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for April 2011
LIVE UPDATES: Bandits Beat Blazers, 11-10It’s playoff time for another team in Buffalo. The Bandits are in action tonight at the HSBC arena as they face the Boston Blazers in the NLL East Division semi-final. This is Buffalo’s ninth straight trip to the postseason. Buffalo won two of the three times they faced Boston this year, but the Blazers won the most recent meeting. Get your live updates all game long right here with Zach Zielonka as the Bandits look to win their fifth NLL championship and first since 2008. UB’s Josh Thomas Drafted By Cowboys
Thomas was chosen with the 143rd pick. Since 1969, Ed Ellis (125th pick in 1997) is the only other UB player selected sooner. It marks the third time in the past four NFL Drafts a Buffalo player has been selected. Trevor Scott (Oakland Raiders) and Jamey Richard (Indianapolis Colts) were drafted in 2008. James Starks was picked by the Green Bay Packers in 2010. A mainstay in Buffalo’s dominant defensive backfield, Thomas had 58 tackles (30 solo), two sacks and an interception his senior season. His eight pass breakups ranked second on the team. Bills Take RB Johnny White In Fifth Round
With Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller already in tow, this is evidently a roster depth selection. Buddy Nix likes White’s versatility, having played running back, wide receiver and even cornerback in college and was a key member of their special teams. He missed the final four games of his senior season with a broken clavicle. In a moment Bills fans will like, Todd McShay said about White following the selection— “I believe he’s the most underrated running back in the entire draft.” Continue reading ‘Bills Take RB Johnny White In Fifth Round’ Bills Tab OT Chris Hairston With Second Pick Of Fourth Round
Hairston started for three years at Clemson at left tackle and helped block for last year Bills’ top draft choice C.J. Spiller. He was a two-time, All-ACC tackle and has a mammoth frame at six-foot-seven and 333 pounds. Analysis of Hairston from Rob Rang of The Sports Xchange: Positives: Three-year starter at left tackle for the Tigers has a massive frame with quick feet. Agile for his size, good lateral agility. Can run and hit second-level targets. Extends his arms and can slide his feet in pass protection. Good punch, excellent hand placement. Very experienced, football smart, durable team leader who started four Clemson bowl games. Continue reading ‘Bills Tab OT Chris Hairston With Second Pick Of Fourth Round’ Bills Select Safety Da’Norris Searcy In Fourth Round
Listed as a cornerback on the TV draft telecasts, Searcy was a strong safety in college, where he led his team last year with four interceptions and nine pass breakups despite sitting out the first three games due to an NCAA investigation. Like second round pick Aaron Williams, Searcy has good size at 6-feet and 200 pounds. Rob Rang from the Sports XChange writes on Searcy: Continue reading ‘Bills Select Safety Da’Norris Searcy In Fourth Round’ Bills Making Two Things Obvious With This Draft
The Bills have made three picks so far in the draft and all were used on stout, physical defenders as they attempt to rectify a run defense that was the worst in the league last year. Mammoth defensive lineman Marcell Dareus was the third overall pick in the draft on Thursday night and the Bills continued the defensive theme on Friday with two more defensive picks — cornerback Aaron Williams and inside linebacker Kelvin Sheppard. The Bills’ run defense gave up at least 200 rushing yards in exactly half their games last season. Unequivocally, they’re working hard to rectify that. Dareus may never reach the sack totals some of the flashier defensive ends accumulate from this draft, but still was the pick because he’ a big, nasty, unmovable bull on the defensive line that won’t let tackles push him around. He’ll be the five-technique end in the 3-4 defense and spend some time inside when they move to a 4-3. Continue reading ‘Bills Making Two Things Obvious With This Draft’ Plenty Of Talent Available As NFL Draft Winds Down
Before walking away from your television sets thinking any chance the Bills have of landing an impact player is over, keep in mind this is a franchise that’s actually done quite well in the late rounds. Ironically enough, one could argue that Buffalo’s had more success after the third round in recent years than with their early picks. Arthur Moats showed plenty of potential as a rookie after getting drafted in the sixth round last year. Stevie Johnson and Demetrius Bell, both valuable offensive starters, weren’t taken until the seventh round in 2008. Kyle Williams wasn’t drafted until the fifth round in 2006. Terrence McGee didn’t come off the board until the fourth round in 2003. In fact, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was selected in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams in 2005. Continue reading ‘Plenty Of Talent Available As NFL Draft Winds Down’ Bills Select Linebacker Kelvin Sheppard In Third Round
Sheppard has excellent size (6-2, 250lbs) and is an excellent tackler. A three-year starter at LSU, Sheppard compiled 311 career tackles and was a 2010 All-SEC selection. His stock slipped a little bit because a lot of scouts feel he lacks NFL explosiveness. Perhaps most importantly to Buffalo, Sheppard came across as an unmistakable leader during the Senior Bowl week while spending time with Chan Gailey and the Bills coaching staff. If you don’t mind, let us bask in the glow of being spot-on with something for once. Usually, I’m eating crow. Continue reading ‘Bills Select Linebacker Kelvin Sheppard In Third Round’ Source: Newton Topped Bills Big Board
I’m told that the Bills’ big board top five consisted of, in order, Newton, Dareus, Blaine Gabbert, Patrick Peterson and Miller. Buddy Nix said Thursday night that until a day or two ago, the team didn’t expect Dareus to be on the board. I’m told had Dareus be gone with the Bills on the clock, Gabbert was likely to be the pick with Peterson, not Miller in play despite heavy speculation in the weeks leading up to the draft that Miller would be the pick if Dareus and Newton were both gone. Drayton Florence Thinks His Time In Buffalo Is Over
“Congrats Arron williams I guess im done in buffalo enjoyed it while it lasted bills have the best fans!!!” Florence tweeted to fans. Florence will be an unrestricted free agent once the legal portion the lockout is situated and the process eventually begins. Florence signed with the Bills in 2009 and racked up four interceptions, including two that were returned for touchdowns. Continue reading ‘Drayton Florence Thinks His Time In Buffalo Is Over’ Buffalo Bills Select Aaron Williams In Second Round
Regarded by many as the most physical defensive back in the draft, Williams (6’1”, 195 lbs) can play cornerback but also has the ability to convert to safety. Williams ran a 4.5/40 at his Texas pro day earlier this month. Defensive back may not be considered the Bills biggest need, but with Terrence McGee breaking down, the inconsistency of 2008 first rounder Leodis McKelvin coupled with Drayton Florence definitely being an unrestricted free agent and possibly Donte Whitner as well, the pick makes sense. Williams was a three-year back at Texas who made 23 starts and had four interceptions, six forced fumbles and five blocked punts during his career before declaring himself eligible for the draft after his junior season. The selection of Williams also shows the organization has a lot of confidence in Ryan Fitzpatrick going forward. Buffalo passed on Andy Dalton (who went to Cincinnati one pick later), Colin Kaepernick (two picks later) and Ryan Mallett. We’ll have more on Williams, including reaction from One Bills Drive later this evening. Top 10 Bills Second Round Prospects
As you’ll learn by looking at anyone’s mock draft from yesterday, it’s hard enough to try and forecast the first round. I’m not going even bother with a second round mock. Instead, I’ve listed 10 prospects I feel are most likely to be making their NFL debuts in Buffalo this fall. To save yourself the time, I’ll answer the Da’Quan Bowers question for you now. He’s not on this list. I don’t think he’s a good fit at all for Buffalo and I never have. Add in the gigantic medical risk and I doubt he’s on the Bills wish list at all. Some team will take a chance on him in round two and perhaps he goes on to great things. But I highly doubt it will be Buffalo that takes the gamble. Sabres Sign Lindy Ruff To Multi-Year Extension
Ruff led the Sabres to a 43-29-10 record this season, finishing third in the Northeast Division and seventh in the Eastern Conference. By finishing the season in seventh place, Buffalo became the first team to overcome a double-digit point deficit to make the playoffs since the St. Louis Blues did it in 2008-09. Buffalo’s lowest point of the season came on November 5 when they were 30th in the NHL with a record of 3-9-2 (8 pts.). The 2010-11 season was Ruff’s 14th year as head coach since being hired on July 21, 1997, making him the NHL’s longest tenured head coach. During Ruff’s time in Buffalo, there have been 162 coaching changes throughout the NHL. Continue reading ‘Sabres Sign Lindy Ruff To Multi-Year Extension’ Gaustad Added to 2011 U.S. Men’s National TeamUSA Hockey today announced that goaltender Jack Campbell and forward Paul Gaustad have been added to the 2011 U.S. Men’s National Team that will compete at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Men’s Championship, April 29 – May 15, in Kosice and Bratislava, Slovakia. Campbell currently plays for the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires and will be making his fifth Team USA appearance, having previously competed at two IIHF World Junior Championships (2011-bronze; 2010-gold) and two IIHF World Men’s U18 Championships (2010-gold; 2009-gold). Campbell spent two seasons (2008-10) with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. Gaustad, currently a member of the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres, will be making his Team USA debut with the U.S. Men’s National Team. For Team USA’s roster, click here. The U.S. will open tournament play against Austria tomorrow (April 30) at 10:15 a.m. EDT at Steel Arena in Kosice, Slovakia. The game will be broadcast live on Versus and scoring updates will be available on Twitter by following #2011WMC. Bills Tab Marcell Dareus With Third Pick
Dareus even being available seemed far-fetched over the past months and as recently as a few days ago. Thought to be a lock to go to Denver with the second pick, the Broncos fell in love with Von Miller over the past couple of days. “Well, you know it’s like Christmas and opening the presents,” Bills general manager Buddy Nix said. ”We really liked this guy and everybody did. We had him really high from Day One. We really didn’t think he’d be there. Everybody says that, I know, every year. But we’re excited about having him.” Gosselin Mocks Dareus To Buffalo
Overall, Gosselin’s mock isn’t like any other I’ve seen. He has a lot of surprises, including five quarterbacks not just going in the first round, but being among the top 12 selections. That’s bad news for Bills fans who were hoping to catch Christian Ponder or Andy Dalton with the team’s 34th pick. Gosselin has Cam Newton going to Carolina with the first pick, then Blaine Gabbert to San Francisco with the seventh, Jake Locker to Tennessee with the next pick, Ponder to Washington at 10 and Dalton to the Vikings two picks later. A few other things of note: Gosselin has Mark Ingram all the way up to the St. Louis Rams with the 14th selection. He also has New England keeping both their first rounders and using them to take Cameron Jordan and Danny Watkins. Going by his mock, it would leave Colin Kaepernick and Ryan Mallett as second round options for Buffalo at quarterback. Kyle Rudolph, the talented tight end from Notre Dame would also be available as would Akeem Ayers, who many consider the second-best pass rushing linebacker after Von Miller. Here’s his complete mock, via Turf Show Times. Stevie Johnson Says He Will Leak Bills First Pick
Johnson said via his Twitter that he is going to reveal who the Bills will be drafting with the third overall pick more than a hour before the team goes on clock. “Got Info From The inside!!! Today is The Day To Be FOLLOWING ME! I’m Leaking our #3 pk at 7pm” This sounds on the surface like a stunt to get more followers and he’ll probably have some kind of joke come 7pm. For starters, I doubt the Bills themselves will know for sure who they are going to pick because they can’t be certain what will happen with the two picks in front of them. For another, knowing the Bills front office, Johnson would probably become public enemy number one instantly at One Bills Drive. Then again, this is Stevie Johnson we’re talking about. He also said via tweet— “I Might get in trouble for This Next tweet! Wooo Wait NVM its a LockOut what can they do!? Blame The LockOut!! Yall Ready??!!?” **UPDATE** It was a Johnson gag.. He said the Bills will select “A FOOTBALL PLAYER”. 5 Comments on Stevie Johnson Says He Will Leak Bills First Pick NFL Draft Morning: What We’re Hearing
♦ I’m positive not everyone in the Bills war room is convinced Denver will really take Miller or Patrick Peterson over Dareus, despite the plethora of 11th hour reports suggesting otherwise. ♦ Do not consider the Bills taking a quarterback in the second round a lock by any means, even if more quarterbacks are on the board than most expect. Bruce Carter of North Carolina, who the Bills project as an inside linebacker, offensive tackle James Carpenter of Alabama and tight end Kyle Rudolph from Notre Dame could all get serious consideration if they are available. The Daily Links – April 28, 2011
Joe Pinzone from BuffaloWins learned some nice things about the Sabres this year. Overreactions, Playoff Edition: Game 7 from The 3rd Man In blog. Check out this Sabres eulogy out, as published by the Puck Daddy blog on Yahoo Sports. Report: Gabbert Very Much In The Mix
Gaughan cites sources that say Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert is still very much in the mix, especially if it comes down to Gabbert and Von Miller. “The belief is the top two on the Bills’ board are Newton and Marcell Dareus,” Gaughan wrote. “If Carolina does not take Newton, General Manager Buddy Nix would be hard-pressed to pass him up. Dareus instantly would make everyone on the Bills’ defense better. Is there anyone unaware the Bills ranked 32nd in run defense? If Newton and Dareus go 1-2, the decision gets cloudier. Is it Texas A&M’s Miller or Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert? Close call. Our sources say Gabbert is very much in the mix. The fact Florida State QB Christian Ponder might not last to No. 34 plays into the decision as well.” BSD Final 2011 NFL Mock Draft
After four previous mock draft warm-ups that began on January 28, this is the equivalent of a final exam. For the record, last year’s BSD two round mock had Buffalo taking Derrick Morgan and Roger Saffold. Sure, I was wrong—but wouldn’t Buffalo be better off right now if I were right? Not surprisingly, I’ve had Buffalo selecting a different player in each of my four previous 2011 mocks: Patrick Peterson, Cameron Jordan, Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert. None are the pick in my final mock. Source: Bills Still Covet Jordan
However, I did speak to a source at length Wednesday afternoon and was reminded in no uncertain terms again that Jordan is a player the Bills very much covet. “Cameron Jordan has everything you can want in a football player,” he said. “Everything but a high-profile name. Don’t believe everything you see and hear… I can guarantee he’s ranked a lot higher on team boards than you’re seeing reported and in all these mock drafts.” Chris Holland Named Class-C NYS Player Of Year
Holland averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.5 steals per game for Grover as they spent the entire season ranked at the top of the Buffalo News small school rankings. A first-team, All-BSD selection as well, Holland is also one of the best football players in Western New York. Plenty of the area’s best talent was represented well on the All-State teams. Jamestown’s Jaysean Paige, BSD’s Player of the Year, was a third-team Class-AA selection. Tremmell Fisher (East) was a second-team Class-A pick while Aaron Nevins (Canisius) made the third team. Davon Alexander (OTC Middle) made the second team for Class-C and Dazmon Knight (Tapestry) was on the third team. For a list of all WNY boy’s players on the All-State team, see this Buffalo News link. Bandits To Host Party In The Plaza
The party will kick off at 5 p.m. in the HSBC Plaza area located near Perry St. and Illinois St. and will continue until 7 p.m. Festivities will include free live music from local rock band The Filter Kings, with food and beverages available for purchase. Fans are asked not to bring coolers or chairs due to the volume of fans expected to attend. Fans attending the game will also receive a 2011 Buffalo Bandits team photo. The Bandits will look to eliminate the 8-8 Blazers after winning two of three regular season contests between the teams. A win would pull them within two games of their fifth league championship in franchise history. Game Reactions From Sabres Season-Ending Defeat
The Sabres now simply have to take pride in their second half surge and new direction under Terry Pegula. The Flyers were the better team for most of the previous six games and that culminated in a route Tuesday night with everything on the line. Regardless of the injuries the Sabres sustained throughout the series, it was unfortunate to see their season end so harshly. Some thoughts on how things developed throughout game seven: Continue reading ‘Game Reactions From Sabres Season-Ending Defeat’ |
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University at Buffalo cornerback Josh Thomas was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday. The Cedar Hill, TX native gets to play for his hometown team.
The Buffalo Bills took a shift towards roster depth with the second overall pick of round five, taking North Carolina running back Johnny White.
The Buffalo Bills took their first offensive player of the draft late in round four, using the pick (122 overall) they acquired in the Marshawn Lynch trade to select Clemson offensive tackle Chris Hairston.
The Buffalo Bills continued to draft defensive players exclusively early in the fourth round after selecting defensive back Da’Norris Searcy from North Carolina.
If there were any doubt about two things concerning the Buffalo Bills heading into the 2011 NFL draft this week, they were unwaveringly answered following their first three selections. First, Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey weren’t lying when they said rebuilding the defense was their top priority. The other is the confidence spoken of Ryan Fitzpatrick over the past few months was in no way, shape or form any kind of smokescreen.
After two nights of the NFL draft that’s seen the Buffalo Bills land Marcell Dareus, Aaron Williams and Kelvin Sheppard, Saturday will see this year’s festivities conclude with rounds 4-7, beginning Saturday at noon.
The Buffalo Bills have selected a guy we’ve been reporting on for months here at Buffalo Sports Daily, inside linebacker Kelvin Sheppard of LSU in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft.
If you were wondering how high the Buffalo Bills had Cam Newton ranked on their draft board, I spoke to a source connected with the team and learned they directly stayed true to its board with the third overall pick Thursday night. According to the source, Newton topped the Bills’ draft board and Marcell Dareus was second. With Carolina taking Newton first overall, Nix selected Dareus after Denver took Von Miller with the second pick.
At least one member of the 2010 Buffalo Bills doesn’t plan on being back. Just moments after the Bills used their second round draft pick on cornerback Aaron Williams (Texas), Drayton Florence basically said goodbye to fans via his Twitter.
The Buffalo Bills continued to rebuild their defense with their second selection of the NFL draft by taking defensive back Aaron Williams from the University of Texas.
The NFL draft resumes tonight at 6pm and barring a trade, Buffalo Bills fans won’t have to wait long to find out who’ll be joining first round selection Marcell Dareus on the roster. It seems with Dareus that general manager got the best of the both worlds; he got a player ranked at the top of their board that happened to be at a position of need.
Buffalo Sabres Owner Terry Pegula announced today the Sabres have signed head coach Lindy Ruff to a multi-year contract.
With the third overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills avoided getting cute. With cornerback Patrick Peterson and quarterback Blaine Gabbert on the board, the Bills did the smart thing and got bigger after selecting Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus.
Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News is widely regarded as the most respected NFL Mock Drafter (if there’s such a thing as one) in the entire industry. Buffalo Bills fans who covet Marcell Dareus therefore should be happy to know Gosselin has the Alabama defensive lineman going to Buffalo in his final mock, released this morning.
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson is promising to take the Twitter informational highway to a whole new level. Johnson has never been afraid to be the center of controversy, but his latest tweet could take the cake.
♦ There’s been countless speculation about who the Bills may take with the third pick, and endless scenarios that would see the team actively seeking to trade down. But you can throw everything out the window if Cam Newton and Von Miller go 1-2 in the draft like many are now forecasting, Buddy Nix will waste precious little time in making Marcell Dareus their pick. According to someone who knows much more about the Bills from the inside than me, the Bills would choose Dareus if they had the first pick of the entire draft. Obviously, that must mean he’s at the top of their big board.
Great column from Buffalo News columnist Bucky Gleason on Buffalo Sabres forward Mike Grier, who 
Mark Gaughan, Buffalo Bills reporter for the Buffalo News and one of the most respected beat writers in the business, just published his first round “draft forecast” moments ago. While the man that covers the Bills closer than anyone joined the recent in-crowd by predicting the Bills would take Marcell Dareus,
I’m both energized and disheartened about the NFL draft finally being on our doorsteps. Excited that months of speculation finally end and give us plenty of new material to dissect and discuss. Depressed because the NFLPA and league owners can’t get a deal done, which translates to months (and maybe more) of endless legal mumbo jumbo nobody can or wants to understand.
Before losing your collective minds and teeing off on Buffalo Bills general manager for “reaching” again, I’m not claiming the organization is going to draft California defensive end Cameron Jordan… at least not with the third pick. I have no inside information suggesting Jordan will be the draft’s first shocker, such as his college teammate Tyson Alualu was last year when he went to Jacksonville 10th overall, despite not being projected as a first rounder in any credible mock draft.
Congratulations to Chris Holland of International Prep at Grover Cleveland, who was named the New York State Class-C high school boy’s basketball Player of the Year.
The Buffalo Bandits today announced plans to host a pre-game “Party in the Plaza” before Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. match-up with the Boston Blazers in the first round of the 2011 NLL Playoffs.
Game seven between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Buffalo Sabres went against the grain as it related to the rest of the series. Unlike every see-saw game the preceded it, the Flyers dominated the contest from the start of the game and cruised to the 5-2 victory, ending the Sabres season.
