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NY State Senator Maziarz: Paterson's Soda Tax Is “INSANE!”

Frank Budwey, the owner of Budwey’s Supermarkets in North Tonawanda, Kenmore, and Newfane, is featured in a new “New Yorkers Against Unfair Taxes” television ad railing against the Governor’s proposed “soda tax.”

“The soda tax is insane,” Senator George Maziarz (R-C, Newfane) said. “Frank Budwey, who has been a good friend of mine for many years, is absolutely right.”

In the statewide ad, Budwey says, “Over 40 years being the food business, I’ve never seen it this difficult for my customers to purchase food to take home to feed their families. In such hard economic times, for us to be creating a new tax, it’s really insane.”

In his executive budget proposal for the 2010-2011 state fiscal year, Governor David Paterson proposed creating a new “Beverage Syrups and Soft Drink Tax” on sugared beverages, which would take $450 million out of New Yorkers’ wallets and send it to the state’s coffers. The excise tax would, on average, increase the cost of bottled soft drinks and sports drinks by one cent per ounce.

At a tax symposium in Albany on Monday, Governor Paterson reiterated his support for imposing the new tax and said, “We’re just trying to take dangerous substances out of the hands of children.”

Senator Maziarz responded, “To talk about soda or ‘pop’ as a dangerous substance is just ridiculous. The tax-and-spend culture of Albany is out of touch with the pressures facing hardworking Western New Yorkers. I will vigorously oppose any new tax or fee proposal in Albany, including a soda tax.”

The 30-second television ad is available for viewing as the Featured Video on Senator Maziarz’ website, www.senatormaziarz.com .

Buffalo Bills free agent tackle Cornell Green assaulted woman

By: Joe Pinzone

Meet your new Buffalo Bills right tackle. According to USA Today, Green assaulted the mother of his children in March of 2009.

Tampa police say Green became violent during an argument at his home with the mother of his two children. Police say Green slammed 30-year-old Teriyonal Ebony Flowers into a wall, then struck her right arm with an aluminum mop handle.

Judging by his salary (9 million over 3 years), Green looks to be taking over for Brad Butler. Of course, there are a couple of red flags around this guy, other than beating women of course. For one, he's played on six NFL teams in 10 years. The last team he played for was the Raiders, which may make fans flashback to the Langston Walker signing. He also didn't exactly have an all-pro season last year, giving up 6.5 sacks and 12 penalties in 12 starts.

Marv Levy must be rolling over his eyes over this move. So much for the Buffalo Bills valuing character. Kind of ironic that the guy had to use a mop handle to beat up his wife, since it seems like he was getting mopped up all over the field by defensive players.

Look, I get that this guy isn't going to be the cornerstone on the Bills line for the next 5 years (turns 34 in August). I totally agree that the Bills needed to address the offensive right tackle position at some point. However, couldn't they find a better stop-gap offensive right tackle that wasn't arrested and had the exact same number of penalties as starts? I don't know, maybe the guy will play like Geoff Hangartner. Hey, at least the Bills signed someone!...and he wasn't even from KC.

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Kelly Likes Tim Tebow & Joey Porter on the Buffalo Bills Radar

By Joe Pinzone

I know it's only March, but it looks as if the Buffalo Bills may have a tentative plan in finding a quarterback. NFL.com is reporting that the Bills (along with the Seahawks) want to have a private workout with Tim Tebow after his pro day on March 17th. I wrote a long blog over a month ago stating that I wasn't exactly thrilled about Tim Tebow coming to Buffalo. I think he has too many throwing issues, plus working in the shotgun exclusively at Florida worries me. However, my disdain towards the possibility of Trent Edwards starting in 2010 has soften my stance. Hell, at this juncture, I'd take JP Losman back over Captain Checkdown

Now, from a marketing stand point, it wouldn't shock me if the Bills drafted Tebow in the 2nd or 3rd round. I didn't think much of Tebow's popularity after his college career ended. However, after seeing all the hoopla over him changing his throwing motion and being surrounded by 100's of reporters at the NFL Combine, I knew that Tebow's fame had become a monster. Hell, he may be the reason the NFL decided to go prime time for the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the Draft. If the Bills drafted him, ESPN would be all over this story from mini-camp to the regular season. We'd get Erin Andrews camping out at One Bills Drive. College football fans from throughout the land who've adored Tebow would tune into games. Not to mention, you can probably put him up there as the #1 selling jersey for the Bills.

Mark my words, the national hoopla would be a lot BIGGER if Tebow was drafted by the Bills than T.O. coming to Buffalo. Plus, there's already strong support for Tebow to play from fans and members of the media in Buffalo. Lets not forget he has the backing of Jim Kelly, which is like being blessed by the pope around here. I'm not saying that I believe in Tebow. Quite honestly, I don't. But, from a marketing stand point, selling merchandise, luxury boxes, and team endorsements it's a gold mine.

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There was a rumor that made its way across the web this weekend about the Bills bringing in Joey Porter for a workout on Tuesday. The rumor was reported by Buffalorumblings.com, but soon after was retracted. Anyways, we can still talk about it because it would make total sense for the Bills to sign Porter. I know, I've been saying to get younger, but this 3-4 experiment has me worried.

Look, there's no way Chris Kelsay or Aaron Schobel should be allowed to play outside linebacker for this team or any other. The team needs to bring in someone who knows how to be the quarterback of a 3-4 defense. Porter is that guy. He's been in the 3-4 for the majority of his career and has thrived in it. I know some may think he's washed up, but he did have 26.5 sacks over the last two years. Yes, it should be noted that he only had 9 sacks in 14 games last year, but even that sack total would have counted for 2nd most by a Bills player.

Now, I know what some people are thinking: "Porter is an old-washed up, arrogant punk who wouldn't mesh with Buffalo's blue-collar work ethic." Yes, Porter is in the twilight of his career. However, if Aaron Maybin is suppose to thrive the most in a 3-4 defense, it would be nice if he could have an all-pro tutoring him at a position he's never played at before.

As for Porter's personality issues, you know how I feel about spitfires. I love them! You need guys with attitude in professional sports. If there's one thing I was hoping that Terrell Owens could bring to the Bills last season, it was someone who would hold the team's feet to the fire if they played poorly. Unfortunately, T.O. didn't care about setting a precedent with the team because he was more interested in where he would end up playing in 2010 and didn't want to jeopardize that (You could probably put in cereal, modeling and a reality show in activities that peaked his interest more so than playing for the Bills).

Something tells me that Porter doesn't give a crap about reality shows and being a model. He's the type of player that's going to say what's on his mind and talk trash to the opposition. That's something the Bills haven't had in a long time. In the beginning of free agency, I wanted the Bills to make a run at Larry Foote to help with the 3-4 defense. Now, I wouldn't mind substituting Porter for that spot

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Twins season in question as Nathan ponders Tommy John surgery
Joe Nathan has suffered a tear in his right elbow's UCL, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. It has been reported that the injury may require Tommy John surgery, which would end the Minnesota Twins closer's season before spring training has even ended.

It has been stated that Nathan will decide how to proceed within two weeks. Over the last five seasons he has posted almost 250 saves and has posted ERAs of 1.62, 2.70, 1.58, 1.88, 1.33 and 2.10.

If Nathan does decide to opt for surgery he would not be able to throw until around this time next year making even next season a question mark for his return. In most cases it takes two full years to properly rehab after Tommy John surgery although most players do return the following year after the surgery.

Another School Shooting, This Time at Ohio State University
This morning, a gunman ran into a building on the campus of Ohio State University and opened fire. One person was killed and two others were wounded. The University is stating that no students were involved in the shootings, and that it appears to be limited only to employees at the McCracken Power Plant.

The shooter was taken into custody by police. The University said that one victim was rushed to an area hospital in critical condition.

The shooting was first reported at 3:30 a.m. Police did not release any names and investigators were still trying to determine the suspect's motive.

Full story: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100309/NEWS/303090011/Deadly+shooting+at+Ohio+State

DiNAPOLI PROPOSES REFORMS TO END NEW YORK’S BUDGET CRISIS
New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today proposed a series of actions <http://www.osc.state.ny.us/reports/budget/2010/fiscalreform_mar2010.pdf> to repair New York’s recurring budget problems and out-year budget gaps. DiNapoli’s reforms require the state to address out-year budget gaps and attain multi-year budget balance, align spending with available resources, limit debt and curb the use of fiscal gimmicks.

“New York State has been addicted to unaffordable borrowing and unsustainable spending. Now is the time to break that addiction. These reforms are first steps, some of which we can take right now, that will start us on the road to recovery. It won’t be easy, but it is absolutely necessary. We’ve already delayed too long. The last thing New Yorkers need is a replay of last year’s buy-time budget. We need to get the budget in balance and keep it in balance.”

DiNapoli’s plan <http://www.osc.state.ny.us/reports/budget/2010/fiscalreform_mar2010.pdf> , implemented through statutory changes, Constitutional amendments and controls contained in bond covenants, to address long-standing deficiencies in the state’s budget process includes:

Require Gap-Closing Plan: DiNapoli’s plan requires the Governor to identify actions to close the out-year gaps as part of the state’s Financial Plan. For example, the Executive’s proposed budget only addresses next year’s projected budget gap, but it does little to address three-year cumulative gaps of at least $30 billion.

Impose Binding Revenue Forecast: Current state law requires the Executive and Legislature to agree on a revenue forecast of expected tax revenues by March 1. Absent an agreement, the Comptroller provides a non-binding forecast by March 5. DiNapoli’s proposal would expand the forecast to include all revenues and resources available for spending to provide a more accurate picture of available means, and would set a binding framework to the budget. If the parties could not agree, the State Comptroller’s revenue forecast would be binding.

Increase Reserves: DiNapoli’s proposal increases reserves to cushion against budget shocks. In any year in which the state incurs a surplus, 50 percent of the surplus must be paid into the Rainy Day Fund until it reaches the maximum level of five percent of General Fund spending. Currently, these deposits are restricted to just 0.2 percent of annual General Fund spending with the maximum balance capped at 2.0 percent of General Fund spending.

Restrict the Use of One-Shots: DiNapoli’s proposal prohibits using one-shots to pay for ongoing expenses. One-time revenues could only be used to pay down debt or finance non-recurring expenses, such as emergency or capital spending. The state has repeatedly paid for recurring spending with one-time revenues. For example, in SFY 2010-11, the Executive’s proposed budget uses $11.3 billion in federal stimulus and other temporary funds.

Require Public Negotiation of Budget: DiNapoli’s proposal requires joint legislative conference committees to meet publicly to negotiate the budget and give a greater voice to individual legislators in forming the final budget. Currently, budget conference committees rarely meet and there is no requirement for pubic budget deliberations and discussions.

Strengthen Capital Planning: DiNapoli proposes establishing a new Capital Asset/Infrastructure Council that would look out 20 years to identify the state’s most critical construction needs and develop a five-year capital plan. Currently, each state agency has its own capital plan process, but the plans rarely extend beyond five years. There is little coordination or consistency among the plans and there is no mechanism that comprehensively identifies priorities

Enact Real Debt Reform: More than 94 percent of all state-funded debt was not approved by the voters. DiNapoli would introduce a constitutional amendment to ban backdoor borrowing by public authorities, restore voter control over debt, require that state debt is issued by the Comptroller, impose a binding cap on the amount of state debt, and prohibit the issuance of debt for non-capital purposes.

Mandate Budget Transparency: Dense budget documents make it nearly impossible for taxpayers to have a meaningful understanding of the budget. DiNapoli would require the Executive to report three years of detailed spending information, including more detailed cash flow projections and spending for new programs. DiNapoli would also prohibit the use of blanket sweeps and require information on how sweeps affect programs.

Click here <http://www.osc.state.ny.us/reports/budget/2010/fiscalreform_mar2010.pdf> for a copy of the report or visit http://www.osc.state.ny.us/reports/budget/2010/fiscalreform_mar2010.pdf.

Think a Tax Refund Loan Sounds Good? Think Again
You’ve probably heard the pitches for “refund anticipation checks” or “quick tax loans.” The official name is refund anticipation loans, or RALs. They’re marketed primarily to cash-poor taxpayers who use their annual federal and state tax refunds as a piggy bank for discretionary items or thanks to a struggling economy, essentials like food and housing.

In tough times, these high-cost loans are a particularly dangerous temptation. Most of the major tax preparation services in the country offer them, making them easy to apply for and they even offer to place the refund amount in a special prepaid credit card instead of your own bank account.

Do they make sense? The Consumer Federation of America lumps RAL loans with their more notorious cousin payday loans in the same basket. A February 2009 report indicated that RAL loans generated an estimated $900 million in fees from 8.67 million taxpayers who used them based on 2007 figures alone. The truth is that while these services promise your refund money immediately or in a few days (less fees and costs), if you’re willing to wait an extra couple of weeks, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will pay back your refund without fees or interest charges when you file IRS Form 8888 with your return.

The IRS option also makes it easy to divert your refund into an IRA contribution or the purchase of U.S. Treasury securities or U.S. Savings Bonds.

In 2007, the Consumer Federation and the National Consumer Law Center reported that RALs cost the average borrower from about $30 to more than $125 in loan fees. Some tax preparers also charge separate fees on top of those amounts for the “application.” In their study, both agencies reported that the effective annual interest rate (APR) for a RAL can range from about 40 percent to over 500 percent, and if application fees are charged and included in the calculation, the effective APRs range from about 57 percent to over 1,100 percent.

In January, the California attorney general reached a $4.85 million settlement with H&R Block, funneling that money to the state’s customers who took out those loans between 2001 and 2008 and prohibiting the tax giant from marketing refund anticipation loans as early tax refunds.

All this aside, the real point is that it’s important for individuals to plan their finances and tax strategy so they don’t have to be desperate for a tax refund in any amount. If you’re working with a tax advisor or a financial planner such as a financial planning professional, they’ll tell you that the best way to put cash in your hand is through tax planning, not overpayment of tax so you can get a check later.

It’s been said that tax refunds are really interest-free loans to the government, and it’s true. The benefit of working with a qualified tax professional or a financial planner is that they might have more incentive to lead you in the direction of sensible tax strategies than a tax preparation firm that offers such loans. Why would any firm offer smart tax advice when it might threaten such a huge revenue stream?

Want to put extra money in your pocket all year round, not just at tax time? Consider the following steps:

Make 2010 the year you do some real tax planning: Qualified tax professionals such as certified public accountants (CPAs), enrolled agents (federally licensed individuals who have passed a comprehensive IRS exam) or a tax attorney can help you devise a strategy so you and Uncle Sam don’t owe each other anything at tax time. You’ll do this through smart withholding and finding legal deductions that might create tax savings. Many individuals can get by with the help of an enrolled agent or CPA, and while there are many tax attorneys who do individual returns, they are typically used for business returns or more complex individual tax situations.

Restructure your spending: Understanding your spending will prevent you from looking desperately for cash at other times. A financial planner can give you some critical advice in building a budget that fits you and your income and spending picture, or you can make this the year when you buy a financial tracking program for your computer and start typing in your daily spending – that activity alone will be an eye-opener. Once you do that, you can figure out how to afford essentials and extras in a way that will prevent a panicky search for money around tax time.

Make smart choices for that money: Quit thinking about your refund as an excuse for a trip to the mall. Why not use an unexpected tax refund to fund an IRA or some other savings or investment vehicle? If you finish your taxes early enough you might be able to deposit that overage directly in those accounts.

-30-
March 2010 — This column is provided by the Financial Planning Association® (FPA®) of Western New York, the leadership and advocacy organization connecting those who provide, support and benefit from professional financial planning. FPA is the community that fosters the value of financial planning and advances the financial planning profession and its members demonstrate and support a professional commitment to education and a client-centered financial planning process. Please credit FPA of Western New York if you use this column in whole or in part.

The Financial Planning Association is the owner of trademark, service mark and collective membership mark rights in: FPA, FPA/Logo and FINANCIAL PLANNING ASSOCIATION. The marks may not be used without written permission from the Financial Planning Association

Dan Rather says GOP will use "Watermelon" to attack Obama
Former CBS News anchor Dan Rather, when describing what he thought would be the Republican's strategy against Democrats this fall, said the GOP would say President Obama "couldn't sell watermelons if you gave him the state troopers to flag down the traffic."

Rather, who was forced to resign his position at CBS after taking the blame for false stories being aired about then President George W. Bush, is known for his odd and sometimes out of date anecdotes but the racial tones in this particular comment have political and media blogs around the country buzzing.

Given his popularity and standing with the left wing media, this current gaffe will probably blow over without much blow back for Rather but it's always interesting when the old man opens his mouth.

NFL Free Agency: Antwaan Randle El back with Pittsburgh Steelers
-Wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, who was released by the Washington Redskins last week, has resigned with his old team the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Randle El had 50 receptions for 530 yards in 16 games playing for Washington last season. The receiver never really lived up to the expectations that came with signing the seven-year contract worth $31 million that included $11.5 million in bonuses back in 2006.

Many people around the league thought the Redskins over paid for Randle El in the first place considering he only averaged 40 catches and less than two touchdowns a year over his four seasons with the Steelers. He did improve on those numbers slightly during his four seasons with the Redskins, averaging 46 receptions and two touchdowns a season. But, after a year that saw him catch zero touchdowns in 2009, the Redskins felt they no longer needed his services.

The deal with Pittsburgh is rumored to be for three years, with terms not yet available.

Buffalo Sabres: What To Love & What To Hate About This Team
By Joe Pinzone

I'm not exactly going to say "what a relief" when it comes to the Buffalo Sabres recent two game winning streak. But hey...two points are two points, and you can't award style points in the NHL. It's funny though, I don't know what's more shocking, the Sabres giving up a 13-point division lead to the Senators or the team somehow finding its way back into sole position of first place? It's not exactly breaking news to figure out what's right or wrong with the Sabres. But, in case you're too wrapped up in Ryan Miller being on the Today Show, here are some reasons to love and hate the Buffalo Sabres.

Showing the Love

1) It doesn't take a genius to figure out what the reason for the Sabres success is. It all starts with the NHL's top goaltender, Ryan Miller. Honestly, I don't know what to write about the guy that hasn't already been written. He's the real deal and is proving that the Olympics haven't effected his recent play. You can tell he's playing with the most confidence he has ever had in his career and he should be. Think about this, including the Olympics and the four games after the break - Miller has allowed 14 goals in his last 10 games. I don't care if it's against the Swiss or the Rochester Americans, that's a sick stat line. The guy's the MVP of the team and is their biggest star attraction since Dominik Hasek.

2) Even though the Sabres let in the game tying goal on the power play against the Rangers, they are still among the lead leaders in penalty killing (Ranking 4th as of today). I don't know how much that's going to help in the playoffs though. It seems more often than not, referees elect to swallow their whistles during the playoffs. But, it's always good to see what makes Lindy Ruff one of the best defensive minded coaches in hockey. His penalty killing units have always been..well..killer. Over the last 10 years the average Sabres PK unit has ranked 9th in the NHL. From Stu Barnes to Mike Grier to Paul Gaustad, it doesn't matter who Ruff puts out there because he teaches his players how to play defense on the penalty kill (Power Play? We will get to that in a bit).

Showing the hate:

1) Hate doesn't describe my attitude towards the top six forwards of this team. Hell, they aren't even considered top six in my book...more like four through 10. Tell me if you haven't heard this one before - "Where was Jason Pominville last night" or "Thomas Vanek should have had a hat trick." It's either the guys show up and can't put the puck in the back of the net or their still on Olympic Break...or summer break for that matter. All you had to do was look at Derek Roy's scoring chance in OT against the Rangers. He was fed a great pass in front of Lundqvist and fired the backhand about three feet wide (almost taking out the stupid "Subway eat fresh" logo). That's the epitome of the Sabres offense this season...they just can't finish.

I know it's taboo to mention Chris Drury or Daniel Briere (Eye roll, I know), but one of these current Sabres needs to look in the mirror and say, "Hey, I'm going to carry this team on my back tonight. I'm NOT going to look for someone else to make a play. I'm the top forward on this team!" When someone can do that, then I'll shut-up about the ex co-captains.

2) Man, for the Sabres sake, they better hope that the referees in the playoffs decide to swallow their whistles, because the power play has been a disaster. Is it too much to ask for the team to just set-up the power play? Hell, it's becoming a moral victory if the team can get three passes off in a row inside the offensive zone. Honestly, maybe the Sabres should consider putting Vanek on the point. Seriously, they've tried everything else and nothing seems to work.

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Terrell Owens & Ochocinco = Bad For Palmer; Patriots & Reed talk
By: Joe Pinzone

I know the big talk is that the Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco combination may end up becoming a reality with the news that the Cincinnati Bengals are interested in the former Buffalo Bills wide receiver. I know some fans will think that Owens and Ochocinco would be dominant on the field and in media sessions. I'm more than willing to say it's going to be the latter that results in domination. This isn't a knock against Owens, it's actually a knock against Carson Palmer.

The Bengals franchise quarterback hasn't been the same since 2007. In 2008, Palmer was mired in injuries and only played four games because of a partially torn ligament and tendon in his elbow. Palmer decided to elect NOT to have Tommy John surgery (Which ISN'T a good surgery for a quarterback to have), instead, he choose to rest the injury to allow it to heal.

Last year, Palmer played OK, throwing for 21 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Yes, those numbers seem fine, but considering the three years prior to his injury plagued 2008 season, Palmer regressed (Palmer had 86 touchdown passes from 2005-2007). He also barley got over the 3,000 yard mark after playing all 16 games last year. I know all of this because he was on my fantasy football team and cost me major dough!

Palmer really struggled down the stretch with the Bengals and had a very poor playoff showing against the Jets. If Palmer gets Owens and Ochocinco on his team together, you can definitely put the quarterback in the same discussion as one of the players with the most pressure going into next season. All I'm saying is that this move would have been a slam dunk if it took place three years ago. Now...It's going to be a very contested lay-up. I hope for Palmer's sake he gets back to his previous numbers or Owens and Ochocinco will eat him alive.

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Profootballtalk is reporting that Josh Reed is set to visit the New England Patriots on Sunday. Josh Reed signing with the Patriots would be like peanut butter and jelly. I use to always tell my friends that Reed reminded me of Wes Welker with his size and route running ability. Say what you will about Reed, but if he's in an offense that relies on the slot position, he can be a huge asset.

Mark my words, if Wes Welker isn't 100% from his torn ACL and MCL injury, Josh Reed will catch 10 balls a game. Reed fits in perfectly with what the Patriots offense needs out of their slot receiver. Even when Welker went down, unknown wide receiver Julian Edelman was able to pick up where Welker left off. The rookie wide receiver caught 16 passes for three touchdowns in just two games. If I'm Josh, I would jump at the opportunity to sign a 1-year deal with the Patriots for whatever amount of money they'd pay him. If he catches 10 balls a game, he'll more than likely double his status as a free agent in 2011.

Read more of Joe at >Joe in NYC

Buffalo Bills: NFL Draft; Best Bills Draft Picks from '67 - '09
By Lacey Severins

Last year, 39 million people tuned in to watch the 2009 NFL Draft. The event aired the weekend of April 25th and 26th on ESPN, ESPN2 and the NFL Network. Apparently, the ten-plus hours of coverage each day was simply not enough, and the 2010 draft is expanding its schedule. Starting at 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday, April 22, the first round will be televised, followed with the second and third rounds Friday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m. ET and rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 24 at 10 a.m. ET.

The 75th NFL Draft’s prime time debut is set to generate greater viewership, “Moving the first round to prime time on Thursday night will make the first round of the draft available to fans on what is typically the most-watched night of television," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said.

So, with the new schedule in place, there will obviously be more time to debate and argue the results. But after a few hours of booing and criticizing, and ultimately realizing that you can’t change the outcome (even though you know that you could have drafted better than the owners), why not take a much needed breather. Figure this as the next topic of conversation: who were the best value draft players in Buffalo Bills history? Hopefully this will distract you from the present debacles that happened this year and will rile up some interest and spark controversial discussions that you might win, since after all, it’s all opinion based and I’m just adding fuel to the fire:

The guidelines that I followed for selecting the players were:

- Longevity and productivity all while playing for the Buffalo Bills. What I mean is that a player that was drafted by the Bills and then traded who went on to have a good career will not be a possible candidate for the Best Value Draft Player. Take Gary Anderson who was given every opportunity to become the starting kicker for the Bills in 1982 but just didn’t have the pop in preseason and was released before the start of regular season ball. He was later picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers in ’82 and went on to have a successful 23-year career with five teams; notably, Anderson had a perfect season in 1998 when hitting 59 of 59 extra point attempts and making all 35 field goals he kicked that season.
- Round in which a player was drafted. Say a player picked in the tenth round does not go on to be stud, well that’s certainly not an anomaly or gut-wrenching shock. So, Richard Tharpe in 1983 as the 11th rounder for the Bills going on to play three games in one season, does not qualify for best value draft player (stunning, I know). But, how about Al Edwards? Drafted in 1990, Edwards played three seasons with Buffalo, started five games and pulled in 26 receptions, not too awful for someone from Northwestern State-Louisiana, picked in the 11th, right?
- Since the Bills joined the NFL in 1967. In 1960 when the Bills had their first draft, they were members of the AFL and had 30 rounds (although it should be mentioned that each round had eight slots, roughly translating to a modern day draft). Seven years later Buffalo joined the NFL in addition to the other seven AFL teams and a 17 round system was implemented. Here is where the search for the best value draft player beings, 1967 through 2009:

Rounds 17 through 13 weren’t exactly a hot bed of sprouting talent and promising prospects. During the ten year stretch from ’67 to ’77, Buffalo had just one player that lasted more than three years, good old Merv Krakau: 1973-1977, 13th round pick, 344 overall. But hey, one guy out of 50 guys isn’t that bad, right? Sure. We move on:

In 1977, the NFL cut into the draft, slicing it down from 17 to 12 rounds. By doing so, the amount of players drafted decreased and the quality of draftees ubiquitously increased. In keeping consistent with the guidelines, I riffled through rounds 12 through one, and found thirty or so draft picks that came out of left field and really had some quality seasons with the Bills. Let’s start with the 12th round:

- Charles Romes: The 309th player selected in 1977, he played 10 seasons with Buffalo, started 137 of the 156 games in his career and wracked up 27 interceptions. Compare him to Phil Dokes, who? Oh, Phil Cokes-you mean the first round pick for Buffalo, 12th overall in 1977. Well, he did play for two whole years...
- Round 11: I mentioned Al Edwards before, a serviceable player for three years, but he’s not the guy I want to focus on. In 1987, the Bills picked up Howard Ballard with the 283rd selection. All Ballard went on to do was play six seasons with Buffalo, starting 80 games and being named to the Pro-Bowl in ’92 and ’93.
- Round 10: 1978 brought Will Grant to Buffalo. In nine years with the Bills, Grant started 89 games of 122. For a 255th overall pick, that’s a career with some decent value.
- Round 9: In 1981, Robb Riddick was selected 241st. Although he had a rather short six year career, he had a few shinning moments with Buffalo. Riddick had a solid 1986 season, starting eight games; rushing for 632 with a 4.2 y/a and bringing in 49 catches for 468 yards. In 1988, he rushed for 12 touch downs, good for fourth best in the league that year. Then there’s Keith McKeller, who was selected with the 227th overall pick. McKeller started in 45 of 80 games in seven years with Buffalo, and interestingly enough, had the renowned “K-Gun” offense named after him and not the Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly who ran the no-huddle system in the early 90s.
- Round 8: One decent draftee that didn’t end up a dud was 1990’s 208th Marvcus Patton. Starting his 13-year career with Buffalo, Patton played five seasons with the Bills and started in 38 of 80 games. The linebacker did play during the Bills Super Bowl stretch seasons; from ’93-’94, Patton was the starting MILB, making over eighty percent of his starts in just those two seasons. On to Jeff Wright, the mighty nose tackle for Buffalo. In 1988 with the 213th pick, the Bills got Wright, he played seven seasons for Buffalo and started 67 of 98 games and recorded 31.5 sacks in his time in the NFL. Wright, like Patton, played during the high light years for Buffalo during the early ‘90s.
- Round 7: For some reason, this round cranked out a fair amount of above average players:

- 1996: Jay Riemersma--The tight end started 65 games for Buffalo during his six year career here, pulling in just over 2300 yards and 20 touchdowns. Recently, Riemersma is making headlines for his political campaign, running for the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican in Michigan’s 2nd congressional district.
- 1992: Kurt Schulz: In eight years with Buffalo, the gritty safety started 71 of 107 games. He wracked up 21 interceptions as a Bill, and had six picks in both the ’95 and ’98 seasons.
- 1986: Mark Pike: A twelve year career is typically one that belongs to a first round pick, but how about Pike then? He was selected 178th overall, but managed a solid 12 seasons with Buffalo. He also has the honor of having the most special teams tackles in Bills history.

- Round 6: Going way back to 1973, the Bills picked up John Skorupan 136th overall. He played five years with Buffalo, starting 34 of 50 games. He was named to the NFL ALL Rookie Team. Skipping ahead three plus decades to 2006, Keith Ellison was drafted with the 178th pick overall. Although suffering an injury in his young career mid way through the 2009 season, Ellison has a promising future if he can bounce back for 2010. Prior to the quad pull that sidelined him, Ellison had started 30 of 42 games and had a sack in his freshman and sophomore seasons.
- Round 5: In 2005 Kyle Williams was selected in the 134th spot and was actually Buffalo’s first pick. Four years into his career Williams has eight sacks in 61 games he has played in. The other fifth rounder that deserves a nod is John Holecek. The 144th pick of the 1995 draft, he played five seasons with Buffalo, started 51 of 58 games, recorded 2.5 sacks and had two interceptions. Sort of a blase round for Buffalo, but, hey that’s what the next four are for.
- Round 4: I’m just going to get this guy right out of the way. Coming out of Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Andre Reed was the 86th pick in the 1985 draft. He played in 15 seasons with Buffalo, was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and had over 13,000 receiving yards in his career. The beloved Buffalo Bill is beyond quality, he was a star player that rarely comes along and is more than likely a future Hall of Famer.

It’s probably more than fair to assume Reed was the best fourth round draft pick by the Bills, but here is a few other guys that did alright for themselves too:

- Lucius Sanford: Picked up in the 1978 draft, Sanford started 108 games for Buffalo in a nine year career as a Bill. Although he was not a shinning star with countless accolades, the hard nosed play from the linebacker certainly makes him a quality draft pick.
- Leon Seals Jr.: Drafted 109th overall, the tough defensive end played five seasons with Buffalo and started 38 of 78 games. Although his career was fairly short, he did manage to record 14.5 sacks.
- Round 3: Alright, honestly, there are a lot of good players to come from this round. So, I’m going to do a 3 for 3 list and call it quits after that:

1. Don Beebe: When Beebe played for Buffalo, he was there for the four Super Bowl runs and acted as a nice wide out option behind Reed. He had 164 receptions during his six years with the Bills and was the consummate hustler. Beebe might be most adulated by Bills fans for causing Dallas Cowboys Leon Lett to fumble by knocking the ball out of his hands at the goal line in the 1993 Super Bowl.
2. Joe Ferguson: Before Jim there was Joe, the quarterback of the Buffalo Bills from 1973-1984. During his career in Western New York, he was in the top 10 in passing yards and passing touchdowns four times, and at one point in his career, started 107 consecutive games. Ferguson went on to play in a total of 163 games and wrack up more than 27,000 passing yards in his years with the Bills.
3. Frank Reich: I hate to go with another quarterback but Reich did lead the greatest comeback in NFL history (college too, Fear the Terps). As a backup to Jim Kelly for nine seasons, Reich started just eight games. But, one of those starts came with Kelly sidelined on January 3rd, 1993. I’m sure Bills and NFL fans alike know the game well: Buffalo down 35-3 going into the second half against the Houston Oilers, Reich led the Bills to a 41-38 overtime victory, the largest comeback in the history of the NFL. I think this event alone makes him a good choice for a quality draft pick, and, to boot, he was at the helm when Buffalo beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the division title game in ’93 to get them back to the Super Bowl.

- Round 2: It would be ridiculous to list all the “quality” players that the Bills drafted in the second round. Being right after the first and assumedly more than 32 outstanding players to choice from, certainly some big time players fall into the 33-65 positions or round two. So, I figure listing two excellent players would be alright to do:

1. Thurman Thomas: I almost feel that it would be a serious insult to any fan if I did not mention him. Of course Thurman is a quality player, this is not shocking and the only reason he dropped into this round is because of a knee injury he sustained at Oklahoma St. before the draft in 1988. Really, lucky for the Bills who picked him at the 40th spot and ran with him all the way to a Hall of Fame career.
2. Darryl Talley: Speaking of a quality player that exhibited productivity and longevity throughout his entire career with Buffalo, Talley’s 12 years with the Bills were remarkable. He never missed a game, starting 160 of 188; had 38.5 sacks; was a two time Pro Bowl selection in ’90 and ’91; is Buffalo’s all-time tackles leader with 1,137; and had 11 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

- The Last and Final Round, 1: I figured that it would be trite and unimaginative to point out the obligatory greats in the first round, Kelly, Bruce, Simpson etc., so, why not go the opposite direction and take a look at the absolute worst, that were supposed to be the best:
- These next players might be a clear indication why the Bills had a rough go at finding success in the 1970s: Buffalo began the era with Al Cowlings. Hm, I think Cowlings might have found more notoriety off the field than on, he was, after all, he was driving O.J. Simpson around L.A. in a sporty white Ford Bronco in what is potentially the slowest police chase in the history of automobiles as forms of getaways. But for a moment consider his career with Buffalo: The overall five pick, Cowlings never started a game for the Bills and was let go after three seasons.
- In 1975, Tom Ruud was picked 19th overall and in the three years he was with the Bills, he at least started three games...more than Cowlings can say.
- Then there is good old Tom Cousineau in 1979 that as the number one pick never played for the Bills since he felt that they were rude to him. Okay, so he went up to Canada, played for the Montreal Alouettes, came back to the NFL to play with Cleveland, then went to San Francisco. One interesting tid-bit on Cousineau though, when he reentered the NFL, the Bills still had the rights to him and traded him to the Browns for a first round draft pick, which led Buffalo to eventually picking up Jim Kelly.
- Walt Patulski, for all the success that he had during his playing days at Notre Dame; winning the Lombardi Award as the best collegiate lineman; Heisman candidate and All-American awards, he never amounted to all the hype that followed him into the 1972 draft. Patulski had four serviceable seasons with Buffalo, but was traded to the Cardinals for a second round pick. Not exactly what you’re hoping for in a number one overall selection.

Don't Ask Don't Tell; Gays Serving In The Military
Gays Serving In The Military
By: Karen Lewis

I have not served in the military but the military lifestyle is something that I know very well. I was the wife of a Marine for 16 years, I was the "significant other" of a Marine for five (5) years and my son is currently serving in the Marine Corps.
I can only speak for myself, now as a mom, that I don't care who someone is involved with personally as long as they have my son's back.

I would hate to think that my son is brave enough to defend our freedom against terrorists who have no regard towards human life but would be "afraid" to serve with a gay Marine.

It's ironic that the military defends our rights which includes freedom of speech yet doesn't allow their own members to speak of their sexual preference! It was once thought that the alternative lifestyle could be used to blackmail a military member and jeopardize security. Couldn't the same be said of a Marine who is involved in domestic violence or child abuse? Is that a "don't ask, don't tell" issue as well!?
Please do not say that domestic violence or child abuse does not occur in the military. I was serving on a base task force that dealt with these issues so I know of which I speak.

So, feel free to say that you abuse your spouse or your child but hold your tongue if you are a loving partner to someone of the same sex!

If I Were Buffalo Bills GM Part VI: The Draft
Well, we are coming down the stretch for reshaping the Buffalo Bills roster. Free agency is over and done with. The undersized defensive players are in different uniforms. Trent Edwards is flipping burgers or playing in the CFL. The waste has been wasted. In the process, I've been able to bring in some new blood to the team via free agency. I have to say, it has really been fun being the Buffalo Bills GM for the last two weeks.

But now we are at the crown jewel of my rebuilding project...The NFL Draft. Everyone knows the back stories of how important the NFL Draft has become. It's without question more important today than what it was 25 years ago. We all know the history of Tom Brady and Mike Williams. We know the history of Whitner over Ngata. We know the history of Bruce Smith over Doug Flute. Yada, yada, yada. We all know that in order to make NFL history it has to start at the draft.

However, I have a little confession to make; I hate the NFL Draft. I just can't stand how everyone grades a team's picks even before they sign their contracts. I also think it's the most over hyped TV event in sports history. For the most part, the majority of your draft picks aren't going to put you over the following year.

I could never understand the need for the combine or measuring your verticals. Hell, I think the combine was invented so the NFL Network could have programming in February. Then to top it off, you have all these draft prognosticators, who for the most part have never had a scouting job in NFL. And if you want to see some of their draft boards, you are going to have to pay to read it (ESPN Insider).

OK, that concludes my rant of the day.

Now, even though the draft can be a little bit of overkill for the build-up, I'm in total agreement that it sets the foundation for your team. I'm not here to tell you whether I think Jimmy Clausen or Bryan Buluga are going to be busts or not. No one really knows, which makes the draft nothing more than a crap shoot. However, the way I'm going to draft players is by finding the best player available. Not exactly Brain surgery, right?

Here's a quick recap about the picks I have: (If your wondering where I got all these picks please read my past articles in this series)

1.) 9th Pick (Bills first round pick)
2.) 25th Pick (Ravens first round pick from the Lee Evans Trade)
3.) 41st Pick (Bills 2nd round pick)
4.) 51st Pick (Texans 2nd round pick from the Aaron Schobel Trade)
5.) 72nd Pick (Bills 3rd round pick)
6.) 91st Pick (Chargers 3rd round pick from the Marshawn Lynch Trade)
7.) 94th Pick (Colts 3rd round pick from the Kyle Williams Trade)
8.) 100th Pick (Redskins 4th round pick from the Whitner and Parrish Trade)
9.) 135th Pick (Bills 5th round pick)
10.) 167th Pick (Bills 6th round pick
11.) 181st Pick (Eagles 6th round pick from the Jason Peters Trade)
12.) 192nd Pick (Lions 7th round pick from the Ko Simpson Trade)
13.) 194th Pick (Redskins 7th round pick from the Whitner and Parrish Trade)
14.) 199th Pick (Bills 7th round pick)

DAM! 14 picks!? I have my work cutout. Maybe I should outsource these picks to the draft experts that I just bad mouthed. Now
In the past, I would normally grade drafts on how the team fills their needs with the mindset that all the players picked would eventually contribute to the team. So, I would hope when you grade my draft, you can use that rhetoric when judging it.

Now, I don't know what's going to happen with prospects between now and April. Tim Tebow's new throwing release could make him into a 1st ballot HOF. Dez Bryant could run 4.99 in the 40 and blame it on the turf (like Malcom Kelly did 2 years ago). Terrence Cody could pull a Pizza the Hut and eat himself alive.

I'm sure by the time the draft comes around the corner, the big board will be totally different. So for now, I'm going to pretend the draft is happening today.

So without further adieu. Welcome to the 2010 NFL Draft... Buffalo Bills edition.

With the 9th pick in the first round, the Buffalo Bills select Anthony Davis, Left tackle from Rutgers.
Look, I could have easily given the card to the commissioner that read "The Bills select the best tackle available." It's a forgone conclusion that the Bills are desperate for a tackle.

Davis is a beast at 6'5 and 325lbs. He's a tremendous pass blocking left tackle with outstanding size and growth potential. He Possesses great footwork and the ability to slide laterally off the edge. He also covers a lot of area on the field and effective blocking in motion. (CBS Sports)

Remember all those games we saw last year, where a running back would get hit by two defenders a second after the hand-off? I'm done with seeing that sort of non-sense. Davis has massive wingspan, and his lower body is built for leverage. That sounds like the type of guy who can pave the way for my 1,400 yard rusher.

Now, Davis does have some issues. In 2008, Davis violated team policy and was suspended for one game. This past season, Davis was benched for the first quarter against Army after reporting late to a team function earlier that week. His weight has also been scrutinized after he was demoted for the first six days of training camp this past summer for reporting overweight.

Now, before you all go out and scream, "You idiot! Don't you remember Mike Williams?" Realize that I'm not drafting with the memories of the Bills crappy draft picks. I don't care if there's a good player out there whose from the University of Texas and his initials are T.O.-If he can play, he's coming here. Davis by all accounts can play and there have been players who have been able to grow up after college.

Now if Davis is drafted by the time the Bills pick, I'd select Bryan Buluga or Trent Williams.

With the 25th pick in the NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select Jared Odrik, Defensive end from Penn State.
Odrik is an explosive interior blocker that's constantly making plays behind the line of scrimmage. More importantly, he can play defensive end in a 3-4. He has the quickness that demands immediate attention from blockers, and he can follow up with a persistent bull rush. He is not agile but used his big, strong hands to control blockers but might need to learn more tricks to remain consistently successful. (CBS Sports)

Look, if nose tackle Dan Williams is available at this spot, I'm running up to the commissioner with his name. But more than likely, Williams is going to be gone by the 25th pick. Now, I definitely would love to add a legit 3-4 nose tackle here. However, Terrence Cody, who many feel is someone the Bills should make a run at in the second round; is a bit of a reach at the 25th pick.

As for Odrik, I think it would be an ideal situation for the Bills to have him play spot duty behind Marcus Stroud and Marcus Spears. Stroud is in the twilight of his career, and probably won't be living up to his high salary after next year. Odrik would be a legit player to come in and be the heir apparent to Stroud. Since Schobel and Kelsay are gone, the Bills need players that are going to be able to rush the passer. My hope is that Odrik can be that pass rusher the Bills can count on for the next ten years.

The Buffalo Bills have traded the rights of their 51st and 94th picks to the New York Jets for the rights to the 29h pick. The Bills select Golden Tate, Wide receiver, Notre Dame
OK, I know what you're thinking. "Joe, why on earth would you trade Lee Evans only to draft a wide receiver in the first round." It's because I firmly believe in trying to build the Bills offense around a younger core. Like I've said before, the Bills are 3-4 years away from doing serious damage and by that time, Evans will more than likely be gone. I happen to really like Golden Tate because he's a diverse talent that can play in the slot or on the outside. He's a good route runner and from what I've heard, an even better team leader.

He's played in a pro style offense, and won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver after covering 1,496 yards and scoring 15 times on his 93 receptions. He also carried the ball 25 times for 186 yards and two scores; and returned 12 punts for 171 yards and another score.

The best part about Tate is that he can break tackles and isn't afraid to go over the middle. I think the Bills have missed that dynamic over the last couple of years. I firmly believe if Hardy can meet his expectations, he and Tate could make a very complimentary receiving pair for the next 10 years. Plus, don't forget that I still have Chris Chambers and Benjamin Watson to throw the ball to.

As for why the Jets would want to trade for additional picks, the Jets have only four picks for the entire draft, none from rounds 3-5. (Yes, you may not like the reason, but deals like those have worked)

With the 41st pick in the NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select, Terrence Cody, Nose Tackle, University of Alabama.
Cody is one of the few highly touted legit nose tackles in the draft. Cody is massive at 6'5, 360lbs. His stats aren't going to overwhelm you, but his massive size should result in constant double teams that will only make his fellow lineman and linebackers play much better.

Now, there are some issues about Cody. For one, he's um... kind of big boned, which has a lot of the scouts in the NFL nervous. He doesn't penetrate really well and isn't the type of player whose going to be chasing down Mike Vick, let alone Tom Brady. Now, it should be noted that he lost 16lbs between the Senior Bowl and the Combine, which proves that he's willing to do his best to lose weight. I desperately need a NT and Cody is the best available option at this point.

With the the 72nd pick in the NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select Dan LeFevour, Quarterback, University of Central Michigan
Dan LeFevour has all the tools to be a very effective NFL quarterback. He has size at 6'3 and 229lbs. But don't let his size fool you, because he's a quarterback that can run. During his career at Central Michigan, LeFevour put up some mind-numbing numbers. He is the all-time NCAA leader with 149 touchdowns in his career. He's also second in all-time career yardage leader with 15,898 yards. Besides the stats, LeFouver is a pure athlete. Prior to becoming a quarterback, he was actually a tailback his freshman year of high school, but injuries forced him to take a crack at being a quarterback. Smart move.

With the 91st pick in the NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select Jason Fox, Tackle, University of Miami
Pass blocking: At least moderate initial quickness, but is inconsistent with his depth on his initial kick-step. May lack the elite lateral quickness and balance to remain at left tackle in the pros. Appears to have the agility to beat the defender to the edge, but too often stops moving his feet and is susceptible to pass-rushers with a second move. Quick, active hands that he uses well to control the defender when he keeps his feet moving.

Run blocking: More consistent with his quickness as a run blocker. Can get out and hook the defensive end to seal the edge. Strong enough to turn his opponent, but isn't a road grader that can consistently drive his opponent off the ball. Quick hands, but has only marginal upper-body strength and hand placement to sustain. (CBSSports.com)

As of now, I'm penciling in Demetrius Bell as my starting right tackle (Yes, I'm moving him from LT), but would be open to Fox having a legit shot at the job in camp.

With the 100th pick in 2010 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select Sean Lee, Inside linebacker, Penn State.
Lee was at one time a dominant linebacker for Penn State. It was only two years ago that he was being touted as the best linebacker the university had produced in the last five years. Unfortunately for Lee, he tore his knee ligament in the summer of 2008 and was out for the season.

Upon returning, Lee didn't play as well as he did in 2007, when he finished 2nd team all Big Ten, and second on the team with 138 tackles. Lee also has an Outback Bowl MVP on his resume from 2007. Lee has to convince scouts he has NFL-caliber speed and strength. However, the scouts do love his toughness and intelligence.

If Lee can return to what he was prior to his injury, I think he and Paul Posluzny could make for a decent inside linebacker pairing for the years to come. Plus, he'll be able to learn behind Larry Foote his first season, so there won't be a rush to get him on the field.

With the 135th pick in the NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select Sam Young, Left Tackle, Notre Dame.
Great things were expected from the Parade All-American from Florida when he came to South Bend, but being the first true freshman ever to start on Notre Dame's offensive line opening weekend was truly a fine accomplishment (first-year players were eligible to play immediately starting in 1972).

All Young has done since is start every game for the Irish. He lined up at right tackle for the first 16 games, then moved to left tackle for 10 contests in 2007 before moving back to the right side for the last two seasons. In 2009, Young helped the Irish become one of the most prolific offenses in the country, rolling up more than 450 yards per game. Though not considered one of the more athletic tackles in the 2010 draft, Young's size, strength and pedigree are likely to land him a spot in the middle rounds and give him the potential to have a long NFL career. (CBSSports.com)

As you can tell, I'm not messing around with the offensive line when it comes to the draft. Young could be a diamond in the rough because the entire offensive line for the Irish was a disaster the last couple of years. Plus, he's use to playing in a pro style offense, which should help his transition to the NFL. My plan is to have either Young or Fox compete for the starting right tackle job with Bell.

With the 167th Pick in the NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select Adrian Tracey, Outside linebacker, William & Mary
Honored by five organizations as an All-American in 2009, Tracy established himself as one of the nation's top defensive players and recently competed in the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Game. A With 12 sacks, he equaled the single-season school record established by Luke Cullinane in 1996. Additionally, Tracy ranked sixth in the conference in tackles among defensive linemen with 5.6 per game. His 62.5 tackles for a loss led the nation among all active players, while he ranked third with 31 career sacks - a W&M record. He also started every game of his career (47) en route to establishing a school record. (CBSsports.com)

Tracey played defensive end in college, but his size and shape would be more ideal as an outside linebacker in the pros. He had a pretty good workout at the combine, running in the 4.6-second range in the 40. More importantly, Tracey looked terrific in coverage when working on linebacker drills especially in pass coverage.

Tracey would be the back-up to outside linebacker Kawika Mitchell (Yes, I know..the Bills said he may play inside). If Poz or Foote go down with an injury, I'd be able to move Mitchell to the inside and have Coleman play on the outside.

With the 181st pick of the NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select Antonio Brown, Wide receiver, Central Michigan
Brown finished his career with 305 receptions for 3,199 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also rushed for four touchdowns and returned three punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns during his career. Brown is CMU's all-time leader in receptions and ranks second in Mid-American Conference history.

He is third in school history in receiving yards and second in touchdown receptions. Brown was the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year in both 2008 and 2009. He was named MAC Freshman of the Year in 2007. Brown caught 102 passes for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns in 2007. In 2008, he caught 93 passes for 998 yards and seven touchdowns. Brown finished 2009 with a school-record 110 receptions for 1,198 yards and nine touchdowns.
(CBSSports.com)

In keeping up with selecting duos from the same college, Brown presents a valuable option on special teams for returning kicks for the Bills. Plus, he and LeFevour had great chemistry in college, which should only help the duo develop in the pros. He would be my 5th wide receiver going into training camp.

With the 192nd pick in the NFL Draft, The Buffalo Bills select Al Woods, NT, LSU.
Woods is a hard-working player who should be able to make the transition to NT in the NFL. Woods is blessed with great size and he can also run under 5.1 in the 40-yard dash, a pretty decent clip for a man of his physical stature. He can be effective against both the run and the pass. However, Woods has been battling injuries and is coming off a not so hot year at LSU.

With the 194th pick, the Buffalo Bills select Dedrick Epps, Tight end, University of Miami
Athletic tight end that flashes skills in blocking and catching. Needs to play at a consistently high level but has an upside. Epps plays with a nasty edge and should be a decent third tight end behind Nelson and Watson. The biggest concern is that Epps is coming a ACL injury, but should be good to go by the summer.

And finally, with the 199th pick the NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select Antonio Coleman, OLB, Auburn.
After serving in a backup role in 2006, Coleman developed into one of the SEC's most feared pass-rushers in '07 and '08, earning all-conference accolades both seasons and posting a combined 29 tackles for loss and 15 sacks.

Coleman started off slow as a senior, partially tearing a ligament in his wrist that required a cast on his right hand and made it difficult for him to fight through blocks. Once the cast was removed, however, Coleman was a terror -- posting 7.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss over his final seven games, including the Outback Bowl victory over Northwestern. Despite his slow start, Coleman led the SEC in tackles for loss (16.5) and sacks (10) in 2009 (CBSSports.com)

Size is the biggest question mark for Coleman, as some scouts see him as a tweener. He definitely has a good motor and athletic skills, which should be good for special teams. He's also one tough SOB, as he played part of his senior year with torn ligaments in his wrist.

Lets recap the draft:

1.) 9th Pick- Anthony Davis (Left Tackle)
2.) 25th Pick-Jared Odrik (Defensive End)
3.) 28th Pick-Golden Tate (Wide Receiver)
4.) 41st Pick- Terrence Cody (Nose Tackle)
5.) 72nd Pick-Dan LeFevour** (Quarterback)
6.) 91st Pick-Jason Fox** (Tackle)
7.) 100th Pick-Sean Lee** (Inside Linebacker)
8.) 135th Pick-Sam Young (Tackle)
9.) 167th Pick-Adrian Tracey (Outside Linebacker)
11.) 181st Pick-Antonio Brown (Wide Receiver)
12.) 192nd Pick-Al Woods (Nose Tackle)
13.) 194th Pick-Dedrick Epps** (Tight End)
14.) 199th Pick-Antonio Coleman (Outside Linebacker)

**Picks wouldn't take place if Kevin Kolb is on the team** (read previous articles)

That's it for the draft!!! Wow, that was a lot tougher than I thought. I'll come back with an updated post on what My version of the 2010 Buffalo Bills will look like...It will be a quick post.

Feel free to comment on my picks.

Connolly almost gives away game, but comes back with OT winner
By Mike Haim

With the Buffalo Sabres in the throes of an extended funk, the last thing they needed was for one of their go-to players to give away yet another game.

It nearly happened Friday night, as Tim Connolly made a heinous pass at his own blue line midway through the third period. The resulting turnover was converted by Mike Richards into a breakaway goal which put the Philadelphia Flyers up 2-1.

But this wasn’t going to be like those other nights.

Adam Mair scored the equalizer with 5:58 to play and Connolly netted the winner with 2:29 remaining in overtime, giving the Sabres a 3-2 win to move them back into first place in the Northeast Division despite recording just their fourth win in 16 games.

“Whenever you’re on a little bit of a lull, it seems like it’s harder to crawl out and get those wins,” Mair said. “Bounces seem to go against you. We were able to find a way after being down 2-1 in the third. That was a big turnaround for us.”

Connolly’s winner developed after Raffi Torres – making his Sabres debut - got the puck up the left wing to Toni Lydman, whose point shot was kicked away by Flyers goalie Michael Leighton but directly to Connolly in the slot.

“He actually fanned on the puck, trying to go high,” Leighton explained. “He kind of flubbed it into the net.”

“I tried to throw it at the net and hope for a bounce,” Lydman said. “This time, the bounce happened to be perfect. (Connolly) did a great job burying that.”

And just like that, the Sabres established some distance between themselves and the Flyers, who rank sixth in the Eastern Conference race. Buffalo leapfrogged from fifth to third because of their division lead and increased their lead over Philly to seven points.

The win was sweet vindication for Connolly.

“When I got back to the bench (after the bad pass), a lot of the guys told me not to worry about it,” Connolly said. “(They said) we’ll get one back. Mairsy was able to get one back quick, and that gives you a little boost.”

“He came back and focused on his next shift and ended up winning the game for us,” Mair said. “A lot of guys would have hung their head. He went out and rebounded, played his best.”

The first period was rather exciting, featuring 25 shots (15 by Buffalo) but no goals. The scoreboard finally got an update 4:01 into the second, when Philly’s Simon Gagne took a pass from Lukas Krajicek and got just enough momentum off his stick to trickle the puck past Sabres goalie Ryan Miller.

A couple of minutes later, Thomas Vanek got the equalizer after Leighton misplayed the puck in his own end. Vanek recovered the loose puck in the left corner and, with Leighton scrambling back to the net, fired a shot off the hapless goalie. The point was the 300th of Vanek’s career.

………

The win ended Philadelphia’s four-game winning streak at HSBC Arena. The Sabres last win at home in the series was also a 3-2 decision on Dec. 21, 2007.

………

Forward Drew Stafford suffered a first-period groin injury and will be evaluated before it’s determined how any games he’ll miss.

“It looks like he’s going to miss some time,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “We’ll wait until we get what the doctors come up with. If he’s going to miss some time, we’re going to need somebody (from AHL Portland).”

………

Torres started for the Sabres on a line along with Jochen Hecht and Mike Grier but spent most shifts with Derek Roy and Jason Pominville.

However, due to Stafford’s injury and Tim Kennedy playing limited time after becoming ill before the game, Torres was matched with at least six different forward combinations.

“He maybe tried to do a little too much at times,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “He was in on the winning goal, which was important for us. It’s going to take time. I don’t think that’s an easy one to step in right away. … He’s got to get used to the system.”

With the overtime assist, Torres extended his point streak to six games to match his career-high set early in the 2005-06 season with Edmonton.

………

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