Frederick Barry's Buffalo Bills fan blog

A theory:

  The NFL and its 32 teams knew before draft day what was going to transpire in Round one of the 2010 Draft.  The proof lies in the events that took place regarding college football golden boy Tim Tebow's draft.  Is it merely great predictions or coincidence that EVERY analyst on NFL network planted the seed that "perhaps" Tebow might "surprise" everyone by being taken in the first round and suddenly *gasp* he was?  It very well may be great predictions and a fantastically dramatic coincidence, but what if it wasn't?

  Think about it like this.  Tim Tebow has been a source of football drama for the NFL from his suspect abilities at QB, to his "controversial" Superbowl commercial.  Is there any way to create more drama around this guy during the NFL draft in an effort to drum up ratings among NFL fans?  Sure there is!  Why not make him a "surprise" pick, knowing all along that a team wants him and will select him in the first round.

Continue reading "Spontaneous Excitement in Round One of the 2010 Draft...Maybe..."

There was no shortage of excitement last night when the Washington Capitals took on the Tampa Bay Lightning.  The best moment came late in the game when the gloves were dropped by Alex Ovechkin and Steve Downie.  Interestingly enough, Ovechkin and Downie never got down to business.

Things got heavy between Downie and Ovechkin early in the third period.  As Downie swept in to make a move, Ovie made a move of his own by cruising in to crush the right wing with a hard hit.  However, Downie's teammates contend that the hit was dirty because Ovechkin may have used his knee in the collision.

Tampa's Center Jeff Halpern said of the hit, "Downs makes a move. [Ovechkin] sticks his knee out, leaves his knee out there...it's not the cheapest hit in the world, but it's still a dirty hit."

Continue reading "Ovechkin Drops Gloves with Downie, But Bradley Does Dirty Work"

It was, as they say, one for the ages in Arizona tonight as the Cardinals took on the Green Bay Packers in what turned out to be the most exciting post-season match-up thus far this season.  When all was said and done, the Cardinals pulled off a victory in an offensive slug-fest that dragged into overtime and ended with a staggering final score of 45-51.

It appeared as though this game would have as clear a winner as the three Wild Card games before it as the Cardinals opened up with a 17 point lead in the first quarter. However, Green Bay clawed back by scoring ten points to Arizona's seven in the second quarter.  The half ended with the score 24-10, but early in the third quarter Arizona showed their resolve and put up another touchdown with a 33-yard touchdown pass from poised passer Kurt Warner to sure-handed Larry Fitzgerald. 

Continue reading "Wild Cards Trump Green Bay; Rodgers Ripped Off"

Every now and then one play can define a career in the NFL.  This was, indeed, the case for Michael Vick in the 2009 Wild Card game against the Dallas Cowboys. One pass in one playoff game may have secured one player's career in the NFL.

 With the Eagles down a touchdown in the 2009 Wild Card showdown against the Dallas Cowboys, it was up to the Eagles offense to make something happen. It was at that moment that Michael Vick, standing in shotgun formation, took a snap and passed to Jeremy Maclin for a 76 yard touchdown reception to tie the game at 7-7. 

The Eagles obviously needed this reception, having already lost twice to the Cowboys in the regular season and having amassed only one touchdown between both games.  However, it may be the case that Michael Vick, coming off the dog fighting controversy and subsequent prison sentence, needed it more.

Continue reading "Vick's TD Pass Means More to Him Than to Eagles"

  In an effort to stimulate debate with the critics, who seem to like to engage in a strategy known as "closing down the debate," this is a list of all the reasons Terrell Owens will fare far better in Buffalo than he has on any other team. Also, there may be a point or two regarding why his acquisition was intelligent on the part of Buffalo. Here goes (and I sure do hope I am right):

1. The most common complaint: T.O. is a cancer in the locker room.  My logical response: There is less ego in the Buffalo Bills locker room than there have been in other locker rooms he has been a part of.  The Bills' locker room has enough room for his ego and, in fact, have thus far welcomed it.  Further, Buffalo is the smallest market Owens has ever played in.  Before this, he played in San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Dallas.  These three teams are large market teams that generally draw a good deal of media attention with or without Owens.  Buffalo has been getting a lot of attention lately - but it is

Continue reading "T.O. In B-Lo: A List"

  It appears that we have a bit of a talking point in the AFC now that Tom Brady is out for the season.  A certain question begs an answer: Without Brady, will the Patriots dominate the AFC East and remain the team to beat?  Of course, if your answer is yes, case closed.  However, if your answer is no, we have a discussion on our hands.

  There has been a lot of talk around the blogs and media that the Jets will become the team to beat now that Brady is absent from the starting Patriots.  I can put this to bed with one simple statement: even Brett Favre said that this is a hasty call to make.  If the starting quarterback for the team (who just happens to be an NFL legend) says that there is a lot to accomplish before the Jets become the team to beat in the AFC East, it might as well come from God himself.  Let's look at things from a different angle.  In week one, the Jets won and began their season on a good note.  Do not be fooled by this though, as the Jets beat the worst team in the AFC East and perhaps the entire conference in the Miami Dolphins.  Before you say it Dolphin's fans, I know you've made some good steps forward from last season, but when you go 1-15 is there really anywhere to go but up?  The bottom line is, the Jets narrowly beat a broken team for their first win.  I will admit that the Favre-Cotchery connection looked good for a long touchdown and a potential season long deep threat, but I still see a lot of weakness on a team that edged out Miami.  Do not get too excited too early Jets fans, this one is not yours just yet.

Continue reading "With Tom Brady Gone, What Happens in the AFC East?"

  Ok, so I wasn't there when Barry Bonds broke the home-run record.  I wasn't there when Cal Ripken passed Lou Gehrig in most consecutive games played (although I saw both on television as they happened) and the piece of history I witnessed is not nearly as glamorous as either of those two events.  However, I was there tonight.  I can already hear the wheels turning. "What the heck happened tonight?" asks the die-hard baseball fan who happened upon my article.  Tonight was the first time in MLB history that an instant replay was used to review a home-run call.

  The reader must now forgive me, for I am about to tell a little story that has no real meaning to anyone but me other than that it is just kind of a cool little story.  I promise I will return to the point of the article after I set up the scene as it was for me.  I arrive at Tropicana Field on the evening of Wednesday, September 3rd 2008 at 4:15 PM.  Seasoned baseball fans may wonder why I got there so early for a game that started three hours later.  Well, my cousin's son (my second cousin) plays in the Largo, Florida high school marching band and the boosters run a concession booth at Tropicana for profits for the band.  I offered to help them tonight since I was free.  I finish my volunteer duty and around the beginning of the 8th inning, we shut down shop.  This allows me the opportunity to go catch a bit of the game.  I am excited because I was born and raised in New York State, have been a die hard Yankees fan my entire life, and they just happen to be playing the Rays this evening.  Here I stand, my first time at Tropicana Field (which is a very impressive place for a game I might add) watching my favorite team play out the last two innings of what would turn out to be a winning game.  As I stand there talking baseball with a St. Petersburg police officer working security, he mentions to me that I could get in trouble standing in the entry way and he isn't allowed to let me stand there anyhow.  I apologize to him and, before I can turn to go, he points to a seat and says, "you can sit here if you want to watch the rest of the game though.  It is a reserved seat, the man isn't here, and this is my area for security."  He was indicating, of course, that I would not get in trouble since he would be the one reprimanding me if anyone would.  I smile and thank him as I happily sit myself down to watch the rest of the game unfold.

Continue reading "Sometimes it's the Little Things"

  As an avid football fan, allow me to say that I truly do appreciate the theatrical aspects of the game.  Who can forget the Icky Shuffle?  Who doesn't enjoy watching a Lambeau Leap?  However, Chad Johnson, who recently legally changed his name to Chad Ocho Cinco, has put himself in a put up or shut up situation in 2008.

  For those of you less familiar with Ocho Cinco's off-season behavior, please allow me to fill you in with the "Reader's Digest" version.  Ocho Cinco (and yes, it does get a little tiresome to refer to him as such, but I feel obligated since it was a legal name change) began the off-season by making noise and attempting to coax the Bengals into a trade.  As training camp and the pre-season rolled around, Chad seemed to cool his jets a bit and focus on playing football while on the tail end of recovery from an ankle injury.  In game two of the pre-season against Detroit, Ocho Cinco suffered a partially torn labrum (in Layman's - a busted up shoulder).

Continue reading "Put Up or Shut Up for Big Mouth OchoCinco"