonville. The secondary has been completely shut out.
Fortunately for Buffalo, the perfect remedy could finally be coming to town (sort of) on Sunday. Jay Cutler, who’s never seen a passing lane he doesn’t like, brings his act to Toronto as his Chicago Bears “visit” the Bills in Canada.
Continue reading ‘Cutler Could Be Remedy For Buffalo’s Pick-Free Secondary’
 Buffalo Sabres defensemen Craig Rivet is going through a tough time. The Sabres captain has been inconsistent and an overall non-factor to the point that as his team was dropping a pair of weekend games, Rivet found himself in the press box for both contests rather than the blue line trying to make plays.
“I’m not playing as well as I can,” Rivet said following a Monday practice. “But let me tell you I’m going to work my butt off trying to get better.”
There’s been a growing buzz that Rivet’s absence from the lineup over the past two games could lead him being stripped of his captaincy. Rivet says that he’s not going to voluntarily give up his status as the man wearing the “C” over his jersey.
Continue reading ‘Rivet Won’t Voluntarily Relinquish Captaincy’
 It’s only been one month into the season, but Portland Pirates forward Luke Adam is racking up the awards after being named the Reebok/AHL Rookie of the Month for the month of October.
Adam was named AHL Player of the Week in the opening weekend of the season.
Adam, who is currently on his second recall with Buffalo because of injures with the Sabres, has six goals, seven assists for 13 points in nine games with the Pirates.
Continue reading ‘Luke Adam Named AHL Rookie of the Month’
 I’m not going to delve into every gruesome detail of the Buffalo Bills latest “heartbreaker” Sunday at Kansas City. For one, I’ve been on a tremendously undeserved mini-vacation for the past four days. Therefore, you’ve probably had the game dissected a million different times by now, courtesy of every Bills-related website in the world.
The bottom line is this: The Bills showed up on the road, played hard, gave it the ole’ college try, held the home team to 13 points… and still found a way to lose.
They had every opportunity in the world to cash in their first win, caught Chiefs head coach Todd Haley managing his team in the most amateurish of fashion, had a field goal opportunity to win the game, and blew it. Buffalo woke up to today with a record of 0-7 and cementing their status of being at the bottom of every NFL power rankings poll coming over the next few days.
Continue reading ‘10 Thoughts Following Latest Bills Loss’
 A couple of weeks before the 2010 NFL draft, the Buffalo Bills worked out 3-4 linebacker Thaddeus Gibson of Ohio State. Eventually, Gibson was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. A little less than a half season into his rookie year, Gibson may soon be a Bill.
According to a report by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers waived Gibson and the Bills are interested in putting in a claim for him. With the Bills having the worst record in the league, they have the first right to claim any waived player.
Gibson was cut in Pittsburgh in part because of a major injury to defensive lineman Aaron Smith, which has forced the team to address their depth on the defensive line.
Continue reading ‘Report: Bills May Claim Thaddeus Gibson’
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