The Dwightmare is Over

~Anthony Constantino

The long awaited decision by Dwight Howard has landed the NBA's best Center on the Houston Rockets. He joins James Harden (a superstar in the making) and Jeremy Lin (the guy that fooled us into thinking he could be a superstar). That is the newest "big three" in basketball. If you ask me, that is a pretty underwhelming trio. Jeremy Lin averaged 13 points and 6 assists last season, while shooting 44% from the field. These are very pedestrian numbers for a starting Point Guard in the NBA. Although Dwight Howard is the gaining headlines for his move to Houston, it is worth pointing out that his statistics have been declining. Over the past three seasons, Howard went from averaging 22 points and 14 rebounds to averaging 17 points and 12 rebounds. He also averaged nearly 4 fouls per game last season, meaning Dwight could spend some serious time on the bench this season in foul trouble.

Dwight Howard was not the best fit in Los Angeles. Honestly, he doesn't seem to have the mental makeup to handle the pressure of being a Laker. When a player puts that jersey on he carries a torch that so many other superstars have carried for decades. Although Howard becomes the only superstar to walk away from the Lakers, that just fits his personality. He presents himself as a guy who doesn't want to feel pressure and dislikes expectations placed before him. With the Houston Rockets comes a certain level of anonymity. He follows Hakeem Olajuwon and Yao Ming. No disrespect to Hakeem or Yao intended, but those names pale in comparison to Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O'Neal. That's just to name a few. The lights shine very bright in LA, and Howard is not cut out for that shine.

Dwight has a ragtag group of teammates now, from the unworthy Jeremy Lin to the unproven Chandler Parsons. Beyond Parsons and James Harden, there are no three point shooters. One can only guess (or hope, really) that Rockets' GM Daryl Morey is far from finished constructing this team that is clearly playing for a shot at an NBA Championship. The team presently constructed is still no threat to the best in the West in my estimation. The Rockets have a long way to go before they can earn home court advantage in a playoff series.

As for the team Howard leaves behind, they are playing a farewell tour. Only the aging Steve Nash remains under contract beyond this season. Kobe Bryant will surely return with something to prove in 2014. With the free agent class in 2014 including stars such as Chris Bosh, DeMarcus Cousins, Paul George, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony (potentially), and LeBron James; the Lakers should have no shortage of opportunities to create the next "big three" however they see fit. In truth I would rather tie my future to any one of those players listed above than hitch my wagon to Dwight Howard.

I previously stated that Howard is the best Center in the NBA. What I didn't mention is how starved the NBA is for quality players at that position. This is the golden age of Point Guards, not big men. More and more big men are developing jump shots and shying away from posting up. The days of dominant Centers and Power Forwards down on the block like Shaq are long gone. Sure, Dwight can pretend he is a post up player, but he lacks any real post moves. LeBron James has more post moves than the best Center in the NBA. There is the problem with sinking big money into the front court. There just aren't enough guys who can catch the ball in the paint and get consistent points. Even if Howard developed his post moves, he still cannot hit his free throws. Fouling Howard is a near guarantee that he will miss at least one of his two shots at the charity stripe.

Lakers fans should keep the heads held high and say good riddance to Dwight Howard. His Houston Rocket team does not look poised to hang any more banners than the Lakers this year. The free agency class of 2014 is on its way. The NBA's glamour franchise will make it's presence felt next July.

2013 NFL Draft Preview

Rather than trying to predict what Buddy Nix and Doug Marrone will do in this year's draft, I've taken a different approach to my draft blog. However I will give a few words of encouragement to the Bills' faithful as they wait patiently to be on the clock:

This offseason has been successful for the Bills. They have begun to turn over the roster in hopes of heading in a new direction. They enter the draft with some serious needs and hope to leave New York City with some rookies ready to make an impact in 2013. The playoffs should not be on your mind though, this team is not ready to win as much as seven games in the upcoming season in my estimation.

The 2013 draft class is being labeled a weak one at best. With so much uncertainty surrounding the drafting process, I find it hard to believe we can call any draft class strong or weak or otherwise until a couple years after the fact. There are busts, value picks, sleepers, reaches, and everything in between on draft day. The experts will always fill us in as if they can see into the future. The reality is that we are all just speculating, and grasping at straws to predict the unknown. The best I can do is give an informed opinion on the prospects we all hope will succeed come September.

Having said all that, here are the 10 players I can't wait to see in the NFL from this year's draft class in no particular order.

Luke Joeckel LT, Texas A&M- Most insiders expect that he will be the top pick in the draft, whether Kansas City picks him or trades out of the spot. He has the look of a dominant lineman that can protect someones blindside for the next decade.

Dion Jordan OLB, Oregon- His physical attributes and athletic ability jumped out at me when I watched Oregon's defense last season. I found myself paying attention to the Ducks defense as well as their cutting edge offense. Jordan looked more and more like Von Miller in green and yellow, or whatever color the Ducks were wearing on gamedays.

Tyler Eifert TE, Notre Dame- "The NFL is a passing league." How many times do we hear people utter that phrase. Since the league has gone more aerial, a vertical threat at TE is an every-down mismatch for a lot of defenses. When you think Eifert, think Aaron Hernandez, Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, and Vernon Davis. He looks like he will be in their class in no time.

Bjoern Werner DE, Florida State- I watched a lot of this guy last season. He is a tremendous pass rusher that can get after the quarterback as well as any player in this draft. His persistence is what really makes me want to watch him. Werner finishes every play he starts.

Tavon Austin WR, West Virginia- Anybody that watched any college football this season recognizes this name. Austin is a Swiss army knife on the field. He doesn't need much open space to make big things happen. From the backfield, the slot, and even outside the numbers Tavon is a gamebreaker in every sense of the word. Even before the draft, this 5'9 174 pound prospect has reservations for six, several times over.

Sharrif Floyd DT, Florida- Floyd embodies what it is to be disruptive on the defensive line. he gets up the field in a hurry on pass and run plays. This guy will draw double teams all day in the NFL, and should allow his linebackers to make things happen. He might draw comparsions to Vince Wilfork before his career is over.

Jarvis Jones OLB, Georgia- For some reason I don't hear a lot of chatter about Jones. I cannot figure that out. Jones tallied more than 13 sacks in his only two seasons at Georgia. Those sacks mean something, as they came while playing in the SEC. I have him as the second best pass rusher in this draft, behind Dion Jordan.

David Amerson CB, NC State- Some people have no idea who this guy is. He grabbed 12 interceptions in 2011 so I'd say it's time to get familiar with him. Amerson has the tools to be a great cover corner in the NFL. At 6'1, he should be able to compete with the bigger receivers around the league.

Matt Barkley QB, USC- I am going to the well one more time with a SoCal quarterback. I was on board with Carson Palmer. I believed in Mark Sanchez. At the risk of losing all credibility I am backing Barkley this time around. If he fails me, I will finally learn my lesson. Barkley has started 8 years between high school and college football. That kind of experience is rare, and he was in a difficult situation at USC with NCAA investigations and the lovable Lane Kiffin. In his worst season at Southern Cal he threw 36 TD passes and 15 INTs.

Justin Hunter WR, Tennessee- Hunter is 6'4 with good speed. His height makes him a viable target in the redzone. His speed gives him a chance to make plays all over the field. I think he will be the next Muhsin Muhammad (860 catches, 11,438 yards, 62 touchdowns), and that's pretty good.

For those of you who love mock drafts, I've decided to throw mine below. Enjoy the draft!

 

1.KC Luke Joeckel OT TAMU                      17. PIT Keenan Allen WR CAL
2. JAX Ziggy Ansah DE BYU                       18. DAL Kenny Vaccaro S UT
3. OAK Sharrif Floyd DT UF                         19. NYG Jonathan Cooper OG UNC
4. PHI Star Lotulelei DT UTAH                     20. CHI Arthur Brown ILB KSU
5. DET Eric Fisher OT CMU                          21. CIN John Cyprien S FIU
6. CLE Chance Warmack OG BAMA            22. STL Jarvis Jones OLB UGA
7. ARI Lane Johnson OT OU                          23. MIN Xavier Rhodes CB FSU
8. BUF Cordarrelle Patterson WR TENN        24. IND Larry Warford OG UK
9. NYJ Dion Jordan DE OREG                       25. MIN Sheldon Richardson DT MIZZ
10. TEN Dee Milliner CB BAMA                   26. GB Barrett Jones C BAMA
11. SD D.J. Fluker OT BAMA                         27. HOU Justin Hunter WR Tenn
12. MIA Barkevious Mingo DE LSU              28. DEN Damontre Moore DE TAMU
13. NYJ Geno Smith QB WVU                       29. NE Margus Hunt DE SMU
14. CAR Tavon Austin WR WVU                  30. ATL Jonathan Hankins DT OSU
15. NO Bjoern Werner DE FSU                      31. SF Jesse Williams DT BAMA
16. STL DeAndre Hopkins WR CLEM          32. BAL Alec Ogletree OLB UGA

ZERO CHAMPIONSHIPS

 

~Mike Wolcott

 

     It was October of 2006 and I was in attendance for a Bills game vs. the Patriots. Dick Jauron was the coach of the Bills that year and J.P. Loss-man, I mean Losman, was the quarterback. It was only week 7, but even the most optimistic Bills fans were beginning to recognize that the team sucked and was going nowhere. Buffalo fans were completely despondent over their local football team. On the flip side, the same fans couldn’t be happier about their local hockey team. The Buffalo Sabres were sitting atop the Eastern Conference and off to an 8-0 start.

     The game was approaching halftime with the Bills down 14-3. Fans were visibly disgruntled. Watching Losman was painful, and the drunken buzz most onlookers obtained during tailgating was wearing off. A Canadian man wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs Jersey was walking down the stairs next to my section, presumably on his way to get a snack or to go to the bathroom. For those of you who don’t remember, the rival Leafs were not a playoff caliber team in 06’. Here was a chance for the beleaguered Buffalo fans to affirm a sense of superiority over a member of another team’s fan base. The Buffalo fans started yelling at the Canadian, "Fuck you Maple Leafs suck!!" and "Go Sabres wooo!!!’. This was not a fair fight because it was basically 100+ Bills/Sabres fans vs. this one guy. The Canadian turned to look at my section with a smile on his face.

     "How many champyunchips do the Sabres have?" asked the Canadian in a thick accent. When no one responded, he proceeded to answer his own question, "ZERO CHAMPYUNCHIPS!!!" He paused for a moment and then posed another question, "How many champyunchips do the Bills have?" Still there was no response. "ZZZEEERRROOO!" He declared. The once bold and brash Buffalo fans (including myself) were now silenced, all staring blankly at this one man in a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey. There was really no good comeback for this guy. The Sabres were having a successful season to that point, but that was no reason to get cocky, especially considering the franchise had never won a Stanley Cup. Finally a Buffalo fan piped up, a feeble "Fuck you" was all he could muster. The Canadian just laughed, "Hahaha. FUCK YOU!! ZERO CHAMPYUNCHIPS!!! ZEROOOO!!!!" He started to walk away now but was still yelling ‘Zero". His voice felt like it was echoing through the entire stadium, "ZERO CHAMYUNCHIPS. ZERO!!!! FUCK YOUU!!!! ZEROOOO!!!!! HAHAHA!!!"

     I thought I’d share this fun anecdote because it looks as though 2013 will be yet another year without a championship for Buffalo sports teams. The Sabres are more than halfway through their strike out shortened season and enter tonight’s game in 14th place in the Eastern Conference. The franchise has existed for 40+ years and is still waiting to hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time.  Similarly, the Buffalo Bills have been a part of the NFL for 50+ years and have never won a Super Bowl. Both teams are in what’s called "rebuilding" mode yet again (the Bills have been "rebuilding" for 14 years). To that end, there is little reason to think either team will get the monkey off their back anytime soon. Until they do, Ralph Wilson stadium will echo with the haunting words of a Canadian man in a Maple Leafs jersey: "ZERO CHAMPIONSHIPS."
 
FUN FACT: The Tampa Bay Lightning have won exactly one more Stanley Cup than the Buffalo Sabres.

 

 

 

Looking For A Reason To Billieve

~Anthony Constantino

Winds of change are blowing at 1 Bills Drive as a new coaching staff is settling in, looking to turn this team around for the 2013 season. It is hard to determine where this staff should begin as they turn over this roster while attempting to cultivate a winning attitude in the locker room.

The acquisitions of Mario Williams and Mark Anderson in free agency last off-season did not have the impact that many expected to see in the 2012 season. Williams finished with a deceptive 10.5 sacks to go with a paltry 37 tackles. Anderson had his season cut short due to injury while tallying only 1 sack in 6 games played. These men were a part of a defense that fell short of expectations and crumbled in the clutch during the season, while sometimes never showing up at all.

The play of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick left Bills fans unsatisfied, as he took a great deal of blame for the 6-10 campaign in 2012. With 24 TD passes against 16 Interceptions Fitzpatrick managed the game as best he could. Fitz also threw for 3400 yards and completed over 60 percent of his passes, which does not look all that bad on paper. However, his turnovers in key moments of games do not show up in any stat column.

Looking ahead to 2013, let me set aside the disappointment in hiring this new regime charged with coaching up this roster next year. Let me ignore the tremendous lack of significant NFL experience at all three major coaching positions for the moment as well. If you are an optimist, let's just pretend this staff is more of a solution than a problem in 2013. Let's say Doug Marrone and Nathaniel Hackett decide to utilize CJ Spiller 40 snaps per game in running and passing situations. We can also assume they find a better option than Fitzpatrick at quarterback by way of free agency or the draft. For the optimist I'll even say Mike Pettine works with the defense and gets the most out of the unit. His hybrid scheme figures to look like the Jets or Ravens defense when they line up. If Pettine keeps opposing offense guessing, the Bills might be able to get some stops and hold opposing teams to less than 25 points per game. They haven't done that since 2009. Even if all these things come to fruition, the Bills are still a team with many needs to address. Buddy Nix has done an average job through all avenues in building a team that can produce on the field.

The Buffalo Bills are still quite far away from breaking the 13 year playoff drought. There are multiple factors that help me arrive at this stance. Even with great coaching this team isn't capable of much more than an 8-8 campaign with a roster like they have. Let me be clear in saying I do not expect great coaching from this staff, at least not right out of the blocks. Even still, the roster has gaping holes badly in need of plugging.  There needs to be more than the plugging in some of those holes as well. I look at the wide receivers, linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties and wonder if some of them would start on any other team in the NFL.

We cannot debate how good Jairus Byrd and Stevie Johnson are. There is no debate; these guys are very good. Byrd is a top 10 safety and Johnson would be the best second wide-out in the league if he had another wide receiver opposite him that made defenses worry. Stephen Gilmore should be a solid corner in a handful of seasons. Gilmore might even grade out to be the next Antoine Winfield which would be more than accepted by the Bills faithful. Time will reveal just what Gilmore becomes. Beyond those three guys I cannot see much promise at these positions. Does anybody really think Donald Jones, David Nelson, and Brad Smith can be dependable week to week? Can you honestly say Nick Barnett, Kelvin Sheppard, and Bryan Scott are skillful and consistent linebackers at the NFL level?  The Bills were so lacking at linebacker last season that Bryan Scott came down from his natural Safety position to play linebacker. It is also fair to say George Wilson could stand to replaced for a difference-maker at his position.

Although the team is in a much better place than it was 3 years ago, I would like the optimist to look at the two teams playing in Super Bowl XLVII. The San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens both have a consistent gameplan with a clear direction. These teams primarily build through the draft, while adding some key pieces via free agency to round out their teams. Both teams have great players at the skill positions (RB,WR,TE,CB,S). The 49ers and Ravens play exceptional defense that can at times suffocate opposing offenses. They have vocal leaders that set a positive example for the younger players in the locker room (look no further than Ray Lewis and Patrick Willis). These teams are built for success in any environment, even if their quarterbacks play an average game. Now how many of those qualities apply to the Bills roster?

www.bleacherreport.com 

The Greatest Active Wide Receiver You Never Think Of

~Anthony Constantino

I have talked to quite a few people about this player I'm about to describe to you. The conversation almost always follows the same script. It starts talking about the news and notes of the NFL: the top team, unlikely contenders, how bad the Bills are and so on. Somehow great players enter the fold. The topic of best active wide receiver comes up. Those I speak with always take the standard Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, or Larry Fitzgerald route. When pressed to think of a Top 5, people often go with AJ Green, Julio Jones, Roddy White, or even Greg Jennings to help round out their lists.

My guy has lived in the shadow of giants for the majority of his career. It has been made clear to me that his low profile has rendered him nearly invisible in the eyes of many NFL fans. I return to my conversation. I have set the table to toss his name out and here it goes: "Do you think _____ is a Hall of Famer?" Most say no without hesitation, others think about it and still reach that same conclusion. Only one out of every 4 or 5 will say yes. Let me tell you why this baffles me.

This player is currently 10th in career receptions with 956*. He has nearly 13,000 receiving yards in his career, which is good enough for 14th and the all-time list*. This man is also tied for 24th in career touchdown receptions with 77*. Sounds like quite a career to me.

Consider his two Super Bowl appearances and one Super Bowl ring the icing on the cake. He has made the trip to Hawaii as a Pro Bowl player 5 times in his 11 seasons, and he is going again this year.

Reggie Wayne is a flat out stud. Those are his numbers and some of his achievements. Wayne has lived in the shadows of Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison throughout his entire career. This is the first year he hasn't had them around, which would mean the shadow is gone. Surely Wayne has the public eye now, right? Wrong.

The Colts "Suck for Luck" campaign paid off last season and the rookie QB looks like he could be something very special in the future for Indy. Once again Wayne is relegated to the shadows, behind a new face in the same place he began his career. The fans of the Horseshoe no doubt recognize his greatness as the second best receiver in Colts history. I'm here to say that before it's over, Reggie Wayne might move past Harrison on that list. Statistically speaking, he has no chance to pass Harrison in touchdown catches unless he plays at least 4 more seasons. However total receptions and receiving yards are not out of the question for Wayne; he could eclipse Marvin Harrison's numbers in those categories as early as next season.

Reggie Wayne embodies everything you can ask for in a productive, consistent, and professional all pro receiver. While most glance over his name nobody can deny his game. He has all the accolades as a player and is a model citizen off the field. There is no doubt in my mind that he will be in Canton someday, no longer in the shadow of giants; he is a giant all on his own.

*NOTE: These numbers reflect Wayne's career through Week 14 of the 2012 NFL season.

Thanksgiving Blog Entry

~Mike Wolcott

          

          Every year since I can remember, my parents have hosted Thanksgiving at our house. My mother ALWAYS delivers with an absolutely delicious meal. I personally like to cover everything on my plate with an overwhelming amount of cranberry sauce and gravy. Last year I used so much gravy and cranberry that I couldn’t even see what I was eating anymore. After dinner I usually grab a slice of my favorite dessert, pumpkin pie, and then pass out on the couch. There is something about a 5,000 calorie meal that just completely wipes me out.

          The days that bracket Thanksgiving are interesting. As everyone knows, the Wednesday before is the biggest party night of the year. Like most others, I usually end up at a local bar wasted beyond sensibility. I refuse to let that happen this year. I will not ruin another one of mother’s delicious Thanksgiving meals with a ridiculous hangover. As far as Black Friday goes, I’m not a shopper, but I find it fun to watch the news that day. Usually Channel 2 will show some poor bastard being trampled by an obese woman racing toward a discounted item (what could be funnier?). One year, my father and Uncle Pat got up at 5:00am to go shopping on Black Friday. Curiously, my Uncle only ended up buying a bottle of shampoo, and it wasn’t even on sale.

          The football games on Thanksgiving are always boring as hell. The Detroit Lions, who are usually terrible, traditionally play in the early game. The 4:00pm game slot is occupied by the Dallas Cowboys, a team I absolutely despise. A funny incident occurred a few years back while we were watching a football game on Thanksgiving. While sitting in the living room, My Uncle Rich, who was leaning too far back in his chair, tipped backward. His mammoth bald head slammed against the wall and his neck bent upward in an unnatural position. He could not get up from this position on his own because he was trapped on his back between the chair and the wall. He could barely speak (because of his awkwardly bent neck), but he called out for my cousin: "Matthew….. help… me…." My cousin Matt, who was sitting next to me on the couch, got up and pulled my Uncle back into the normal position. With all four chair legs planted back on the floor, we resumed watching football as if nothing had happened. No one spoke of it again that night.

          In regards to food (the most important part of Thanksgiving), I look forward most to the stuffing, the mashed potatoes, and the pumpkin pie. Pumpkin pie is like the exclamation point at the end of the day for me. I don’t feel like Thanksgiving would be Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie. Family is also kind of important, and when I’m not stuffing my face I try and remember to be thankful for the great family I have. Anyway, before I get too sentimental here I’d like to wrap up by saying "Happy Thanksgiving" to all you A&M readers out there. Enjoy the greatest holiday ever created. Remember to eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we diet.

NHL Lockout 2012: A Season On Ice

~Anthony Constantino

So here we are, in the midst of the third lockout for the NHL in the last 20 years. The main issue that needs to be worked out is the division of total revenue between the players and owners. However the main information the population receives from either side is some form of political stance or platform that urges you to support their side. I didn't know we were electing a winning side in order to get the NHL back in action. Anyway here are some ideas that shape my stance, which is not so hard to see as you read on.

The most important fact to be aware of is that the league never fully recovered from the last lockout, which occurred in 2004-2005. The last thing this league needed is another lockout to destroy all momentum and headway made over the last seven years. Popularity has been a major issue, which stemmed from the blunder the Gary Bettman made when striking a long term television contract. Instead of being broadcast on ESPN (and their family of networks as they call it), the NHL opted for a deal with Versus. We all know how well that turned out, as hockey is virtually invisible in almost every city below the Mason-Dixon Line. We can also go on and on about how the NHL has been unable to market their superstars successfully. Consequently, the NHL has the least sponsorship opportunities among the four major sports. So this is much of the reason why the NHL is least popular of the four major sports in the U.S. The equation ends with the National Hockey League having the least amount of total revenue coming in.

Despite all the information above that can be proven true with some simple research, we are sitting here in October without hockey. The icing on the cake? Commissioner Bettman came out and said that we are "rapidly approaching" the day that the January 1st Winter Classic game will have to be cancelled. I'm not sure how Bettman jumps from starting the season on November 2nd, to cancelling all games through January 1st. What we do know for certain is that this season is in jeopardy of being played at all.

So who is at fault here (not that pointing fingers makes the situation any better)? Although I can't relate to the money these men quibble over, I can relate to the owner and worker dynamic. Most business owners don't exactly share half their profits with the employees they preside over. Regardless of how important players are to the NHL's existence, these are still owners. They own their team and don't have to share anything more than a guaranteed contract with the players. For the players to expect more than 50% of total revenue is preposterous. This is especially true for the league with the smallest revenue of the four major sports. Let's not forget that these owners became wealthy in some other business and they could easily stick to that. Many of these owners have an NHL team for their own personal entertainment.

The NHL cannot mimic the NBA or NFL revenue model because there isn't that kind of money to throw around. There isn't a lucrative TV deal to draw from. Unfortunately, there are still some teams struggling to stay afloat in the league. Even though I cannot stand the greed both sides are exhibiting, I must side with the owners and their right as owners.