11:03 p.m. -- New Orleans Saints, CB Patrick Robinson, Florida State
-- I'm going to drive home and then type up a "best available" post. This is going to be amazing. I now LOVE the new draft set-up.

10:59 p.m. -- I half-expect to see NBA-style deals tonight, with re-evaluations making teams re-value guys they wanted who were already picked.

10:55 p.m. -- No. 31 Indianapolis Colts, OLB Jerry Hughes, Texas Christian
-- Bob is displeased. Indy needed a lineman and I thought they could go quarterback, but the Colts now have some depth if Dwight Freeney's injury is worse than thought. This is setting up to be an incredble overnight as both McCoy and Clausen will be available, as will Charles Brown and Mount Cody. I expect the Saints to go with Taylor Mays to fill the Darren Sharper void, unless they trade out.

10:46 p.m. -- No. 30 Detroit Lions, RB Jahvid Best, Cal
-- Best is an unruly freak. Played with Reggie Bush-ish dominance at Cal before getting hurt on that disgusting flip into the air when he went 345 feet into the air. Love this pick for Detroit.

10:45 p.m. -- And they do... Vikings go to second pick of second round. Their quarterback will likely be there.

10:42 p.m. -- With the whole day to debate the second round's beginning, expect all these picks to take the full 10 minutes. Even if the Vikings love Clausen or McCoy, they have to be salivating at the idea of moving out.

10:38 p.m. No. 29 New York Jets, CB Kyle Wilson, Boise State
-- The Jets wants to have the deepest secondaries in the NFL, not even taking into account Antonio Cromartie's many soon-to-be draft eligible children.

10:30 p.m. No. 28 Miami Dolphins, DT Jared Odrick, Penn State
-- Odrick, like many NFLers, is built like a house. With Paul Solial as their current NT, they really needed a monster DT unless they plan on playing the 3-4 the Bills want to play, where Kyle Williams can play the base NT and an OLB slides on a given side depending on the match-up. Weird.

10:23 p.m. -- No. 27 New England Patriots, CB Devin McCourty, Rutgers
-- It would be dishonest for me to tell you I know anything of value about Devin McCourty. Here's something: he could be Irish.


10:13 p.m. -- No. 26 Arizona Cardinals, NT Dan Williams, Tennessee
-- Two straight picks that the Bills were rumoured to be interested in at No. 9. Gotta be a bummer for Buddy Nix and company.

10:07 p.m. THE EARTH SHOOK. Just kidding, but Tim Tebow is selected.

No. 25 Denver Broncos, QB Tim Tebow, Florida
-- Kinda wished it happened in Buffalo just because I believe he will put it together as a quarterback. The under-center and throwing motion garbage is trying way too hard. That said, Colt McCoy is still available.

9:58 p.m. -- The Patriots deal their pick to the Cowboys. How is it that the ex-Pats-ish teams are the only ones smart enough to keep trading down?

No. 24 Dallas Cowboys, WR Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
-- That's exactly what I thought.

9:52 p.m. No. 23 Green Bay Packers, OT Bryan Bulaga, Iowa
-- Our collective hands slap our foreheads as OURLADS' No. 2-rated tackle goes to the Packers. This is a very surprising drop indeed.


9:46 p.m. No. 22 Denver Broncos, WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech
-- Thomas' parents couldn't decide between the Y and the I, so they went with both.

9:41 p.m. -- No. 21 Cincinnati Bengals, TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma
9:40 p.m. -- No. 20 Houston Texans, CB Kareem Jackson, Alabama
-- I can't tell you all that much about Jackson other than he played on a ridiculously good defense, but Gresham is a potential monster for Carson Palmer. Last year, Gresham would've gone ahead of Brandon Pettigrew, but came back only to be injured. This makes an absurd amount of Sooners taken soon...er than some thought.

9:31 p.m. -- No. 19 Atlanta Falcons, OLB Sean Witherspoon, Missouri
-- Brad is ecstatic after seeing Witherspoon torture UB at Mizzou a couple years back. The Falcons were yearning for LB help so good for them.


No. 18 Pittsburgh Steelers, C Maurkice Pouncey, Florida
-- Supposedly the fans chanted, "She said no." I love the fans right now.

No. 17 San Francisco 49ers, OG Mike Iupati, Idaho
--Two picks that don't hurt the Bills. In fact, I'm extremely surprised Clausen didn't go here.

9:21 p.m. -- No. 16 Tennessee Titans, DE/OLB Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech
-- There goes that theory. Cue some video of him dancing like an idiot. Solid, solid pick-up for Jeff Fisher.


9:15 p.m. -- No. 15 New York Giants, DE/OLB Jason Pierre-Paul
-- If Derrick Morgan continues to drop, the Buffalo Bills could very well jump up to grab him. Chan Gailey recruited him to Georgia Tech, and he fits what the Bills need.

9:11 p.m. -- OURLADS on Spiller: "A bolt of lightning type runner that is a threat to score as a receiver, ball carrier and return specialist." Hmmm, that sounds good. I'll have that. A BOLT OF LIGHTNING type? According to Wikipedia, there are six main types of lightning: bead, staccato, forked, ribbon, heat and sheet. We think he's staccato lightning.


9:04 p.m. -- No. 14 Seattle Seahawks, S Earl Thomas, Texas
-- Quite a drop from where he could've gone. CRY, EARL THOMAS, CRY.

9:01 p.m. -- The reason the 49ers took Davis instead of Jimmy Clausen is likely because no one needs a quarterback between their two picks, while Davis would've certainly been selected by someone in the interim.

8:57 p.m. -- No. 13 Philadelphia Eagles, Brandon Graham OLB/DE, Michigan
-- Granted I'm a Michigan guy, but I love Graham. A combination of instinct, smarts, speed and skill, any team would be blessed to wind up with him commanding either side of their defense. Nice pick.

8:53 p.m. -- Denver trades down again. Stockpiling picks in a pretty solid move here.

8:50 p.m. -- No. 12 San Diego Chargers, RB Ryan Mathews, Fresno State
-- Mathews scored a lot of touchdowns.

8:45 p.m. -- No. 11 San Francisco 49ers, OT Anthony Davis, Rutgers
-- He's lazy. I'm glad he's not a Bill. The 49ers traded a fourth-round pick to get this pick from Denver. Now at 12, San Diego has traded with Miami to slide into the next position.

8:43 p.m. -- Sixteen minutes later, I'm totally on-board with the Spiller pick. He probably is the best all-around talent in the draft. YES, you can get good running backs at the Buz'n'Bee in South Buffalo, but I'm going to go on record as saying this pick works for me.


8:33 p.m. -- No. 10 Jacksonville Jaguars, DT Tyson Alualu, Cal
-- I'm feeling even better about the Spiller pick now.

8:31 p.m. -- No. 9 BUFFALO BILLS, RB C.J. SPILLER, Clemson
-- He's an incredible running back, but is this what they need? He's 5'11" and definitely better than the simple "waterbug" Chan Gailey said he needed. He can be LaDanian Tomlinson. Seriously. Let's hope they have a plan to get him some blocking and a quarterback.


8:29 p.m. -- No. 8 Oakland Raiders, OLB Rolando McClain, Alabama
--And a double whammy... Adam Schefter said C.J. Spiller is the pick for the Bills. Whammmmmmy.

8:27 p.m. -- After all is said and done, I wouldn't be surprised to hear the Steelers had dealt Ben Roethlisberger to get into this spot.

8:26 p.m. No. 8 Oakland Raiders, DRUG Cocaine, Colombia


8:23 p.m. No. 7 Cleveland Browns, CB Joe Haden, Florida
-- More tears. It makes me kinda wish he was crying because he had his heart set on Cleveland and they called to say they just killed his cat.

8:06 p.m. -- No. 6 Seattle Seahawks, OT Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
8:03 p.m. -- No. 5 Kansas City Chiefs, S Eric Berry, Tennessee
-- As Brad just said, not a single pick has gone down that will change the Bills idea of what they'll do at No. 9. Okung is a solid selection and Berry is the hard-hitting speed freak who knocked out Tim Tebow. Now here's Cleveland who loves Colt McCoy. This is where things get very intriguing.

7:59 p.m. -- No. 4 Washington Redskins, OT Trent Williams, Oklahoma
-- I thought Okung was the play here, but Williams should do just fine. Tackles named Williams tend to work out at No. 4. Whoops. By the way, Trent Williams... call J.P. Dockery for me to complete an odd pairing.

7:53 p.m. -- What will Washington do? Well, their line is absolutely awful and they have their pick of the OT litter. Book it. It's over-thinking if they don't go Russell Okung, but almost everyone thinks Trent Williams will go to D.C.


7:51 p.m. -- No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers - DT Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma
-- Don't cry, large young man... you're rich now.


7:44 p.m. -- No. 2 Detroit Lions - DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
-- Aaaaaaand that's the last time I have to use CTRL-V to paste the name "Ndamukong."

7:40 p.m. -- The Lions are currently starting Ko Simpson at safety, so it makes sense to me that Detroit might want to see what they can get for Ndamukong Suh, and drop a few slots to pick up Earl Thomas or Eric Berry. I know they play free safety, but move Louis Delmas over if you want.

7:37 p.m. -- PICK -- No. 1, St. Louis Rams, QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
-- As I've said, he's really good at throwing a football and can heave it far when he has to. Great arm and smart kid. His only issue in my mind is his back-to-back injuries. A risk worth taking.

7:20 p.m. -- Among this red carpet B.S. is our conversation about a potential rookie salary cap coming in 2010. So... you'd have to REALLY believe in a QB at No. 9 overall, because there's a strong possibility that next year you could pay a whole lot less for your "next franchise quarterback."

7:09 p.m. -- Aaaaaaaand we're on the air on WECK 1230AM and streaming online at http://www.weck1230.com . Get me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/NicholasMendola, or email nickonweck@gmail.com

7:01 p.m. -- Remember how Ndamukong Suh was the best prospect in the last 30 years? That sentiment is less than 100 days old and he won't go first. So.... 30 years, huh?

6:50 p.m. -- This draft has no "gotta get him" player for me, especially in the first round. By nature, I love freaky-nasty (not Freaknasty, I think that was a pop group) linebackers, so I would be pleased with Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain at No. 9 overall. Yet I'd be pleased in just about any scenario.

A) Trade up. Take Sam Bradford. He's good at football. I promise.
2) Trade down. Get another second round pick and get more prospectively good football players because you don't have a ton of them.
D) Take someone you believe.

It's Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey. There is no legitimate reason to doubt them at either GM or head coach because neither guy has truly failed in that position. You can be cynical and dislike them because they're old, but then karma will put you in a bad nursing home one day.

Beginning around 6:30 p.m., I'll be blogging it up pick-by-pick while on-air with Brad Riter, Scott Wilson and Bob Gaughan on WECK 1230 AM. Can I multi-task despite a decades-old case of ADHD? Listen longer and find out!

(WGR 550) -- Heading into the playoffs, there were two teams in the Eastern Conference that had failed to figure out how to contain Thomas Vanek: Boston and Tampa Bay.

Make that one.

Johnny Boychuk's slash to the knee of Vanek sent him awkwardly into the HSBC Arena boards, making the the high-scoring forward's return to the series an important question mark. Up to that point, Vanek had registered 1.05 points-per-game against the B's in the regular season. Only the Lightning had less success against the Austrian (1.1).

So with one chop, it's my opinion that this series is 100 percent up-for-grabs, regardless of what some may tell you. Buffalo still has Ryan Miller, and while that's probably enough to get them out of Round One, the order for a series win just became a much taller one.

Vanek has posted 39 points in 36 games against the Bruins, including his goal in Game One and assist in the 4:22 he played in Game Two. While his production in the 2005-06 playoff run was basically absent, the knock on Vanek's postseason run was less valid in 06-07. His 10 points tied for third on the team. His six goals had him alone in second.

His goofy-looking stride makes him an easy target for those who want to label him as lazy, but the truth is that Vanek's been as important to this team's post-Drury/Briere success as any player not named Miller. Buffalo is a combined 8-10-2 without the left winger since the 2007-08 season began. The Sabres are 78-49-17 with him.

I'll let his enemies argue that validity of those stats, but it's hard to argue with the offensive repetoire Vanek brings to the table. Anyone can stand in front of the net and cause trouble for the opposition. It takes someone special to wreak the havoc Vanek does, supplying passing as well as redirection and shooting. Unfortunately, his skill in front of the net have taken away from our notice of his heavy, accurate shot that's spun the goal light silly on many occasions.

The Sabres aren't dead on the frozen water without Vanek, especially in this series. A prolonged absence, however, casts a season that once looked so promising into an old and eerie light. Get well soon, Thomas.

(WGR 550) -- I won't make apologies for the Sabres periodic bouts with malaise in the effort department, but there's one constant that has me daring to believe a long playoff run is in order, and that's Ryan Miller.

When I was planning Wednesday's power play show, I couldn't get around one idea: for the first time since some guy from Czechoslavkia (now a Republic) was between the pipes, there is no other goalie in the league I'd want backstopping my squad.

Of course, when I lead off the show with the idea that Miller is the best goaltender going right now in the playoffs despite Tuukka Rask's numbers and Martin Brodeur's history, I got this expected and understandable email from a reasonable listener named Rick:

"Please Nick, don't turn into a full homer. Martin Broduer is still the best going into the playoffs no matter what you think. He has proved it already and is still the best going in. As long as he is around, he is still the best"

Don't get me wrong, I get his point. Brodeur is one of the Top Three goaltenders in modern hockey, but that doesn't mean he's there right now. The Devils system hasn't always been what's made Brodeur's numbers as exceptional as they are. This year it is.

Consider this: Miller has better numbers than Brodeur despite the systemic difference.

Miller: 2.22 GAA, .930 save pct.
Brodeur: 2.24 GAA, .916 save pct.

When you throw in the fact that Miller has faced 94 more shots than Brodeur in eight less games played, there's another stat to consider. Miller sees 30.4 shots a night, while Brodeur sees four less.

And goaltending is more than numbers. How many times have we seen Miller hung out to dry with a 3-on-1 or a superstar breakway. Thing is, he's been up to the challenge this year -- and most of last season.

The question becomes is there another goaltender in the league that would make you feel better about your chances in the 2010 playoffs. For me, it came down to Brodeur and Miller, and I've selected the American.

It's not homerism. There is too much I don't like about the Sabres to be all-aboard this playoff train. I'm hesitant, like a lot of Western New York. Buffalo's skaters could lay four eggs in seven games against Boston, be outscored 11-10 and go home. It wouldn't change the thesis.

The sky's the limit with No. 30. Let's just hope the goal-hanging tendencies of a few stubborn divas up front don't cost the Sabres a legitimate chance to do damage.

Email: nick@wgr550.com

(WGR 550) -- These are the match-ups you pay to see. When the Sabres and Bruins square off in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the on-ice story will be about Tuukka Rask vs. Ryan Miller, David Krejci vs. Thomas Vanek, and Zdeno Chara vs. Tyler Myers.

And while what happens on the ice -- which we'll handle in a few paragraphs -- is what really matters, to me it's about so much more. Sure, the drama is ratcheted up in any playoff series and we can learn to hate anyone from Dallas to Carolina and beyond, but the Bruins and Sabres playing a series is everything I want and more.

When I fell in love with ice hockey in the 1980s, I fell in hate with the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens. Year-after-year, the Sabres made the playoffs and year-after-year they lost in the first round to one of those two "storied" franchises (By the way, Boston hasn't won a Cup since 1972 and is 0-5 in the Finals. Just saying).

Cam Neely, Ray Bourque, Glen Wesley, the Sweeneys, Andy Moog, Reggie Lemelin and Bruce Shoebottom. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate. I learned to love Neely for the player he was, but I have to admit that the Farrelly Brothers helped.


When Brad May put that puck between Bourque's legs and hung a stunned Moog out to dry, you could've convinced me life would never feel any better than to be an adolescent running circles around his parents house, screaming with delight. "We beat those jerks! We beat the Bruins!"

We did it again in 1999, but the rivalry's been pretty tame since then. If I didn't go to high school with a Bruins fan and make a another friend in the indie rock scene who supported the B's, you could've convinced me the team became the Thrashers. It even got to the point where I was rooting for their team to get better on account of some cool players like Milan Lucic and Blake Wheeler.

Not anymore.

This is what you sign up for when you become a hockey fan. The enemy is an Original Six franchise, one of those teams you can't help but think have the refs in their pocket. They can from a city that's won a ton of championships. Their players look mostly like neanderthals, even moreso now that Marc Savard is out (He's pretty).

Let's do this.

So, who are the 2010 Bruins? Well, they're pretty dangerous. I'd imagine most pundits will use this series as their "first round upset." Boston has two viable options between the pipes, so if Tuukka Rask falls there's Tim Thomas to pick up the playoff slack.

They have a lot of trouble scoring. We mentioned Savard's absence, and Boston's missed Milan Lucic a bunch, but this is a team who's seventh-leading goal scorer is Daniel Paille. He has 10 goals.

The Bruins have underperformed after a solid 2008-09 campaign. Blake Wheeler, Michael Ryder and Krejci have seen their numbers dip like a swimmer in "Jaws," but it's what makes them all-the-more of a threat. Like Thomas Vanek scoring five goals in two games, you wonder if the Bruins will wake up now.

I don't think so. Sabres in six.

Quick thoughts always available here: http://twitter.com/NicholasMendola">twitter.com/NicholasMendola

(WGR 550) -- After years and years of frustration, it's not in Bills fans' best interest to award loser points for effort in the Donovan McNabb sweepstakes. You either get the guy you want, or you don't. But the Bills reportedly dogged pursuit of the veteran quarterback does say something important.

Buffalo's Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey know they need better.

The Bills had an offer on Philadelphia's table that was reportedly as good as anyone else's best, including Oakland and Washington, where McNabb ended up. Buffalo had also issued a contract extension to the former Syracuse star, but it ultimately wasn't enough. Odds are McNabb got a list of teams willing to give the Eagles what they wanted, and the chance to immediately get back at the club that's quitting him is very alluring.

The Eagles are playing a bit of Moneyball. They used a second-round pick on Kevin Kolb a few years back, and would rather deal from a position of power with McNabb than lay back and watch his value drip away. In other words, at this stage in his career, the "loses value the minute you drive it off the lot" maxim applies.

In my opinion, the arguments for and against McNabb to Buffalo were both right. It's just hard to view it that way if you're one of the extremes -- for or against it.

If you wanted McNabb here, you believe that quarterback is the most important position on the field and that there's a better chance of winning with one who's an option miles better than the trio on your roster. You believe that McNabb could make every skill player on the Bills offense more dangerous and that he has enough gusto and moxie to improvise behind a first or second round left tackle while the rest of the draft focuses on the defense.

If you didn't want McNabb, you believe the likely truth -- that the Bills are far away from being even a good football team. Even in the mercurial world of NFL parity, the Bills are switching to a new defense and have a lot of question marks on their offensive line. You know Chan Gailey has found success with average at-best quarterbacks like Tyler Thigpen, and hope that Brian Brohm, Ryan Fitzpatrick or Trent Edwards can stopgap their way to an "entertaining in a good way" season.

Regardless, it's good that the Bills acknowledged the weakness under center. There's been no boring "we like what we have" rhetoric from Gailey and Nix, just a little bit of hope and belief in what their management can bring to the team. To be honest, I'm starting to hate the idea of quarterback at No. 9 unless Sam Bradford miraculously drops there. Depending on the price tag -- and it wouldn't be a first if it were a trade -- I'd be intrigued by the idea of Jason Campbell, who has improved every season in Washington. You could even talk me into trading an air pump and four footballs for former Gailey signal caller Tyler Thigpen.

It's not that I don't believe Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, Dan LeFevour or Jimmy Clausen can have remarkable success. I just think you need that speed freak of an outside linebacker or that roadblock of a left tackle. With Jake Locker among the many brilliant quarterbacks potentially available in 2011, the Bills have the luxury of picking the best player at any position of need. No. 9 doesn't seem like quarterback territory, as sexy as that would be.

Email: nick@wgr550.com

(WGR 550) -- There are players who get called up to "the show", have a couple nice games and fans see them as a future star in the league. Whether it's Mark Mancari, Steve Bernier or some other guy, it's relatively easy to become "the next big thing" simply by having a number on your sweater fans haven't seen in a while.

This isn't the case with "Tiny" Tyler Ennis.

I have been remarkably impressed by Ennis, and it's hard not to be. With five points in five games, he's shown some real scoresheet style, but it's what he does on almost every offensive zone trip that gets me fired up for the other first-round pick from the "Tyler Myers Draft."

Ennis has a knack to cut quickly to the free area of the ice, forcing defenseman to keep a peripheral eye on the kid. At 20-years-old, he has the same excitement variable that Derek Roy had when he first came up to Buffalo, without the giveaways. Yes, he's little -- 5'9" seems generous -- but he brings a sparkplug dimension not available in spades on the club.

So, here's the thing: he has to stay up with the big club when the team regains full health. He wouldn't necessarily gain anything from being sent down to Portland, and he's a definite part of the future in Buffalo. Let him see what the stretch run looks like in a successful regular season. Let him be a part of the playoff roster, and experience the high anxiety of "win or your done."

Ennis is not a Gerbe or Mancari, guys who ultimately may not be a part of your core. This is a first-round pick who's succeeded after every level he's played. You can get a guy ready for the future while gaining something now, which isn't often the case.

Maybe he'll make the 2008 draft the "Tyler Draft."

Email: nick@wgr550.com

(WGR 550) -- It's foolhardy to put too much into a regular season game, but I'm putting a ton into about 600 seconds of Friday's match between the Sabres and Senators at HSBC Arena.

I love times when Buffalo can prove they're a team to believe in, and the Sabres have failed me several times over the past three-plus seasons. When they sleep-walked through the Isles and Rangers in the '07 playoffs, I wasn't convinced they'd "wake up when it mattered," and they didn't. When they showed precious little heart early in the following two seasons, it put them into too deep of a hole to climb into the playoffs.

This year, they've ridden Ryan Miller to no lower than a third-place slot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, but fans have been very wary about getting too pumped up. This team's let them down in a lot of key spots. So here's what I need.

I don't require a win tonight -- though it'd be great. I need to see something I didn't see during that pre-Olympic losing streak. Forget the deadbeat starts to the Pittsburgh and Ottawa losses. Remember the 4-3 loss to Carolina? Surely they'd come out like crazed animals. Nope.

The next night. Lowly Columbus. The Senators surging. Nope.

Then, after the break. You can forgive a Patrick Lalime loss to Pittsburgh, but Ryan Miller's return to the home nets versus Washington. Where was the gusto? Nowhere.

I'm sure we could go back and reel off a number of games like that, but I don't want to be strictly negative, because I'm very excited for Friday's game versus Ottawa. If Buffalo comes out tonight like they mean it, I'm on board. In the first 5-10 minutes of this game, they are hitting, moving and passing like a good-looking team, I can take some enthusiasm forward.

Admit it, you've been hesitant to jump on the train this year. It's not a bandwagon thing, as much as people want you feel bad. The team was the best team in the league a few years back, and faltered at too many times. Every team goes through a down period. The 2008-09 champion Penguins had a 5-13 stretch in December of that season. The Red Wings went through a 1-8-2 skid in the year they won the 2008 Cup. I'm sure you can find things like that in every champion's season.

I'm not saying the Sabres can't win in the playoffs if they lose or look uninspired against the Senators. That's silly. But if the Sabres can't get up for tonight... if the boys don't come out flying with a chance to make the playoffs by beating your rival -- in the process moving into second place in your conference and ensuring no Washington until the East Finals -- then you don't have me yet.

Simple as that. Go hard.

Looking forward to the game: nick@wgr550.com