More Yes than No to that answer.  Widespread synoptic rain will arrive SW to NE during Friday into early Friday night.  Good jet dynamics might spring a rumble of thunder with that, too.  But the warm frontal rain will break up into Sct Shwrs later Friday night.  Several models have been remarkably consistent in placing WNY within the storm system’s dry slot for Saturday.  If that placement is correct, only a Few Shwrs will be possible, with some Limited Sun. On Sunday, temps will drop off a few degrees, but only a Few Shwrs are likely. Bottom line: If the dry slot placement is correct, most of this weekend will be rainfree. A midweek storm system next week will be followed by a cooler and unsettled pattern.

News 4 has a consumer alert to pass along.

Toyota recalling nearly four million Toyota and Lexus vehicles because of a removable floor mat that could interfere with the accelerator and cause a fatal crash.

Toyota recall information

The Natural Dog Blog

This site will help you learn about the philosophy and practice of Natural Dog Training, elicit obedience from your dog, and solve problems like dog aggression and hyperactivity.

Iroquois Central H1N1 Information

The Iroquois Central School District along with the New York State Education Department and the New York State Department of Health continue to collaborate on providing students, staff, parents and guardians on ways to help reduce the spread of the H1N1 influenza virus.

It was a proud night for members of the News Four family on September 22nd, 2009, when Marie Rice was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame.  Marie left the newsroom (she doesn’t like the word retired!) five years ago and returned to her native Ohio, after twenty-seven years as a highly respected reporter here at News Four.  She will always be remembered for her long-term, in-depth coverage of the turmoil and tragedy of the Love Canal environmental disaster. And, those of us who call her a colleague and a friend will always remember her for her good, good heart.  Congratulations, Marie!

Marie Rice spoke of her journalism career spanning more than three decades during her induction into the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Rich Newberg, who is also member of the Broadcasters Hall of Fame, inducted Marie with prepared comments and a video presentation of her career highlights.

Marie Rice enters the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame with fellow 2009 inductees Fred Klestine, Pat Feldballe, Randy Michaels, and Don Polec.

Marie’s identical twin sister, Joan, opted for print journalism while Marie chose broadcast journalism.

Congratulations to Marie Rice, a reporter’s reporter and Hall of Fame journalist.

A lot of things went wrong with the Bills in their 27-7 loss to the Saints Sunday.  And there’s more than enough blame to go around.

But at the risk of espousing an unpopular view. I’d like to address Dick Jauron’s  infamous decision to punt on 4th and one in the fourth quarter.  Jauron has been roundly criticized in the last 18 hours for not going for it from his own 28-yard line.  I’ll admit that punting the ball is a very conservative move.  But it is not a boneheaded, indefensible, unfathomable move.  

Down by 10 in the fourth quarter, the Bills were faced with fourth down and a full yard at their own 28-yard line.  Think about this–if they fail to convert (and they had failed on their preceding nine third down conversion attempts) the Saints get the ball at the Buffalo 28.  They are essentially already in makeable field goal range, with the wind at their backs.  If the Bills fail to convert on fourth and one, you are essentially conceding three points.

That’s what I believe Jauron meant when he said afterwards that “we’re not just going to give them the game.”  If the Bills fail on the fourth down attempt, the game is virtually  over. 

Jauron’s defense had just surrendered a 34-yard touchdown run to the Saints, but they had forced the New Orleans off the field 3-and-out on the prior two possessions.  The game was still in play, and Jauron’s logic is sound–don’t lose it here. 

Was it conservative?  Absolutely.  Did it work?  Nope.  But at the time (without benefit of hindsight) I believe it was the correct strategy–you don’t want your opponent to start a drive at your 28-yard line.  In order to win the game, first you must not lose it.

There’s plenty of opportunities to criticize the Bills coaching moves as a result of the Saints game.   There’s the botched clock management late in the first half, the inability to get substitutes on the field in a timely fashion, the inability to deal with the Saints pressure defensive packages, the failure to get TO and Lee Evans into the offensive mix.  You can fault the coaching staff for assembling a roster without adequate depth on the offensive line and  at other spots.

But the fourth and one call was the right one to make.  Jauron’s decision to punt  was ultra-conservative–but sound.   I’m sure many disagree.

Terrell Owens “ran the plays that were called.”  It resulted in the end of his 185 game consecutive catch streak, the third-longest in NFL history behind Jerry Rice and Marvin Harrison.  While Owens downplayed the streak, he did mention it later on his Twitter account.  I believe it meant a lot to him, and contributed to his surly attitude during the postgame news conference.

That’s why I believe it was the job of the Bills coaching staff to throw a pass to Owens, for no other reason than continuing his streak.  They tried on the second-to-last possession, but it was incomplete.  On the last possession, they did not, running once and completing a pass to Josh Reed.

The coaching staff has to understand Owens and what makes him tick.  They have to know that Owens would be in a much better mood, and have a much better attitude, had his personal accomplishment been achieved.  I don’t think its a stretch to say that at that point in the game, Owens cared much more about his streak than he did about the final score.  The game was over anyway. 

Throw him a quick hitch, or a swing pass, just to keep the streak alive.  A happy player is a better player.  Sure, its meaningless to the team and the game.  But you have to know that a happier Owens makes for a happier week in Orchard Park.  I’ve seen teams do this with other players, so someone is aware.  Dick Jauron and Trent Edwards both said they did not know about the streak, and no consideration was given to getting T.O. the ball.

Your players mental health is as important as their physical health.  Its a coaching staff’s job to know that.  Plus, you knew what you were getting when you signed Owens.  They should have made a better effort to keep him happy.

Chautauqua County Executive Gregory Edwards is calling on county residents to swamp state officials in support of Westfield Memorial Hospital.

>> More info here

The makers of Tylenol is voluntarily recalling certain lots of Children’s and Infants’ TYLENOL® liquid products that were manufactured between April, 2008 and June, 2008

Click here for more information

After receiving a few calls and e-mails Sunday, I thought I’d explain the similar situation this Sunday:  Why there is only one NFL game on Channel 4 Sunday.

While it is listed as a CBS doubleheader weekend, those rules are overriden by the fact that the Bills are on FOX at 4pm.  Because we are not allowed to show a game opposite a home Bills game, we can only bring you the 1pm Titans at Jets game.  This doesn’t happen very often because the Bills rarely have 4pm home games, and its even more rare that that game is against an NFC opponent, putting it on FOX.

I hope everyone understands that these decisions are not made here in Buffalo, but are made by the network according to the NFL rules.