I can’t believe we all had to watch the Sabres first period against the Senators.  They were outshot 19-1 (17-0) at one point.  It was ugly, and the fans at the Arena rightly booed them off the ice.  The look on Lindy Ruff’s face said it all.  Why does this seem to happen too often?  Why don’t the Sabres come to play?  Is it that hard?  Even with emotional leaders like Grier and Rivet, there are too many players who coast through too many periods?  Sometimes they’re talented enough to overcome those putrid periods, and maybe they will be tonight.  But that doesn’t excuse them from failing to show up too often.

The Big Ten Conference announced Tuesday that it will explore adding a team in the next year.  This could ultimately have an effect on U.B.  If the Big Ten takes Pittsburgh, Syracuse or Rutgers, as rumored, that would leave the Big East looking for another team.  They currently have eight, and wouldn’t want an uneven number.  Even eight is a bit light, because it leaves them unable to have a conference football championship game. 

So how does U.B. fit in?  I’d have to think that they would consider the Bulls for that open spot.  U.B. is in a good-sized media market, is close to many of the other schools, has an emerging athletic program and is a major university, the largest in New York State.  Why would the Bulls be interested?  Money, for one.  They would share in the Big East’s TV and BCS bowl money.  Prestige, exposure and rivalries would also be selling points for them.  A yearly game/rivalry against Syracuse would really get WNY’s fans excited.  Geographically, the Bulls never really fit into the Mid American Conference, being over two hours from the nearest school.  I always thought U.B.’s goals were higher than the MAC, anyway.  It would take some upgrading of budgets and facilities but the increased fund would help that. 

It a ways down the road, but something that should excited all Bulls fans.

Do you think the Big East would be interested?  Do you think its the right fit for U.B.?

AP Photo

Mark Mangino’s expected departure as Kansas head football coach should worry all Buffalo Bulls fans.  This is one of those jobs that could be a perfect fit for Turner Gill.  Last year, he was a candidate at Syracuse and Auburn, but those never seemed right to me.  Kansas does seem right for a number of reasons.  Its early, so there’s no idea if Kansas would consider Gill.  But its a Big 12 conference job, and that’s where Gill spent his time with Nebraska.  Its close to his native Texas, which means he can recruit there successfully.  If there’s any part of him that would like to get back at Nebraska for not hiring him two years ago, he’ll get his chance every year.  Plus, and maybe most importantly, Turner’s daughter attends Kansas.

The athletic director, Lew Perkins, is formerly of Connecticut.  Which means he’d be familiar with Buffalo’s program, its move-up to bigtime football, and will still have Eastern contacts that can give him an idea about Gill. 

So keep your eye on this opening.  Gills says there are only a few openings that he’d be interested in, and we don’t know if Kansas is one of them.  But based on the reasons I laid it, it very well could be.  If the interest is mutual, Gill may be headed out of town.

Jim Haslett

Friday, the UFL holds its championship game as the undefeated Florida Tuskers play the Las Vegas Locomotives. Bills fans should pay attention to the coaching matchup.  Both Jim Haslett (Florida) and Jim Fassel (Las Vegas) could be candidates to be the next Bills Head Coach.

Once the dances end with the big names like Shanahan and Cowher, the Bills are going to have to drop down to the second tier.  Both of these guys are former NFL head coaches, both are interested in getting back into the NFL, and both appear to be interested in coming to Buffalo.  Haslett has obvious ties as a former Bills player.  Fassel has been a candidate for past Bills openings. 

Jim Fassel

Fassel may actually have the upper hand, no matter who wins the UFL title.  The Bills appear set to hire an offensive-minded coach, and that’s Fassel’s specialty.  Even if it is the UFL, anybody who can get a J.P. Losman-led team to a title game must know his stuff.

So will you watch the UFL game to scout out Haslett or Fassel?  Do you think either would be a good choice for the Bills?

Jon Gruden

As we reported Friday night, the Bills targeted Jon Gruden as their first choice to replace Dick Jauron.  He turned them down, and decided to remain with ESPN’s Monday Night Football.  Gruden signed a contract extension with ESPN this week.

Gruden’s rejection may be the first of many for the Bills.  There are a number of reasons why the big name coaches may not view Buffalo as their best step back into football. 

1.  The Bills need a front office overhaul.  2.  They are limited financially.  3.  They have a hard time attracting free agents to our small city.  4.  They have an owner who can be meddlesome.  5.  They have no quarterback.

All of those reasons are enough to make any candidate think about taking a job here.  Now some will consider it because they want to coach again, and there may not be many other openings.  But much like Gruden, those with TV jobs may decide to stay off the sidelines until the right job opens up.

Good for the Bills for going after the big names like Gruden and Shanahan.  Getting them to come here appears to be a much tougher job.

Sunday night on NBC’s pregame show, Tony Dungy said the Bills could be a darkhorse location for Michael Vick in 2010.  Dungy, who advised Vick before he signed with Philadelphia, said the Bills did have some conversations with Vick before he signed with the Eagles.  Dungy says Buffalo would be a “good spot” for Vick. 

Obviously, the Bills QB situation will need to be addressed in the offseason.  If Trent Edwards doesn’t make major improvements in the second half, the Bills will almost certainly be looking for a new starter.

What do you think about Vick potentially coming to Buffalo?

The numbers continue to tell the story of this historically bad Bills offense.  Just 9 first downs against the Texans, just 204 total yards.  Its been almost three years since a Bills quarterback threw for 300 yards, an regular accomplishment on most NFL teams.  

But leave it to an opponent to put some perspective to what the numbers say and what our eyes have seen. Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans was asked how the Texans defense (ranked 21st) was able to throttle the Bills offense.

“It was easy,” Ryans said. “They kind of had the same formations, they didn’t give us a lot of motions and things. So it was a simple offense to go against.”

Wow.  Makes you realize just what the rest of the NFL thinks about the Buffalo offense.  Of course, we know why.  The offensive line’s issues don’t allow any fancy formation or motions.  They can’t even block for basic plays.

Oh how I long for the days of Langston Walker.

While WNY college football fans know about local starts Mike Williams of Syracuse and Doug Worthington of Ohio State, James Mallory is making a name for himself too.  The Kenmore West grad had another big game Saturday for Central Connecticut State University.  He ran for 204 yards and 3 TD in a win over Albany.  The Blue Devils are now 7-1.  Mallory has run for 2081 yards in his career at New Britain.  He is close to another 1000 yard season.    The 5-10, 200 pound senior had a standout career for the KW Blue Devils, running for over 5000 yards.

AP Photo

Taking nothing away from a Bills defense that is playing well and taking the ball away….the midterm exam comes Sunday and it will tell us alot about the student.  Buffalo’s D has beaten the 31st and 32nd ranked NFL quarterbacks (Sanchez and Delhomme) the past two weeks, forcing 9 interceptions.  Those picks aren’t lucky.  They were earned.  But the QB’s throwing them also played a role in making them happen.

That won’t happen against the Texans.  Schaub leads the NFL in TD passes, ranks 4th in quarterback rating and has throw only 5 interceptions.  He has the league’s leading receiver in Andre Johnson, and the tight end leader in yards in Owen Daniels. 

So we’ll find out much more about the Buffalo defense based on how they do against Houston.  Plus, we’ll learn if the offense can produce enough points to win.  I don’t see the Texans scoring less than 21.  So can the Bills offense, if they don’t get handed the short fields from turnovers, maintain some drives and score some points?  I don’t think so.  I think the Bills are a below-average overall team, and I believe we’ll see that Sunday.

I’m surprised the Bills didn’t trade Roscoe Parrish.  It made too much sense, and maybe that’s why it didn’t happen. He clearly didn’t want to be here, and he’s clearly playing like someone who doesn’t want to be here.  The fumble and -15 yard return against the Browns, along with his postgame comments. smack of a player not focused becuase he’s unhappy.  I don’t believe Roscoe will ever be a viable offensive player, but obviously he does. 

His return skills, while on hiatus this year, should have given him enough value to get at least a 5th round draft pick.  But maybe teams figured the Bills would have to let him go, and never offered that.  Remember, James Hardy is set to come off the PUP list and a roster spot will have to be open in the next few weeks. 

Now what do you do with an unhappy player who is made he wasn’t traded?  Do you cut him?  I think you have to.  When you do, he’ll be just another horrible Bills wasted draft pick.