Fire Bucky Gleason

Oh my god have you seen the latest pile of crap from Bucky Gleason this morning?

Usually I ignore Bucky, because he's a hack, and everyone knows it, why do you think you don't see him that much. I swear, bad earnings and his butt is canned. He's first on the chopping block. He does nothing else but editorials and in this age are completely useless. But this one got me going to the point I had to FJM style this one. In honor of the beloved former website.

In case you didn’t hear, J. P. Losman is down to his final month with the Buffalo Bills. In the old days, saying goodbye to a former first-round pick would be grounds for intense scrutiny of the scouting department. These days, it’s viewed as another welcome step removed from the Tom Donahoe era.

Yes I knew that, and its no big deal, hes a terrible QB.

Not that anybody cares, either, considering their other issues. Less than a month after the playoffs looked like a gimme, the Bills are in utter disarray. The passing game is a mess, the play calling atrocious, game management laughable, leadership invisible. The proverbial firing squad has assembled along One Bills Drive, waiting for Dick Jauron.

Ok, and? Just filling space?

Five losses in six games can do a number on a team, making Sunday’s game against Miami in Toronto less a celebration and more a resuscitation. Regardless of whether Jauron has a contract extension, bringing him back will be the toughest of sells unless the Bills survive four weeks without CPR.

It would be if they finish 7-9 again, but 10-6 and 9-7 is an improvement, and no one had them in the playoffs anyway. Winning 4 games in a row isn't out of the question, they did it before.

And that’s where Losman, strange as it sounds, is capable of making a difference. It would mean Jauron coming to his senses and shortening the leash on Trent Edwards with the idea Losman deserves another chance. Hold off on your “Subject: stick to hockey” e-mails because it’s no crazier than maintaining status quo.

Uh-oh, don't go there Bucky.

A change was in order weeks ago, when it became apparent that Edwards was shaky after being knocked for a loop. Nobody knows for sure if he was suffering from concussion-related problems, but the guy wasn’t the same. He wasn’t seeing the field. He wasn’t making simple throws. He wasn’t doing anything Losman couldn’t do.

Well against San Diego and Kansas City he was fine, otherwise, the whole team was terrible in most of the others games, so do they all have Concussions? And in Cleveland he got the team in scoring position and game back from a terrible start. His kicker blew that one.

And the Bills were losing. While it became chic for fans and media to hail Edwards as a winner who excelled at game management and rip Losman as a bust and loose cannon, they never grasped marginal differences. Each is 7-9 in his last 16 starts. Edwards is just as capable of managing losses as Losman is of managing wins.

Uh?

Losman has completed 59.5 percent of his passes in his career and thrown 32 touchdown passes and 30 interceptions. Edwards has completed 61.6 percent while throwing 17 TDs and 18 INTs.

Well one is a more experienced QB with terrible competition rate, the other is still learning and will take to next year to fully judge him. The book is in on JP, he's not that good and has one throw.

Let’s be honest, Jauron has little to lose with a change at this point, other than four games and his job. Who knows, maybe Losman would beat Miami this week and gain momentum. At the very least, Losman would inject emotion into a passionless Bills team and give the Dolphins an unexpected twist.

Um sure, he has little to lose other then being unemployed in a recession. He's not going to get another head coaching job, and maybe never another coaching job at any level. He has his future to lose. MaybeJP would or maybe he'd throw a horrible interception and cost his team a sure win. Um did he inject any emotion into the team last week? Or in Arizona? When I think JP Losman, I don't think of him injecting passion into a team. You know why? Because they don't believe in him. You can tell. That may have been the worst paragraph Bucky has ever written.

The fact Jauron acknowledged the other day that he never considered switching quarterbacks this year should be an insult to every sucker who believed that they were serious about the playoffs.

I believed they were serious about the playoffs, they ran into injuries and didn't play well. It happens. And why would they switch, Trent is their guy.

Former third pick overall Vince Young is sitting on the bench while Tennessee rides Kerry Collins to an 11-1 record. Donovan McNabb was benched this season. Brett Favre was run out of Green Bay. Derek Anderson was benched after signing a big contract. Yet Trent Edwards is an untouchable?

Ok, how is this a demonstration of who's untouchable. Vince Young got hurt and was never really good. Plus they were UNDEFEATED with Kerry Collins. Donovon McNabb has a young up an coming QB behind him, and is nearing the end of his career. Brett Favre RETIRED and then decided to come back after Green Bay moved on. Not run out. Completely false statement. Derek Anderson was a 1 year wonder, plus there was an expensive rookie behind him. Who is hurt now. None of these examples proves that that Trent Edwards is untouchable. You failed in proving an argument.

This is nothing against Edwards, who has potential to be a good one. He’s a terrific person, someone you want dating your sister. He’s intelligent, polite, accountable, says all the right things. Unfortunately, he’s been better standing at the podium than he’s been standing in the pocket for the better part of a month.

Wait, uh? He has potential to be a good one, but you want him on the sidelines? How does that make any sense whatsoever. If he has great potential, don't you want him playing? To see if thats true, rather then the known that is JP Losman. We know that JP Losman ISN'T good enough. Do we forget Jacksonville last year, or the other games. He has had one decent moment with the comeback against Houston. Thats it. Maybe the long bomb to Evans to beat the Jets last year. But guess what THATS THE ONLY PASS HE'S GOOD AT! Otherwise he fails in a West coast type system. He doesn't fit it. Trent Edwards does. AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Remember, it was Jauron who told Losman that life wasn’t fair upon handing the offense to Edwards. He doesn’t need to be fair. He needs to win.

Of course every head coach does, but hes stuck with the players he has, they don't care about winning so he's pretty much stuck. Yeah well Losman sealed his own fate.

How ironic it would be if Jauron failed to adhere to his own philosophy, wound up losing the last four games and was escorted out the door with the quarterback who could have saved his job.

Nope, that is the worst paragraph Bucky Gleason has ever written. JP Losman is not going to save Dick Jauron's job. Benching JP Losman, probably saved it last year. JP Losman isn't that good, he will not bring the Bills back. Have you ever seen him against a Patriots team and be good? Well neither has Edwards, so that doesn't say much. But come on, how could you possibly write that statement. Its ridiculous. We all know JP isn't good enough, he's a good guy, but he isn't a NFL starter. We all know that.

Write about bad play calling, or terrible time management or the lack of passion that the Bills have. But to use any of that to justify to put JP Losman in the lineup. This isn't hockey where you put the backup goalie in to fire up the guys. The QB is the show. You can't protect the net, he plays well or not, you win because of him. Putting in the backup QB does absolutely nothing a majority of the time. The guys have to trust him, and I doubt, these guys trust JP.

Seriously get rid of Bucky Gleason already Buffalo News. It may save your paper.

If Bucky Gleason was a blogger.

Don't look at me like that

Oh boy another editorial on Sabres management by a newspaper columnist in something less then the Buffalo News. Hopefully he agrees with me, good ol Bucky Gleason. Because we all know I speak the truth when it deals with the Sabres.

Numbers dispel theory the Sabres are Cheap

Wait is that supposed to be sarcastic?

It’s amazing how one resplendent mistake can mislabel an organization. Yes, the Sabres have gone techie in their scouting approach, foregoing overpriced airline tickets for a quiet night in front of the big screen. And yes, they’ve decided not to make splashy unrestricted free-agent signings, although that’s hardly proven a sure-fire recipe for success in today’s NHL (see the meager accomplishments of the Rangers and Leafs).

Again, are you trying to make sense here? I don't like where this is going.

And sure, they swapped an all-star defenseman at the trade deadline when it was obvious he wouldn’t sign at a reasonable rate.

But 5 FOR 25! 5/25! 5/25!

But truth be told, the Sabres aren’t cheap. They’ve tried to be innovative, and have indeed been frugal with free agent dollars, but just a tiny bit of number crunching shows this cheapskate reputation is unfounded.

Wait innovative? Number Crunching? You are going to use facts to prove a point? AHHHHH!!!!

Of the four teams with 19 players signed, the Sabres have the highest payroll. Their current cap hit is just over $46 million, and three teams with more players under contract have lower payrolls. Buffalo has plenty of wiggle room — about $10 million right now — but hardly so much that it’s embarrassing.

But they don't spend money on Marian Hossa and people don't want to be here, because they don't spend money on people. How can they not be cheap. Who cares how much they have spent, its how much they don't spend. His reasoning is making my head hurt!

They like Paul Gaustad’s grit and paid him accordingly. They weren’t getting enough from Dmitri Kalinin and showed him the door. They wanted another affordable, but capable defenseman, and swung a smart deal for Craig Rivet. They couldn’t get a fair offer for Maxim Afinogenov, so they’ll give him another chance.

There have not been, and have almost never been, impulse buys when it comes to the Sabres.

Expect Jason Pominville to get a long-term deal in the next few months, and Ryan Miller to follow. Miller’s will be for bigger bucks, but both are cornerstones of the future.

But what about Drury? Briere? Campbell?????? They totally didn't get anything for Kalinin. But no impulse buys shows that the Sabres aren't a real organization. How are players supposed to respect them if they don't give out ridiculous contracts to overrated players? Pominville and Miller will sign? But they are cheap.

If the Sabres felt there was a good chance they were losing Miller, they’d have scooped up McCollum, who was one of the highest players left on the board when they took Tyler Ennis with their second first-round pick. The Sabres decided against taking a goalie in all eight picks.

It’s just another sign that Regier and Quinn don’t waver from their master plan.

Master Plan? HAHAHAHAHA, to what embarrass the city of Buffalo? (High fives Jerry Sullivan)

So why do teams feel the Sabres are unreasonable?

Simple. Since they gambled and missed on Chris Drury, it snowballed into losing Danny Briere. That gave an ugly tinge to Brian Campbell’s departure, even though it wound up a shrewd maneuver.

Finally, some sense here. Its obvious the Sabres organization doesn't know what they are doing and should let ol' Bucky here take the reigns. I totally would win a bazillion cups if I were the Gm. 5/25 for everyone around!

The Sabres are in good shape in almost every regard. There’s plenty of young talent, a decent amount of cap space and expiring contracts in Afinogenov, Tim Connolly and Ales Kotalik that will only help the future landscape.

Will solid footing be enough to convince the rest of the league they’re on the right path? Tough to say.

Sometimes a few bad steps make it look like you’re always stumbling.

Wait, good shape? In every regard? What are you doing Schmitt? Trying to make the people in Buffalo trust in this organization? You are ruining years of work of mine, to try to be GM of the Sabres. Have you not read my work? Its brilliant and thats why you work at the Niagara Gazette? Who reads that?

Well time to go back to my new column on how overpaying players is going to ruin the NHL.

I take apart Bucky so you don't have to.

Once again Bucky Gleason tries to be the GM of the Sabres to put the team together for next year. Him being the smart prognosticator of salaries. Oh what did you think Derek Roy would get again? Has put out his new article on being the GM. And its not that horrible from the usual crap so, lets take a peek at the good and bad. (yes there is some good)

Actually, playing general manager for a day was an enlightening experience. It gave me new appreciation for the pressure Sabres GM Darcy Regier has been under throughout his career. General managers are in delicate positions. They need to support their players while making cold, objective assessments of them.

Really? You've covered hockey for how long now? And that came to some shock, that a manager has to evaluate and make tough decisions. LIKE EVERY BUSINESS OWNER IN THE WORLD. Once again showing newspaper people are detached from normal people.

Enough is enough with Afinogenov, who should be traded before unrestricted free agency opens July 1. Look past the flashy moves. He’s the most overrated offensive player in the league. He’s never scored more than 23 goals in a season. He has 10 goals and 23 points in 49 career playoff games. He routinely draws his linemates offside, commits way too many turnovers, isn’t dependable on defense – he was a team-worst minus-16 last season – and couldn’t lead his team in prayer. Otherwise, he’s terrific.

Mmm, I agree 100%. Good job Bucky good start to the new year. Actual fact based analysis of a player and why he needs to be shipped out, looks like bloggers are rubbing off on you Mr Gleason.

Hey, we all make mistakes. I blew it big time with Derek Roy.
My blunder last year was listing his suggested salary ($800,000) on a chart without explanation. It was based on a three-year, $3.1 million contract Jason Pominville received the previous summer. Roy, a third-line center when playing with Drury and Briere, signed a six-year deal worth $24 million as a first-liner and was worth every nickel. Now, with free agency approaching, there’s a different set of problems.

Admitting mistakes? WAHHHHHH???? Mmm, maybe Bucky has turned a new leaf on things and is being accountable and thinking things through. So what about Miller Bucky?

Miller’s contract is tricky. On one side, the Sabres need to provide evidence that they’re headed in the right direction and committed to building a winner in order to keep him. On the other, Miller must convince management that he’s worth big money.

Ok so far so good.

He was overused last season, which hurt his overall game and made many question his value. He’s a good goalie, but he’s not an elite one. Could he become a top goalie with better defensemen around him? It’s the $6 million question.

I like where this is going.

Sorry, but at this point, I have a difficult time paying Miller more than Kiprusoff and Brodeur. Plus, a long-term deal in Miller’s case would be risky for both sides.

Mmm I agree with that.

A three-year deal worth $17 million that would pay him $5.25 million the first year, $5.75 million the second year and $6 million the third would be more than fair and makes more sense. It’s still quite a boost from his $3.5 million salary for 2008-09.

Ohhhhhh, so close, yet so far away. Not in a million years would Ryan Miller agree to that. He wants 5 to 7 years at least. Settling for this as your option, ruins your whole outlook from the start. Some things don't change

If he plays well, he gets back to the bargaining table sooner and can make his case for more money. If he doesn’t, the Sabres aren’t shackled by a long-term deal built on potential. If that doesn’t work, well, there’s hardly a shortage on good goaltenders who could be had for $5 million or less.

Hey isn't that reasoning behind the Brian Campbell offer last year. WHICH WAS BLASTED BY EVERYONE, yet your giving it for Ryan Miller who is more important then a borderline All Star in Brian Campbell?

Ok moving on... to Defensemen.

Enter Brooks Orpik, an unrestricted free agent who plays with the edge Buffalo has lacked for years. Forget that Orpik was raised in East Amherst. He’s the real deal and would be ideal for the Sabres. He established himself as a solid stay-at-home defenseman during Pittsburgh’s run to the Stanley Cup finals.

Mike Commodore is a gritty player who would help lead a young dressing room and become a fan favorite. Think: Rhett Warrener’s attitude with Ronald McDonald’s Afro. He lacks mobility and offers little offensively, but he would provide more beef without breaking the bank. He made $1.3 million last season.

You want a veteran leader? Philly’s Jason Smith made $1.9 million last season and is an unrestricted free agent. You want offense? John-Michael Liles is an intriguing player who would help replace Campbell without the cost. Liles is small (5-foot- 10, 185), but he averaged 41 points over the past three seasons. He and Miller were teammates at Michigan State and remain good friends. He made $1.4 million last season.

Other then Commodore, I don't argue with his picks, though he doesn't guess the salaries, which proves problems. Well he does for Orpik, and puts together a deal that sounds right. He goes with the ok to overpay, yet its wrong for Spacek? I'm still weary on guys coming off stanley cup teams. I think next year Orpik will have a down year, but thats my opinion. Liles will come cheap, since hes small and his value has declined, plus the Miller factor. Jason Smith ain't coming here, so forget it.

Ok, what about backup goalie and forwards. This is where Bucky falls apart and just phones it in. Really just dealing with the guys on the team who are restricted? Great, but those won't be trouble cases. Gaustad, Bernier and Paille all can be had at reasonable prices. No reason to spend the most time on them. Its obvious some outside talent needs to be brought in.

There still should be enough money to sign a veteran forward, depending on how much is spent upgrading the defense. Pittsburgh’s Ryan Malone or Calgary’s Kristian Huselius could work in the budget with some creative maneuvering.

Clarence-raised workhorse Kevyn Adams made just $650,000 last season and would come cheap. He’s a leader who kills penalties and has won a Stanley Cup. Chicago gushed over his work with young players there, and he’s healthy again.

None of those guys are coming here. Adams has been a free agent for what seems every year, and never signs here? Its obvious Darcy or Kevyn doesn't want to be here. Ryan Malone will be way too expensive for his talent, and Huselius is crazy to leave Jarome Iginla. Oh then he says eh maybe start a talk about an extension for Pominville. WHAT? He is the captain, there is no try thats do. And on July 2nd I want a 6 year extension signed for Pominville. He's the real deal.

And him not even giving us names for backup goalies, come on Bucky thats lazy. Its pretty easy to look at a list and pick a few names. Watch.

(goes to nhlnumbers.com)
(clicks on free agent list and sorts by goalies)
(looks over list)

Alex Auld
Wade Dubielewicz

There two guys who would be adequate backups and hell for good measure Curtis Sanford. Bam, it was that easy.

Well it wasn't crap, but Mr. Gleason could have spent a couple more minutes really putting something together, then putting something together that most bloggers could put together. And we expect better from those employed to write for a living.

Thank you Bucky

Oh boy have I been behind on writing stuff, don't worry Stanley Cup Preview will happen, but today finally something came by that I just couldn't let go. And its our pal Bucky Gleason. In what could be the dumbest article ever, to make the case for a Rookie Salary cap, or that football players make too much money, or stuff to get in by a deadline to justify his paycheck. But todays column about Matt Ryans contract, is garbage. You may agree that its too much money, but the reasons are dumb.

Lets get our Firejoemorgan on.

Tom Donahoe made his share of blunders during his reign as the Buffalo Bills’ president and general manager, but he learned a lesson after Mike Williams became a colossal bust. Donahoe suggested if he ever had a top five pick in the NFL draft again, he would dump it like yesterday’s junk mail.

Ok, I doubt it, because thats where franchise players are.

Ex-Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan signed a six-year contract worth $72 million with the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday. The deal includes $34.75 million in guaranteed money, which sounds like the gross national product of a small country. He was the first quarterback taken, third overall, last month.

Thats a lot of money, but less then half is guaranteed and probably he'll only see 20 million of the guaranteed. Like a GNP of a small country, oh bucky what a overused line. Well I see a deal like this and go, well good for him.

Let me get this straight. Peyton Manning is making $14 million per season and Tom Brady is making $10 million per year. Jim Kelly made about $27 million in his career with the Bills, which included four Super Bowls and induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

And Ryan’s average salary is smack between the two best quarterbacks in the NFL, and he’s guaranteed to make more than Kelly made without having taken a snap? Sure, Ryan could become one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks. He might even win a Super Bowl like Manning did or three like Brady did. He might make the Hall like Kelly did.


Well I guess Jim Kelly should have played in this era, or those guys should have better agents, but comparing past salaries to now is pointless. And Johnny Unitas probably didn't make in his career what Trent Edwards will make this year, its a dumb argument. The league is different and salaries have gone up according to league revenue. I'm sure you pro rated the salary of Kelly, it would be a lot more then Matt Ryan. Well Rookies get paid a lot now, its nothing new. So stop worrying about it.

Funny, owners unanimously opted out of their collective bargaining agreement Tuesday because they believe players are dipping too much into their profits. Is it me or was it hypocritical that Falcons owner Arthur Blank, on the same day he voted to dump the CBA, broke the bank to pay a kid who is tied with your neighbor’s dog in career yardage and touchdown passes?

Heck, he should change his name to Arthur Blank Check.

Well maybe he had to break the bank, because he wouldn't sign otherwise and last time I checked the Falcons need a QB. And now with the owners opting out they can talk about a Rookie Salary Cap, so they don't have to break the bank for a kid just coming out. And neighbor's dog? Nice touch, he has zero stats, but he also college stats, does the neighbor's dog have big college stats?

Arthur Blank Check? Wheres the rimshot?

And that’s the problem with the NFL. The suits are so busy worrying about the bottom line that they don’t realize it’s become a turnoff for many fans. The league was infinitely more entertaining 20 years ago, when fans could actually keep track of the players on each team.

WHAT?????? They should worry about the bottom line, its a business, and many of them are debt ridden for new stadiums, so they can PAY the players. The league was more entertaining 20 years ago? How? Because fans could track the players on each team? Huh? I'm sure lot more people could tell you who plays where now, due to Fantasy Football and the internet, then 20 years ago. The game is primarily the same to me. The Bills were much more entertaining then, so maybe he's applying that league wide. And don't tell me the owners weren't worried about money back then. They tried to keep free agency under wraps for as long as possible, so they keep players salaries down.

ITS IN THE OWNERS BEST INTEREST TO KEEP SALARIES LOW. THATS HOW YOU MAKE MONEY.

And here comes the cherry on top

For all the problems that the NHL has had over the years, and there are plenty, one thing it does right is place a maximum on rookie salaries. Most players spend three years proving themselves in the league before making the big bucks.

The Pittsburgh Penguins reached the Stanley Cup finals this season largely because they had Sidney Crosby, the face of the NHL, and leading scorer Evgeni Malkin. Crosby made $850,000 this season. Malkin made $984,000, and he’ll make the same amount next season.

Crosby will become Sid the Rich Kid and pocket $36 million over the next four years before taking a $1.5 million pay cut — yes, a pay cut — in the fifth year of his contract. But the guy already was named the league’s Most Valuable Player and could win a Cup. Malkin will be plenty rich someday, too. At least they’ll earn their keep.

It’s all anybody ever asked.

I've never asked that at all, so don't include me on that. If a player can get a ton of money, good for them.

Well is way more important to have Rookie maximums in the NHL, then the NFL, because the revenue stream is much less and one big contract can sideline a team. Did the Mike Williams bust derail the Bills? Not really. Not having a lot talent and struggles at the QB position derailed the team. But why compare the NHL and NFL? Its two way different situations. So you have to prove yourself to make the big bucks. SO DO 95% OF ALL NFL DRAFT PICKS! Only the top few picks make real big money. Thats why the risk is so high. The NHL also drafts 18 year old kids and not 21 year old young men, who have proven themselves more then hockey players. But Sidney Crosby was a can't miss pick the same with Malkin.

If Bucky wanted to make a point. He could have use the Matt Ryan contract to say it was a perfect time to opt out of the CBA so the owners could negotiate a rookie cap, instead of a cut in total player revenue. This way the current players don't take a pay cut, and the rookies have to prove themselves in the pros, before making big bucks. But no, Bucky takes off on some dumb tangent that doesn't make his case and comes off horrible, again.

Why do bloggers have a worse rep then newspaper columnists again?